Enso Izakaya

We wanted to check out the newest izakaya spot in town and when we arrived we were blown away by the elevated flavors and techniques shown by their chef and team. What was really unique is the way they cook their skewers. They used the binchotan charcoal method which gives a very nice smoky flavor. This dining experience truly transported us back to Japan and we look forward to coming back to try more of their menu and specials. We ordered the chef’s special which was perfect for the 2 of us and allowed us to try a variety of items. Their live music on the weekends is a nice touch too. Welcome to Avondale Estates Enso!

I love this place! The atmosphere is trendy and classy with a lot of nods to Japanese culture. The food is excellent and I always have friendly servers. It’s become one of my favorite spots when I want a little bit of an experience with really good food. Try some of the unique cocktails. I was pleasantly surprised by the Ume drink on their new menu.

Located inside Olive & Pine building. Great atmosphere with delicious food and drinks. Decor was warm and inviting but felt slightly upscale. Comfy seating options as well. For starters, Corn Puff, Tofu, Nori Fries and Eggplant were all delicious. Tofu was my least favorite as it was silken and not seasoned, but the sauce it came with was good to drench it with. Our 10 yr old loved the Corn Puff and Nori fries which was served with a delicious Nori Mayo. We had 3 noodle dishes the Tonkotsu, which was 8/10 for flavor and portion size. but the pork (like thick cut bacon) was not to their liking. I had the Goma pasta (veg) 9/10 very simple creamy pasta and it was served with chili crisp on the side. I do wish I had ordered vegetables to go with it. Yaki Udon was also reviewed very well (not vegetarian, has tendon broth) 9/10. The drinks were 9/10, unique and not sweet at all which I prefer. Went on Christmas Day with reservation as it was one of the few places open and we were pleasantly surprised! I’d go back! Service was a bit slow and part of our order never came and after asking 3x it finally arrived while we were paying the check. Drink also came half way through dinner. But staff was very nice and pleasant overall. Water was constantly refilled which was appreciated. The bill was under $150 for 4 people, with 2 alcoholic drinks. Happy overall with experience.

Newly opened Japanese izakaya spot! It is such a hidden gem in Avondale Estates. I tried their yakitori and lots of small plates. My personal favorites were the roasted corn tsukemen, chicken wings, pork jowl, and tuna & hamachi sashimi. Will be back again for another date night!

Enso Izakaya is an exciting addition to the Avondale Estates dining scene! The vibe of the restaurant is super fun and unique, service is friendly and attentive, and the food is excellent. This will definitely be a regular spot for us. Can’t wait to try their cocktail menu!

A great and flavorful addition to Avondale. A bit pricey but each dish was carefully prepared and well seasoned. Pictured are items from the Chef’s Choice, $50 for a variety from the main menu w/ smaller portions.

By far one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had in Georgia. This rivals my favorite yakitori spot in Osaka. Would recommend everyone try the Tuna Avo Zuki. It’s out of this world! I’ll be there celebrating when you get your first Michelin star!!

The curry rice was exquisite, the corn puff delightfully unique, the fried peppers perfectly crisp, and the lamb chops exceptionally tender. The service was attentive, the atmosphere captivating, and the overall energy radiated warmth and sophistication—a truly memorable dining experience.

Enso is one of the latest new editions to Avondale Estates and I'm glad there's finally a Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood. Admittedly, my initial thought/hope was that the focus would be on sushi. However, the focus here is yakitori and I'm pleased that Enso was my first experience having yakatori. Anyway, Enso is located in Olive and Pine and is a really great addition to all of the other great places within Olive and Pine. Enso is intimate and cozy with bar (cocktail and yakatori) seating as well as other tables throughout the space. I also noticed there appears to be an additional dining room that looks like it can accommodate a larger group for a traditional Japanese dining experience. I came late afternoon on a Saturday and ordered a few items off the main menu. I ordered a couple of items suggested by the waiter and was really pleased with everything I ordered. I was served a complementary order of savory cucumber which was quite tasty. I later noticed it's also on the menu, so I'll be sure to order this on future visits. I also ordered a couple yakitori: negima (chicken and scallion w/tare sauce), pork jowl (pork jowl & scallion w/miso goma), shitake mushroom. Of the 3, the negima was my favorite, my tastebuds liked that the best and I'd order it again. The pork jowl and mushroom took spots 2 and 3. I think with the yakatori, favorites will likely come down to preference, as nothing was not delicious just not what I have to have again. I also ordered tuna avo zuki from the share plate menu. In my opinion, this is a small serving, so I'm not sure how much sharing I'd be doing if I were dining with others. If was sized more as an appetizer. Overall, I'm glad Enso is a part of the growing restaurant and entertainment scene in Avondale Estates and I'll certainly be back to try several other things on the menu.

Amazing new Japanese restaurant. We ordered the chef's choice and had an excellent experience. Live jazz music great vibe.

Five stars! Went to Enso Izakaya for lunch. As the kids say, "what a vibe." Amazing and unique ambiance. Imagine Blade Runner meets Kiki's Delivery Service meet Cheers. Great for a date or fun night/lunch out. Two bars and lots of little tables to sit at. I can't wait to come back and have a cocktail at the bar. We had two lunch specials - the tempura and rice dish and the salmon and rice dish. Both were different, and amazing. The tempura was easily some of the best tempura I've had in Atlanta. The salmon was grilled over Japanese charcoal and very flavorful, and cooked well. The rice had some interesting seaweed and crunchy bits mixed in. Very very tasty. Excellent service too. Eat here!! We will be back!

Gorgeous, atmospheric restaurant, superb food, personable and knowledgeable wait staff - need I say more? This restaurant is a much-needed addition to Avondale Estates eating establishments. I went with the Chef's Choice sampler and was not disappointed. Each course was as delicious as beautifully prepared. The menu has a large array of options making return visits a new adventure.