Gaijin Izakaya

One of the best spots in Zurich for Asian fusion cuisine with a strong izakaya influence. Gaijin Izakaya offers a great mix of flavors inspired by Japanese cuisine and other Asian influences, creating a menu that feels both authentic and creative. Everything we tried was delicious, well balanced, and full of flavor. The atmosphere is cozy yet lively, perfect for sharing dishes and drinks. Service was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.

One of my favorite restaurants in Zurich! I always looking forward being there, exceptionally creative dishes, delicious 😋 making feel being in a foreign land already! Super friendly staff and lovely ambience!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding Experience at Gaijin Izakaya It was an unforgettable and delicious experience — pure passion from start to finish. If you go, ask for Francesco when it comes to wine. He turned our dinner into something truly special with his perfect recommendations and genuine enthusiasm. At the bar, Thanos amazed us with his signature cocktail: "Thanos Snipes".. full of creativity and balance — every sip a delight. The whole evening felt authentic, refined, and filled with soul. Highly recommended — we’ll definitely be back. Thanks Francesco! Thanks Thanos! Thanks to the whole Gaijin Izakaya Team 🙏💪

I’ve been there with my wife for a date/anniversary dinner. Beautifully place, amazing food and great service. 10/10 experience. Thanks a lot to the whole team. We will be definitely back!

Probably the best Japanese comfort food in Switzerland! 10/10 recommend - will come again. PS: try the gyoza soup that is available in the omakase menu !

Culinary experience, with flawless service. We chose the tasting menu with premium ingredients. We were not disappointed. A very creative cuisine that delivers balanced flavors and textures. The service was attentive but invisible: quite rare to experience! Giving 4 ⭐️ for the food because (1) the lobster tail was overcooked and (2) some of the rice with the eggplant was a bit mushy.

Dinner at Gaijin (omakase gourmand) was quite good! I have been to Japan 9 times for holidays, so it was nice to revisit some flavors (although cuisine at Gaijin is highly "wasternized" imho). Bill was quite high for what it was, but still within reason. I did not appreciate the optional tip at the end. We should be careful not to turn into the US, after which there's no going back and it's us, the consumers, who pay.

After a few visits to the restaurant, it was time for me to write a review. Both the omakase and the a la carte menu are truly solid choices, as each course is beautifully presented and extremely delicious. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the staff is always incredibly friendly and attentive, making the entire evening feel special from start to finish.

Emailed ahead of time to make a reservation. Food was ok to outstanding, depending on the dish. I wanted to try the Omakasa but was overruled. They recommended 6-7 plates for two people. We ordered 5 and it was too much for us. We wanted the wagyu but the portion was too large so we did the Omakasa add on. The wagyu with the rice was just OK, it needed salt, but it was a bite so you don't find out until it's too late to ask. Given this, I'm glad we didn't order the large portion of the wagyu. The meatball wagyu from the Omakasa wagyu add on was amazing!! It was probably the best thing we ate! It had a black crust of some kind surrounding the meatball and it came with a tasty cream sauce. The shrimp tempura was tasty but it felt a little over cooked. The Brussels sprouts were amazing, they had a spicy sauce and shaved tuna flakes, and they were my second favorite dish of the night. The sea bass was really good. The salmon sashimi was in large poke type chunks and the sauce was too thick for my liking-it was my least favorite dish. Had the best server, he was really attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. His wine recommendation, the Zinfandel, was great!! Excellent dinner in Zurich!!

Nice New Place in Zurich - love the Menu, great to share. We shared 5 small dishes and one large port cheek dish - enough for us two. Chill music in the room and very nice staff - we will come back!