The Japanese concept of the izakaya is brilliant — casual food that's fun to eat and great drinks to wash it down. Whether it's after work, or way into the later hours, pairing simple food prepared with expert care and tasty libations is a time honored tradition. Here are the can't miss takes on classics: 

Pork Clouds
Route 66 Smokehouse (79 Pearl St., 212-943-1602) 
Pork rinds gone classy and less greasy than you thought deep-fried could go. 

Free Popcorn
High Dive (243 5th Ave., Brooklyn; 718-788-0401) 
Free popcorn can be found to keep your belly full in a lovely machine at High Dive—and yes, to keep you thirsty too. 

Free Pizza
Lulu's (113 Franklin St., Brooklyn; 718-383-6000) 
Alligator and Crocodile Lounge made names for themselves with it, but Lulu's is a little metal bar where you didn't think they would offer great (personal-size) pizzas but they do. Toppings like artichoke hearts and pepperoni cost extra. 

Duck Fat Chips and Truffle Sour Cream
Clover Club (210 Smith St., Brooklyn; 718-855-7939) 
The highwater-mark for sophisticated takes on everyday foods you thought you knew all about. You have all the buzz items from early this decade but this menu staple keeps proving that duck fat and truffles can be much more than just food fads. 

Buffalo Cheese Curds
Murray's Cheese Bar (264 Bleecker St., 646-476-8882) 
When a shop best known for cheese opens up a bar, you know that the snacks will be good. This take on that Midwestern (and A&W) staple, is no different. 

Gyu Don
Sake Bar Decibel (240 E 9th St., 212-979-2733)
In this subterranean sake bar (the drinks menu will overwhelm you, in the best way), they offer solid and traditional izakaya like the Gyu Don, a little bowl of rice topped with seasoned beef and onions.  

Photo: Flickr user kurmanphotos