Walk down almost any soi off Sukhumvit these days and you’ll hit a charcoal smell before you hit a menu. Bangkok’s Japanese dining scene has exploded — izakayas, yakitori counters and robatayaki grills on nearly every block, all promising the same thing: smoke, skewers, and cold beer.
So which ones are actually worth your night? Here’s an honest rundown of the best izakaya Bangkok has right now, plus the best robatayaki Bangkok 2026 spots doing something worth the trip — and why Yankii, tucked into Sukhumvit Soi 24, isn’t really competing with any of them.
What’s the difference between izakaya and robatayaki, anyway?
Quick primer, since the terms get thrown around interchangeably. An izakaya is a Japanese pub — small plates, sake, beer, a loud room. Robatayaki is specifically fireside grilling: a chef working charcoal in front of you, skewers passed over on a long wooden paddle. A lot of the best spots blend both, which is exactly where this list lives.
The best izakaya Bangkok has to offer
Jidori Cuisine Ken (Sukhumvit Soi 26) A regulars’ favourite for over a decade, tucked in a quiet alley with a warm, rustic dining room. Yakitori is the draw, though the wider izakaya menu holds up too. The Thaiger rates it among Bangkok’s top five izakaya for exactly this reason. If you want the classic, unpretentious version of the format, this is it.
Hone Bangkok (Sukhumvit Soi 24) The polished end of the spectrum — minimalist Japanese interiors, a grill counter, and a menu that leans refined rather than rowdy. Standouts include a chilled capellini with scallop and sweet shrimp, and a saikyo miso black cod that stays rich without going heavy. Time Out Bangkok calls it zen from the moment you walk in — great for a date night, not the place for a loud group.
Izakaya Hanako (Sukhumvit) Old-school and reliable. A deep menu of classic izakaya dishes, fair prices, and a genuinely Japanese-pub feel without trying too hard — Tripadvisor reviewers consistently flag the value and the attentive service.
The best robatayaki Bangkok 2026
Akanoya Robatayaki (Sukhumvit Soi 49) Bangkok’s original robata specialist — a U-shaped grill counter, a sake and shochu list built for connoisseurs, and the kind of shouted, theatrical service that made robatayaki famous in the first place. Bangkok.com still calls it the city’s first and only true robata experience of its kind.
Soshi Robatayaki (SO/ Bangkok, Sathorn) The newer, sleeker option near Lumpini Park. More refined, more date-friendly, with a beef-heavy robata menu that also stretches into seafood, sashimi, and even vegan plates. Eatigo’s rundown is worth a look if you’re weighing a set menu.
Both are excellent at what they do: fire, technique, and a fairly formal sense of occasion.
Where Yankii fits in and why it doesn’t try to fit in
Every spot above nails one lane: refined izakaya, classic yakitori, or serious robata theatre. Yankii Robatayaki & Bar is trying to do something else entirely — it grew out of a deliberate collision between Legacy and Rebellion, the idea being that a traditional fireside-grilling restaurant gets passed down through generations and into the hands of rebellious youth — as the brand’s own origin story goes.
Guests around the fireside robata counter at Yankii
In practice, that means:
- Upstairs, a robata grill counter cooking skewers over charcoal in the traditional style served on the customary wooden paddle, called out over a hip-hop soundtrack instead of the usual enka. The full spread is on the food menu here.
- Downstairs, a retro Japanese candy-shop-styled bar that turns into open karaoke every night — no private rooms, no bookings, just a mic and a room full of strangers. It’s a big enough draw that Time Out named it one of Bangkok’s best karaoke spots in its own right.
- A drinks list built around the same rebellious streak, including a Yuzu Sour that’s better known than it should be for a bar this loud — see the full drinks menu here.
Time Out Bangkok put it well, noting Yankii works on two levels: an upstairs robata grill room thick with charcoal smoke and loose, lively energy, and a downstairs bar styled like a retro Japanese sweet shop where anyone can grab the mic. That’s really the pitch — it’s not trying to be the quietest or most refined room on this list. It’s trying to be the one you remember. If sushi is more your speed on a given night, Yankii’s hand rolls are worth a detour too — read more in Bangkok’s Best Hand Roll Experience at Yankii, and on the nightlife side of the room.
Open karaoke downstairs at Yankii
Planning Your Visit to Yankii
Yankii Robatayaki & Bar Ground Floor, Skyview Hotel Bangkok, 12 Sukhumvit 24 Alley, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110 Open daily, 6pm – 1am (last food order 11:30pm) A short walk from BTS Phrom Phong. Check the food menu and drinks menu before you go, and book a table here.
So which one should you actually book?
If you want quiet, technical, date-night grilling, Hone or Soshi. If you want the classic yakitori-and-sake pub experience, Jidori or Izakaya Hanako. If you want fire, high energy, karaoke, and handrolls with interactive dining experience, head to Yankii’s lane without thinking twice. Check the food menu, read a bit more about the night downstairs, and book a table here.