BANGKOK RESTAURANT

Kitaohji

Multi-course Japanese in a Zen-style house surrounded by a bamboo forest.

This kaiseki (Japanese fine dining) specialist traces its roots back 70 years to Tokyo's chic Ginza district, where it has since spread to 10 Japanese branches. All deal in meticulously prepared meals spread out over a lengthy courses, starting with sashimi and moving on to your choice of premium main like charcoal grilled wagyu beef or steamed hairy crab. In Bangkok, an a la carte menu charting the same fare caters to walk-ins. 

 
The buzz: Established in Ginza more than 70 years ago, Kitaohji has opened its first branch outside of Japan, in Thonglor. The specialty is kaiseki, meticulously-presented multi-course meals, made with seasonal ingredients. Unlike any of the branches in Japan, this one accepts walk-in customers and also offers a few a la carte options.
 
The decor: Nestled in the soi behind Eight Thonglor, the restaurant sits in a traditional-looking Japanese house amid a beautifully-landscaped Zen garden with lots of bamboo plants. Inside is more modern than the exterior suggests, but the decor is predictably dominated by wood.
 
The food and drinks: Kaiseki follows a set order, according to dish type, with each specific selection dependent on the day’s produce. First, a cold appetizer such as steamed squid and red beans is served to the table even before the diners arrive, followed by sashimi. The main course is then served, followed by a vinegar dish, deep-fried dish, rice or noodles, and dessert. The dinner is priced by the ingredients in your main dish. For now, the options are wagyu kakuni (braised beef, B2,000), charcoal-grilled wagyu (B2,500), wagyu steak (B3,500), steamed hair crab (B3,500) and grilled taraba king crab (B4,500)—all are exquisitely prepared. The a la carte menu covers sushi and sashimi, as well as select dishes from the kaiseki options like grilled wagyu (B2,800/200g) and grilled taraba king crab (B2,500). Of course, there’s a wide variety of drinks, namely sake, which starts at B490 per 150ml tokkuri (ceramic flask), and umeshu (plum liquor), which starts at B350 per 60ml glass.
 
Why you should care: If you’ve got the cash, this is one of very few restaurants in Bangkok that specializes in kaiseki, which gives you an all-round experience of Japanese food. Natcha Sanguankiattichai
Venue Details
Address: Kitaohji, 212 Thonglor Soi 8, Sukhumvit Rd., Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: 02-714-7997
Area: Thonglor
Cuisine: Japanese
Price Range: BBBB
Open since: April, 2015
Opening hours: daily 4-10pm; Sat-Sun 10:30am-2pm
Reservation recommended, Parking available
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Kitaohji