The 20 best Japanese restaurants in Australia

This Potts Point mainstay is a playful take on the izakaya trope, brought to life as much by George Livissianis's cream-on-white pared-back interiors as it is by exciting plates like Wagyu beef udon and spicy soft shell crab roll futomaki. The drinks list impresses as much as the food (sake flights FTW) and, of course, so does the epic green tea soft serve that inevitably marks the end of every repeat visit. At $80 per person, Cho's set menu is great value – and delicious. Order that.

Tucked behind a curtain just off a busy main strip is Nomidokoro Indigo, Darlinghurst's tiniest izakaya. It’s the latest project from the Hatena Group, whose quiet empire already boasts Haymarket’s Nakano Darling, and Crows Nest’s Yakitori Yurippi and Tachinomi YP. Owners Tin Jung Shea, Mitomo Somehara and Chris Wu have overseen an exceptionally tidy fit-out that features 11 counter-side seats, a four-person standing bar, and a small number of al fresco tables out the front. Be sure to ask about the seafood specials – if you’re lucky, you’ll catch the John Dory sashimi, which comes as thin slips of fish with a little disc of buttery liver pâté, alongside the more familiar accompaniments of soy sauce and wasabi.

Named after a Japanese style of pottery, Raku blurs the lines between art and sustenance. The menu is extensive, showcasing seafood in all its glory. You can have it raw in the kingfish served with truffle yuzu, cold in a spanner crab sushi roll, or hot as king prawns doused in XO butter. Masters of the blades, the chefs expertly slice up fresh snapper, tuna belly and scallops into sashimi or nigiri; add crunch with popcorn shrimp on the tempura menu; and grill high-grade Wagyu on a robata charcoal grill. From the express lunch to the royal tasting degustation, Raku will leave you wishing you lived in Canberra (almost).

Right in the heart of Canberra's Parliamentary Triangle, the sleek, glass-walled Kento Bento features seven cubicles where you can savour the best locally sourced produce in peace and quiet. Chef Shinya Nakano (from two-hatted Kisumé in Melbourne) serves his fluorescent plates in the kaiseki discipline (a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner). Whether you’re guided through their tasting menus or grazing through a bouquet of self-selected platters, every bite ends with an appreciation for simple, fresh ingredients. If you’re a sucker for lunch dessert, order their lychee paburoba, featuring lychee and matcha meringue with kabosu (Japanese citrus) jelly.

Bar Wa Izakaya draws inspiration from Tokyo’s den-like izakayas, serving up funky cocktails and share plates until 2am daily. It’s no surprise this North Hobart staple is buzzing at every sitting. With eclectic interiors (think: more is more, with a side of neon), cute bathrooms that play Japanese language lessons, and a 22-page drinks list, it’s hard not to be drawn in. The punchy menu is designed for sharing and creatively features Tasmania’s finest produce, including crispy Bruny Island wallaby "wings" and smashed potatoes. If you’re visiting at lunchtime, make sure to book ahead for their soul-warming, flavour-packed ramen. We love a Yuzu Whisky Sour to kick off a perfect evening. 

True to its name – which translates to "gem" in Japanese – Ippin invites guests on a culinary journey inspired by the vibrant beauty of flowers. Each dish on the extensive menu is a feast for the senses, adorned with delicate herbs and blooms. Highlights include a refreshing plate of kingfish tiradito ceviche seasoned with yuzu koshu, a deluxe platter of the day’s freshest sashimi, and caviar-kissed nigiri. Don’t skip on house-made hojicha warabi mochi for dessert, or the showstopping ‘zen bonsai’ – a masterpiece of soft soy cremeux, yuzu curd, black sesame sponge and streusel.

Since its 2018 inception, 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-donning chefs. Both midday snacking and evening feasting are feasible, where tidy sashimi platters go down a treat, edamame beans served on the branch are an eyebrow-raising sight (in a good way), udon soups fog slurper’s specs, and 14 rolls of soosh make for the toughest decision of the day. 

You can chat with the chef as you feast on flame-licked Japanese food at this intimate yakitori bar on Leigh Street. Watch the action from a seat at the bar and start with delicate, intensely flavoured small bites, before moving onto larger share plates that hero proteins from the yakitori grill and wood oven. For an even more intimate experience, grab one of the eight seats at street-level, spin-off Sho for charcoal-grilled skewers and whisky highballs on tap.

Located in Adelaide's eastern suburbs, Black Dog Gallery may be considered the black sheep when it comes to top-tier Japanese restaurants Down Under. This wee eatery is finished with earthy hues and homey hardwood flooring that commands staying a while, eating slowly and relishing the magical moments in your mouth. Black Dog’s ever-changing lunch and dinner menus see newfangled creations as well as traditional fare – take the panko-crumbed horse mackerel with tonkatsu barbecue sauce, house-made tartare and five-grain rice, or the generous ramen selection with toppings galore. It ain’t a bad spot for a cold-drip coffee either.

James Parker Sushi & Sake is the upscale Japanese restaurant Perth never knew it needed. What better way to dine than with sushi in one hand and sake in the other? That’s exactly what awaits when you step into this elegant venue, which looks almost like an exhibition space in the Museum of Modern Art. As for the menu, must-try’s include the premium aburi salmon roll, spicy tuna tartar with soy-marinated egg yolk, and Margaret River Wagyu tataki with ponzu jelly.

Ex-Nobu head sushi chef, Pepe Tsukayama, is the mind behind Tsukaya. With its wooden accents and warm ambience, this suburban gem captures the charm of Japan’s most intimate eateries. Drawing inspiration from the flavours of Japan and South America, Tsukaya is all about crafting aesthetic and punchy dishes, allowing you to eat with your mouth and your eyes. A favourite is the delicately crafted sashimi platter, as well as the caramelised nasu dengaku (miso eggplant) and beer-battered umami fries. To sweeten the deal, Tsukaya is BYO.