Kom-Ba-Wa

The new project from restaurateur Fred Meyer (Issaya Siamese Club, Namsaah Bottling Trust and Pizza Massilia) resides in a cutely-decorated shop-house in the up-and-coming Suan Plu neighborhood. Kom-Ba-Wa serves creative Japanese dishes with premium ingredients. On top of sushi like fresh scallop (B790), try chef Goro Takatsu's creations like the aged Tajima wagyu beef steak with ponzu jelly (B1,750) and the squid ink ramen with Maine lobster and uni sauce (B1,500). The desserts, created by Issaya's dessert chef, are equally fancy, such as the must-try mochi with red bean mousse and strawberry jelly (B250).

9/19 Soi Suanphlu, Sathorn Rd., 02-679-3775. Open daily 6-10:30pm. 

Mikaku

The renowned teppanyaki restaurant from Gion district in Kyoto has just opened its first branch outside Japan, here in Bangkok. Having been operated by the Mita family for more than 80 years, Mikaku is known for its expert selection and preparation of premium beef teppanyaki. At this branch, Kenji, the family's third-generation owner and chef mans the grill himself. Selecting only A4-5 graded wagyu from Kobe, he guarantees that the hand-sliced tenderloin and sirloin are at the perfect thickness, cooked using the family's signature technique. Don't miss the melt-in-your-mouth oilyaki teppanyaki (thinly sliced tenderloin, B2,800/100g) and make it a set at B4,300 with appetizer, soup, salad, garlic fried rice and dessert.

2/F, 103/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), between Sois 3-5, 02-712-9080. Open daily 5-11pm; Sat-Sun noon-2pm

Kitaohji

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 offers a few a la carte options. Outside is a beautifully-landscaped Zen garden with lots of bamboo plants. Inside the decor is predictably dominated by wood. Kaiseki follows a set order, according to dish type. 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: 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). The a la carte menu covers sushi and sashimi, as well as select kaiseki dishes. Of course, there’s a wide variety of drinks, namely sake and umeshu (plum liquor).  

212 Thonglor Soi 8, 02-174-7997. Open Tue-Sun 6-11pm 

Yoka Yoka

Yoka Yoka is a modern Japanese restaurant specializing in the Hakata food of Fukuoka. Decorated in a loft-like mix of bricks, wooden furniture and colorful paintings, the restaurant’s first floor serves dishes like Hakata motsu nabe (entrails hot pot with three choices of miso shio and shoyu soup, B380), tori no sumibi (charcoal-grilled chicken with yuzu sauce, B185) and honeymoon oyster (oyster with ebiko, uni, ikura, quail eggs and ponzu, B280). The second-floor sake bar does cocktails and other spirits, and also offers private rooms, while the third floor is another restaurant, The Circle, which is currently in its soft opening and shares the same menu as Yoka Yoka. Here, you can also enjoy live bands every Thursday from 9pm-12am.

Ruamrudee Village, 20/27-29 Soi Ruam Rudi, 02-650-8047. Open daily 11am-11pm 

Sekai no Yamachan

You can never have too many izakaya. The latest in town is Sekai no Yamachan (The Manor, Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-5541.www.goo.gl/s8wEU8), whose specialty is Nagoya deep-fried chicken wings, also known as maboroshino tebasaki (B120). Other highlight dishes include miso uzura tamago (quail eggs with miso sauce, B90), yamachan salad (B210), doteni (braised pork entrails in miso sauce, B140) and aisura omiochan (Japanese sweet potato with milk ice cream, B190). There’s also plenty of beer and sake, starting from B119 and B359, respectively. 

The Manor, Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-5541

Mugendai Penthouse

Ahead of the closure of its original branch at Grass Thonglor, Mugendai has launched a new outlet in Emquartier. Mugendai Penthouse spruiks itself as both a premium Japanese restaurant and a new lifestyle bar.  Claiming to import its fish from Tsukiji five days a week, the new spot takes most of its menu from the original Thonglor restaurant, including favorites like uni hotate tempura. The team of Japanese chefs is also rolling out some new dishes especially for this venue, like the Penthouse Roll with botan shrimp, eel, uni, toro and caviar. They plan to launch happy hour promotions along with set menus and live DJs soon. 

9/F, Emquartier, Sukhumvit Rd.