Rough day? Tough work? House burnt down? There’s nothing a night out with your friends at these izakayas in Bangkok can’t fix.
For those unfamiliar: An izakaya is categorised as a chill, laidback Japanese bar with food, snacks, and a variety of drinks for people to enjoy, especially after work. You can find your usual sashimi, grilled meat and vegetables, as well as regional delicacies here. Some places even offer hotpots to share with your colleagues. As after-work drinks are a part of the culture for Japanese salarymen, many of these places offer deals on alcohol perfect to share with colleagues.
If that gets your attention, Bangkok is full of wonderful izakayas you simply can’t miss. So check out our list, post it in your Line group, and mark your calendar for your next evening out.
[Hero and featured image credit: Mekiki no Ginji/Facebook]
Izakayas in Bangkok: The best places to check out after work
Ki Izakaya
Ki Izakaya is the perfect blend of the traditional Japanese vibes and the newer, more contemporary atmosphere of modern bars. Located on the ninth floor of the Sindhorn Kempinski, the place provides a wide variety of draft beers, highballs, sakes, and umeshu. Resident Chef Sawada is also very happy to whip you delicacies to go with your drink of choice.
Their yakitori is served on a beautiful charcoal brazier which would be perfect for any Instagram story. If you’re feeling fun, their Ume-Cha is made of umeshu, along with peach blossom tea and rose lemonade. If not, go for the highballs; lots of highballs.
More info: Ki Izakaya
Opening times: Open daily, 11.30am-3pm; 5pm-midnight
Location: Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel, 80 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Nearest station: Chitlom, BTS
Google Review rating: 4.6/5
Mekiki no Ginji
One of the most popular izakaya chains of Okinawa has expanded to open its first (and only, so far) branch in Thailand. Roughly translating to “sharp eyes for picking out ingredients,” they sure deliver on the name. The menu is very extensive, with a large selection of shabu-shabu, sashimi, and rice dishes. You can also pair your dishes with one of their flavoured beers, from cola beer to calpis beer.
Interestingly, this place offers each Japanese prefecture’s signature dishes. Try the Toro Toro Buta Kakuni, a traditional Okinawan dish made of pork belly braised in dashi, mirin, and soy sauce, or go through their array of rice balls with toppings.
More info: Mekiki no Ginji
Opening times: Open daily, 11am-10pm
Location: K Village, 95 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok
Nearest station: Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, MRT
Google Review rating: 4.2/5
Hanakaruta
As you enter Hanakaruta, the bar will be one of the first things you notice. Behind the bar is a two-storey-high shelf filled with the most incredible sakes and other alcohols — that’s how you know they’re not playing around. As you try one of their drinks, you can have the staff recommend you one of their curated dishes to go along. Their menu includes beautiful snacks and sushi which are undoubtedly perfect to share with friends.
If you’re a big sake fan, they offer take sakes, a strong, aromatic sake served in a bamboo shoot. Only three are available per day, and they go great with spicy tuna rolls.
More info: Hanakaruta
Opening times: Open daily, 6pm-2am
Location: 39 Soi Sukhumvit 39, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok
Nearest station: Phrom Phong, BTS
Google Review rating: 4.2/5
Kenji’s Lab
Kenji’s Lab describes itself as a “cosy bistro,” and understandably so. The relaxing vibes and the wonderful delicacies at this place will make you miss your time in Japan even if you’ve never been there. Their menu is not exclusively Japanese, but rather a multinational blend of dishes that go along with drinks. Thereby, it’s great if you’re here for some snacks and a beer to pair, but also perfect if you’re up for something more premium, from oysters to tenderloin. Kenji isn’t afraid to get experimental — it’s his lab, after all.
More info: Kenji’s Lab
Opening times: 808 13 Thara Rom 2 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Klongton-Nua Bangkok
Location: 39 Soi Sukhumvit 39, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok
Nearest station: Thonglor, BTS
Google Review rating: 4.5/5
JUA
A modern American twist on your usual izakaya, JUA specialises in yakitori and cocktails — hands-down one of the most agreeable combinations. The bar is decorated with a minimalist interior, with the photography of Jason Lang adorning the walls, and the menu is filled with delicious skewers, as well as Japanese-inspired cocktails.
The food menu brings in your izakaya favourites, along with twists here and there we absolutely adore. Highlights include the grilled yellowtail collar served with zesty ponzu oroshi, their uni pasta, and whatever they have on their yakitori menu.
More info: JUA
Opening times: 6pm-midnight
Location: 672 49 Charoen Krung Road, Bang Rak, Bangkok
Nearest station: Hua Lamphong, MRT
Google Review rating: 4.4/5
Fatboy Izakaya
Fatboy is a geeky, fun place that really says you can let your hair down the moment you walk in, with anime figurines proudly on display, and colour-changing light fixtures that set the vibes throughout the night. The DJs behind the station also make sure it never gets boring in the venue. The Ekkamai branch is the OG, but they recently opened another in Gaysorn Amarin.
You can expect quintessential izakaya dishes, as well as fun twists on the cuisine, albeit with ingredients you know and love. Highlights to try include their signature Fat Boy Roll made with wagyu beef and topped with foie gras, the Uni Pasta that utilises their housemade uni butter, as well as their maki stuffed with snow crab and avocado.
More info: Fatboy Izakaya
Opening times: Open daily, 12-3pm; 5pm-midnight (until 1am on Fri-Sat)
Location: 56 2-3 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok
Nearest station: Ekkamai, BTS
Google Review rating: 4.7/5
Doodle Izakaya
Just a 600m walk from the BTS, and you’ll see a house turned into an izakaya with two floors to choose from, complete with a very laidback atmosphere. But with DJs behind the station on the regular, staple drinks presented in the form of cocktails, and an interior that blends old and new, many say it’s an izakaya that doesn’t feel like an izakaya, but in the best way possible.
Doodle is one of the izakayas in Bangkok that really nails their food menu, with lots of fun takes on many proteins. Highlights include the tenderloin with shoyu butter sauce, duck confit with yuzu red wine sauce, and the tonkotsu carbonara with chashu pork.
More info: Doodle Izakaya
Opening times: Open daily, 5pm-midnight
Location: 8 Sukhumvit 47 Alley, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok
Nearest station: Phrom Phong, BTS
Google Review rating: 4.8/5
Why So Delicious
Why So Delicious is serious with their food, and fair with their prices. Although a new kid on the block compared to other izakayas in Bangkok, they’ve already charmed the customers who walked through their doors, and we understand why.
Their food menu features both izakaya classics and charming, experimental dishes. Apart from their well-crafted skewers that you simply cannot miss, highlights also include the beef tataki with their special ponzu sauce, the BBQ pork bowl with a sunny side up, as well as the nam prik ong bolognese.
More info: Why So Delicious
Opening times: Wed-Mon, 5pm-midnight
Location: 126/9 Floor 2, Park Avenue, Ekkamai Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok
Nearest station: Phrom Phong, BTS
Google Review rating: 5/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Izakaya classic dishes include yakitori (chicken skewers), sashimi platters, karaage, edamame, and more, paired with go well with beer and other alcohols.
There are no izakayas in Bangkok that specialises in vegetarian food, but izakayas always serve many vegetarian dishes, such as edamame, wakame seaweed, vegetable tempura, and more.
Depending on how much and what you order, an izakaya experience can cost around THB 300 and upwards to more than THB 1,000.
Beer, sake, umeshu, and whisky highballs. There is also green tea for non-alcoholic drinkers.
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Written by
Vichayuth Chantan
Digital Writer, Drinks and Dining
Writer by day, skinny legend by night, "Kook" Vichayuth works closely with Bangkok's F&B industry. His hobbies include bar-hopping, catching up with friends, and silently judging you from across the room.
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