When you are in Bangkok and have time to try something beyond Thai food, try ISAO. ISAO on Sukhumvit 31 has been one of my favourite sushi restaurants in Bangkok for years. There are plenty of choices on the menu, but somehow I keep coming back to the same two dishes every time: Jackie and Crunchy.
ISAO is not really about traditional Japanese sushi. Its style is more creative and playful, with an interesting connection to Chicago that goes back to before the restaurant opened in Bangkok.
From Chicago to Bangkok
The story started in Chicago, where Isao-san opened Green Tea Japanese Restaurant. The experience and some of the creative sushi ideas from Chicago eventually made their way to Bangkok when ISAO opened.
One dish in particular came with a very clever story — Jackie.
How Jackie Got Its Name
According to the story shared by ISAO-san, the owner, when the restaurant in Chicago first opened, a family came in with their five-year-old daughter. Her name was Jackie.
Jackie didn’t like raw fish, but she loved shrimp. Isao-san created a special sushi roll for her using shrimp, making something the little girl could enjoy. He named the new creation Jackie, after her.
Years later, the Jackie Roll made its way from Chicago to Bangkok and became one of ISAO’s signature maki roll dishes.
Today, it is probably one of the restaurant’s most recognisable creations. With shrimp tempura, avocado and shrimp wrapped around the outside, it arrives shaped almost like a little caterpillar. The presentation may be playful, but it is the combination of shrimp, texture and sauce that keeps it on my regular order.
And Then There Is Crunchy
My other must-order is Crunchy.
It is quite different from Jackie, with spicy salmon inside and a crispy exterior, finished with sauce. Jackie is softer and shrimp-focused, while Crunchy gives you that richer, crispy texture. For me, the two simply work well together — which is probably why I rarely order one without the other.
I have been coming back to ISAO for years, and despite having a whole menu in front of me, my order doesn’t change very much.
Jackie and Crunchy.
Sometimes a favourite restaurant isn’t about continually trying something new. It is about returning to the dishes you already know you want — and in the case of Jackie, discovering that there is also a little story behind what is on the plate. Here is how crunchy is made. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcFbBQMgDKa/?igsh=a3piNnR0YzJxMnM0&igsi=a3piNnR0YzJxMnM0
