Review

Stylish, fun, yet with premium quality cuisine, there are few better places to enjoy an invigorating evening than Zuma. While a traditional Japanese tavern tends to involve wood panelling, tatami mats, and the noisy clinking of beer and whisky highball glasses, Zuma takes izakaya dining to altogether sleeker heights.

A generously proportioned dining room features a cocktail bar, open kitchen, and luxurious fittings, with a strong emphasis on granite, bamboo, timber, and glass. An air-conditioned terrace offers an al fresco option. The venue certainly does its part in delivering the goods via first-class food offerings, invariably showcasing air-flown fresh ingredients and an extensive selection of high-end wines and sakes. The signature tasting menu is a perfect route to experience an overview of the Zuma menu. Highlights of a succession of shareable plates include sliced, glistening yellowtail with green chili relish, ponzu and pickled garlic, crunchy popcorn white shrimp with chili mayo and fresh lime, wagyu gyoza with a yuzu truffle dip, and the much-revered signature, miso marinated black cod wrapped in hoba leaf. This dish has since inception been copied the world over, but Rainer Becker’s original continues as the benchmark. Zuma’s alliance of dynamic vibrant food, on-trend vibe and slick operation place it near the pinnacle of accessible Japanese dining in Bangkok.