Izakaya is Houston?s first Japanese gastropub. Sister restaurant to Kata Robata and located in the growing Midtown neighborhood, Izakaya is a modern-day izakaya ? a Japanese tavern in essence, where drinks are as important as the food ? and differs from the other Japanese restaurants in our family by introducing global cuisine to the mix. Modeled after a traditional Japanese drinking establishment but updated to reflect today?s global palate, Izakaya?s menu is unique in that it is a partnership between two chefs ? Jean-Philippe Gaston, known for his well-rounded background, including Japanese, seafood and raw presentations and Manabu Horiuchi, known for exquisite classical Japanese cuisine.