Japanese Kitchen Ant'z – Izakaya (Japanese-style Pub)
416/4 Soi Sukhumvit 55(Thonglor Klongton, Nua, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Ant'z hits the right notes for expats who want an after-work drink spot that does not feel like a tourist production. The design brief was deliberately minimal and wood-heavy, and it reads as genuinely considered rather than Instagram-dressed. Our honest view: the chicken wings stuffed with gyoza and the clay pot salmon rice are the two dishes worth ordering first, and the 2 AM close makes this one of the more practical late-night tables in Thonglor.
A Japanese interior designer shaped the look of Ant'z, and that origin is legible the moment you walk in. Wood surfaces dominate, the lighting sits low, and the overall mood is closer to a neighborhood pub in Osaka than to the high-concept Japanese dining that fills much of Thonglor. The intent, stated plainly on the venue's own listing, was to create something casual and homey.\n\nThe building holds roughly 70 seats split across three distinct areas. Ground floor has 30 non-smoking seats. The second floor adds another 30 where electronic cigarettes are permitted. A 10-seat counter bar runs alongside the kitchen. A private dining room is also available for bookings, which makes the space usable for small group dinners that need separation from the main floor.\n\nThe menu is built around izakaya comfort food rather than formal Japanese cuisine. Standout items anchored by the venue's own listing include clay pot rice with salmon and salmon roe, chicken wings stuffed with gyoza filling, and assorted sashimi sets. Izakaya-style beverages anchor the drinks side: beer, wine, and alcohol are all available. Late-night food runs until close.\n\nPricing lands at around 1,000 baht per person, which positions Ant'z above the cheapest Japanese options on the soi but well within reason for the quality of ingredients and the hours kept. The venue accepts VISA, MasterCard, and JCB. A Japanese chef is on staff, which matters here because the comfort food category is one where execution separates the real article from approximation.\n\nOne practical note: the aroimaru listing flags no parking facilities on site. Paid multi-storey parking is reachable nearby, but anyone driving should factor in an extra 10 minutes. The BTS Thonglor station is a 20-minute walk, so a taxi or motorbike taxi from the station is the more sensible arrival for most. Closed only on Buddhist holidays, every other night of the week runs 5 PM to 2 AM.