Izakaya means “a place to eat, drink, and sit comfortably.” In Japan, it’s roughly similar to a pub: simple food, straightforward drinks, and reasonable prices—a place to shrug off tradition and relax.

Don’t look for chef “performances” or wild menu items at Tustin’s Honda-Ya, just unpretentious decor, home-style food, and lots of good sake. From sushi and sashimi to tebasaki, yakitori, pork belly, and udon, locals can’t praise the big menu enough. Service is fast and efficient, but be prepared to wait; Honda-Ya gets packed, especially on weekends. However, we hear it takes just one visit to become a regular!

Check Honda-Ya’s site for hours, menus, events, and other locations.

Honda-Ya
556 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 832-0081
www.izakayahondaya.com
www.yelp.com/biz/honda-ya-tustin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/cumi&ciki

Regulars say that Gen Korean BBQ House stands out for atmosphere and service. If you’ve been to the three other locations, you know what to expect in Tustin: slick, comfortable, traditional-meets-modern decor and staff that anticipates your needs before you ask.

There are no complaints about the food, either. Regulars call the menu fresh, tasty, and traditional, pleasing ex-pats, newcomers to Korean cuisine, and even kids. Add reasonable prices, outstanding lunch specials (all-you-can-eat for $14.99) and deep happy hour discounts, and you’ve found a new spot for your date or business meeting.

Check Gen Korean BBQ House’s website for hours, menus, and specials.

Gen Korean BBQ House
13741 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 505-1800
www.genkoreanbbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/gen-korean-bbq-house-tustin

CC-BY-SA-3.0/Flickr/ruocaled

You’ve likely heard the expression “like oil and water,” and you may have even witnessed this strange phenomenon firsthand if you’re an avid baker. Although it is fairly common knowledge, do you really know why oil and water can’t mix?

The main reason why these two liquids can’t mix is because they’re too into themselves—literally. Water molecules are very attached to one another and though they usually mix with other liquids, they’ve met their match with oil, which is also very attached to its own molecules. In more scientific terms, water molecules are polar in nature and can only dissolve other polar molecules. Because oil is non-polar, it cannot dissolve in water. This causes the two liquids to almost seamlessly separate, and the oil then floats on top because it has a lower density than the water.

In nature, you can observe this phenomenon on water birds or animals like beavers. Their oily coats and feathers repel water, which keeps them warm and dry in the winter!

Why Oil and Water Don't Mix [Science Project Ideas]
Why Oil and Water do not mix? [Let’s Talk Chemistry]
Mixing Oil and Water [Science Experiments for Kids]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/USDA