It's great to have Japanese restaurant that isn't sushi or hibachi or a Japanese steakhouse. They have Hitachino Nest White Ale on tap, which I didn't even know was possible. \n\nWe ordered takoyaki, okonomiyaki, gyoza, and ebi shumai. You can definitely share and make a meal out of the small plates. And that's what you would do at an izakaya in Japan. \n\nTakoyaki and okonomiyaki both came drizzled with sauce, mayonnaise, and topped with bonito fish flakes. They were excellent! Takoyaki was nicely grilled on the outside but soft on the inside. Also very hot, so you know it's fresh. Okonomiyaki was tasty, but not as thick with tons of cabbage as I would like. Still, this is the only place in Charlotte that has it and it was good with crispy bacon on the bottom. \n\nGyoza were crispy on the bottom, and dumpling skins were tender without falling apart. My boyfriend didn't enjoy the ebi shumai as much but I think they were comparable to what I've had in Japan. \n\n To cap it all off, the ladies room has a heated toilet seat with a washlet. \n\nI will definitely be going back to try the ramen!