Visit to Sake Zanmai Amu on Thursday 1/22

Thursday night I made my way to Amu in downtown Boulder, CO as has been my modus operandi on Thursday nights for years.  Amu is an izakayai - an after-work drinking establishment that serves food.

Amu is honestly my favorite restaurant and beats out all the san francisco bay area izakaya that I tried in summer of 2007. 

If you haven't been, you should definitely go!  

The key selling point is the authenticity of the menu, recipes, and overall experience - some nights I've entered and been greeted to a packed house of native Japanese speakers who all vouch for the authenticity of the experience.  For years I've mentally binned Amu as The Japanese Cheers for the friendly open atmosphere where everyone knows your name. 

What made this past Thursday worth talking about?

First - the Toro - extra fatty blue fin tuna. I haven't had toro of that quality in a long time.  Nobu, the head chef remarked on the quality of the piece when he took it out of his magic fish box :F  I had to get a glass of sake to complement it and keep my mouth fresh for more

Second, the japanese couple sitting next to me got a wonderful looking hot pot and offered to let me try some (yay friendly restaurant) which I did and it was delicious! They told me that this is a classic salary-man dish in japan and therefore is standard fare at izakaya all over japan.  In fact it is remarkably cheap to make - considering it is made of stewed beef tendon and tofu.  So Good!  Gimmie a pot of that and a bowl of hot rice and I'm sold :F

Now I've gone and made myself hungry.