The best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne

Minamishima might just be serving Melbourne's best sushi. Former Kenzan sushi master Koichi Minamishima will guide you through the set menu; sommelier Randolph Cheung (ex-Flower Drum) will keep the saké flowing.

Price: $$$

Ishizuka is a Japanese restaurant specialising in a kaiseki menu. In a commitment-phobic world, it almost requires a session with a therapist to sign up for a ten-plus-course, two-plus-hour procession of miniaturised dishes for $315 per head, sans drinks. But Ishizuka is worth the time, expense and trouble of finding it. 

Price: $$$

Chef Kazuki Tsuya hails from Akita in Northern Japan and has been trained in classic French techniques, and you'll see this clearly from the menu offerings. There are several ways to tackle Kazuki’s, but our advice is to go for the seven-course tasting menu that will run you around $220 per person, sans wine matching. 

Price: $$$

The name of this upscale Japanese restaurant stems from the words for rice (kome) and knot (yui), with the combination signifying the connection and unity felt through a shared meal. And if you're after traditional, authentic and high-quality Japanese cuisine without having to board a plane, allow your tastebuds to be whisked away to the archipelago with dishes by chef Motomu Kumano.

Price: $$$

Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you: behind the wood-panelled front entryway of this establishment lies a luxe Japanese dining experience that is actually unparallelled in Melbourne. Wagyu Ya is one of only a few restaurants in the entirety of Australia with a licence allowing it to cook and serve Kobe beef, the rarest and most expensive beef in the world.

Price: $$

While omakase is ultimately a showcase of skill and craftsmanship, Warabi makes the experience feel comfy and interactive. Since the tranquil timber-lined dining space above Collins Street opened its doors, the Kappo-style restaurant has fast built a reputation for offering one of the most impressive Japanese meals in Melbourne – with considered chef-patron interaction at the beating heart of the experience. 

Price: $$$

If a traditional Japanese barbecue collided headfirst into a sophisticated inner-city restaurant, you'd get Yakikami. The most awarded Japanese restaurant in South Yarra, Yakikami's all about A-grade Kobe beef, fresh seafood, juicy chicken skewers and finely balanced flavours. Sit at the yakitori table to watch all the fun or book the moody private dining room for a swankier affair.

Price: $$

A list of great Japanese restaurants in Melbourne isn't complete without mentioning Kenzan. Since 1981, the restaurant has been serving Melbournians authentic sushi and sashimi of an exceptional quality unrivalled in the earlier years of its existence. The serene space isn't just an institution, though; it's also a remarkably comfortable place to dine out. Low-hanging lanterns and flower arrangements are all a part of the charm. Here is a restaurant where simplicity works and tradition reigns supreme.

Price: $$

From the masterminds behind Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina is a mishmash of modern Japanese-inspired snack plates, playful bao creations and whisky cocktails. The bustling diner isn't afraid to flirt with plant-based fare, offering a vegan set menu alongside its classic version. Think crisp sticky eggplant, a nutty miso-baked cauliflower and fluffy dorayaki pancakes with koji caramel and chocolate cream. 

Price: $$

When a former Kisumé and Nobu sushi chef is at the helm of a new omakase restaurant in Melbourne, you know you're in good hands. Samuel Chee hosts this exclusive six-person experience inside an opulent basement space with a swanky glass lift and six-metre high ceilings. Anticipate world-class sashimi, nods to Chinese cuisine, unctuous broths from the hot pot, and melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu cooked over charcoal, as well as an inviting spread of alternative dining experiences throughout the three-level space.

Price: $$$

If you've got a thing for rare sake, French wines, A-grade sashimi or elevated fusion fare, then there's a new spot in Armadale that deserves a spot at the top of your dining-out list. Bansho is a luxe bistro that's nailing all of the above, aided by the genius of executive chef Tomotaka Ishizuka (Ishizuka, Kisumé, Koko), whose creative menu blends the finesse of modern French cooking methods with traditional Japanese technique.

Price: $$

Renowned restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa is a man who needs no introduction. So when he chose Melbourne for his 21st world location, Japanese food lovers rejoiced. While the buzz may have relaxed in subsequent years (and new competition), Nobu's still an energetic player in the scene. Within its moody three-level fine diner at Crown, you'll discover global fresh takes on premium ingredients. 

Price: $$$

Supernormal is no longer just Tokyo-inspired; it now lends its flavours to some other big cities like Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai as well. Dishes like the New England lobster roll and the twice-cooked duck leg bao have never left the menu, but newer items like the Wagyu flank served with kombu butter and Tropea onion, and the peanut butter parfait topped with salted caramel and soft chocolate are almost as good as the classics.

Price: $$

Bincho Boss is an izakaya with food revolving around the binchōtan – a grill fuelled by premium, dense Japanese charcoal. As with most izakayas, the aim of Bincho Boss is to drink and soak up all the drinks with outrageously delicious booze-friendly snacks. 

Price: $$

In Japan, hitting up an izakaya after work with your boss and colleagues to drink together until the wee hours is commonplace. Izakaya Den is the type of place where you can imagine such revelry taking place. The wooden tables and black leather couches encourage communal dining, while the casual yet up-scale atmosphere is a welcoming enclave at the end of a busy work week. Expect a mix of elegant cold dishes like kingfish sashimi and small plates of finger-licking Japanese snacks – with plenty of good beer to wash it all down. 

Price: $$

Feisty and electric, Yakimono's cyberpunk facade is as punchy as its fire-licked meat skewers. With slurp-worthy noodles and crafty cocktails joining the party, Yakimono is a Japanese dining experience refreshingly unlike many of its austere cousins in cuisine. Here, you'll discover bright pink and purple neons, a frantic and wildly entertaining kitchen, and charcoal-grilled fare worth gathering a group for. 

Price: $$

For a modern izakaya-style dining destination, Ichi Ni Nana pulls out all the stops. You'll find nearly all your Japanese favourites here, from fresh sushi and sashimi to small snacks like juicy gyoza and salted – or spiced, if you prefer – edamame. The stars of the show here are the robatayaki (a method of charcoal cooking similar to barbecue) dishes on offer, and the yakitori charcoal-grilled skewers are worth ordering, too. 

Price: $$

It's a half-hour drive from the city, but Shira Nui is definitely worth the trip if you're a lover of Japanese cuisine. For lunch, you can get sashimi and nigiri specials with miso and salads. Otherwise, share a platter with friends or choose from the sushi menu. Call and book because these guys fill up fast.

Price: $$

What if belly-warming food could be also wholesome and healthy, satisfying without tasting soporific? Leave it to Neko Neko, a cosy little eatery cooking homestyle vegan and pescatarian Japanese for which it has amassed a loyal following. Forgoing dairy and red meat, staff instead pack dishes with vegetables cooked, raw and pickled while working in plenty of seeds and whole grains, elevating dishes that would usually leave you feeling comatose into lighter but no less satiating weeknight dinners. 

Price: $

A (typically) hours-long affair, omakase meals tend to be an evening activity but Uminono is only open by day. That’s not the only way it deviates from convention. The restaurant exclusively serves raw seafood plus accoutrements – no other protein in sight. And the chef does not have a Japanese background; he’s French with classical training. But despite the odds, Uminono is a star.

Price: $$$

If the name ‘Tamura’ sounds familiar, it’s because this new izakaya is the culinary brainchild of Fumi and Takako Tamura, the same owners behind Fitzroy favourite Tamura Sake Bar. With more space to create a sprawling pub offering in their recently acquired heritage bluestone digs, the duo’s second project is a nod to the izakayas they remember (and dearly miss) from back in Japan. Expect signature cocktails, fresh sushi and sashimi, and authentic Japanese beer snacks to share with friends.

Price: $

With a focus on quality organic ingredients, this café offers an honest and endearing approach to food. Offering a mix of Japanese and Western breakfast and lunch options, the Japanese breakfast plate is where this humble gem really shines.

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This stylish Richmond joint describes itself as a Japanese restaurant filtered through Melbourne eyes. It pays homage to traditional Japanese dishes while also introducing some contemporary elements. Enjoy a chef's menu for dinner, and be sure to pair it with one of the bespoke cocktails or a glass of Japanese whisky. 

Price: $$

The opening of a restaurant from Chris Lucas, the svengali behind Melbourne greats like Chin Chin, Society, Grill Americano and Baby is generally accompanied by the kind of media hoopla reserved for retiring members of the Royal family. We're here to tell you that all you have heard about Kisumé, and its three floors of superb Japanese dining power, is true, and then doubly so. 

Price: $$$

Don’t expect standard Japanese fare at this luxe restaurant. The head chef's Sao Paulo background coupled with real on-the-ground training from some of the best Japanese sushi masters in the world has resulted in a highly impressive fusion of flavours.

Price: $$$

What is it? Bounty of the Sun is bringing new meaning to the over-used adage ‘hidden gem’. Tucked off Carlisle Street, with a nearly missable facade, this Japanese Izakaya transports you straight outta town to Tokyo.

Why we love it: With an animated Japanese movie playing on a projector and Japanese niknaks adorning the cosy courtyard, there is much to see, and even more to eat and drink. Scouring the menu here gives me the unmatched thrill of wanting to order everything, and knowing with confidence that it will all be excellent. The DIY salmon hand roll is interactive and exceptional. The charred corn with sweet soy and miso aioli is one of my favourite vegetable dishes out there. The Chicken Nanban with sweet and sour broth is interesting and moreish. And I could eat the crispy panko fish sandwich every day. I could go on and on, but to summarise, with stellar service and clever cocktails too, Bounty of the Sun is delivering excellence on all fronts. 

Time Out tip: Owing to the aforementioned fact that Bounty of the Sun has such a great menu, I think it’s a perfect place to opt for the Feed Me set menu. For $75 per person, you’ll get a taste of everything from oysters to kingfish sashimi, gyoza to prawn toast, and grilled fish to beef curry. 

Address: 28 Nelson Street, Balaclava, VIC, 3183

Opening hours: Wed to Fri 5-11pm,  Sat 3-11pm,  Sun 1-9pm 

Expect to pay: Set menu $75 per person, snacks $6-26, heartier dishes and proteins $23-30, cocktails $18-26