Sushi, ramen, katsu curry and spicy edamame - is your mouth already watering? If you’re looking for the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney we’ve got you covered. Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in Australia and that means its home to authentic cuisines from all over the world. In this blog, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the 20 best restaurants in Sydney so you can get a head start on planning your next meal!
Bay Nine Omakase
Price: $$-$$$
Location: The Rocks
From the time you walk through the doors of Bay Nine Omakase, their waitstaff ensures that you will have an enjoyable, private dining experience. Their chefs have a thorough understanding of real, authentic Japanese cooking while also adding their own unique, modern spin, making Bay Nine of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. The restaurant tries to best to work with the freshest ingredients possible, ensuring that the food delivered to your plate is impeccable.
Must try: If you’re a sushi fan you need to try their Nigiri Platter.
Besuto
Price: $$-$$$
Location: The Rocks
Besuto is Japanese for best, and that is exactly the promise the restaurant makes to its customers. One of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney, Besuto offers its patrons an immersive, one-of-a-kind culinary experience that will transport your taste buds into the realm of traditional and cutting-edge Japanese culture and cuisine. The restaurant tries its best to ensure that its customers are not only getting to eat Japanese food, but are also getting a glimpse of Japanese culture.
Must try: Besuto serves some of the best sake in Sydney, so make sure to try some!
Cho Cho San
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Potts Point
In Potts Point, Cho Cho San is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Syndey and offers a big flavour and the pleasing touch of Tokyo to its customers. Don't be deceived by the sparse decor; it serves as a contemporary setting for imaginative Izakaya-inspired cuisine that provides maximum delight to everyone who has a meal here.
Must try: Their sashimi bar is one of the best in the city.
Gaku Robata Grill
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Darlinghurst
Two award-winning, well-renowned, seasoned chefs Haru Inukai and Shimon Hanakura have come together to create one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. They have a lot of expertise in serving Robatayaki, Sushi, Sashimi, and Ramen. They wish to make sure that their food is of the highest quality and that they are making use of the freshest ingredients.
Must try: Meat lovers need to try their Wagyu Zanmai if they’re looking to try one of the best steaks in Sydney
Gogyo
Price: $-$$
Location: Surry Hills
Shigemi Kawahara, the well-known "Ramen King" popularized by the famous IPPUDO chain, formed GOGYO - one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney - in early 2003. The brand currently has locations in Kyoto, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Hong Kong, in addition to Surry Hills. In the casual-chic Japanese ramen bar and restaurant GOGYO Surry Hills, patrons can start their meal off with some cocktails, and end with some heart-warming ramen.
Must try: Their signature cocktail, the GOGYO negroni is an absolute must-have.
Want to work up an appetite before a big meal? Spend the day at some of the best museums in Sydney!
Gumshara
Price: $-$$
Location: Haymarket
If you’re looking for one of the most affordable Japanese restaurants in Sydney, Gumshara is the perfect place for you to try. Located in the middle of a busy food court, in Haymarket Gumshara is known for its cheap but delicious ramen bowls, made with thick hearty broths. A popular student favourite owing to its low prices, Gumshara is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat after a long day of shopping.
Must try: Their hearty serving of tonkatsu ramen is a crowd favourite.
Haco
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Haymarket
In Japanese, Haco means theatre, which is a very apt title for what is not only one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney but also one of the most innovative. Keita Abe, executive chef for the Chaco Bar Group, and Kensuke Yada, former head chef of the Sasaki restaurant, bring HACO to life as a singular, amazing tempura dining experience. The meals are prepared right in front of the customers, so they can see the skill and effort that goes into every preparation.
Must try: Their Sydney rock oysters are one of their most popular dishes.
Want to widen your palate? Check out our blog on the 30 best restaurants in Sydney!
Izakaya Fujiyama
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Surry Hills
An izakaya, or tavern, is a location where people go in Japan after work to drink (often sake) and eat some food. Customers at Izakaya Fujiyama have a choice of dining in the dining room or sitting at the bar to enjoy appetisers and drinks. This is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney for anyone looking for a laid-back atmosphere to enjoy a good meal.
Must try: One of their more interesting-looking dishes, the Tuna jaw is great for seafood lovers looking for something more experimental.
Juan Bowl and Tea
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Redfern
A charming little eatery called Juan Bowl & Tea is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. It has a beautiful aesthetic, and thanks to a straightforward concept and a pleasantly condensed menu, it is the perfect place for an indecisive soul. The 28-seat Redfern restaurant's striking visual effect is created by the contrast between a wall of wooden panels positioned at varying depths and a soft grey bamboo forest mural on another wall.
Must try: Their rice bowls are perfect for anyone looking for a hearty and affordable meal.
Mappen
Price: $-$$
Location: Haymarket
Being one of the most affordable Japanese restaurants in Sydney, Mappen is a popular student favourite. Mappen is Japanese for “one more time” and that’s exactly what you’ll want after a meal here. There are often long lines outside of Mappen of people waiting to try to grab a bowl of noodles. Their service is very quick and their ramen bowls are packed with veggies, making for a healthy, hearty meal.
Must try: Apart from their ramen, their soba and udon are some of their most popular noodle dishes.
Kaiza Izakaya
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
A childhood dream turned into reality, that's what Kaiza Izakaya is. This is not only one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney but is also a great Vietnamese restaurant. The founder of Kaiza Izakaya - Jason - grew up eating both Vietnamese and Japanese food and he wanted to find a way to bring his joy of eating East Asian food to the rest of the city and that’s what he did with Kaiza.
Must try: Their “raw bar” is full of amazing sushi options, perfect for seafood lovers.
From the east to the south - the city has it all! Check out some of the best Indian restaurants in Sydney.
Rising Sun Workshop
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Newtown
If you’re looking for a welcoming environment, Rising Sun is the best Japanese restaurant in Sydney for you to visit. From motorcyclists to friendly neighbours, everyone is welcome at Rising Sun. The restaurant is dedicated to ensuring that local produce is honoured and their customers get to taste only the freshest and best ingredients.
Must try: Ever heard of breakfast ramen? Rising Sun has an all-day breakfast ramen which is the perfect meal to start off your day with.
RK San
Price: $-$$
Location: Surry Hills
Ones of the finest and best Japanese restaurants in Sydney, RK San is the perfect place to go for a an evening of celebration. At the young age of 15, the restaurant’s founder RK dreamt about owning a traditional Japanese restaurant. While the rest of us were bust trying to cram for finals, RK made it his mission to make his dreams a reality and that’s how RK San was born.
Must try: A classic Japanese appetizer, their spicy edamame is one of the best in the city.
Ryo's Noodles
Price: $-$$
Location: Crows Nest
Ryo's Noodles is one of the more affordable Japanese restaurants in Sydney. This small and cosy restaurant has a small menu filled with different types of ramen options and a short list of traditional rice dishes for customers to choose from. They are known for their fast service, and the restaurant is also perfect for single diners, looking to enjoy a nice bowl of ramen on a cold day.
Must try: Their champon is one of their bestsellers.
Sake Restaurant & Bar
Price: $$-$$$
Location: The Rocks
The Sake restaurant and bar is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney and has a very large, devoted fan following of patron customers. Returning customers aside, the restaurant draws in new waves of people every night owing to its well-established reputation. Whether you want a private dining experience or would like to dine with company, Sake has a place for you.
Must try: The Saikou Salmon Shake (don’t worry its not an actual shake) is one of their most popular sushis.
Senpai Ramen
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Chatswood
One of the trendiest Japanese restaurants in Sydney, Senpai Ramen has an interior that will give the Blade Runner set designers a run for their money. This restaurant is the newest brain child of renowned chef Chase Kojima who established this 20-seat omakase-style restaurant for the people of Syndey to get to experience a traditional Japanese meal, in a cosy restaurant.
Must try: For any egg lovers their Chawanmushi is the perfect dish to try.
Sokyo
Price: $$$-$$$$
Location: Pyrmont
Another Japanese restaurant in Sydney headed by Chase Kijoma, Sokyo is one of the more expensive restaurants on this list. If you’re fine-dining Japanese restaurant, this is the place for you. Sokyo sees itself as a link between traditional Japanese cuisine and delicious, contemporary innovation, and aims to serve its customer only the best local Australian produce.
Must try: Their premium sushi counter, is definitely worth the splurge if you want a taste of the best sushi in Sydney.
Taruhachi
Price: $-$$
Location: North Sydney
A small but homely eat out, Taruhachi is one of the most affordable Japanese restaurants in Sydney. The rustic interiors with wooden panels, and wooden furniture give the entire restaurant a warm and cosy atmosphere, perfect for the winter months. The restaurant always provides its customers with tasty, heart-warming food and treats its regulars like family.
Must try: All their seafood is very well made, with their crisp-edged grilled sanma being one of their best dishes.
Yebisu Izakaya
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Haymarket
At the intersection of Dixon Street and Little Hay Street in China Town in the heart of Sydney sits the Yebisu Bar & Grill. This is the best Japanese restaurant in Sydney for anyone with a small appetite because Izakaya cuisine is renowned for its chic tapas-style dishes. At their restaurant, they serve smaller quantities so you can choose from a wider range of options.
Must try: With a number of options to add on, their hot pot is one of the best in the city.
Yoshii's Omakase at Nobu
Price: $$-$$$
Location: Barangaroo
Located in the Crown Syndey, Yoshii's Omakase is another one of the more expensive Japanese restaurants in Sydney. Named after renowned chef Yoshi, who has over 35 years of experience working in both Australia and Japan. He is best known for his modern take on sushi, and his new approach to filleting and preparing the meat to better preserve its taste.
Must try: Everything served to you at Yoshii’s will no doubt be amazing, but the real struggle will be getting a table, so if you’re looking to score a table, you’ll need to book months in advance.
That was our list of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. Bookmark this blog and keep it handy the next time you’re in the city. For more information check out the Sydney city guide so you can make your way through the city like a local. We hope you found this helpful and hope you have a great time in the city!
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