Channelling the frenetic fun of Tokyo’s laneway eateries and karaoke bars, Jonathan Barthlemess’ new izakaya, Yoko Dining, is set to bring the good times to Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves.

Heading up the kitchen will be former Calile Hotel chef, Kitak Lee, who has put together a sake-soaking menu, prepared over the kitchen’s hibachi charcoal grill. Premium wagyu and whole local fish are set to get the charred treatment, alongside bar bites like gyoza, tempura, noodles and dumplings.

The venue will also have it’s own dedicated raw bar which will see freshly sliced and scored seafood make its way onto glistening sashimi platters to share.

Dessert will be a focus, and unless you want FOMO at Yoko, we suggest leaving room to spare. The sweets selection is set to include an assortment of housemade mochi and soft serves, which will sit alongside a shaved iced sundae, known locally as kakigori. Taiyaki, a small Japanese cake shaped like a fish and often filled with sweet azuki beans or custard, will also make an appearance.

Embrace the salaryman culture with a few rowdy rounds of boozy yuzu slushies, followed by a Japanese beer or glass of tap wine. If you’re doing it right, you’ll wake up with a sore head and happy memories tomorrow.

Opening underneath Story Bridge at the Howard Smith Wharves, the heritage-listed space will debut a retro-futuristic fit-out in concrete and yolk-hued yellow by George Livissianis (Barthelmess’ go-to studio), which will be paired with a pumping pop vinyl soundtrack.

Yoko Dining is slated to open in Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves this November. For more details, head to yokodining.com.au.