According to a November 26 article posted on Canada.com, an izakaya has opened in downtown Banff, Alberta. Stephane Prevost, owner of Block Kitchen + Bar in Banff, felt there was demand for the establishment, so he opened Shoku Izakaya in the downtown area of the town.

“I lived in Tokyo for six years and fell in love with the izakayas,” Prevost said. “They’re dynamic, convivial places with great energy and lots of different dishes to choose from — a bit like tapas style, but in a Japanese way. What I love about the izakaya is that it’s not just a sushi restaurant; there’s a whole gamut of different Asian dishes.”