If you’re scouting for a Japanese dining experience that brings more swagger than sushi-roll clichés, Izakaya Haiiro in Hawthorne (near Bulimba) is your move. It’s tucked away on 265 Hawthorne Rd and it feels like a hidden club for food lovers.
The ambience is moody with curved concrete walls, lighting that drops when the sake kicks in and charcoal grills flickering mid-room. Expect plates built for sharing, skewers that snap as you bite them and seafood that plays the supporting role like it’s headlining. Oysters with yuzu ponzu, wagyu and duck from the robata grill and each dish pushing flavour further.
Go for the charcoal-grilled tomahawk steak if you’re feeling bold. Or ease in with Wagyu gyoza, eggplant miso, and a set of yakitori skewers. Either way you’ll want to book ahead because the place has a way of filling up when word gets out.
In short, if you call yourself a foodie and you’re within reach of Brisbane’s eastern suburbs, Izakaya Haiiro is where you make your big move.
Izakaya Haiiro
Shop5/265 Hawthorne Rd, Hawthorne QLD 4171
(07) 3257 3527
Izakayahaiiro.com
