From the outside, you might not think twice. The sign still reads Zodiac Bar. Photos of dishes line the windows. Inside, the walls are layered with knickknacks, a little chaotic, a little nostalgic.
But that’s kind of the point.
Because step inside, and Yokocho starts to feel exactly like what it’s named after: those narrow, character-filled alleyways in Japan where the best meals are often the least obvious.
And here, it’s all about what’s on the plate.
The gyoza are, without exaggeration, some of the best we’ve had in Switzerland—crispy on the bottom, delicate on top, perfectly balanced succulent filling. The house-made pickles are a quiet standout: simple, sharp, and sweet and sour and crunchy. Basically a pickled perfection.
The katsu is fried expertly—golden, crisp, and light rather than heavy. The tempura follows suit: airy, crunchy, and executed with precision. Even the dipping sauces feel considered, each one hitting that familiar note of Japanese comfort food done right.
It’s not trying to reinvent anything. It’s just doing it really well.
Service is warm and attentive, and there’s already a mental list for next time: the sandos, both savoury and sweet. The wagyu, when the occasion calls for it. The matcha and strawberry versions, which looked almost too good not to order as they made their way through the room.
Yokocho isn’t the kind of place that announces itself.
It’s the kind you hear about. The kind you stumble into. The kind you go back to. The kind that if you know, you know.
And now...you do.
Yokocho
Av. du Grammont 6, 1007 Lausanne
021 601 16 03
Make a reservation here
