Best Japanese

The team behind Yokocho Izakaya had a clear vision when they opened their spot on Northeast Division in November last year.

“We wanted to build the food scene in Bend,” said Kwan Singhakham, co-owner of Yokocho Izakaya. “Most people, if they think about Japanese food, they’re gonna think about a sushi place. But actually, I wanted to do it more fun, and then more different than the other Japanese restaurants in town.”

With its collection of anime-inspired toys and art, vintage posters and colorful flags, Yokocho Izakaya oozes atmosphere. *Photo by Nicole Vulcan*

Rather than building a menu of sashimi and sushi rolls, the four partners focus more on cooked Japanese “comfort” foods such as udon and ramen noodles, Yakitori skewers and, new this summer, a bento box filled with an assortment of salads and hot foods. The menu changes seasonally to suit the tastes of summer versus winter diners; warm, spicy soups in winter versus cooling foods in summer, for example. The formula has worked thus far; not even a year in, the restaurant is already earning the top spot among readers of the Source in the Best Japanese category — besting even some longtime winners.

Popular menu items include the Japanese curry and Yakitori, featuring items on a skewer, as well as the Shishito with Pork Belly and the Spicy Basil Udon Bacon. *Photo by Nicole Vulcan*

Small plates and good drinks are the recipe for the Japanese izakaya — a popular offering in Japan for those seeking an after-work snack and drink. Inside (and outside) this version, there’s a focus on a fun, colorful, youthful atmosphere that certainly catches the eye. Even though the group of four partners are all originally from Thailand, Japanese culture figured large during their youths.

“A lot of the posters [on the walls] was [from] our childhood memory,” Singhakham explained. “A lot of the figures were our childhood toys when we were young. We grew up with Japanese culture, Japanese anime, Japanese cartoons as well.”

Now only about nine months in, the partners know that plenty of Central Oregonians have yet to try what Yokocho Izakaya has to offer. With that, they extend an invitation.

“I just want people to come and try and open their mind,” Singhakham said. “We support the farmer — local farmer as well. You can see on our Instagram that… we also get produce from the local farmers in Redmond — for the asparagus, tomato, sometimes eggplant. So just open your mind that we are not a sushi restaurant, but we do serve good food here for sure.”

Runner Up: Okawa Steakhouse & Sushi

Yokocho Izakaya

Thu-Tue Noon-3pm & 5-9pm

1900 NE Division St. #110, Bend

order.toasttab.com/online/yokocho-izakaya

Editor’s note: The print edition misspelled the names of some of the partners. They are Kwan Singhakham, Nong Namsri, Jenny Phatumrattanachot and Jeep Rimrang. We regret the errors.

This article appears in Best of Central Oregon 2025 and the Source August 21, 2025.