Kauboi Izakaya

After several intense yet productive days, my flight to Reno felt less like transit and more like release. I was looking forward to seeing Sonni and Forest before heading up to Truckee and back to Lake Tahoe for snowboarding. My goal was simple: a few days up in the Eastern Sierra with friends, the mountains, and good food.

As I arrived ahead of the others, I was surprised by how easily I secured a table at what Sonni said was typically a packed hotspot. From my seat, it was clear why the restaurant draws a crowd. The design struck a perfect balance of modern and effortlessly cool – without trying too hard.

Sonni and I both started out with cans of Crux Fermentation Project’s Bochi Bochi (4.9% ABV – Japanese-style rice lager) brewed in Bend, Oregon.

Sonni order for the table in rapid fire. It felt so relaxing to finally be able to relax after being the decision maker for so many days.

The BLASTERED SHISHITOS + SOY SALT dish was simple and outstanding. The soy salt was a revelation of flavor with every bite. The savory mixed with salt was the perfect welcome back to the surprisingly lovely Reno food scene.

The JAPANESE “CAESAR” + LITTLE GEMS + PUFFED RICE was beautifully presented and delicious. It was like a lettuce flower, blossoming for us. It was fresh, textured, and beautifully plated.

The RICE TOTS + DRAGON SAUCE was a solid choice – filling and flavorful.

The KUROBUTA PORK GYOZA + APPLE  GINGER SAUCE was solidly one of the best dishes. Honestly, I wanted another plate of this. But, I was also excited for what Sonni ordered next.

The TEN LAYER PORK TONKATSU + BLACK GARLIC was okay. The black garlic sauce was delicious. However, the dish itself felt it was served a bit too cold to truly enjoy. Plus, with everything else on the table, it simply didn’t have same presence.

The show stopper and star of the evening was the BATTLESHIP CURRY + FRIES + MOZZARELLA.

I absolutely loved the curry, which was packed with flavor. It was everything I loved about poutine-inspired comfort food. Rich, indulgent, and deeply satisfying I quickly polished out everything on my plate.

To finish up, we shared chicken thigh YAKITORI. However, this is the final dish that made me tap out. I was deliciously happily full.

Dinner at Kauboi Izakaya in Reno reminded me why I value visiting flying in and making the time to dine with friends. Good design, thoughtful food, and friends who order boldly on your behalf have a way of dissolving stress.

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