This is an interesting place with a diverse menu. On the bulletin board at the entrance, the restaurant is described as a collection of small Japanese sidewalk restaurants. The place has a bar counter, small tables and Korean barbeque grills fitted on each table in the back room. The menu may seem to be all over the map and reflects the sidewalk restaurant philosophy.

Yakitori items (grilled food on skewers, with my favorite being the chicken skin, liver, wing, whole small fish, garlic and leeks) are featured prominently on the first page of the menu. Then there are the Japanese tapas, another of my favorites. The seaweed vinegarete is excellent, as are the sea cucumbers and the raw mackeral and octopus with pickles. Portions are really small so you can easily sample a few with room for other parts of the menu. A few sushi and sashimi selections are included, as are rice balls (I love the grilled ones!)

There are the usual staples such as chicken or beef and egg over rice, unadon (eel over rice), as well as some Chinese Japanese dishes such as stir fried beef and vegetables under the heading "entrees".

Then as if that's not enough to keep customers satisfied, there is the Korean barbeque section. Kalbi and bulgogi (beef ribs and sliced beef), shrimp, pork can be grilled at your table (make sure you tell the staff ahead of time so they can seat you in the back area) along with the many side dishes that adorn the table. In addition, Korean specialties such as bibimbop (rice and your choice of ingredients in an earthen bowl) and kalbijim (beef ribs stew) are also on the menu.

Desserts have a predominant theme: mochi. If you don't like the sticky rice flour desserts, you can opt for green tea or red bean ice cream. The green mochi with red bean inside, wrapped delicately in small leaves is especially good. It's the second from last on the menu.

Yokocho is usually packed and with good reason. You can sit down for an economical $9 unadon or a $50 a head dinner with numerous tapas, yakitori selections, entrees, sashimi dishes. Like strolling down a narrow alley in Tokyo, the choice is yours and you can stop at as many places as you wish. Except this time it's right in the East Village while sitting down.

Arrive early or late in the evening to avoid a wait. You can wait at Angel's Share bar as well, just let the guy with the waitlist know. Noise level is very high. On the other side of the restaurant is an excellent Japanese grocery store.