Juban: Tranquil, Affordable Pick-Me-Ups in Japantown

Helene K./Yelp

Juban's lychee sho-chu, and in the background, namuru.

​The place: Juban Yakiniku House, 1581 Webster (at Post), 776-5822

The hours: Mon.-Sat., 5-7 p.m.

The deals: Free appetizer with drink purchase

The digs: Classy Japantown barbecue joint with indirect lighting, sumptuous seating, bouquets of fresh flowers, and blond-wood partitioned nooks for gatherings great and intimate.

Toro E./Yelp

Once you're inside, there's nice lighting, comfy seats, and fresh flowers.

​The verdict: Juban's light, fresh cuisine is the perfect pick-me-up after a long day in the salt mines. Our favorite complimentary snacking option is namuru, an edible mosaic of spinach, daikon, soy sprouts, and bean sprouts that's as beautiful as it is tasty. Or go for a snappy bowl of kimchi, yakinori (roasted seaweed with sesame oil), or edamame, the Beer Nuts of Japan. Wash them down with beer (Asahi, Sapporo, Kirin, Yebisu) or hot or premium sake ($5-$8), a glass of wine ($7-$8), or a sho-chu Mojito, Cosmopolitan, or Midori sour ($6-$8). All in all this is one of the city's more tranquil happy hour options.

Overall grade: B-