Its Izakaya brings Japanese tapas and sake to Chinatown with slightly more restrained hours than Ichiza but the same essential vibe: small plates, lots of drinking, and that convivial izakaya energy that makes you order way more than you planned. Open daily from 5:30pm to 2am, it's positioned perfectly for dinner, late-night hangs, or that post-drink food run when you need something more substantial than a taco truck.

The Izakaya Competition

Vegas Chinatown has multiple izakayas now, which is great for everyone. Its Izakaya differentiates itself with a focus on Japanese tapas-style small plates and a serious sake program. Where Ichiza leans heavily on yakitori, Its Izakaya spreads the love across more diverse Japanese bar food: sashimi, robata grill items, hot pots, and creative small plates that showcase different techniques. It's equally authentic but maybe slightly more refined in presentation.

The Sake Situation

If you're into sake or want to be, Its Izakaya is your classroom. Expect a sake list that goes beyond the basic hot sake or cheap bottles most places default to. They'll have junmai, ginjo, daiginjo, nigori—different styles, different regions, different flavor profiles. The staff can actually guide you through options instead of just pointing at the menu. Pair that expertise with food designed to complement sake, and you've got a drinking experience that's way more interesting than vodka sodas.

The Food Range

Japanese izakayas excel at variety, and Its Izakaya delivers a menu that lets you bounce between raw, grilled, fried, and simmered dishes. Get some sashimi to start, then hit the robata grill for charred perfection, throw in some fried items for texture, maybe a hot pot if you're really hungry. Everything's shareable, everything's designed for grazing, and the portions are sized so you can try multiple dishes without feeling like you need a nap. It's strategic eating.

The Chinatown Crowd

Like all good Chinatown spots, Its Izakaya pulls a local-heavy crowd that knows what they're doing. You'll see Japanese expats, Asian American families, food nerds who've worked their way through the neighborhood, and late-night service industry folks looking for quality food and drinks. The atmosphere's lively but not chaotic, social but not overwhelming. Just good people eating good food and drinking thoughtfully.

The Late-Night Timing

That 2am close makes Its Izakaya a solid choice for the post-dinner-but-not-ready-to-go-home crowd. Maybe you caught a show, maybe you were at another bar, maybe you just operate on night owl hours. Either way, they're open late enough to accommodate your schedule without pulling the full Ichiza all-nighter. The kitchen stays open, the sake keeps flowing, and the vibe remains consistent.

Its Izakaya is another example of Vegas Chinatown quietly having one of the best dining scenes in the city. Authentic, delicious, and exactly what an izakaya should be—a place where drinking and eating blur together into one long, happy experience. Your liver and your taste buds can figure out the balance later.