After what felt like forever, Izakaya is back to offering impeccable fine dining in Cairo with a brand-new swanky location in Palm Hills. The Izakaya team is still just as committed to offering a unique menu to enjoy if you’d like a romantic dinner in Cairo, so we dropped by to sample some key dishes in a second-to-none atmosphere.
Signature Dishes & Dishes Sampled
Signatures items include the Thai Ebi, Pão Burger, Kinoko Robata, Ponzu Hamachi Tiradito, Ceviche Roll, and the Arroz Nikkei.
We were offered a tasting menu consisting of the Truffle Parmesan Fries, Pao Burger, Arroz Nikkei, and the Chocolate Fondant.
The Truffle Parmesan Fries are a solid favorite for regular visitors of Izakaya, and we can see why. Hand cut chunky fries smothered in a creamy truffle-infused sauce and garnished with heaps of Parmesan shavings – this is a good choice to prime your palate for what comes next. The Pão Burger consists of three prime beef sliders, perfectly balanced with a variety of ingredients. It is a soft slider nestled in a beet-infused steamed bun, topped with cheddar cheese and greens – the red chili dipping jam amps the flavor. We would suggest ordering a few appetizers to share to get a full range of what the menu has to offer.
Onto the main course, the Arroz Nikkei is a superb dish with a distinct smoky taste. The sea bass, flakey and perfectly cooked, is prepared using a char siu marinade — a popular Cantonese way of marinating and roasting meat. Presented on a flavorful bed of shitake mushroom risotto with Peruvian Ají Amarillo aioli, this dish is delicate and packed with flavors that stay dancing on your tongue for quite some time. We were honestly willing to skip on the dessert to keep tasting the dish.
We ended the meal with the classic Chocolate Fondant with soy vanilla ice cream, which was the perfect amount of sweet to cap a delightful evening.
Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available
Izakaya’s menu is split into appetizers to share, raw, soups and salads, robata (Japanese charcoal grill), main courses, sushi, and desserts. There is something for everyone, but we would go for the Wafu Fillet, Sushi menu, and Banana Cheesecake on a second visit.
Beverage options include a full bar with cocktails, beer and wine. Hot beverages for those enjoying dessert.
Décor & Ambience
The ambience at Izakaya makes you feel like you have been transported to a tropical getaway. There is a spacious outdoor patio area, ideal for the warmer months ahead, complete with a full-service bar. Indoors, there is a variety of seating options including high tables, low tables and booth dining. The lush greenery, low lighting and wooden motifs give a tropical and earthy feel to the space. Knowledgeable and hospitable waiters make navigation of the menu smooth, and the experience, pleasant.
Clientele mix: Super chic and well-dressed crowd, the clientele was mainly 35+ on our visit. Younger crowd likely visit on the weekend and later into the night.
Price range: Expensive, but you will be dining well and enjoying a one-of-a-kind menu.
Worth noting: Make a reservation! Weekends are booked well in advance.
Contact information
Opening hours: 7 pm to 1 am, and open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays from 2 pm.
Address: Palm Hills, 6th of October – Giza.
Tel: 0127 111 6223
Facebook/Instagram: IzakayaCairo
