J-Bar in München

A cozy and truly authentic izakaya, very close to the Goethestraße U-Bahn station, that's a must-visit for anyone who enjoys Japanese cuisine. Such gems are rare, even in big cities. Highly recommended! 🍤👌

This is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant I've found in Munich. The service is incredibly attentive, and the atmosphere is truly relaxed and positive. And take a look at the chef's resume – it's absolutely impressive. They only accept cash, and advance reservations are highly recommended.

Cute little shop. Very tasty food, although I found the appetizers almost more exciting than the sushi itself (which is also top quality).

Loved this restaurant. For anyone who had been to Japan, you will feel for a bit like you are at an Izakaya again. Amazing service, delicious sushi and super cute decor. I’ll definitely come again!

A simply furnished Japanese restaurant where excellent sushi is prepared by the chef himself. The higher price for the sushi is justified by the quality of the fish.

Probably the best izakaya in the city ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Anyone wanting to experience authentic Japanese cuisine and genuine hospitality in Munich simply must visit J-Bar in the Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt district. Since February 2023, Satomi Oikawa and Masami Saito have been running this little gem with such passion and professionalism that you almost feel like you're in an izakaya in Osaka. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a true izakaya: cozy, relaxed, and inviting. You immediately sense the Japanese hospitality (omotenashi), which isn't just a concept here, but a way of life. With around 20 seats, the restaurant is wonderfully intimate – so reservations are a must! The food is truly outstanding. Every dish reflects the attention to detail and authenticity that is sometimes hard to find in Munich. I highly recommend the Japanese potato salad (completely different from the German versions, but that's precisely why it's so good!), the baked eggplant with miso, sake, and mirin (a dream!), the kimchi, mozuku-su, and of course, the perfectly crispy karaage. The wakame salad and hiyayakko are also absolute highlights. The sushi and sashimi are fresh and artfully presented, and the various fish dishes demonstrate that the chefs here truly understand their craft. To finish, you absolutely must treat yourself to a scoop of ice cream—my personal recommendation: matcha or black sesame. Both are authentically Japanese and the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. The drinks selection is impressive: an excellent sake selection (Nihonshu), Japanese beer, creative cocktails, and a good selection of Japanese whisky. It's clear that Satomi-san and Masami-san make no compromises when it comes to drinks, just as they don't compromise on the food. The drinks menu is impressive: an excellent sake selection (Nihonshu), Japanese beer, creative cocktails, and a good selection of Japanese whisky. The value for money is absolutely top-notch considering the quality, and more than fair for Japanese cuisine in Munich. You get authentic, high-quality food at reasonable prices. We've been to J-Bar several times and always love coming back. It's one of those rare places that impresses every time – consistently good food, warm hospitality, and an atmosphere where you simply feel comfortable. Highly recommended! But don't forget: reservations are a must! 🍶🍱

J-Bar is if not the most traditional Japanese restaurant you’ll find in Munich. It is small, quiet, and has truly an authentic atmosphere. The Sushi is carefully crafted by Sensei Saito, whose dedication and love for the art is genuinely seen. J-Bar is not your everyday fancy Sushi restaurant, it is as traditional as it gets. The food is great and if you genuinely love authentic Japanese cousine you’ll find plenty of options from drinks, beers to food, J-Bar is a must to go if you’re in Munich.

Authentically Japanese; I don't understand how anyone could give this less than 5 stars. Recommendation: make a reservation and enjoy your visit.

Thank you very much! We felt like we were back in Japan for a few hours 💖

Very authentic, delicious food, and friendly service. Highly recommended!

The best Japanese restaurants in Munich

My favorite place🥰highly recommended!!

Incredibly good food and very friendly service. We'd love to come back here again.

Food is delicious, best quality sushi, the most perfect sushi rice I’ve had in Munich. It’s a very authentic Japanese restaurant. However I couldn’t give 5 stars as they take cash only and menu was bit sticky and not clean.

Best Japanese Izakaya 🏮 in Munich, make to reserve in advance as it can get fully booked

An expensive place, you can go once every six months or on holidays.

Very unfriendly. Only cash. Too expensive

Good food, but not cheap. Nice atmosphere. However, you can't pay by card, even though the minimum per person is €30. I don't think it's appropriate to offer only cash payments in 2025 :(

Friendly, authentic, special – that sums up a visit here. Fortunately (!), the small restaurant doesn't meet the visual criteria of a "hotspot," but you feel at home because it's simply cozy. The dishes are excellent, and the menu offers plenty of options to try and sample. Tip: Start with two or three dishes and then simply keep going to work your way through the menu :)

Simply amazing! The sushi tastes absolutely delicious. The fish is fresh and of good quality. We couldn't stop ordering! The staff is very friendly. The restaurant has a lovely, cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended!

I fell in love. Authentic, high-quality, ordinary. The fish is really fresh and delicious. The ambiance is unique. A fantastic selection of sushi and other dishes. The drinks are also excellent. R.I.P. Beer Machine. Truly an absolute highlight. The sushi master who prepares the sushi in front of everyone is a really sweet idea. Important: Make a reservation in advance!

Incredible sushi, feel of being in Japan in the heart of Munich

The food is absolutely amazing. Make sure you visit on your birthday for a nice surprise.

I'd been wanting to try J-Bar for a while, but ultimately the experience was rather mediocre. The sushi was okay, but no better than at many other sushi restaurants. The appetizers were also okay, nothing special. However, the prices are quite high, which, in my opinion, doesn't reflect the quality offered. What I find particularly difficult is that they only accept cash—especially at prices like these, I'd expect card payments. This was my first and last visit. I wouldn't recommend it.

Great atmosphere, the owner and staff incredibly friendly and attentive—and, in my opinion, the best sushi you can get in Munich. Special creations off the menu are also available upon request. The hot dishes are equally delicious and very reasonably priced, so you can put together an authentic Japanese evening for a very fair price.

Beautiful place with really nice service. The decoration is incredible, and the space is small enough to feel comfy but also big enough to allocate quite some people. The quality of the fish was great, and paired together with a frozen beer.. perfect. I particularly liked the Takoyaki. If you go hungry, it will get quite expensive, so it’s a bit on the upper limit money wise for my taste.

Authentic Japanese! The sushi bar was perfect for an evening for two. There were three of us, and it was very cozy and cool. One of the best Japanese restaurants in Germany so far, for me. The value for money was right for me 👍

Food was delicious from start to finish. Gyoza, grilled aubergine in miso-sauce, sushi and dessert - I can only recommend. Really cosy place with a nice interior/mood and a friendly staff.

Don't quite understand the hype, yes it's cozy Japanese but sushi was okay. Not exceptional! We ordered 4-5 things, there could have been more, but the service never came back. The restaurant was full from 0-100 so there was probably no way to get through. You can do it sometime!

Authentic cuisine - sushi, grilled fish and many delicious small dishes, we really enjoyed the visit. Very nice staff

Amazing! The food is delicious (we tried a bunch of different things, sushi, grilled fish, different starters, everything really high quality and super tasty!), the drinks are cold, the staff is extremely friendly. Will definitely come back over and over again!

It wasn't easy with the reservation, but the wait was worth it. We were VERY satisfied. We will do this again as soon as possible!

Amazing Japanese food ! Highly recommended.

Very tasty, authentic Japanese food and fantastic service 😍

Perfect authentic Japanese place in Munich with Kabukicho vibes. Unagi omelette is a must. Very reasonably priced. Not a secret tip anymore, but always good to be there.

We are happy that we ate Japanese food 🍱 delicious. Arigato

Very authentic little Japanese restaurant. Very tasty food and nice staff

Really great restaurant! Food is great and the atmosphere is very cozy. 😊

Celebrated a birthday here. Was probably the best choice for a location to meet for a birthday! Small, sweet, great food and a super friendly team! Definitely recommended!

Highly recommended. Probably the best sushi in Munich. Authentic Japanese cuisine and very high quality.

Everything was great, except for the sometimes cramped seating conditions due to the small location.

Exactly my taste. Small shop with top dishes and good service. We tried a few things and were thrilled. Both from the food and the drinks. Gladly again.

Great food, really authentic. But don’t forget to reserve a table, this restaurant is pretty small. Update: I have to amend my review because unfortunately our latest experience there was not as good as before. The food is still amazing but the service was slow and not nice at all - it felt like a conveyor approach without a single polite word. More of a typical rude Munich service and not a Japanese , that one would expect here.

Super tasty and delicious food! Really like Japan!

Very authentic Japanese food. In addition, friendly and warm restaurant owners with courteous service. Very happy again! ごちそうさま でした 🙏🙏

this place is amazing and super authentic but the german waitress was horrible and super rude but hey thats classic munich

Great sushi. Authentic and great staff. The quality of the fish is unbelievably great… it was so fun! Every nigiri was a delight. The ambience is honest and simple… a little trip to Japan. 1000 THANKS!

*No walk-ins accepted*. Walked in and saw 70-80% of the restaurant empty (around 7PM on Sunday). Website have zero mention of reservation-only. And website reservation button says not accepting for today (checked hours before we went). The issue is I've never seen this type of mom-pop restaurant done 100% reservation only, portion of the restaurant should be reserved for walk-ins. And, we would've not mind waiting for it. Just came to be bit of a surprise after 15mins Uber ride. Unfortunately did not get to try their tasty food. Restaurant overall do look nice with good decorations.

Great authentic Japanese restaurant. The food is amazing! The staff is nice as well. The food can take a little of bit time to arrive but is understandable… The frozen beer is a must! We enjoyed the quiet atmosphere in the restaurant. My favorite was the Tako Nigiri!

The unagi bowl is simply incredibly delicious and a great selection of drinks and sake! If you're looking for high-quality sushi, you've come to the right place

The food was amazing and so fresh, but the Daifuku really has a special place in my heart.

Food was very tasty. Service friendly. A little too expensive. And very small space. Our table was by the window. There were two people sitting next to us eating at the bar counter. The woman sat with her back almost to our table. Her long hair was almost hanging in our food. And the heating was so hot, it was very uncomfortable to sit and eat. We turned it back but nothing happened. The heater stayed incredibly hot. If you want to reserve a table, it's better not directly at the window.

Worse service, bad attitude, impolite people.

great experience that took me back to Japan! The staff is super friendly and the food tastes very authentic

Cozy Izakaya with authentic and delicious Japanese dishes!

The J-Bar is a charming little sushi bar that scores points less for its furnishings and more for the quality of the sushi and the personality of the owner and sushi master. The food is excellent and shows high craftsmanship. A special highlight for us was the delicious ice cream and the beer with the amusing foamy head. Absolutely recommended for all sushi lovers in Munich.

A little trip to Japan – that’s exactly what it feels like when you enter the J-Bar. As soon as you enter, you are greeted by a variety of smells: the slightly sweet aroma of sushi rice, the spicy notes of karaage and much more. The ambience is authentic, cozy and full of loving details. I was particularly impressed by the wide selection of dishes, especially the karaage and the variety of sushi - everything was fresh, high quality and prepared with a lot of skill. Although the room is a little smaller, that is exactly what contributes to the family atmosphere and gives the restaurant its charm. I can recommend this restaurant to everyone and look forward to returning here soon. Important: you have to reserve in advance

The five of us tried the entire starter menu up and down - in true Izakaya style. Afterwards we treated ourselves to mixed sashimi and sushi. We also found the Frozen Kirin very convincing :) We were without exception happy and satisfied with everything and will definitely come back! ごちそうさまでした🫶🏼

This is my favorite restaurant in Munich! I highly recommend it if you want authentic Japanese food. The atmosphere is very pleasant and cozy and the food is fantastic! Since everything here is always full, I would strongly recommend making a reservation.

Highly recommended. Probably the best sushi in Munich. Authentic Japanese cuisine and very high quality.

Authentic Japanese, excellent sushi and Japanese appetizers/tappas. In my opinion the best Japanese restaurant in Munich. No fancy stuff, just good sushi. Prices are rather cheap for the quality. Be sure to reserve!

The boss and the employees were very friendly. The food was very tasty, great fish quality.

Very great Japanese restaurant (:

If you miss Japan, this is your place. Flavours are there, the kimchi, the algae salad, the eel omelette are all excellent. It reminds a lovely izakaya, and they have really nice green tea varieties. Definitely recommend.

If you do a Reservation in advance online, you will get your place at this really authentic and sweet japanese Restaurant. They will Server you with high quality sushi and lovely home made style japanese dishes. Its one of my favorite Restaurants in Munich.

The most authentic Japanese izakaya around. Very tasty food. Large selection of whiskey 😃. Thank you for the lovely evening Satomi and Masami. Best Japanese izakaya The pickled Otoro Nigiri is the best sushi I've eaten so far

I could eat there every day. The nigiri consist of special cuts and authentic, fresh fish/seafood, the rice is perfectly prepared - the best sushi rice I have had in Munich so far - and the temperature of the nigiri is also right. Pure taste explosion!! The other Japanese dishes are also incredibly tasty and contrary to the often-read claim that they are overpriced, I am of the opinion that the price-performance ratio is great! At the end of the day you shouldn't forget how much the products cost to buy and the owner and his employees also want to make a living. In any case, we left the restaurant full and very happy. Thanks!

The very best quality food, prices are accordingly a little higher, but it's definitely worth it

The best Japanese food in Munich! You have to make a reservation for sure otherwise you don’t have a chance

A really nice atmosphere, a great selection of food and very courteous staff. My daughter and I felt comfortable and another visit is out of the question.

Was here for dinner and really enjoyed it 😁. Everyone was very nice and the food was delicious 😋 Will come again 👍🏻

Cute shop with a fun interior. Nice owner. Overall, quite authentic. In Munich you will never get sushi at the original Japanese level, this is quite logical and is due to transport routes etc. Everything we ordered was really tasty, and I was particularly pleased with the three types of Toro Nigiri from the monthly menu!

Fantastic, authentic food with a very friendly host! The two of us had the gyoza (wow!), tataki, sushi, teriyaki salmon and karaage. Every dish was a burst of flavor and had the perfect consistency! There is also an extensive selection of imported drinks. The host is happy himself, he can see that you like the dishes. You feel like a guest and compared to many other restaurants in Munich it has a very pleasant, personal component. The service is friendly, quick and unobtrusive. We accidentally made a reservation for the wrong day and were still accepted at short notice. The price-performance ratio is also good! We'll definitely be back - but next time everyone will get their own portion of gyoza. They are just too good! Arigato gozaimashita!

Very disappointing. The sushi is average, at best. The fish is not fresh at all and doesn't taste at all. Very bad experience and if this wasn't enough, they don't tell you that you need to pay in cash and you have to walk 15 mins to the nearest ATM. I would not recommend going to this place.

Very friendly team, authentic atmosphere and really delicious food. I can only recommend

How this place gets 4.5 stars is honestly beyond me. The menu may have Japanese names and carry Kirin beer but that’s about the extent of its authenticity. The takoyaki here looks like it has been steamed rather than grilled, the gyzoa is rather sour (not a flavour you have in Japanese gyoza) and flat, the fried chicken is akin to being something you microwave from a supermarket. The nigiri here is actually ok but the quality is not great given you’re paying nearly €4 per piece. Oh, and they also only accept cash as payment.

Nice, cute and authentic little Izakaya. The Japanese omelet tastes actually better than the ones we tried in Japan. And the frozen beer is so refreshing. Tho a little expensive but we'll definitely visit again to try more dishes.

Very cool little shop with delicious beer (optionally with frozen beer foam). The food was delicious, it was really fun trying different dishes. Good for a cozy evening.

very nice restaurant/bar and very nice service, food was okay, but unfortunately I don't understand the prices, but they apply to almost all Japanese restaurants in Munich

Very cozy and familiar Izakaya. The food is also super tasty. We had a mixed starter and were able to try some Japanese delicacies (Gyoza, Karaage, Nasu Miso, Takoyaki, Potato Salad etc.). The sushi is also of high quality, the nori is very tasty, the fish is fresh and the rice is perfectly cooked. The selection of drinks offers great Japanese highlights such as sake, sochu and frozen kirin

Oishi kata des! So delicious, so friendly, really cuddly. The welcome was very friendly and the service was very attentive. And then the food! We had various very tasty starters, then a wonderful gyoza as a middle course, and then a sushi and a sashimi platter. Everything was just great. There is also Kirin on tap. You feel like you are in Japan (although the Kirin is probably brewed under license in Freising). The furnishings are simple but very comfortable. Of course the place isn't a bargain, but it's worth every euro.

Excellent meal in a restaurant that is far too small for the arts. The evening was an experience, the owner is also an opera singer and briefly showed off his skills. Although I have no idea about the subject, I was deeply impressed! The service was perfect and very friendly, you immediately felt at home. Absolute recommendation!

Hamachi sashimi and Uni. It was so soft and tasty. They are shining. If someone likes sashimi, you have to try They melt in my mouth, thank you J bar!

A super nice place, delicious food. The beer with the ice foam crown is a must try!!

I went alone without a reservation, and although it was crowded, they found a seat for me. Just like in a Japanese izakaya, we ordered a variety of food and had the special beers, Swiss beer and Kirin frozen beer. All of them are really delicious, and I think Japanese people will also be satisfied with the taste. It was so delicious that I ended up ordering an extra dish and had a hard time leaving with a full stomach. The prices are reasonable, and the restaurant is small, so I think reservations are required, but even if you go alone, it's a lot of fun to experience a Japanese izakaya.

Authentic Japanese cuisine. Very good food. Nice service. Small shop, small menu - but top taste and quality.

One of my top restaurant experiences in Munich. Their art reveals what food is capable of. When I ate there, I was actually feeling emotions. I felt warmth in my heart, comfort, joy, and a certain nostalgia (for what, I have no idea). In addition, the service is exceptional. I always feel I'm a valued guest rather than a customer. The potato salad is particularly pleasing.

Best ingredients, relaxed and authentic atmosphere. Must try: Frozen Kirin, Kimchi and Miso Eggplant. I always enjoy coming here!

Update to my old review: I feared that this restaurant had changed for the worse with the change in ownership. I found the decision to include sushi in the menu selection a bit dubious. This Izakaya doesn't need it, I still think so. Today I went again after a long time and I was pleasantly surprised. The dishes were still all good, but a little different. Karaage came with a seasoned breading, gyoza in a yuzu-kosho sauce. The takoyaki have decreased in quality. A great new dish has been added to the menu: Miso Aubergine. The taste is reminiscent of doteyaki, highly recommended. The staff is still mostly Japanese and the service is good. I didn't try the sushi, I found the sashimi extremely expensive. I would like to see more raw fish dishes and more seasonality. There used to be many daily specials, which were then mentioned handwritten on boards. I miss dishes like grilled hamachi. With the good selection of raw fish, the izakaya could also offer dishes like なめろう. Unfortunately, the selection of dishes is no longer as coherent as it used to be and as a guest you wonder what kind of restaurant you are in. I don't want to be in an izakaya and a sushi restaurant at the same time. But I also understand that the market in Germany is different than in Japan. The restaurant had previously impressed people with the fact that it had not particularly adapted to the German market. Feel free to leave the sushi on the menu, but please offer more seasonal dishes. We still had a great evening.

A very small restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine. You definitely have to make a reservation here! We ate here and I have to say, everything was very good and fresh. Very nice and attentive service!

Jbar has soul and truly excellent sushi.

Sehr gutes Essen. Super Service. Top Adresse.

sehr leckeres Essen, tolles authentisches Flair

Bestes japanische Restaurant in dem ich bisher war! Mega authentische Küche und super netter, freundlicher Service.

Amazing food. It is an ode to the senses. It goes beyond and above. I feel people should really appreciate and cherish this wonderful place way more. It is really frustrating because people tend to oppose to different flavors ( pretty boring). It made me sad to see a mid restaurant next door full of people. Each of the plates we tried were wonderful!!!

Wundervolle Japanische Bar mit einem Hervorragenden Pärchen was dort das Essen zubereitet und einen wundervoll berät. Gehobener Preis aber jeder Cent ist genau richtig investiert.

I am so glad that I have found this J-Bar and have a chance to experience a real Japanese Izakaya in Munich. "Klein aber fein". The ambient is very cozy and comfortable. The menu is refined. The service ist very friendly. Behind the sushi bar is a man who is highly experienced and competent. It is a perfect place to sit with some of your best friends and to enjoy a frozen Kirin Ichiban beer.

Gorgeous little japanese place with delicious and authentic food! The interior of the place is also extremely pretty

Lecker, gemütlich, freundlich und authentisch. Wir freuen uns Herrn Saito und sein Team ab sofort regelmäßig in unserer Nachbarschaft zu besuchen. Daumen hoch 👍

Authentic tiny japanese place with sushi and great Sake