Gyoza are little dumplings filled with minced pork. Yakisoba is grilled noodles with cabbage and a little meat. Japanese fried chicken is always a hit. It's juicy and boneless with a thin, crisp crust and it is served with a lemon wedge. If you prefer, you can have squid legs cooked the same way.
Japanese food is highly seasonal, and the izakaya menus reflect that.
While gyoza and potatoes are available year-round, other dishes come and go. For a very cheap price, they would actually cook a pot of stew on a portable burner on your table. But now, in the heat of the summer, there is no stew on Big's menu. Good thing, too. One popular summer special is cucumbers.