About ITANI
ITANI is my expression of Japanese dining culture here in Oakland. I set out to mirror the Japanese experience of dining out with fun appetizers being shared alongside easy drinking cocktails and great friends. As the evening progresses you then finish with a bowl of ramen or donburi rice bowl. The food is meant to be affordable, served quickly, and always soulful and satisfying. Through my travels in Japan, I've been inspired by regionality of the food. Each prefecture offers a unique twist, celebrating their local ingredients and representing the best the seasons have to offer. It is with that originality and drive that we share ITANI with you.
- Kyle Itani
Kyle Itani
Top Noodle / Owner
Kyle brought his passion for Japanese cuisine and culture to Oakland in 2012, when he opened Hopscotch, a diner serving classic American dishes with a Japanese twist. At ITANI, Kyle focuses on traditional flavor profiles, exploring Japan’s rich culture by offering an izakaya experience made up of a diversity of small bites, donburi bowls, cocktails, and plenty of ramen. Through extensive travels and a brief residence in Japan, Kyle has familiarized himself with the dining culture in many of Japan's prefectures and looks forward to continuing his exploration each season as he rolls out a new prefectural special.
