Torisawa 22
Torisawa 22 is a Yakitori Omakase experience located in Thonglor Bangkok.
Located in the quiet Soi 63 in Thonglor of Bangkok, Torisawa 22 is a Yakitori restaurant that offers a unique dining experience. This sister restaurant of the Tokyo original is somewhat hard to find, tucked away in a dimly lit space on the second floor of an unassuming building, behind a door you wouldn't think is supposed to be entered..
Torisawa22 vibe
With seating for about 15 people along a large L-shaped bar, the atmosphere is much more inviting once you get in. After being greeted by the chef and a quick chit chat with the staff we opted for the omakase experience, priced at around 3500 Thai Baht, which included 14 courses primarily featuring chicken skewers, AKA yakitori. The lead chef, who comes from Japan, was supported by a small team of four staff members.
Torisawa Omakase THB3500++
- Appetizers
- 11 pieces of yakitori
- Soup
- Dessert
With no surprise, the highlight of the meal was (obviously) the yakitori. Each skewer was perfectly cooked, served piping hot, and packed with flavor. When we asked the chef about the chicken origin, he mentioned that they source it locally from Thailand due to import issues, likely related to bird flu. The vegetables, however, were imported from Japan, adding an authentic touch to the meal. You can certainly taste the difference.
Torisawa22 yakitori
Torisawa 22 also allows you to bring your own wine, with a corkage fee of 700 Thai Baht per bottle. I've always maintained that wine pairs exceptionally well with yakitori, so we came well prepared. We opted for a 2019 Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (white) followed by a 2020 Luce (red).
The chicken list:
- Liver
- Chicken Thigh (momo)
- Gizzard
- Chicken inner joint
- Eggplant
- Chicken Breast
- Chicken Neck
- Zucchini
- Negi
- Chicken heart
The meal wrapped up with a rich and comforting torisoba, which was piping hot and satisfying.
We were still a bit hungry after this so through to order a few things that were not on the menu. Surprisingly there was no chicken cartilage or tsukune available for that day, so we instead added a repeat of the zucchini.
For dessert, we enjoyed a combination of Japanese sweet potato and sorbet, which provided a refreshing end to the meal.
While Torisawa 22 delivers decent quality and authentic flavors, it may not have the 'wow' factor some diners might expect. The portion sizes felt a bit small for the price, which could be a consideration for those that turn up with an appetite.
Gaijin’s rating
Food quality ★★★☆☆
Ambience ★★☆☆☆
Value ★★☆☆☆
Overall rating 78/100
Overall, it’s a solid choice for Japanese food in Bangkok, especially if you’re looking for a taste of Tokyo’s culinary style in the bustling SE Asia city.
While we really enjoyed it and believe the food to taste authentic, something seemed to be missing from the experience which is hard to place. It was good but we walked away missing that 'Wow' factor or that one dish that blew us away. Generally when dining in Bangkok, we leave each restaurant very full and satisfied, yet somehow Torisawa missed the mark.
If you're in BKK and really craving that charcoal cooked chicken flavour, it's worth checking out Torisawa 22, but taper your expectations a little and prepare to order a few extras on top of the omakase menu.
Torisawa 22 ( とりさわ２２）
Address: floor 2, 267/16 Soi Sukhumvit 63, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
