Gaijin Izakaya
Izakaya restaurant · Aussersihl ·

Gaijin Izakaya

Izakaya restaurant · Aussersihl ·

Modern izakaya with bold flavors, small & large dishes

omakase
contemporary asian soul food
spicy pork belly
great service
sharing plates
creative cooking
friendly staff
bbq edamame
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null
Gaijin Izakaya by null

Information

Birmensdorferstrasse 5, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland Get directions

CHF 100+

Reserve a table
Order delivery
See Menu
Reservations required
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Cozy

Information

Static Map

Birmensdorferstrasse 5, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland Get directions

+41 44 482 22 00
gaijin-izakaya.ch
@gaijin_izakaya

CHF 100+ · Menu

Reserve a table

Features

•Reservations required
•Restroom
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups

Last updated

Jan 20, 2026

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2026 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@michelinguide
48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

"This place with a name that translates as "foreigner bar" is a really cool spot that follows the style of Japaneseizakayas(casual bars that also serve food). A team led by chef-patron Daniel Shu, who trained in Chicago and New York, and his business partner bring you delicious contemporary Asian soul food. There is a reduced menu at lunchtime. Expect creative cooking such as their spicy Korean pork belly: thin, slightly crispy slices of pork belly marinated in a spicy sweet and sour sauce and accompanied by a beautifully soft egg cooked sous vide and placed on sesame rice. The atmosphere is relaxed, with modern music playing in the background." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/zurich-region/zurich/restaurant/gaijin-izakaya
Gaijin Izakaya

Kelly C.

Google
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.

George K.

Google
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!

Tobias

Google
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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 🙏💪

Moritz N.

Google
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 !

Giovanni B.

Google
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.

Louis M.

Google
Such a unique vibe in Zurich! We stopped for small bites while on a night out and always love places that have those options. Every bite we had was excellent, all shared with a bottle of yuzu Sake.

Blue B.

Google
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.

Alessandra T.

Google
Nice restaurant with very caring staff and pleasent atmosphere. High quality and tasty food, but we would have expected more creative flavours
google avatar

Jennifer L.

Yelp
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!!
google avatar

Lilli J.

Yelp
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!