Recently, we had the pleasure of dining at Inoshishi Izakaya, a stylish Japanese-inspired restaurant in the heart of Frome. Having opened relatively recently, I was lucky enough to be invited to try their food. And if you haven’t been to Frome yet, the town itself is a treasure worth exploring—full of charm and character and well worth a wander around.
The food
The lunch menu is simple, with a choice of small sharing dishes or bento box style lunches. We went for a bit of everything and our son also enjoyed a kid’s bento. From start to finish, the experience was impeccable—everything, and I mean **everything**, was absolutely delicious. You can tell the attention to detail in each dish, with every bite made from high-quality, fresh ingredients. On top of that, the service was fantastic—friendly, helpful, and attentive without being overbearing.
Here’s what we ate:
– Ponzu Salmon Bento (served with miso soup, wakame salad, pickles, and furikake rice)
– Kids’ Ponzu Chicken Bento (with rice, fresh tomatoes, and wakame salad)
– Salmon Sashimi
– Kimchi
– Miso Butter Aubergine
– Vegetable Gyoza
– Market Greens Salad with fresh tomatoes and a citrus-wasabi dressing (from their very own garden!)
Standout dishes
Though every dish was wonderful, these were our highlights. The market greens salad (from the specials menu) was an unexpected favourite. The citrus-wasabi dressing added a bright, tangy zing which worked SO well with the tomatoes and home grown greens. I was literally spooning the dressing out of the bowl once we’d eaten everything. I’d love to work out how to make it for home!
Oh my god. The miso butter aubergine was another standout dish. Roasted until soft and tender, and then slathered in miso butter, it was incredible! We were fighting over the last scrapings and although I don’t know if this is something you get in Japan, it worked really really well.
And lastly, the salmon sashimi—so fresh, it practically melted as soon as it touched your tongue. Paired with just the right amount of wasabi, soy, and a sliver of ginger, it was simplicity at its finest. The quality of the salmon shone through and annoyingly, our toddler loved it too. I did not want to share!
Child friendly options
For those dining with little ones, the kids’ menu was great. Our 2.5 year old had the kids ponzu chicken bento, which came with rice, fresh tomatoes and wakame salad. It’s always a bonus when a restaurant caters thoughtfully to children (there are so many lazy kids menus out there – nuggets and chips anyone?), and Inoshishi does it right without compromising on the style of food they serve.
Final thoughts
It’s not often I hand out a perfect score, but Inoshishi Izakaya deserves the full 10/10. The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Every dish left us eager to try more, and the warm, welcoming service made the experience even better. This is a spot we’ll absolutely be returning to—next time, we’re eager to check out their evening menu without the toddler in tow!
If you’re in Frome (or even if you’re not), Inoshishi should be high on your list of places to dine. It’s a beautiful fusion of Japanese culinary traditions with fresh, local ingredients, served in a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere. It’s definitely not an Izakaya of the sort you’d find in Japan which tend to be rowdier, crowded and akin to a bar, but it’s certainly brilliant anyway.
Oh, and try and get there without driving because their cocktails are divine. This was the peach sake tea (I think!!) and it was just perfect.
We’re already planning our next visit! 💫
Where to find them: