Washoku Guide
← Delhi
Delhi · 居酒屋

Authentic Izakaya
in Delhi.

Japanese taverns: small plates, charcoal grills, sake and shochu. The room matters as much as the food.

01
Adrift Kaya — authentic izakaya restaurant in Delhi, Aerocity

Adrift Kaya

¥¥¥¥
Aerocity · Izakaya · omakase
IzakayaOmakaseSushiRobataToro sashimi

Adrift Kaya is Delhi's TripAdvisor #1 Japanese restaurant, helmed by Michelin-starred Chef David Myers whose benchmark dining experience is Sushisho Saito in Tokyo — JFOODO/JETRO certified, presenting omakase, toro sashimi and robata in a Tokyo laneway-inspired izakaya.

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02
Guppy by ai — authentic japanese bistro restaurant in Delhi, Lodhi Colony

Guppy by ai

¥¥¥
Lodhi Colony · Izakaya · a la carte
Japanese bistroSushiRamenIzakaya-styleCocktails

Embassy of Japan certified (#029) and helmed by Chef Vikram Khatri — trained under Japanese master Tetsu Akahira at Sakura — Guppy by ai is Delhi's most celebrated Japanese bistro, offering precision sushi, ramen burgers and seasonal Japanese menus in a lush Lodhi Colony courtyard.

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05
Daikichi — authentic izakaya restaurant in Delhi, MG Road, Gurugram

Daikichi

¥¥
MG Road, Gurugram · Izakaya · casual
IzakayaYakitoriRamenSushiUdon

Co-founded by Japanese national Yukio Nishimagi and Embassy of Japan certified (#028), Daikichi is one of Gurugram's longest-running authentic Japanese izakayas — celebrated for charcoal yakitori, housemade ramen and a loyal Japanese expat following since 2011.

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Other Japanese cuisines in Delhi
Kaiseki in DelhiSushi in DelhiYakitori in DelhiRamen in DelhiDonburi in Delhi
Authentic izakaya in other cities →All authentic Japanese in Delhi →
FAQ

Questions, answered.

What makes izakaya in Delhi authentic?
Japanese taverns: small plates, charcoal grills, sake and shochu. The room matters as much as the food. In Delhi, we apply the same standard: chefs trained in the discipline, ingredients and technique consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya-first format rather than a mixed menu.
How do you define authenticity?
Washoku Guide defines authenticity by the kitchen's grounding in Japanese culinary tradition: trained chefs (often in Japan), techniques and ingredients consistent with Japanese practice, a focused menu rather than a pan-Asian one, and a coherent dining format (sushi-ya, ramen-ya, izakaya, kaiseki, etc.). We weigh these signals together — no single factor decides.
Do you require Japanese ownership?
No. Japanese ownership is one positive signal, but it is not required. We also recognise restaurants with Japanese-led kitchens or non-Japanese chefs who have trained extensively in Japan and apply traditional techniques with discipline. What matters is the cooking, not the passport.
How are restaurants selected?
Each entry is researched and chosen by Washoku Guide editors — not voted in, not paid for, and not algorithmically ranked. We read kitchen biographies, study menus, talk to people in the industry, and visit when possible. Restaurants pay nothing to be listed.
Are the listings ranked?
No. Washoku Guide is a curated guide, not a ranking. Order on a city page is editorial and may change as the guide evolves; it does not imply that #1 is better than #5. Every listed restaurant has met our authenticity bar.
Are these the only authentic izakaya restaurants in Delhi?
These are the ones Washoku Guide has researched and stands behind today. The guide grows over time; if you know an authentic izakaya restaurant in Delhi we should consider, please get in touch.