Why Japanese Flavors Are the Next Big Thing

Just as Spaniards head to a tapas bar for snacks and sherry, the Japanese go to an izakaya for little dishes of food and glasses of beer, sake or the spirit shochu. Gritty versions of these Japanese-style pubs have operated in the United States for years, but new gastro-izakayas are offering inspired Japanese small plates with multiculti twists.

Torafuku, a luxe chain with five plush locations in Japan, specializes in toasty kamado rice, which is made in a heavy stone cooker. Details 10914 W. Pico Blvd.; 310-470-0014 or torafuku-usa.com.

Izakaya Ten Chef Isamu Soumi turns out excellent small plates, like skewered chicken meatballs, to pair with sake from the playfully illustrated menu. Details 207 10th Ave.; 212-627-7777.

Umami Dishes like braised pork with nori and quail eggs have a California touch: humanely raised meats from Niman Ranch and produce from local farms. Details 2909 Webster St.; 415-346-3431 or umamisf.com.

Taneko Japanese Tavern This new izakaya restaurant, which serves appetizers cooked on hot rocks, is from the owners of the Chinese chain P.F. Chang’s. Details 6116 N. Scottsdale Rd.; 480-308-9950 or tanekotavern.com.

Wann Japanese Izakaya This upscale izakaya fuses Asian and Western cuisines with dishes like nori-flecked fries and daikon radish gratin. Details 2020 Second Ave.; 206-441-5637 or wann-izakaya.com.

Seaweed-infused water from Japan’s Inland Sea give this sand-colored salt an oceany aroma and a rich umami flavor (from $12 for 3.5 oz).

This unusual sherrylike Japanese cooking wine, made from a sweet, red sake, is a step up from the corn syrup-sweetened variety sold in supermarkets (from $12 for 61 oz).

Made from purple-fleshed potatoes, this rose-hued, fruity vinegar from Kyoto is available plain or honey-sweetened (from $12 for 4 oz).

These preservative-free misos, made from white or red barley, are more intensely flavored than most misos available in the United States (from $15 for 17.6 oz).

All products imported by New York Mutual Trading (nymtc.com).

On the Noto Peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of Japan, fish sauces, known as ishiri, are used like soy sauce. Yamato ishiri ponzu, seasoned with citrus juices, is mild enough to use on raw vegetables ($4.50 for 4 oz; 212-997-0403).

This lightweight, inexpensive yuki-hira pot is made from hammered aluminum. The wood handle is removable and replaceable. ($29 for an 8-inch pot; korin.com).

Banrai, a soy-milk producer, has created a kit that includes fuel, nigari (a coagulent) and a pretty porcelain pot for making fresh, silky tofu ($88; banrai-life.com).

Masanobu knives have Western-style blades and handles made by the same machine that forms Formula One racing drive shafts. They stay sharp longer than other knives, thanks to space-age VG10 steel ($288 for an 8-inch chef’s knife; korin.com).

Zojirushi is known for making some of the world’s best rice cookers. The company’s compact new Rizo, designed by Toshiyuki Kita, is cute enough to leave on the counter ($215; amazon.com).

Kate Klippensteen’s Cool Tools: Cooking Utensils from the Japanese Kitchen, beautifully photographed by Yasuo Konishi, is an in-depth look at Japanese utensils ($28; amazon.com).