From highballs to litchitinis, these local eateries are shaking up the cocktail game with creative, Asian-inspired sips.
Order a refreshing mocktail for the table at Izakaya by Yanaga for an alcohol-free summer sip.
Cheu Fishtown & nunu
At this noodle bar, you’ll be slurping up a lot more than soup—connected concepts Cheu Fishtown & nunu are also home to some cool and playful cocktails. Flatter your taste buds with the sweet and sour notes of the Midori Nigori—a citrus-infused cocktail topped with nigori sake and Midori liqueur. 1414-1416 Frankford Ave., 267.758.2269, cheufishtown.com
The Lovers Knot from Double Knot
Double Knot
For those who thought this Schulson Collective staple only served sushi, now is the time to put down your chopsticks and raise your glasses. Start with the Lovers Knot, a signature blend of citrus vodka, blueberry and lime; or give the Jungle Bird Slip a try. Think flavors of strawberry mixed with tequila and hints of Campari. 120 S. 13th St., 215.631.3868, doubleknotphilly.com
Izakaya by Yanaga
Unique cocktails and authentic Japanese fare await at Izakaya by Yanaga. Sip the Algebra, Bad Lunch and Infidelity to begin your meal, a light lemon and herb cocktail crafted with Tito’s vodka. Later, to balance the heat of some crunchy and spicy karaage chicken, order …And Your Finest Jelly Beans: a sweet fruit blend with white rum and house blueberry-balsamic shrub. 1832 Frankford Ave., 267.310.3554, byyanaga.com
KPOD
A “K-wave” concept by Stephen Starr, KPOD translates Korean ingenuity into a singular dining experience. Inside, vibrant and vivacious cocktails from chef Peter Serpico await, like the citrus-inspired Green Lite creation. By adding a few drops of chlorophyll to citrus soju and spearmint, Serpico has unlocked one of the most refreshing drinks in town. But he doesn’t stop there. Relying on his Korean American heritage, he’s also concocted the spicy and tangy Kimchini, made from kimchi soju and topped with pickled scallion. 3636 Sansom St., 215.387.1803, kpodrestaurant.com
Mei Mei Philadelphia
Mei Mei takes grandeur to the extreme—with cherry blossoms, purple and pink hues throughout and luxurious velvet wall panels, chef Jay Ho accepts nothing but the best in decor, food and drink. Offering only a handful of signature cocktails, each one is engineered to perfection. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Taiwan Tea-Ni, a blissful brew of oolong and litchi juice complete with saffron honey syrup and gin. The Laughing Ox is another great fruit option with prickly pear, strawberry and Thai basil. 33 S. Second St., 267.541.2977, mei-mei-philadelphia.webflow.io
1225 Raw Sushi & Sake Lounge
Options abound at this raw bar—not only can you choose from fresh salmon, tuna or yellowtail, but you can also try one or more of 10-plus different signature cocktails. Embrace your inner child with the Pink Ranger, a raspberry vodka- and liqueur-based drink hit with a splash of Sprite. And after a few courses of sashimi, sway to the music with The Fusion Dance cocktail, which boasts a mix of tequila, sake, yuzu and a touch of soda. 1225 Sansom St., 215.238.1903, 1225raw.com
Royal Izakaya’s Tokyo Mule is a delectable combination of shochu, vodka, pickled ginger and lime.
Royal Izakaya
Don’t judge this restaurant by its cover—while it might look minimalist in its decor, Royal Izakaya has some of the most diverse Japanese food and drink offerings in Philadelphia. When you’re feeling groovy, take advantage of the bar’s Caribbean-inspired cocktails like the Nigori Pina Colada, a luscious infusion of pineapple rum and nigori sake. You can also indulge with the Okinawa Daiquiri, half-and-half Okinawan and Jamaican rum completed with a generous pour of yuzu. 780 S. 2nd St., 267.909.9002, royalsushiandizakaya.com
Sampan
Sampan, the artsiest venue in chef Michael Schulson’s restaurant collection, stands at the cutting edge of modern Asian cuisine. With happy hour every day of the week between 4-7PM, make sure to drop by to sip the restaurant’s avant-garde cocktail creations. We recommend the Ming Mule, an original take on the Moscow mule, that showcases a fresh burst of lychee. The Hashi Old Fashioned contrasts well in its bitter flavor profile, a result of bourbon, applejack and orange bitters infused with slightly sweet smoked caramel. 124 S. 13th St., 215.732.3501, sampanphilly.com
Tuna Bar
To complement chef Kenneth Sze’s ever-changing menu, the bar team at Tuna Bar offers a dazzling array of cocktails to accompany all types of fresh fish and oysters. If you forget to add a touch of wasabi to your bite of sashimi, just take a swig of Winston’s heat, a gin cocktail with wasabi, cucumber and lemon. For a sweet treat, revel in the Lycheetini, a blend of vodka, lychee puree and a dash of pure, undiluted sake. 205 Race St., 215.238.8862, tunabar.com
Zama
With chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka’s own private sake called Drunken Zama, as well as Philadelphia’s largest selection of Japanese whiskey, the Rittenhouse restaurant’s drink menu certainly does not disappoint. Some of the restaurant’s cocktails like the Penicillin can even be healing—a special concoction of whiskey and scotch balanced with honey, ginger and lemon. Craving something more festive? Try the Purple Haze, a sake based drink with a few floral and vanilla notes from Crème de Violette. 128 S. 19th St., 215.568.1027, zamaphilly.com
Photography by: ANTHONY SOJO/GLU HOSPITALITY; COURTESY OF SCHULSON COLLECTIVE; JESSE ITO/ROYAL IZAKAYA
