ISAO: A Fusion Sushi Gem in Bangkok for the Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Eater

September 19, 2025 Not Your Typical Tourist

A local friend, whose food recommendations I always trust, introduced me to ISAO many years back. I was certain I had been there before with my husband, but he had no recollection of it. Upon walking into the two-story restaurant, he confirmed that this was his first visit, making me question my own memory! While it was packed with people waiting on a weekday night during our last visit, this time it was surprisingly quiet before 6 PM on a Saturday.

I had attempted to book a table via their LINE account, only to be told they were fully booked until 8 PM, though they placed me on a waiting list for 6 PM. I later learned they allocate 50% of their tables for reservations and 50% for walk-ins. We decided to try our luck and arrived at 5:45 PM. To our surprise, the restaurant was nearly empty, and we were seated immediately. This is a good tip for those who might find themselves on the waitlist! The crowd began to fill up with many “reserved” tables around 7 PM, so our timing was perfect.

The atmosphere is simple and casual, but the service is both punctual and polite. The staff are fluent in English, and the dual-language menu makes ordering a breeze. We were a mixed group with both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, and ISAO’s menu was perfect, offering plenty of options for everyone.

The Food: A Feast of Creative Rolls

We ordered a variety of rolls and dishes, all of which were a delight.

For our vegetarian group, we chose a few rolls that were both fresh and flavorful, and these were shared with the non-vegetarian diners too:

Oshinko Maki (100 baht): Pickled radish and sesame seed
Ume Shisho Maki (200 baht): A bright and refreshing roll with plum, shisho leaves, and cucumber
Veggie Maki (220 baht): A colorful mix of spinach, pickled radish, cucumber, carrot, and black mushroom

We also ordered a side of Agedashi Tofu (120 baht) — quick fried soft tofu in dashi tempura sauce with grated radish and ginger — and a Vegetable Tempura Set (270 baht), which comes with miso soup, salad, and rice. Both were perfectly crisp and delicious.

For the non-vegetarians in our group, the fusion rolls were the star of the show:

Rainbow Maki (450 baht): Shrimp tempura, ebiko, and avocado, wrapped with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, cooked shrimp, and thinly sliced cucumbers. [ISAO Signature]
Caterpillar Roll (450 baht): Freshwater eel and cucumber wrapped with thinly sliced avocado, topped with teriyaki sauce and sesame seed. This cutest roll takes 15 minutes to prepare.
Tuna Sashimi/kihada maguro (380 baht): Red meat of yellowfin tuna.

The freshness of the ingredients was evident, and the rolls were beautifully crafted, living up to their reputation as both delicious and visually appealing. The sashimi was a bit disappointing, though.

Final Verdict

ISAO delivered a wonderful dining experience. While their reservation system may seem a bit quirky, the food and service more than make up for it. It’s an ideal spot for a group with diverse tastes, offering a wide array of creative rolls and classic Japanese dishes. Thanks to my husband for the treat! Our bill came to 2,407.50 baht including 7% VAT, making it a rather expensive but worthwhile meal. The vegetarian dishes helped to keep the tab low.