Harajuku doesn't offer a lot of options in the izakaya category, so we were happy to discover this stylish spot in the architecturally ambitious b6 shopping mall. The dining room is buzzing, service is friendly and efficient, and the food and sake are consistently good.

Sakura's menu covers the bases of the modern izakaya/ dining bar - premium ingredients sourced from around the country, simple charcoal-grilled meats and seafood, plus creative original dishes. The specialty of the house is an excellent pork shabu-shabu, made with three different cuts of a small-farm-bred pork (Roppaku-buta) from Kagoshima. Instead of boiling water, the thinly sliced pork is quick-cooked at the table in a soy-milk based broth, then dipped in a light but flavorful sesame-herb dipping sauce.

Gourmet vegetables are big these days, and Sakura does up a fine platter of grilled vegetables carpaccio-style - a basket of ten market-fresh vegetables lightly grilled and served with olive oil, salt, and a dash of vinaigrette. The grilled broad beans were also simple but effective, served in the shell and accompanied by a coarse dipping salt. There are several other grilled vegetables, tempura-fried vegetables and organic-vegetable stews, all varying with the season.

A few more favorites include the gindara saikyo-yaki (miso-grilled black cod); ebi tempura made with big, plump prawns; and a rolled omelette (dashi-maki tamago) bursting with garlic chives. The sashimi assortment is beautifully laid out and visually appealing, but unfortunately it was one of the weaker dishes we've had here - perhaps we should spring for the deluxe assortment next time.

Drinks include nine house sakes plus a few daily specials, and the staff are happy to make recommendations. There are also eight wines by the glass, starting with budget-level Fetzer from California.

Customers here are a mix of different ages - couples and groups of friends rather than office coworkers. The spacious main dining room looks out over Meiji-dori and the Audi Building across the street. There's also a lovely outdoor terrace area that's perfect for parties and a string of cute private nooks beside the long entrance corridor. Dinner with drinks averages around Y5000-6000 per person. The English menu seems up-to-date, and helpfully includes descriptions of the various sake selections.