Izakaya — Restaurant in Giza

When a restaurant markets itself as Nikkei, a Peruvian-Japanese culinary love affair, you walk in with expectations: bold flavors, playful textures, and a certain unapologetic intensity. Izakaya, run by Peruvian chef Martín Rodríguez and positioned far from Cairo’s center, delivers in bursts but tempers its punches, adapting to Egypt’s notoriously cautious palate. Think of it as Nikkei-lite.

The menu itself reads well, filled with the promise of umami explosions and citrusy brightness. But what lands on the plate can feel restrained, like a chef forced to whisper when they should be shouting. The tiradito clásico hits the right notes: fresh, creamy, and sharp enough to cut through the noise. The tuna crispy sushi delivers a satisfying crunch and umami depth. The Josper corn ribs—charred, smoky, addictive—are an unexpected standout, while the gunkan hotate (scallop-topped sushi) and tuna foie gras feel indulgent without veering into chaos. However, some of the fusion sushi feels like a mishmash from the global “everything but the kitchen sink” trend: too many toppings, not enough cohesion. If you’re looking for purist Japanese restraint, this isn’t your spot—but if you’re game for creative excess, you’ll enjoy the ride.

The elephant in the room? The missing heat. There’s a noticeable absence of Peruvian ají chili in dishes where it should shine. And no wasabi with the sushi? A letdown. It’s hard to shake the sense that the boldest elements have been intentionally diluted.

The space itself is beautiful—sleek, modern, and designed for Cairo’s scenesters who want more than just dinner. By night, the vibe shifts to party mode, with a fully stocked bar (a rarity in Egypt) churning out cocktails. The absence of an international wine list is unfortunate, but we managed with a local white made from South African grapes, which did the job.

Service is attentive, and for a table of four with cocktails and a bottle of wine, the bill came to EGP 10,000. For a premium Nikkei experience, that’s not jaw-dropping—especially considering Izakaya is on the prestigious MENA 50 Best list (one of six Egyptian spots to make it).

Is it worth the trek out of Cairo’s chaos? For dinner, drinks, and a lively night out, sure. But for those chasing an authentic, fire-breathing Peruvian-Japanese culinary adventure, this is more of a soft glow than a...

I don't recommend this restaurant, even if they offered us a free meal. The service was terrible ; it took an hour before any staff member provided us with a menu, and the wait for our order was excessively long. Additionally, their policy of not accepting card payments is unacceptable for a fine dining establishment. They should at least inform customers of this policy before they order or enter.Moreover, while the restaurant enforces a smart casual dress code, their understanding of it is lacking. After we placed our order, the manager approached us and informed us that abayas were not permitted. However, I have dined at some of the most well known fine dining restaurants in Paris while wearing shorts, and my family, in their naqab and abayas, was treated with respect and kindness. The staff there were welcoming and understanding, which was not the case at Izakaya. From the moment we arrived until we left izakaya , the attitude of the manager and the waiter's suggested that they were annoyed with our presence. Their attitude made us feel as though we were an inconvenience rather than valued guests. Overall, I would not recommend...

I was extremely disappointed with my experience at Izakaya. My friends and I decided to dine here for a special occasion, but upon arrival, we were rudely turned away due to a dress code that was never mentioned during our reservation or anywhere on their website.

We arrived dressed appropriately for a fine dining establishment, but the hostess informed us that we did not meet their specific dress code requirements. When we asked for details, we were given vague explanations and no clear guidelines. This left us embarrassed and frustrated, as we had made the effort to dress up, only to be turned away without any prior warning.

A restaurant of this caliber should clearly disclose their dress code policy during the reservation process and on their website to avoid inconveniencing guests. It's unfair to expect patrons to adhere to unwritten rules, especially when planning a special evening.

Overall, the lack of transparency and poor customer service left a sour taste in our mouths. We won't be returning, and I would advise others to double-check for any hidden policies before...