Japanese food is one of Bangkok’s favorite cuisines—if not the favorite. From malls to hidden hi-so spots, this city is awash in Japanese flavors, so you really need to know what you’re craving.
Rather than just a list of the best, as outlined in our yearly Top Tables event, we’ve gone for something a little different and split this list into creative Japanese dining, sushi, unagi, and ramen, udon, and soba. Because, sometimes, you just need some ramen. You’ll also find a variety of price ranges because we can’t all eat at Sushi Masato every day.
Each year, BK Magazine hosts its annual Top Tables restaurant awards, which lists the top 100 venues in the city, regardless of cuisine type, for that calendar year according to a panel of journalists, restaurateurs, chefs, and foodies that we know get out and eat. Following that event, we break that top 100 down into region-specific lists like this to share to readers.
This is by no means a complete list (we need to cut it off at some point), but if you are looking for a new Japanese restaurant to try in Bangkok this list will get you started.
Creative Japanese Dining
Den Kushi Flori
Den Kushi Flori is the space from chefs Zaiyu Hasegawa of Den and Hiroyasu Kawate of Florilège. The pair have combined French and Japanese culinary techniques served (mostly) in the form of omakase bites. The Bangkok kitchen is led by chef Susumu Shimizu who has incorporated local touches in their revolving menu. Keep an eye out for their clay pot rice served with variations of meat throughout the seasons. Their latest rendition includes juicy beef and gelatinous pork belly. Note: This spot is temporarily closed, but keep any eye out.
Jua
A staple night out spot in Charoenkrung and Talat Noi, Jua continues to be that go-to izakaya spot where you’ll find everything from sake and cocktails to umeshu alongside some inventive Japanese-style skewers. Though the seating is limited, the warmly lit joint with some fairy lights out front brings out the cozy vibes that makes you want to return for more. Pair your nightcap with their new eggplant glazed with miso or the crowd pleasing tsukune (chicken meatballs) coated in teriyaki and cured egg sprinkles. Apart from skewers, you can also get heavier dishes like kao soi and tiger prawn roll.
Kinu by Takagi
Kaiseki can be an acquired taste, but here it’s enlightening. Chef Takagi Kazuo is in the kitchen preparing the seasonal wonders of a 10-seat, 10-courseJapanese feast centered around his refined Kyoto-style cuisine, known as kyo-ryori. The Mandarin Oriental is not short on high-end dining venues, but this venue is a must-try.
KiSara
Photo: Conrad Bangkok / Facebook
Tucked away on Conrad Bangkok’s third floor, KiSara delivers a focused take on traditional Japanese cuisine without the trend-driven frills that seem to absorb this city’s scene every year—and we can get behind that. The menu here leans into seasonal ideas with traditional sensibilities, from sashimi platters and tempura donburi to grilled eel over sweet omelet rice. Contemporary touches—like mentaiko pasta and wagyu sandos—add variety without losing the plot. The space mirrors this philosophy: calm and natural, with warm copper accents, smooth slates of marble, and a sushi counter that can go toe-to-toe with any omakase venue in town. Pair your meal with a pour from the well-stocked sake list or a cold Japanese beer and you’ll really have no reason to leave this place any time soon.
Kissuisen
Chef Yuichi Mitsui helms the kitchen at Kissuisen, and here you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to both the menu and the venue. Built around the idea of Japanese "godai" elements, you can indulge in fire at their teppanyaki grill, earth at their limited-seating izakaya bar, wind at their dedicated omakase area, and finish off the night with water in the sake garden.
Torisawa22
Torisawa22 is a reservation-only yakitori omakase dedicated entirely to chicken. It is one of the top yakitori spots in Bangkok, ranking among the best on Tabelog Tokyo Yakitori. This Japanese restaurant specializes in grilled skewers made with traditional methods and a focus on simplicity. The team highlights the flavors of each skewer, featuring cuts like Kashiwa, Hatsumoto, and Teba, all perfectly charred over a charcoal brazier.
Kuma no Yakitori
Coming to Bangkok last year via Osaka, Kuma no Yakitori’s deals in grilled goods, a brand that's earned its reputation abroad and is now at Rain Hill. Their counter seating faces an open kitchen, allowing you a front seat viewing of the grilling process. The hands in this kitchen belong to chef Yoshinari Takagi, who grill churns out skewers for the downtown crowd.
Sushi
Sushi Masato
Simple, wabi-sabi, and elegant—Sushi Masato resonates with the spirit of sushi restaurants in Japan, led by chef Masato who has been working the traditional omakase sushi game for more than 20 years across various restaurants. Upstairs, Raw Bar Masato is available for traditional Japanese seafood prepared by Sushi Masato’s team specializing in sea urchin and seasonal Japanese oysters, as well as a wide range of sushi made of the best products from Toyosu market in Tokyo.
Ginza Sushi Ichi
Coming up on its tenth year anniversary, Ginza Sushi Ichi went all out this year bringing in their esteemed head chef Takeshi Kawakam from Singapore to do a celebratory pop up. On the regular, the omakase joint brings the freshest seasonal seafood catch from Japan. The premium ingredients cover the coveted otoro, giant mitten crab, shirako, and the buttery ankimo. More common finds like the blue fin tuna and uni are expertly prepared and curated.
Sushi KiShin
Kishin, meaning "new miracle," is Chef Satoshi’s fresh take on edomae sushi in Bangkok. His goal is to deliver an affordable omakase experience that stays true to authentic Japanese flavors, using premium ingredients sourced directly from Japan, like chutoro, uni, kani, and Kyoho grapes.
Ginza Tenharu
Gaysorn has been becoming more well known for its food scene, and Ginza Tenharu takes deep-frying to the next level: Kobe beef, tiger prawns, creamy sea urchin—all fried to perfection in sunflower oil. The Japanese ingredients here are delicately prepared, but it’s an unpretentious spot with warm and welcoming chefs who really get diners in the mood for a fun meal.
Sushi Saito
Chef Takashi Saito is in the kitchen here, found right on the Chao Phraya river, serving up authentic Edomae sushi at the Chao Phraya Estate. Here, it’s all about the seasonal seafood from Toyosu Market in Tokyo and a delicate dining experience. They’re open for lunch, but for the real treat, try out Chef Takashi Saito’s omakase with five apps, 11 nigiri, miso soup, sushi rolls, and two desserts.
Sushi Saryu
Found in the Kronos building in Sathorn, the mind behind this kitchen is Chef Sudo, dedicated to making classic and inventive Edomae sushi. At this restaurant, limited to just six spots at a time, Sushi Saryu serves a 15-course omakase menu, sourcing its seafood from Tokyo. The design is minimalist and traditional, really setting the stage for the authentic bites to come.
Fillets
One of the many notable spots found at One Bangkok, Fillets certainly has an onus of traditions, but the focus definitely lands on the creative side of the spectrum. More specifically, this space focuses on blending kappo tradition into an omakase-style experience, or modernist kappo. With Chef Randy at the helm, this spot is definitely one of the more inventive sushi joints in Bangkok.
Sushi Koge
With a sort of pan-Japan approach to ingredients, Sushi Koge is another spot focusing on authentic Edomae dining. With a focus on seasonal ingredients, this space features set menus from B2,950 for 16 courses to B6,000 for their 22-course special. The brains in this kitchen belong to Thai sushi specialist Chef Jack, who spent years training with chefs in Japan to create Sushi Koge.
Sushi Seisui
One of the newer spots on this list and coming to us from The folks at Aman Nai Lert, the hands in this kitchen belong to Chef Satoshi Tsuru, serving up world-class omakase. At our last check, this spot is reserved for hotel guests and Aman Club Founders, so if it’s one you’ve been meaning to check off your list, you may need to book in for your chance. You can be sure, though, that Aman is all about quality for this 19-course omakase journey.
Nikaku
Priding their establishment on the honte-gaeshi method of sushi preparation, Nikaku came to Bangkok via Kitakyushu in Kyoshu and serves only 12 diners at their omakase counter. The executive chef here is Chef Setsuo Funahashi, who has decades of experience in traditional sushi preparation. The original Nikaku in Japan earned him two Michelin stars in 2021. Their autumn menu is ending at the beginning of November, so expect something new soon.
Soba - Ramen - Udon
No Name Noodle
Shinji Inoue hit the Bangkok dining scene with a bang in 2022, creating a venue for ramen lovers that the city really needed—think handmade noodles, top-quality ingredients like Kombu seaweed from Hokkaido and dried fish, and a proper rush for a table. Diners have just 40 minutes to slurp down their noodles, and this dining experience has been a hit with Bangkok who just can’t get enough of Chef Shinji Inoue’s bowls. This is a chef who keeps innovating and will keep the Bangkok noodle scene on its toes.
Kataru
What started as a pop up project from The Slurp Brothers is now a fully fledged and difficult-to-book craft ramen storefront that’s ready to impress Japanese noodle lovers. The owners are involved in every step of the process from construction to crafting the components that go into each bowl. Kataru also keeps things fresh by switching up the menu every couple of months.
Shoyu Stand
Bangkok may be saturated with ramen joints, but when it comes to those piloted by Shin Inoue, the mastermind behind the instant hit No Name Noodle, your ramen experience will be tougher—way tougher. He’s like the Jay Fai of ramen. His ramen spin-off, originally at J Avenue and now on Thonglor 17, the Shoyu Stand, is finally out of the box, much more accessible in both price and availability without compromising his unique take on ramen. As the name suggests, the star here is the shoyu ramen, a crowd pleaser for both noodle novices and ramen experts. His current signature menu plays on three thermal senses: hot, cold, and lukewarm.
Mensho Tokyo
Found at the RSU Tower on Sukhumvit 31, Mensho Tokyo is a big name in noodles. It seems like just yesterday (five years ago) when this Tokyo staple got transplanted into Bangkok. This is craft ramen done right, and you can go in expecting to leave a lot of pretensions about high-end ramen at the door, with a lively vibe and customers who know what they want. For ramen lovers in Phrom Phong, this is the go-to.
Menya Itto
No doubt already a ramen fan favorite for those downtown, this one has been around for a while—eight years, in fact, coming to Bangkok from the Tokyo brand. Along with being reasonably priced, this spot has gained a healthy and loyal following from the Bangkok crowds in Chitlom. It’s not super fancy—it’s even been called fast food—but Bangkok can’t get enough of it.
Tsukesoba SENSE by NNN
Another one from the mind behind No Name Noodle (are you sensing a theme yet?), this restaurant comes with ramen pedigree like no other, and it's another way for one of the biggest names on the city’s ramen scene to reach a bigger audience. Found just outside of the Sala Daeng BTS and open starting at 10am, this spot is a big hit with the office crowd, but it’s got a wide appeal.
Soba House Thailand
Photo: Soba House / Soimilk
The great thing about things like soba and ramen is that it’s accessible. The new notable spot—and by new we mean it literally opened Tuesday—is the Soba House Konjiki Hototogisu. Another transplant from Tokyo, the brand is set to take the city by storm. Found on the fourth floor of Siam Paragon, this mall spot is easy on the wallet and now is the time to discover what all the fuss is about.
Kamakiri Udon
Photo: Kamakiri Udon / Soimilk
Found on Sukhumvit Soi 26 and it's very big with the office crowd. Go expecting crowds if you go for lunch. Kamakiri Udon boasts a large open kitchen and family tables that seat four further back in the venue. Opening in the middle of last year, this spot comes from the venue of the same name in Fukuoka.
Honobono Ramen
Udom Suk residents don’t have to waste time in Thonglor and Phrom Phong traffic for a bowl of their favorite noodles because Honobono ramen brings craft ramen right to their neighborhood. Opening last year, the shoyu ramen (B279), a chicken shoyu broth, is mixed with some fruit de la mer. This dish is finished off with sous vide chicken breast, chashu pork, pickled bamboo shoots, and ajitama (boiled eggs marinated in sauce). Try the shio ramen (B259) for that extra aromatic flavor straight from the sea.
Unagi
Unagi Kurofune
A proper Phrom Phong unagi spot, this one doesn’t rest on pretensions; have some eel, have a beer. But, this space still takes its food seriously. The eels are large, fat, and the menu is easy. The spot boasts a minimalist interior, but it’s still a place where you can have fun with a big group. The list of toppings for the unagi will keep you coming back.
Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa
You’re in luck if this is the spot of choice for you because there are three different venues in Bangkok serving up Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa: at One Bangkok, Emquartier, and Kingsquare. But, just because they’re popular doesn’t mean they don’t take unagi seriously. They even import their binchotan charcoal to keep those traditional flavors flowing.
Unakichi
Found at the Hotel Nikko, this little spot is a Thonglor staple, and while they’ve got plenty of classic dishes, you’ll also find some creative twists like their black umaki, an eel roll made with squid ink. For a quick and easy introduction, make sure to check out the unakichi set for B699, featuring nearly half a dozen sides with the unagi over rice.
Unatoto
While the venue at Dusit Central Park is more accessible for most of the city there’s another venue at Central Eastville that’s often overlooked. Here, you’ll find classics served simply and for a decent price. The classic unadon over rice costs B350, but they’ve also got options for unagi nagiri starting at B220 and their signature boxes feature both unagi and salmon over ikura
