Cocktails by the beach

You've come for the food but have you seen the selection of fun and vibrant cocktails Bamboo Izakaya is also offering? Made to pair with our dishes and to be shared and sampled between friends, these cocktails will make your taste buds dance with glee!

The smoking rosemary

Ilegal Mezcal, prickly pear nectar, shaken and served with a freshly cut rosemary sprig.

The Tokyo Manhattan

Classic Manhattan made with Yamazaki 12 years Japanese whisky, pressed brandied cherries and oranges.

The Karita

Cazadores Blanco tequila, Domain Canton ginger liqueur, shishito peppers, fresh lime, jalapeno Tabasco, served on the rocks with togarashi salted rim.

The Natsukaze

Tsukasabotan organic mountain yuzu sake, Thai basil, tall on the rocks with tapioca pearls and basil garnish.

The Giddy Geisha

Ketel One vodka martini shaken with lychee juice and passion fruit purée.

The Sumokaze

Grey Goose vodka and muddled shiso leaf, shaken with Japanese yuzu juice, served up with a shiso leaf garnish.

The Monica

Hendrick’s gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice and rose water, served on the rocks.

The Ronin

Makers Mark bourbon, ginger purée, blood orange juice, ginger ale and housemade candied ginger stick, on the rocks.

The Suzushi

Nolet’s gin with muddled cucumber, fresh lime juice, served on the rocks with housemade basil syrup and lime zest.

Look for the red lanterns to find us!

Bamboo's gorgeous Japanese lanterns have finally arrived! Decorating the entrance of our restaurant and patio, the akachochin (red lanterns) represent matsuri (celebration) and an invitation to come in for a drink and a bite to eat. Traditionally, Izakaya menu specialties are painted on the lanterns to attract customers - Some are known for their tofu, some for their skewered meats, pig items, and so on. Here at Bamboo, we have a list of sake not to be missed and some outstanding Robata grilled dishes!

Next time you're on Ocean Avenue near the Santa Monica Pier, look for our red lanterns and join us for an evening of fun, exceptionally good food and sake tasting!

Miso mayo Dip

Classically Japanese - Sweet and tangy meet in this yummy miso mayo dip.

The perfect dip for veggies! We like this quick dip recipe for its tanginess and simplicity. The flavors are very Japanese and work beautifully with cucumbers, carrots, and celery.

Serve it at your next dinner party for a little something different, and watch your guests try to decipher the flavors of this creamy and refreshing recipe!

Miso mayo dip

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayo
• 1 tbsp white miso paste
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients and serve cold along with a beautiful veggie plate!

The health benefits of pickled foods

As part of our menu, Bamboo offers home made kimchi and oshinko.

Pickled vegetables are a common sighting in Japanese cuisine - served as a side to just about any dishes, they are a diet staple that's been around for thousands of years. You'd think these fermented veggies high in sodium would only be bad for your health, but it turns out that pickling your food can also be extremely good for you!


Just like yogurt, pickled vegetables are great at boosting the gut's good bacteria, which support a healthy digestive system. Some researches even suggest that eating pickled foods can help clear up and heal skin prone to acne and other skin ailments.




There's a lot more good stuff associated with pickling-- pickles are:

• low in fat and calories
• high in calcium and antioxidants
• known to fight off certain cancers of the digestive system
• good for strengthening the immune system

Oh! And one more thing: They taste GOOD! Bamboo Izakaya loves tasty dishes that are also good for the body and mind.





Here's a quick and easy recipe taken from pickledplum that we love!

Tsukemono - Japanese pickled vegetables

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots
• 2 zucchinis 
• 2 turnips (or 1 medium size daikon), peeled
• white miso paste

Directions:

1. Slice vegetables 1/4 inch thick. Add vegetables to tupperware container (not too deep, like a plastic take-out container), slowly incorporate the miso paste to the vegetables, until all they are all well coated. 
2. Cover and pickle for about 24 hours. Thoroughly rinse the vegetables under water until all the miso paste is gone. Pat dry with paper towel and leave uncovered for a couple of hours, to evaporate some of the water. 
3. Keep refrigerated. Serve.

Grapefruit sake spritzers with fresh basil and Thai chili

Impress your guests with this superbly refreshing cocktail! Heat, fruit and bubbles meet in one colorful glass, making the perfect drink to serve at brunch, or on a hot summer night by the beach. Kampai!

Makes 4 glasses

Ingredients:

• 1 Thai chili, very finely chopped (use one more for extra heat!)
• 2 cups sake
• 1 cup pink grapefruit juice
• 1 cup soda water
• 4 basil leaves, roughly chopped (break them up with your fingers)

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl or pitcher, stir and pour in 4 glasses. Serve cold. 

A quick and savory broth (tsuyu) recipe for the perfect noodle soup

Chef Toshi's own quick and easy recipe for tsuyu (soup broth).

Pour this over soba or somen noodles, add some chopped scallions, veggies and you've got yourself a healthy, and delicious dinner!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 3/4 cup mirin
  
• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 3 tbsp dried fish flake (katsuobushi)
  

Directions:

Put all the ingredients in a small/medium size pot, simmer for a few minutes until warm and serve!

Crispy pickled bamboo shoots - Stop by for a complimentary taste!

These lightly fried bamboo slices (takenoko kara age) might just be the perfect snack to have on a sunny day by the beach! Even better when paired with a nice cold beer!

Marinated in dashi, soy and mirin, chef Toshi dusts each bamboo shoot in corn starch and gives them a light and crispy texture with a quick dunk in the fryer. Served with a savory and creamy yuzu ranch dressing, they're tastier than any bag of chips you've ever had! And for the health nut in you, did you know that bamboo shoots are filled with antioxidants, are low in calories and known to lower bad cholesterol? Tasty AND good for you, we like that!

Stop by Bamboo Izakaya for a complimentary dish of these yummy Japanese treats. To welcome you to our new digs, chef Toshi is giving each table free takenoko kara age all throughout the month of February!