Takenoko

The story

Takenoko Zagreb: Nikkei and Japanese Cuisine on Preradovića Street

Takenoko, at 22 Ulica Petra Preradovića in Zagreb, is a Japanese kitchen with a Nikkei fusion menu, and Gault&Millau awarded it 14 points in 2026. The restaurant's website says it was founded in 2002.

Cooking with Nikkei roots

The menu follows Nikkei cooking, the blend of Japanese and Peruvian techniques that began with Japanese emigrants who settled in Peru. Ceviche, nigiri and maki appear alongside Peruvian ingredients such as aji amarillo and panca chili. A chef's message on the website, signed by Teodor Burić, describes each plate as a way to carry flavours and aromas from the ingredients.

Standout dishes

Gault&Millau reviewers praised the chef's choice sashimi, with sea bass, tuna, salmon and thinly sliced scallops that tasted very fresh. The teppanyaki menu is the signature. Beef, lamb, prawns, lobster or Wagyu are grilled on a hot plate in the middle of the table, and the order must be placed a day in advance. The Tom Yam Kung soup was hot and sour, though the reviewer found the flavours less balanced.

Room and drinks

The interior is mostly black, with wooden tables and armchairs, and the space runs through several rooms toward a glass-walled kitchen. A chef's table sits in front of the kitchen. The wine list, cocktails and other drinks are described as extensive, and the bar suits an evening drink. The website also describes a private teppanyaki room for up to ten guests.