It’s Day 67 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in Maryland, and this one took me to Hunt Valley for a Japanese spot that feels like a tiny escape the second you walk in. Izakaya 68 sits inside Hunt Valley Towne Centre, and between the cute decor, the shareable small plates, and yes, the actual robot servers zipping food out to your table, it’s a really great date night spot.
My friend and I worked through a stack of skewers, tofu, and inari sushi, and while everything was solid, the spicy salmon inari sushi is the one thing I’d drive back to Hunt Valley for. It’s budget-friendly, it’s a whole vibe, and it’s a great pick if you want dinner with a little bit of a show. Let me put you on.
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What Makes Izakaya 68 a Standout Japanese Spot
So what actually is an izakaya? Think of it as a casual Japanese pub, the kind of place built around a bunch of small shareable plates and drinks instead of one big entree (the word basically comes from “sake shop”). That’s exactly the format here. You order everything through a QR code at your table, the plates come out a few at a time, and you graze your way through the meal.
Izakaya 68 leans all the way into that shareable spirit, with a menu that runs from yakitori grilled over binchotan charcoal to ramen, karaage, and inari sushi. It’s currently the top-rated restaurant in the Cockeysville and Hunt Valley area on TripAdvisor, and once you’re inside, you get why. The room’s warm and a little transportive, and the whole setup makes it an easy place to slow down and try a bunch of things without committing to one giant plate.
What to Order at Izakaya 68
Here’s everything my friend and I got. The whole table ran budget-friendly, with most small plates landing around $7 and change, so it’s easy to order a little of everything.
Spicy Salmon Inari Sushi ($7.38)
This was the winner, hands down. If you’ve never had inari sushi, it’s sushi rice tucked into a pocket of sweet, seasoned fried tofu (aburaage), and the plain version’s naturally vegetarian. The spicy salmon one was the standout bite of the whole meal. I’d genuinely go back for this alone. If you’re a sushi person, it’s a fun change of pace from the usual rolls, and it’s the kind of bite that makes you want a second round. If you want a full sushi deep dive around the state, I rounded up my favorite sushi spots in Maryland too.
Agedashi Tofu ($7.38)
My other favorite of the night. It’s lightly fried tofu sitting in a warm, savory dashi broth, so you get a soft, silky inside with a delicate crispy edge. I really enjoyed it, and it’s a great pick if you want something warm alongside the sushi plates. You gotta get this one.
Skewer Platter ($16.38)
The most substantial plate of the night and a reliable choice for the table, with a mix of skewers to share. It was solid and a nice anchor for the table, though the inari sushi and tofu were the clear favorites. If you’re building a spread, I’d treat it as the shareable centerpiece and load up on the smaller plates around it.
We also tried the Age Mochi with Eggplant ($7.38) and the Salmon Avocado Inari Sushi ($7.38), both good. Everything we ordered was really tasty, but if I’m ranking, the spicy salmon inari and the agedashi tofu are the two I’d tell you to lock in first.
Wait, Are There Really Robot Servers at Izakaya 68?
Izakaya 68 uses these little cat-inspired robots that glide your food out from the kitchen to your table, which is exactly as fun as it sounds. They don’t have arms, so a staff member still sets the dishes down for you, but watching a kitten-faced robot roll up with your inari sushi is such a cute novelty (my friend and I were pretty entertained by it, lol).
It’s a big part of why this spot works so well for a date, or for bringing along anyone who likes a little entertainment with dinner. Paired with food this good, the robots are a playful bonus that make the whole meal feel like a proper outing.
The Vibe and Experience
The interior’s the real surprise here. From the outside it’s a shopping-center storefront, but inside it’s warm, cozy, and so charming, the kind of room that makes you forget you’re in a Towne Centre. It’s intimate enough for a date, but easygoing enough for a casual dinner with friends or family. You order right at your table by QR code, graze through your plates, and take your time. It’s not a big fancy production, it’s just a really pleasant little spot to settle into for a couple hours.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 100 Shawan Rd Ste A, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, inside Hunt Valley Towne Centre.
- Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:30am to 3pm and 5pm to 9:30pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 10:30pm, Sunday 11:30am to 9:30pm.
- Parking: free surface lot at the Towne Centre. Heads up, there are a few steps from the lot up to the entrance.
- Ordering: you order by QR code at your table. A couple of diners have mentioned an automatic service charge on the bill, so glance at your receipt.
- Price: budget-friendly, with most small plates landing around $7 to $16.
- Drinks: sake and Japanese beer are on the menu, and since it’s a small-plates spot, plan to share.
- Vegetarian: yes, there are options like the agedashi tofu and age mochi with eggplant.
- Menu: you can browse the full menu on their website before you go.
- Nearby: if you’re exploring Cockeysville, Hyderabad Stories is another local gem worth knowing.
Is Izakaya 68 Worth A Visit?
Yes, especially if you want dinner with a little personality. It’s budget-friendly, the small plates deliver across the board, and the spicy salmon inari sushi plus that cozy, playful room make it an easy date night rec in the Hunt Valley area. It’s not the fanciest Japanese meal you’ll ever have, but it’s a genuinely fun one. If you’re working your way through Baltimore County’s Japanese spots, Sushi Ya in Owings Mills is another hidden gem worth adding to the list.
If you’re making a full day of the Hunt Valley area, Andy Nelson’s BBQ in Cockeysville is a three-minute drive away and is one of Maryland’s most iconic pit beef spots.
Have you guys made it to Izakaya 68 yet, or are you as curious about those robot servers as I was? Let me know what you order in the comments, Nomsters, and if you’ve got a friend who’d get a kick out of a kitten robot delivering their sushi, def send this their way.