Isao was inspired by the master of sushi, ‘Isao,’ from Green Tea Restaurant in Chicago, the leading-edge females, Chef Karuna Sangaroon and Manager Pornsawan Semangoern, hatched the à la mode sushi bar named after the master himself.
We decided to go on a Sunday to Isao for lunch around 13:30 (no reservations), walked into the shophouse and was shocked that the place was packed. Luckily for us; there was one table available on the second floor.
The simple decor from basic wooden chairs & tables to the bamboo and contemporary styled paintings hanging on the walls of the first and second floor, can surely boost your mood for the show that was about to begin...the food.
One of the nice aspects of Isao...the cold green tea. They put a big pitcher of the stuff on your table so that you can serve yourself.
The first dish was Spicy Tuna roll...220 baht. The appearance of the roll was simple and well portioned. No fuss; just the lovely roll on a white plate. The tuna was fresh and had good flavour. However; the seasoning was not well balanced and it was not 'spicy'. I also thought the consistency of the tuna was too much like baby food. It was too 'mushy'. I am used to the 'chunky' spicy tuna rolls where the tuna is hand chopped and has a kick with the first bite.
The next dish was Spider roll...240 baht. The spider roll was beautifully presented; the roll was well made and compact sitting on a lovely painted Japanese dish. The colours of this dish surely stood out. The crab was deep fried perfectly & still had a nice crispness to it and the other ingredients such as the avocado, etc. were fresh and the whole combination made this dish really good.
The next dish was Sushi set A...480 baht. The 7 sushi set was a colour feast to the eyes. Each sushi was prepared well and were nicely portioned pieces. The fish were fresh and had good tastes. However; I thought the fish was too warm; which made me wonder how they stored their fish. I am not assuming anything bad, it could have been that the dish was just sitting on the counter too long before being served. But whatever the reason; my personal feeling is that fresh fish like this should not be served warmer than room temperature.
The entrance of dinning room on the second floor.
Located on the very busy street of Sukhumvit soi 31. Since Isao does not have parking, parking can be a hassle.
Overall; honestly its good, but personally I do not think it is the 'best' in town. We have had better spicy tuna rolls and sushi (though the spider was was amazing). However; I understand why Isao is the talk of the town; the food is good, the sushi menu is so extensive & very very creative that its mind blowing from the choices, the service is good & friendly, the atmosphere is pleasant and the prices are just right. A combination like this...no wonder its so popular.
Address: 5 Sukhumvit 31,
Tel.: 02 258 0645,
www.isaotaste.com.
Open Mondays-Fridays 11am-2.30pm for lunch,
5.30pm-10pm for dinner,
Saturdays and Sundays 11am-10pm.
4 comments:
i have been followed your blog for a while and never commented any. you might wanna go try 'jackies', 'sandwich sushi' and 'volcano' these are my favourite menu and they are really good :)
i have also been following your blog and came here to leave a comment very similar to the one before me. isao has a very complete menu with a lot to offer as far as hot appetizers and creative original rolls. you must try their signature sushi sandwich as well as my personal favorite jackie but it does not stop there. the spicy tuna salad is great as well as the isao spicy california stuffed with crab meat. the list goes on and on about what they have to offer so please go back for a big dinner rather than a small lunch and lets see how you feel about it then. i swear by this place as far as sushi goes in bangkok.
I just came across your blog recently while trying to find good place to eat in Bangkok. Judging from the pictures of the food your ordered, seemed like you stuck to classic sushis. I have to agree, their fish and sushi rice are anything but special. Freshness of fish was mediocre; rice too mushy for my liking. However, like the comments before me, I have to emphasize that Isao's signatures are their "fusionized" maki rolls and eclectic appetizers. Personally, Sushi Sandwich and Volcano (scallop baked in its shell with oozing spicy mayo sauce topped with ebi roe) are all time must-orders. Jackie, winter, rainbow and a few others that I can't remember the names of are few examples of what makes Isao so popular. Next time, please skip their mediocre sushis and opt for their "Signature Rolls!"
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