America needs a few good Izakaya's

I was very enthusiastic that President Obama did mention creating jobs and reducing America's carbon emissions by improving public transportation. Though it is a daunting task, since American cities are so spread out, what we start now will be invaluable for the future of America.

On to a lighter idea to incorporate into American daily life, the Izakaya

In Japan its almost impossible to walk five minutes from any station without passing a few of these neighborhood bars. Izakaya's are similar to the trendy more expensive tapas bars now found in the U.S. Of course tapas bars are also great places to enjoy a light snack and have a few drinks in places like Spain. The American counter parts however have been a bit of a disappointment, often with over priced food and drinks that aren't all that good to begin with.
The signature that makes an Izakaya stand out is that the food really goes with the drink. In Japan the key drinks offered are sake, shochu (or the Korean style Soju), and beer. The typical food of an Izakaya is yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), kushiyaki (grilled chicken and vegetable skewers), edamame, small pizzas, and shashimi. There are also other things on the menu that might not catch on so well.
Izakayas are small with the owners usually working in the restaurant and they don't typically stay open too late, 11 or 12 seems to be the norm for the neighborhood bars. They're just a real good way to grab a light meal and wind down with a good drink in a relaxing atmosphere. For more info, check out this article from Metropolis magazine, Bar Time.