Gaijin dining room, bar and chef's counter
1 / 10

Restaurant Gaijin

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A lively, modern eatery offering a progressive Asian fusion menu from acclaimed chefs, blending Japanese, Korean, and North Chinese flavors with creat...

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Gaijin dining room, bar and chef's counter

Restaurant Gaijin

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A lively, modern eatery offering a progressive Asian fusion menu from acclaimed chefs, blending Japanese, Korean, and North Chinese flavors with creative flair.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"The food's so transportive, you forget you meant to document it. When the food's this good, your camera can wait."

TIP

Reservations Recommended

The restaurant is popular and can get cramped; reservations are advised, though not mandatory.

Opt for Tasting Menus

Consider set menus or wine pairings for an enhanced and well-paced culinary journey.

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Quick Facts

Open·Closes 11PM

Cuisine

Asian Fusion

Price

$$$

Phone

+358 10 3229381

Address

Bulevardi 6, 00120 Helsinki, Finland

Website

gaijin.fi/

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Progressive Asian Fusion

Progressive Asian Fusion

Experience a fusion of Japanese, Korean, and North Chinese flavors with modern twists. Creative renditions of classic dishes.

Helsinkis Best Restaurants For Art Gastronomy And Finnish HeritageThe 12 best restaurants in Helsinki to visit in 2022The 12 Most Famous Restaurants In Helsinki, Finland
Signature Pork Buns

Signature Pork Buns

Indulge in savory pork buns featuring tender pork belly, spicy kimchi mayonnaise, and pickled cucumber.

Helsinkis Best Restaurants For Art Gastronomy And Finnish HeritageHelsinki — Taste of Prague Food Tours
Delectable Cocktails

Delectable Cocktails

Sip on creative and elevated cocktails, often featuring unique Asian-inspired ingredients.

20 Best Restaurants In Helsinki, FinlandHelsinki — Taste of Prague Food Tours
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Gaijin Helsinki 📍oli 5/5 kokemus!
@saimielisabeth
31 likes • 3.5K views

Reservations Recommended

The restaurant is popular and can get cramped; reservations are advised, though not mandatory.

Opt for Tasting Menus

Consider set menus or wine pairings for an enhanced and well-paced culinary journey.

Visit During Off-Peak Hours

Avoid potential service delays or crowded seating by visiting during less busy times.

Engage with Staff

The knowledgeable and attentive staff are accommodating to special requests.

Tips

from all over the internet

Reservations Recommended

The restaurant is popular and can get cramped; reservations are advised, though not mandatory.

Opt for Tasting Menus

Consider set menus or wine pairings for an enhanced and well-paced culinary journey.

Visit During Off-Peak Hours

Avoid potential service delays or crowded seating by visiting during less busy times.

Engage with Staff

The knowledgeable and attentive staff are accommodating to special requests.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Restaurant Gaijin offers a vibrant Asian-fusion experience with creative dishes and a lively atmosphere, praised for its innovative flavors and presentation. While many laud the unique menu and attentive service, some diners have noted occasional issues with slow service or inconsistent execution, particularly during busy periods. Despite minor criticisms, the overall sentiment is positive, with many recommending it for a memorable dining experience in Helsinki.

"The best food and service in 2025…!!! So lovely staff and so tastefull. Would recommend to everyone who come to Helsinki"

Troels Stjernholm

"We visited Gaijin as part of a credit card dining offer. We arrived on a Sunday at 15:00, just when they opened. It took about 20 min to get the menu and another 20 min to get the drinks. The starter arrived at 16:15. Starters were ok but nothing particularly special. The mains were tasty, especially the ribs. However, the amount of lettuce felt a bit too little for the dish. We had to cancel a drink that hadn't arrived by the time that we had finished the food, and the cherry on the cake was a hair in the food. Restaurant was not exactly busy, and there was sufficient staff. Yet, service was very lacking, and it ruined the experience and fond memories that we had of the place. Overall, the food was good but not worth waiting an hour for, and the flavour was not enough to compensate getting the dish cold. Probably not going back."

Alejandra Kolehmainen

"Restaurant Gaijin in Helsinki is one of those rare places where the food is so transportive, you forget you meant to document it. I had full intentions of snapping pictures of each course—beautiful plating, vibrant colors, you know the drill—but that plan evaporated by bite two. When the food’s this good, your camera can wait.

The cuisine is modern Asian with Nordic finesse—Japanese, Korean, and a touch of Chinese, filtered through Helsinki cool. We went with the tasting menu, which I’d strongly recommend. It’s generous in portion and beautifully paced. Every dish felt deliberate but never fussy, with unexpected flavor combinations that worked: smoky and sweet, tangy and umami, spicy but in balance. Think marinated black cod that melts into the chopsticks, beef tartare with just the right amount of fire, and dumplings you want to live inside.

There was a bit of a communication hiccup involving sake. We ordered one carafe, two appeared. At first, we thought, “How generous!” and then realized it was an error. But the staff handled it gracefully, crediting the second with a quiet smile and zero fuss.

The space is moody and chic, with a sleek palette and soft lighting that makes every table feel intimate. It’s stylish without being sterile, and the service, while brisk, was polished and professional.

In short: go hungry, order the tasting menu, and leave your phone in your pocket. Gaijin isn’t a place to perform your dinner—it’s a place to devour it."

Adam Raiffe

What People Like

Innovative Asian fusion cuisine
Creative and delicious cocktails
Attentive and knowledgeable staff

What People Dislike

Slow service during peak times
Cramped seating
Inconsistent dish temperature

Frequently Asked Questions

Restaurant Gaijin serves a progressive Asian fusion menu, creatively blending flavors from Japan, Korea, and North China with modern twists.

Helsinkis Best Restaurants For Art Gastronomy And Finnish HeritageThe 12 Most Famous Restaurants In Helsinki, Finland

Yes, reservations are recommended as the restaurant is popular and can get quite busy and cramped. It's advisable to book in advance.

Helsinki/Kamppi and Southwest Halal Food & TravelGoogle Review

Yes, Gaijin offers tasting menus and encourages opting for them to enhance the dining experience, often with optional wine pairings.

Google Review+1

Signature dishes include pork buns with kimchi mayonnaise, salmon tartar on shizo leaf, and various fusion hot pots.

Helsinkis Best Restaurants For Art Gastronomy And Finnish HeritageHelsinki — Taste of Prague Food Tours

The restaurant features moody, chic interiors with soft lighting, creating an intimate and stylish atmosphere.

The 12 best restaurants in Helsinki to visit in 2022Google Review

The staff are known to be knowledgeable and accommodating to special requests, contributing to a positive dining experience.

Google Review+1

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Gaijin fuses flavors from Japan, Korea and the North of China. The dishes served here are a combination of some of the most iconic culinary heritages in the world. Patrons can enjoy plates such as salmon tartar on a shizo leaf, wasabi dressing and Japanese pickles; pork buns with pork belly, kimchi mayonnaise and pickled cucumber; and Kimchi hot pots with long braised pork cheek, kimchi mayonnaise,`kimchi water´ and pickled cucumber.

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An iconic restaurant located in the heart of Helsinki, Gaijin explores the flavours of North Asia, mixing modern aromas from Korean, Japanese and North Chinese cuisines. Inspired by their trips to northern Asia, owners and acclaimed chefs Tomi Björck and Matti Wikberg constructed the menu where traditional meets modern, taking cues from contemporary Asian cooking in Sydney and New York. Surrounded by moody interiors and a mystical atmosphere, via a sharing-concept Gaijin’s guests are taken on a delicious journey introducing vibrant and fresh flavours.

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Welcome to the charming city of Helsinki, where the locals are known to be as warm and friendly as a sauna on a winter's day. As a self-proclaimed Gaijin (that's foreigner, for those who haven't brushed up on their Finnish lingo), you'll find yourself exploring a place that blends modern design with old-world charm. While you may initially stick out like a reindeer in a flock of seagulls, fear not — Helsinki's eccentric spirit is bound to embrace you like a bear hug from Santa Claus himself!

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The restaurant’s culinary team emphasizes dishes inspired by Asia’s long-standing northeastern culinary traditions, such as those from China’s far north. In addition to soft-shell crab and miso chicken, visitors can order cocktails like Gaijin Red and Koshu private reserve to go with their meal. There’s no better place to eat than this restaurant, which is widely acclaimed for its attention to detail when preparing delectable food.

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Offering a fusion of Japanese, Korean, and Northern Chinese culinary traditions, Gaijin stands out with its bold flavors and modern twist on Asian cuisine. Since its opening in 2011, the restaurant has gained a cult following, with a menu that playfully interprets the rich culinary heritage of the Asian continent. Its sleek design and vibrant atmosphere mirror the dynamic spirit of its dishes.

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Gaijin - Bulevardi 6 60.16597, 24.94217 ☎ +358 10 3229386 Opening Hours: 5 PM to 12 AM Main courses 26 to 42 €, tasting menus 62 to 66 € One of Helsinki's finest Asian cuisine restaurants, serving a mixture of Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine. Famous for its tasting menus. As the restaurant is very popular and a bit cramped, prior reservations are recommended, although not mandatory.

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Gaijin is a hip and popular and cool space owned by the Finnish Masterchef judge that serves eclectic Asian dishes and Asian-inspired cocktails (which we liked a lot). The dim sum were really tasty, but we wished they had Momofuku's pork for their pork buns, which were otherwise very nicely seasoned. The salmon and miso main was also very good.

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For a dinner with bold Asian-inspired flavours, head to Gaijin on Bulevardi, open from 3pm to 11pm. This stylish and buzzing restaurant blends Japanese, Korean, and Northern Chinese cuisines into a menu designed for sharing—a great choice for a special Sunday night out in Helsinki.

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This Michelin-star restaurant serves up delicious Japanese cuisine which is no less than art on a plate!. The food, the wine and the presentation make up for a wholesome fine-dining experience. You have to book a reservation because this spot is always full!

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A post shared by Restaurant Gaijin Helsinki (@restaurant_gaijin). Gaijin might well be my favorite Asian restaurant in Helsinki. Chef Tomi Björck and Matti Wikberg take influences from Japan, Korea, and Northern China to create this amazing restaurant.

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Gaijin” is Japanese word meaning “non Japanese” or “alien”. Restaurant has been extremely popular from the date it was established, which means you must prepare to reserve table enough early. Easiest you get the table at 17.00 ro after 20.00.

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Gaijin on Boulevard focuses on Japanese, Korean and North Chinese flavours. Portions are shared, so it's possible to taste different flavours of cuisines. The cocktails, sake and wines to pair with the food are clear.

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Where Farang serves food inspired by Southeast, Gaijin's cuisine is inspired by Japanese, Korean and Northern Chinese cooking, preparing (and combining) the traditional foods of these countries with a modern twist.

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