Sydney has one of the largest Japanese populations in the country, bringing with it ramen eateries, omakase benches, and more sushi restaurants than petrol stations.
READ MORE: The Best Restaurants in Sydney
Japanese cuisine here is thriving and shows no sign of slowing down, with more Japanese-inspired eateries popping up every year. So whether you’re searching for sake, fresh Tokyo-grade sashimi, or a piping hot bowl of ramen, here are the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney.
Sokyo
Pyrmont
Sokyo is the creme of the crop when it comes to Japanese dining. Chef Chase Kojima brings his kaiseki-style dishes and towering sashimi platters to this upscale dining establishment. The tasting menu is the best way to try a little of everything, but of course, there is an a la carte menu you can dig into. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They’ve also just launched an exclusive six-seat omakase experience, which is already the hottest seat in Sydney’s restaurant scene right now. Indulge in 19-23 courses of fresh seafood, cold and hot dishes, and commentary from the chef.
Nikkei
Surry Hills
At Nikkei, Peru meets Japan, within all aspects of food and beverage. The name Nikkei refers to the cuisine of the Japanese-Peruvians which started more than a century ago when the first Japanese immigrated to Peru in the late 1890s. Expect share plates made with Japanese techniques, but Peruvian ingredients. If you’re new to Nikkei’n cuisine, opt for the tasting menu. It’s the best way to get familiar with the flavours and textures, then you can experiment with the a la carte menu.
Besuto
Quay Quarter Lanes
This traditional Japanese omakase restaurant offers an immersive culinary experience, you won’t find anywhere else in Sydney. It’s hidden upstairs above the new Quay Quarter Lanes precinct. There are only 12 seats and three sittings day from Tuesday to Saturday. The menu changes daily, depending on what fresh produce is available, but you can expect beautiful, fresh, dishes during the two-hour seating. There’s a theatrical element of watching the chef blowtorch a piece of salmon and slice through a tender piece of Wagyu. You will find cold and hot dishes, as well as a series of nigiri and a hand roll. The best part is they can match your wine and sake to your meal for the full experience.
Tokki
Surry Hills
This trendy, laid back restaurant in Surry Hills serves Korean-Japanese shared plates. Think Korean fried chicken bao, BBQ trays, and Angus short rib. Inspired by the buzzing nightlife of Tokyo and Seoul, expect neon lights, comic strips on the walls, and music, every night. The cocktails are also popular, especially later in the night, when the vibe goes from dinner to late night bites and cocktails.
Tokyo Bird
Surry Hills
Tokyo Bird is another Surry Hills hotspot, serving Japanese whiskey and yakitori bites in an industrial-chic space. Despite its upscale feel, Tokyo Bird has a sense of fun about it. There are low-lit nooks to settle into for a romantic date, or grab a seat at the bar and scour the cocktails or Japanese whiskey on offer. The karaage, gyoza and grilled skewers are there to help soak up the alcohol.
Nobu Sydney
Barangaroo
There’s a reason Nobu is a global brand. It set the standard for Japanese fine dining and continues to shock diners with its dining empire today. Although dining here is not cheap, you can expect the finest ingredients and flavours you’ve never imagined. The menu is pages long and divided into hot and cold dishes, nigiri and sashimi, sushi maki, tempura, and even Nobu tacos, which come in tuna, wagyu beef, and lobster. There’s also a long list of desserts to indulge in. When it comes to Nobu, you can’t go wrong.
Tetsuya’s
CBD
Tetsuya’s is a Sydney institution and has been since Chef Tetsuya Wakada opened the restaurant in 1989. This white-tablecloth establishment marries French and Japanese cuisine, with garden views. It’s most famous for its confit ocean trout, but everything here is touched with a little sophistication and plenty of flavours. There is a five or eight-course menu to choose from.
Chaco Bar
Potts Point
Chaco Bar is the perfect grungy drinking den you’d find in Fukuoka, Japan. They serve Japanese beer and cocktails, and the weekend tasting menu is where you want to be with friends or to impress on a first date. The food is yakitori, so expect small dishes of sizzling eggplant, spiced fried chicken, octopus, and cured fish. If you’re looking for good ramen, Chaco Ramen is also a great spot.
Cho Cho San
Potts Point
This Tokyo-inspired izakaya restaurant dishes out pillowy katsu buns, eggplant miso sticks, crunch chicken karaage, crab omelette, and stuffed calamari. They also have a raw bar packed with oysters, ocean trout, and a mixed sashimi platter if you’re feeding a group. There’s also a lengthy list of Japanese spirits on offer.
Simulation Senpai
Haymarket
This new concept restaurant is from Chase Kojima. He personally handpicks quality sushi and sashimi to be served to guests. Food is served in boxes, and each box features fresh seafood of the day from lobster bathed in umami butter to a salmon and scallop box. There is also wagyu and chicken on the menu if you’re not a fan of seafood.
Jugemu and Shimbashi
Neutral Bay
This two in one spot serves authentic okonomiyaki and handmade soba noodles. They also have the essential gyoza and short rib skewer options, but the soba is handmade daily, so you would be a miss to not order a serving. They only have limited seats for dine-in, but the takeaway is just as good.
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