A fresh new Japanese dining experience is opening soon in downtown Bellingham courtesy of Bank and Aoi, the husband and wife duo behind the popular Thai Maison restaurant.
Iki Izakaya & Bar draws inspiration from Japanese izakayas. Much like tapas bars, izakayas are popular after-work spaces where friends, family, and coworkers gather to share small bites, dynamic drinks, and good conversation.
At its heart, Iki Izakaya & Bar encourages connection over creative Japanese dishes. Menu items like grilled skewers, fresh seafood, and rice dishes are designed to be shared, allowing guests to sample a variety of bold Japanese flavors throughout an evening. Their curated drink list includes sake, whisky, cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic options.
Bank and Aoi first fell in love with this style of dining while traveling through Japan. When the space that previously hosted restaurant Carnal went up for sale, they found it was the perfect location to host this unique restaurant.
The couple describes Iki Izikaya & Bar as “inviting and energetic,” with a modern interior and outdoor patio where customers can “relax, explore, and enjoy good company.” While many izakayas in Japan are true bars, their restaurant is family-friendly with options for all ages.
“Iki Izikaya is the place that I liked to hang out [at] back in the day,” Bank says. “It’s like the bar where you can be with friends or family or kids, where you eat your small tapas and then you’ve tried a lot of things. I like that concept.” 1234 N. State St., Bellingham, 360.778.2317, ikiizakaya.com
Photograph by Olivia Marty
