Say “hai” to good times Tokyo-style with freewheeling Japanese snacks and drinks – from sake and cocktails to beers and whiskies – at this fun bar in Brisbane’s buzziest waterfront precinct.
Join the Slushie gang and see what all the fuss is about. Yoko’s version delivers a mix of rich Fijian Bati rum, yuzu citrus, passionfruit and mandarin. Afraid of brain freeze? The lengthy grown-up drinks list has plenty to plunder, with everything from grower Champagne to obscure sakes like the Ine Mankai by Kyoto’s Mukai Brewery. This pure-rice junmai style of sake will confound expectations, being made from an ancient strain of red rice.
Beer lovers are also well catered for – Japanese offerings stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Brisbane brews from the likes of neighbouring Felons Brewing, Green Beacon and Your Mates. Yoko has non-alcoholic ales, too, from Sobah and Heaps Normal. And in keeping with the izakaya vibe you’ll find a top selection of whiskies here as well as a surprisingly hefty tequila offering. Kampai!
Half the fun lies in deliberating over which tempting snacks should accompany your drinks, but if you’re done with decision-making choose the handy $65 Izakaya set. This delivers a raft of treats – 10, in fact – from miso-glazed eggplant and hibachi-grilled chicken with red-pepper miso to Yoko’s famous spicy pork udon.
And if you’d rather skip the stairs to get to the bathroom, ask staff about the hidden upstairs loo (just don’t tell them we told you).
