IZAKAYA BY DOKUWA in Hamburg

Excellent food and the friendliest staff—highly recommended! A fantastic atmosphere; you immediately feel welcome. IZAKAYA BY DOKUWA is a real highlight.

Super nice place but food is not very authentic for example no Japanese mayo! The service was overall okay but we got asked too many times if our plates were ready to be taken away - that felt a bit stressful. The atmosphere was great though! I would not come here again as a Japanese person.

We are thrilled with the food, the service and the atmosphere.

Unfortunately, it's completely overrated. The food is basically just fried food and industrial sauces. There's a complete lack of finesse and homemade food of any kind. Far too expensive for that, really disappointing.

Very well organized and very good food.

Incredible place. Must-visit when you are near - or far. The food is nothing short of amazing, with only one element not hitting the mark exactly from the five courses that i tasted (it was the homemade sauce tartare from the fried coalfish fillets). This will for sure not deduct from my five-star rating of the food. Everything else we ate was perfect izakaya food: fatty, spicy, and full of taste. Drinks were also really tasty. Service was fun, and the waiters very kind. We visited on a thursday evening and the place was packed, vibes and atmosphere was fun and youthful. Keep in mind that you are standing up while eating, so don't expect a chill sit-down dinner when visiting.

I stumbled upon this place by chance and decided to walk in. It’s a standing-only restaurant, following the whole tachinomi concept. On a Saturday afternoon, it was absolutely packed, but that’s part of the fun! The food looked and tasted amazing, and the staff were super friendly despite how busy it was. I loved the atmosphere and the experience!

I live in Hamburg and if I go out with friends and want to be sure that they really have a blast…. this is the place to be. It’s vacation in Japan for a few hours. You can never get it wrong here: The food and drinks are immaculate, the Japanese vibes authentic. There are options for vegan customers. And if one or two in the group is not into Japanese food, there is still “A Wolf Will Never Be A Pet” just adjacent to it, which has a more Mediterranean and Levantine touch. Both owners know each other and are cool and relaxed people. BTW, I seldom give feedback to places - unless I am really convinced of the location.

The best Japanese restaurant/bar in Hamburg. Authentic, super fresh, delicious ingredients, and the best drinks. I'll be back again and again! Thank you for being there🤗

Great place, top-notch food of very good quality, and attentive service. It's fun!

Top Food, top Drinks, top Location & top Service! See you soon!

I thought there would be no izakaya in Hamburg, but when I went, it turned out to be a great izakaya where they spoke Japanese.

The concept of "izakaya," represented in Japanese by the three kanji 居酒屋, combines the meanings of "linger," "alcohol," and "restaurant." It thus describes a place where you can relax and enjoy a drink. A lie! The Izakaya Bar is vibrant! There are no chairs here, but instead clinking glasses, colorful people, a lively atmosphere—and outstanding menus floating through the room on small trays. Leave a quick comment, whether vegan, vegetarian, or with meat or fish—and then simply follow the recommendations! ==== Did you like this review? 👀 Then check out my time-out guide, published by Süddeutsche Zeitung Edition: 👉 MY PERFECT WEEKEND HAMBURG 👈 Now available everywhere...

amazing! and feels so slam-dunk authentic! We will be back, but earlier in the evening next time where most of the food is hopefully still available and the waiters less tired/confused/ forgetful -

Unfortunately relatively tight, otherwise great

"Sharing is caring" means sharing your Japanese tapas with your friends, because it gets a bit expensive eating alone 😁. For larger groups of 6+, I recommend finding a seat outside (they close the outside at 10 p.m.), as it's cozy inside for a large group. Food-wise, they recommend everything; whether you fancy fish, meat, or even vegetable tempura, everyone will find something to their liking here :) You order at the bar, but the food is served!

Authentic food and great drinks

Best fried chicken in Hamburg 🤌

The food is fantastic, everything tastes great. The service is very friendly and sweet. Even though the store is almost always extremely full, you still feel welcome and comfortable here. The ambience itself is standard, there are few seating options, meaning you have to eat standing up. But it's worth it 😌

What more could you want? Perfect Japanese cuisine. Friendly staff and reasonable prices for the quality. If you don't eat here, it's your own fault ;-)

Authentic Japanese bar with delicious food and great drinks. The shop is very small but that's part of its charm.

Super cute shop with incredibly good food! A must-visit when you are in Hamburg!

Really delicious food, very good and friendly service and a special atmosphere in the small shop. We really enjoyed it and more than liked it. We'll definitely be back.

Super authentic japanese quisine. The food was served in small portions with exquisite taste. The friendly servant explained the diverse menu and gave us recommendations accordingly to our wishes. We ate standing at the bar right next to the small kitchen where the cook prepared the dishes.

Exceptionally good. Special atmosphere. Absolute Japan vibes with Plumwine Soda. Food great. Finally other dishes.

Totally delicious food, extremely friendly, helpful staff, especially very patient when ordering (the entire menu was basically explained to us). The Izakaya will definitely be on the program again the next time you visit Hamburg.

Great atmosphere great food and a great great service

was very good but had food poisoning after

Food, sauces, atmosphere and music: 5 stars for all.

Super cool area. Food is really good they do not have a lot of space if you plan on coming with a lot of people be the first or the last.

Cool concept with super tasty small dishes and the best drinks :) plus really friendly service. We'll be back.

It's really a cute little bar in Tokyo style, great food and great service, can only be recommended

The clerk is very enthusiastic and has a good attitude. He deserves a high score.

The fine Kirin beer was as delicious as the food!

Excellent and quality food. Very pleasant and fun atmosphere, shame that there are no seats and it fills up easily.

Perfect food and charming staff. :-) I recommend the vegan chicken wings with Japanese potatoe salad.

Good food and friendly service :D You can rarely get Katuo no tataki in Germany!

The space is a little too narrow no have a relaxed dinner, but this shouldn’t be the vibe anyway! Great spot

GREAT FOOD! GREAT SERVICE! SUPER LOCATION - EASY GOING & UNCOMPLICATED

Really amazing experience and great food! Wellness come back for Sure!

Food was sooo awesome!! The atmosphere is cute. And you have to be prepared for the fact that it is very tight there. But that's the vibe. 😅 It's a bit pricey there, but the food is also high quality and authentic. 👌

I definitely recommend this place!! The standing izakaya bar sounds very interesting concept at first and the food was fire and drink was also giving Japanese fusion vibe really loved it!

5 points is simply not enough. What awesome shit. It was such an incredible surprise and is highly recommended. It's tight, it's loud... It's standing up... It's so authentic and fits...

The place is tiny but food and drinks are really really good! Whiskey cocktails are on fire! Must try!

So good I shouldn't tell anyone. (Try the pork belly and the deep fried chicken. Come early, space at the bar is limited. And don't tell anyone.)

Authentic Japanese bar near the Karolinenviertel. I really liked the food 😋

Great bar with very tasty and fresh food. The sashimi and Tataki Bonito were excellent, the service very attentive and relaxed, even though it was very busy. The prices were completely justified given the quality of the food. Keep in mind that this place has no seating and is more inviting for a social drink with great food than a lively dinner. All in all a great experience, which is why I would come again. No reservation possible.

To my wife's birthday we had a Sashimi plate, Karaage, Octopus salad. The Sashimi assortment was great, our kid enjoyed the Karaage so much and the Octopus salad was perfect. A gem in Hamburg and absolutely recommended!

Was there with my very best friend. Great and truly special food. Plus great, fast service. The visit was really fun. Be sure to order the sashimi.

The best pork belly I've ever eaten.

Really a very special Japanese style restaurant. Food was an absolute experience, drinks were great! Clear recommendation! Price performance was justified.

Unbelievable food, great service!

You eat standing up, you have to be prepared for that. At the counter or at the long tables outside, you quickly get into conversation with other guests while the waitress in kimono keeps coming by and repeatedly calling out a name. When the weather is good and at rush hour, you have to be patient. But the food is rewarding and I will definitely come back and try more of the menu. Fried chicken and sashimi was very good, the pork belly didn't meet my expectations. Kimchi and cream was awesome. No dish comes with a so-called filling side like rice or noodles. Two rumors were enough to fill me up. It's easy to share.

Best spot in town - hands down.

It was fresh, but not really tasty. Rather boring and you can expect more, especially for the prices charged. Clear case of overhyped

Thank you for the delicious Japanese food. I have been to Japan many times and I think your food is authentic Japanese food.

Very good Japanese izakaya in Schanze can / messehalle area. The food & drinks were delicious. Service was very fast, and nice staff. However in my option it was overpriced for the size of the portions and that it is.

The food was absolutely fantastic, the service was great and fast, and the atmosphere was actually like being on holiday in Asia: very cramped, no tables, you eat at the bar - if there is anything available. We had the vegan fried chicken, edamame salad, and sardines (which we actually only ordered out of curiosity, but they were a blast). I also liked the fact that some dishes were already sold out - a good sign that you are getting fresh food instead of something from the freezer and stored away. You can taste that too.

Great food and drinks, very friendly staff, nice atmosphere. The Karaage was amazing. Recommended!

Wildly delicious Japanese-inspired food.

Interesting food, vibrating atmosphere. You are standing eating, loud but not too loud Japanese music and food we’ve never tried before.

The insider tip for everyone who wants to enjoy authentic food in an authentic atmosphere. By the way, the drinks are great too. I hope this special store stays with us for a long time! Absolute recommendation!

That was one of the best evenings of my life. The food was excellent, fresh and innovative. The whole experience was in a great atmosphere, especially because of the service. Nothing to complain about! Just go there!

Accept only card payment. It’s a standing bar and the food and drinks are very authentic and delicious. Great place to chat with friends and enjoy the night!

Absolutely extraordinary. Great drinks, incredible food and such friendly people. Thank you for this experience.

Alder vadder. How cool is that?! Mega delicious - street food as its best 😍

No jokes, pure love. Just moved to Hamburg and on the first week discovered this gem. Classic where it supposed to be, funky where I needed it. Easy, not pretentious and quality experience.

Small, fine, delicious Japanese tapas. Kirin on tap! Relaxed vibe.

Every city needs a good izakaya and I’m so glad Hamburg has this place. The vibe is super chill, the team is friendly, and their product is good! Everything we’ve ordered we would definitely have again. Especially the beef tartare and the fried coal fish. The karaage is juicy and crispy and they serve a proper portion. The drink selection is also great with both sake or cocktails. Seriously no complaints here. Highly recommend.

Really great ambience, delicious drinks and authentic Japanese dishes. The service is also super friendly. One star is deducted because there is only standing room...For physical reasons I couldn't stay there for longer than 2 hours, even if I wanted to... 😅

I loved Izakaya by Dokuwa, it reminded me too much of the Izakayas that can be found in Japan. Since I went to Tokyo I always try to look for a place that reminds me of what I experienced there, regardless of the country, and I have found a little piece in Hamburg. I only tried the drinks on this occasion and they are unique, next time I will try the food. I love that you can pay by card, but I wish that perhaps the closing hours on Friday or Saturday were a little longer, either 1 or 2 hours longer. Anyway, I 100% recommend it if you want to experience or remember a small part of Japan in Hamburg.

Really love this Place :)) For sure my new favorite bar in Hamburg… It’s soo original ! The Drinks & food, everything is amazing

We had fried chicken with lemon and the fried fish. There are no sides, really just the meat with mayo in a small bowl. The food was ok but not special, especially because it was completely one-sided without any side dishes. And at a price of around €15! We were still hungry afterwards. I wouldn't come back and can't recommend it.

Everything great! Food delicious, drinks delicious and service great! Just like in Japan!

Very nice establishment where you can enjoy small Japanese tapas. There is a small selection of drinks and various snacks. These are great for sharing. The drinks are good. Here you eat standing up and you can also order inside at the counter. The price is very high for that. Haven't tried everything. The chicken is juicy and well fried, the tartare was very fresh, unfortunately not quite to my taste because it is fresh meat (not cooked). I also tried the edamame salad, which unfortunately didn't suit my taste either because it was very strongly spiced and reminded me of falafel. The service is very friendly. On warm summer nights you can definitely go here with friends and enjoy a few drinks.

In my opinion, clearly overhyped. We shared a bar table outside with other people. You can only order at the counter. This creates a chip shop atmosphere. In contrast, there are salty prices. Unfortunately, these are not justified by the quality of the food. Most of the dishes tasted average and were boring. The crispy chicken was good. Rice would have been good for the whole thing, but that is omitted here. Overall, the Izakaya is too expensive for what it is.

Almost in Japan, highly recommended

I really loved this small Izakaya. Good place to get to know good Japanese city pop music. :) nice personel. Delicious food 👍

Mega load! If you like fried chicken, go to the store and order the deep fried chicken. Next level! We also had potato salad and kimchi and cream. 10/10. we will be back. Super nice employees. Absolute recommendation. Simply great.

Yesterday I finally had time to go there for the first time in years. What a super location, good food, drink and despite everything being nice and simple. Gladly again 😃

Thank you lots for the great atmosphere and authentic food felt like I’m back in Tokyo again. 🫰🏽

Unfortunately I can't understand the hype surrounding this Izakaya... The food was “okay” at best. The karaage chicken and the kimchi were quite tasty, but some of our octopus salad was still frozen, the roast beef and tuna were tough, etc. And the prices simply went down, even though the quality wasn't up to par. About the ambience & service: No seating options and for me no cozy izakaya flair like in Japan. Service was slightly overwhelmed at the weekend and you should tip before the service is completed :/. We promised us more and unfortunately we won't be coming back.

No matter what you get, every item is an absolute andventure 11/10.

Great atmosphere (small and loud and hustle and bustle!), authentic drinks and food - perfect for starting or ending the evening.

100% recommendation. Damn good food, good and loud music, delicious drinks, nice staff and cool atmosphere.

Love it very much there ! Particularly !!

Great little izakaya. There are virtually no seats inside, only outside, and it can get very full very quickly. Drinks are great, sake and whiskey from Japan are also available. Lots of dishes that you order a few and then share. Everything was great, quality 5 stars. However, the food is quite expensive for the plates, which are sometimes quite manageable, a bit too much in my opinion. But the ambience and quality are really great. I'll come back when I'm back in Hamburg.

Great store. Great service, great food, delicious drinks. Come back very soon!

We had an unexpectedly exciting and therefore unforgettable experience in this bar. The service is incredibly friendly. The food impresses with its quality. We were very impressed with this concept: no tables, chairs or bar stools. Anyone who has managed to get a seat at the counter can order. We'll definitely be back!

My favourite spot for treats for myself. Not only for drinks but more importantly amazing food that goes exquisitely well with beer/sake. The atmosphere is cosy and nice, friendly for sole drinker as well.

Great location! The food is grenades. You can't leave the store without meeting new people. Top!

Main chef wasn't around so have to come back. Food was still very tasty and like the cozy (very limited space) atmosphere.

Delicious food, draft beer is also great. Portions are small but very tasty!

Absolute recommendation. Ice cold drinks. Deafening music. Minimalist furnishings. Lively and super-friendly, fast employees. Food - Insanely good. Never had karaage so big, hot and crispy. Pork belly super aromatic, tartare fresh and totally suitable with the nori sheets. Definitely have to go back...

The two recommended dishes were a disappointment. The Bonito Tataki tasted bitter and fishy, far from a good quality tuna. The octopus with cucumber and chilly oil should have been marinated longer. Neither the octopus nor the cucumbers soaked up the taste of the mild chilly oil. The Kakuni Pork Belly and the Karaage Fried Chicken were a treat though. The prices are high. None of the dishes were really surprising. I like the Izakaya concept and possibly I was too focused on the food. Good quality Japanese food can be found elsewhere in Hamburg but the atmosphere after a few drinks is unique.

Highly recommended for afterwork drink and snack. The food is authentic and delicious. Unfortunately, the store is not that big and there are hardly any seats. It makes me remember my Japan vacation. Very cozy. I like the interior.

One of the Best places in Hamburg!

One of the coolest restaurants in town. Great food, delicious drinks and great Service. The mood makes time stand still. Love this shop

Absolutely gem! A true authentic izakaya experience — few seatings, squashed in between a small space (they do have outdoor tables though), nostalgic retro Japanese playlist, friendly service even under all the chaos and not to forget every single dishes we’ve ordered are fresh, seasonal and delicious. Watch out for the packed crowd on the weekends :)

Great food and great atmosphere!! Really really tasty! My favorite restaurant in HH. Highly recommend!!