Tanto

I heard and read great reviews about this little izakaya in Sunnyvale, so I had to go try it. Izakayas are basically Japanese drinking establishments serving appetizer-size snacks, although my impression is that izakayas are now equally known for their food and drinks. Anyway, after my friends and I ordered some Orion beer (imported from Okinawa), we ordered dish after dish of yummy, traditional-style izakaya food:

Chicken karage - crispy fried chicken with that wonderful Japanese mayonnaise

Beef tataki - fresh thinly sliced rare beef topped with daikon, chopped green onion, and ponzu sauce

Fried oysters with mustard sauce on the side

Unagi (eel) rolls

Some chicken leg that one of my friends got...don't remember how it was prepared

Salmon onigiri - Japanese snack formed with rice in a triangular shape, lightly crisp, topped with salmon roe

Rice pot with eel, seaweed, and an egg

Overall, the food was excellent. Very traditional and authentic Japanese flavors, and the portions were good for a group. My favorites were the chicken karage and the salmon onigiri (arguably the best onigiri I've had outside Japan). Our waitress was a bit slow on the service, but otherwise it was a great meal.

A word of warning though - it can get pretty crowded, so reservations are a good idea. And the place can be a bit tricky to find, so have their number on hand to call them if you get a bit lost.

Tanto
1063 E. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408) 244-7311