Nome Izakaya serves up fresh seafood and sharable Japanese plates just steps from the Sheppard subway station.

Inside there's large Japanese wall art and an understated-chic vibe. It's less a destination restaurant than one where locals come to again and again.

The Oyster Platter is the perfect way to start a meal here. I get a mix of  Fanny Bay, Malpeque, Kusshi and French Kiss ones. Priced at around $2 per piece, they go great with a mix of horseradish and Nome’s signature hot sauce.

The Assorted Sashimi here ($35 for 21 pieces) comes with sea bream, salmon and Japanese yellowtail among other fresh fish. It's fantastic to share, though you probably won't want to.

Those wanting something a bit different should try the Wara Yuki ($9.50). Lightly seared salmon smoked in house comes with coarse sea salt, sliced onions, garlic and wasabi. Resist the temptation to dunk these in soy sauce, and simply mix all the ingredients together for a tasty treat.

For those who prefer their fish fully cooked, go for the Marinated Black Cod ($10.80), quite possibly one of the most perfectly grilled pieces of fish I've had in the city. The citrus soy sauce marinade infuses the cod with a nice sweet tang that makes me wish I ordered two.

The Honey Butter Potato ($5.80) is house-made potato chips served alongside a dazzlingly delicious honey butter dipping sauce.

The BBQ Duck Rolls ($18) are thick maki rolls with BBQ duck, ponzu jelly, and sautéed bokchoy.

The Spicy Mac and Cheese ($10.80) comes served in a dolsot stone pot and is immensely satisfying. It's spicy without being overwhelming. It's hands-down my favourite dish I've tried here.

Don't miss the Aburi Salmon Donburi ($11.80), a delicious mix of seared salmon, house-made aburi sauce, chopped onions and poached egg yolk.

There's also Japa-Burgers ($8.80), a collection of sliders made with superbly marinated rib eye meat and mixed with vegetables and a garlic seasoning.

For dessert, try the Honey Bread ($8.80). The honey-sweet drizzle on the perfectly toasted bread is on-point and even gets better when topped with vanilla ice cream, raspberries and cactus honey powder.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an izakaya without drinks, so make sure to try the Polar Ice ($7.50), a tall glass of frozen Sapporo with a frozen head.

For cocktail fans, the Soho Singapore Sling ($10) is a good option. It comes with lychee, cucumber, mint, gin, sake, and soho.