Issa

Issa in Katsura Minamitatsumicho, Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, is a dependable neighborhood izakaya for evenings when you want to drop in unceremoniously, order a few simple drinking bites, and unwind with a glass. The lights flick on when the doors open at 17:00 in the evening, welcoming patrons to enjoy affordable small plates in a relaxed rhythm reminiscent of a standing bar.

Approachable fried and grilled dishes form the backbone of the menu. Snack-friendly fried items are particularly plentiful, ranging from staple pork loin ham cutlets and fried chicken karaage to skewered cutlets of pork thigh or quail eggs, chikuwa fishcake fried with seaweed batter, and croquettes with fillings like curry or pumpkin. Grilled selections such as meat gyoza, sukiyaki-style gyoza, and salt-grilled yellowtail appear alongside small bowls of squid natto or okra natto, making it a pleasure to cover the table in varied, colorful plates.

Drinks are priced just as reasonably, featuring draft and bottled beers, highballs for 350 yen, and barley shochu like Iichiko. The sake lineup includes Yamadanishiki, cloudy nigori-zake from Kita-Akita, Kamotsuru, and Tosatsuru, each serving as a crisp companion to wash down the richer fried specialties.

Inside, a counter and tatami rooms at the back accommodate solo guests dropping in on a whim as comfortably as coworkers and groups of friends gathering on the tatami mats. Payment is cash only, and the shop is closed on Sundays. With its nostalgic, down-to-earth atmosphere, it serves as an easy pick whenever you want to eat well, drink, and leave thoroughly satisfied.