Washoku Guide
← Zürich
Zürich · 居酒屋

Authentic Izakaya
in Zürich.

Japanese taverns: small plates, charcoal grills, sake and shochu. The room matters as much as the food.

01
Kokoro — authentic japanese izakaya & sushi restaurant in Zürich, Langstrasse (Kreis 4)

Kokoro

¥¥
Langstrasse (Kreis 4) · Izakaya · a la carte
Japanese izakaya & sushiJapanese-ownedLangstrasseJapanese-majority staffLunch and dinner

Kokoro is a Japanese-owned restaurant in Zurich's Langstrasse district, legally registered since 2015 with Japanese national Suguro Mioh as delegated board member, offering a broad menu of sushi, teppanyaki, and izakaya-style dishes.

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02
Ooki Japanese Izakaya — authentic authentic tokyo izakaya restaurant in Zürich, Wiedikon (Kreis 3)

Ooki Japanese Izakaya

¥¥
Wiedikon (Kreis 3) · Izakaya · casual
Authentic Tokyo izakayaJapanese-ownedFamily-runTatami seatingNo sushi

Ooki in Wiedikon is Zurich's most authentically atmospheric izakaya, owned by Ino Ooki whose Tokyo-born father originally ran a Japanese restaurant here, with a mostly Japanese staff, tatami seating, and a menu that deliberately excludes sushi in favour of gyoza, udon, and donburi.

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Other Japanese cuisines in Zürich
Kaiseki in ZürichSushi in ZürichRamen in ZürichDonburi in Zürich
Authentic izakaya in other cities →All authentic Japanese in Zürich →
FAQ

Questions, answered.

What makes izakaya in Zürich authentic?
Japanese taverns: small plates, charcoal grills, sake and shochu. The room matters as much as the food. In Zürich, we apply the same standard: chefs trained in the discipline, ingredients and technique consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya-first format rather than a mixed menu.
How do you define authenticity?
Washoku Guide defines authenticity by the kitchen's grounding in Japanese culinary tradition: trained chefs (often in Japan), techniques and ingredients consistent with Japanese practice, a focused menu rather than a pan-Asian one, and a coherent dining format (sushi-ya, ramen-ya, izakaya, kaiseki, etc.). We weigh these signals together — no single factor decides.
Do you require Japanese ownership?
No. Japanese ownership is one positive signal, but it is not required. We also recognise restaurants with Japanese-led kitchens or non-Japanese chefs who have trained extensively in Japan and apply traditional techniques with discipline. What matters is the cooking, not the passport.
How are restaurants selected?
Each entry is researched and chosen by Washoku Guide editors — not voted in, not paid for, and not algorithmically ranked. We read kitchen biographies, study menus, talk to people in the industry, and visit when possible. Restaurants pay nothing to be listed.
Are the listings ranked?
No. Washoku Guide is a curated guide, not a ranking. Order on a city page is editorial and may change as the guide evolves; it does not imply that #1 is better than #5. Every listed restaurant has met our authenticity bar.
Are these the only authentic izakaya restaurants in Zürich?
These are the ones Washoku Guide has researched and stands behind today. The guide grows over time; if you know an authentic izakaya restaurant in Zürich we should consider, please get in touch.