Happy Hour: Showa for $2 chicken skewers and '80s tunes

HAPPY HOUR |

Showa is the other new Fremont joint, serving $2 chicken skewers and Asian comfort food on North 36th Street.

This izakaya bar is not far from the much-heralded Revel that debuted last week. Revel is for dinner — some gussied-up Korean street food and pork-belly pancake. Maybe with foodie friends or with someone pretty.

Showa is more for happy hour. It's a co-workers and catching-up-with-friends kinda place. Cheap grilled bar grub and $3 Sapporo draft. Cheesy '80s music that will take you down memory lane or at least serve as a conversation-starter. Short menu. Food is like the décor — simple.

A sweet and salty $2 chicken skewer (yakitori) was glazed with sake and soy sauce. Even better: charred $3 pork belly on a stick. These are the smoky aromas of your favorite street-food corner in Asia.

Showa, which debuted in November, is the latest from Taichi Kitamura of Tamura Sushi Kappo on Eastlake. No sushi here, though. Just Japanese-style tapas dishes, most in the $3 to $5 range.

Best was the rich bacon mac and cheese, with a thick, crispy layer of cheese on top and gooey decadence underneath. Resist the temptation to dive in. Let it sit and gel for five minutes. You are about one Hall & Oates song away from a heavenly bite.

Showa, 701 N. 36th St., Suite 200, offers happy hour 5-7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to closing Tuesdays-Saturdays with $5 Manhattans and martinis, and $1 off well drinks, wine and beer and some bar snacks (206-388-3913 or www.showafremont.com).

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com