Izakaya Zero

Think outside the (Bento) box and set aside your expectations about Japanese food. Visit an izakaya -- a Japanese tavern -- and you’ll find that small plates are the order of the day. A few steps from Main Street lies Izakaya Zero, a cozy, modern addition to downtown Huntington Beach. From the moment you lay your hands on the artistic menu, you know you’re in for an unusual experience. Acclaimed sushi chef Takaski Abe has created an extensive menu of “Japanese tapas” with an emphasis on traditional comfort food. There’s seafood, beef and poultry dishes, plus salads and sides such as baked mashed potatoes. Then there’s chilled jellyfish and other choices for the adventurous.  For cosmopolitan palates that want to get their fusion on, worldly selections include black cod with foie gras or Mexican-style crab and lobster gratin. Zero Hour happens not once but twice a night Sunday through Thursday, featuring fixed-price food and beer combos.