The best Japanese restaurants In Adelaide

You may have heard about retro Italian delis that have taken Adelaide by storm, but how about Japanese delis? Located inside Dacosta Arcade is Contemporary Japanese Deli, reminiscent of a Wes Anderson scene in all its vivid glory.  Compact when it comes to square meterage, it has a fairly sizeable menu of donburi rice bowls, bento boxes, katsu curries and, of course, ramen. Feeling like a pork-based tonkotsu broth? No worries. How about a homemade miso number? Sure thing. The noodles are chewy, the broth is full of flavour and the portions are generous. 

Address: Shop 22/68 Grenfell St, Adelaide 

Price: Budget

Love having a chat with the chef? You can do just that at Shōbōsho as you feast on flame-licked Japanese fare at this intimate yakitori bar on Leigh Street. Watch the action unfold in this minimalist fit-out from a seat at the bar. Although the menu changes seasonally, staples include teriyaki chicken, dumplings, katsu sandos and salmon tataki. Start with intensely flavoured small bites before moving onto larger share plates that hero proteins like charred octopus and Wagyu rump cap from the yakitori grill. For an even more intimate experience, grab one of the 10 seats at Shō, a spin-off of the main restaurant, for charcoal-grilled skewers and whisky highballs on tap.

Address: 17 Leigh St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

Tucked away near the corner of Sturt and King William Street, Nishiki Café and Izakaya is one of Adelaide’s hidden Japanese gems. With its cosy wooden interiors, open kitchen and friendly atmosphere, this intimate spot captures the true spirit of an izakaya – a casual Japanese bar serving drinks and share plates. The menu shines with yakitori skewers, sashimi, ramen, tempura and more – all designed to be shared so you can sample a little of everything. Pair your meal with Japanese beer, sake, shochu or whisky, or grab a seat in the beer garden on warmer nights. Authentic and affordable, Nishiki is the go-to for delicious Japanese dining in Adelaide.

Address: 21 Sturt St, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range 

Wasai Japanese Kitchen has been around since 2007, known for its delicious food, quick service and good value. The décor is inviting; the walls adorned with Japanese prints and the bar lined with sake bottles. The menu is brimming with Japanese classics – think sushi in every style (rolls, nigiri, aburi), the freshest sashimi, crisp tempura, hearty udon and soulful hotpots. There’s daily chef’s specials to try something new, while drinks span Japanese beer, whisky, sake and shochu. Whether you’re sharing a sushi boat or savouring a bowl of steaming udon, Wasai welcomes you to enjoy a little slice of Japan right here in Adelaide.

Address: 5/15 Field St, Adelaide

Price: High-end

Located in the eastern suburb of Tusmore, Black Dog Gallery may be considered the black sheep when it comes to Japanese restaurants in Adelaide. This wee eatery is finished with earthy hues and hardwood flooring that entices you to stay a while and relish your meal. Black Dog’s ever-changing lunch and dinner menus have a generous ramen selection with toppings galore that you can customise, Japanese curries and poke bowls. Their blackboard specials may include panko crumbed mackerel with tonkatsu sauce one day and Southern Ranges MB4 beef short ribs the next. It ain’t a bad spot for a cold-drip coffee and you must l eave room for dessert – Houjicha milk tea brûlée, anyone?  

Address: 4/455 Greenhill Rd, Tusmore

Price: Mid-range

When you go for teppanyaki, you know you're in for a meal and a show – and Samurai Teppanyaki House at Hyde Park is no exception. Every move is theatrical as the chefs cook course after course before you, using the premium ingredients. Tiger prawns dance across iron cooktops (the ‘teppan’), while Wagyu and Kobe beef sizzle alongside delicate okonomiyaki and veggies. This long-standing eatery also happens to be the only licensed Kobe beef restaurant in Adelaide, making for a bona fide dining affair evocative of the teppanyaki houses of Japan, minus the red-eye flight. Got a celebratory meal coming up?

Address: 116 King William Rd, Goodwood

Price: High-end 

Mile End’s Henley Beach Road has grown into a buzzing neighbourhood hive – there are retail shops aplenty, continental grocery stores and diverse culinary hotspots to peruse. One such hospitality venture to crop up along the main drag is none other than Yuna Café and Restaurant. Here, breakfast and lunch menus give you a look into home-style Japanese eats, alongside inventive dishes inspired by the travels of Yuna’s crew. Come for brekkie to indulge in specialty coffee, matcha and try their French toast croissant covered with strawberries and black sesame cream. Lunch options include a range of sandos made with their signature Shokupan (Japanese milk bread) – the oozy egg sando is a must. There's also nourishing bowls of ramen, udon curry and onigiri. The menu evolves with the changing seasons, so there's always reason to revisit.

Address: Shop 7/34 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End

Price: Budget

If it’s a soul-soothing plate of homestyle Japanese cooking you’re after, then it’d be rude to blow past Katsumoto. The old-time Adelaide Arcade houses this charming eatery where lanterns, sake bottles and Japanese artwork adorn the timber-centric space – akin to a haunt you’d find hiding in the backstreets of Tokyo. Enjoy a quick lunch or hang about for an evening meal with the likes of warming katsu curries, neatly packed bento boxes, steamy bowls of ramen and moreish gyozas. Wash it all down with a sake or a specialty Japanese beer.

Address: Gays Arcade, Shop 8G, Adelaide

Price: Mid-range

Since its inception in 2018, Aldgate’s Yuki in the Hills has solidified itself as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Adelaide. The 50-seater is enveloped with wood-cladding in typical Japanese style, and plays host to an open sushi preparation station that’s safeguarded by kimono-wearing chefs. Both midday snacking and evening feasting are feasible, where beautifully presented sashimi platters go down a treat, piping hot ramen fogs up a slurper’s glasses and choosing from the mind-boggling range of sushi rolls make for the toughest (but most delicious) decision. It caters to all kinds of dietary requirements – vegans are welcome!

Address: 2 Strathalbyn Rd, Aldgate

Price: High-end

Koyo, a contemporary hibachi restaurant in Prospect, is all about the artistry of Japanese coalfire cooking. This pretty-in-pink venue has a menu that's a nod to seasonal produce. Robatayaki-style skewers sizzle over the hibachi heat (the tsukune chicken meatball number with tare and salted egg yolk is yum!). Small plate like gyoza, blue swimmer crab fritters and tempura mullet entice the senses. Move over to the big plates and dig into the roasted shio koji chicken or chargrilled salmon. Can't decide? Try the 'Let Us Feed You' option. The drinks menu covers everything from sake to signature cocktails.

Address: Shop 2/132 Prospect Rd, Prospect 

Price: Mid-range