The Best Japanese Restaurants in Sydney to Satisfy Your Sushi Cravings

Sydneysiders go absolutely crazy for Japanese food. Whether we’re getting down and dirty with cheap dumplings and gyoza, eating traditional dishes made with time-honoured techniques or fusion meals that bring fresh takes to the classics, Japanese food is a sure-fire hit.

The chefs behind these Sydney Japanese restaurants are some of the best in the game, serving up everything from delicately plated and delicious sushi, to steaming hearty bowls of ramen.

With high-end dining, downright delicious bento boxes and sushi trains, Sydney has some seriously good Japanese restaurants, pass the chopsticks and pour out the saké at the 10 best Japanese restaurants in Sydney.

Kanade

Sydney's CBD has a new Japanese addition that will transport your taste buds to the bustling streets of Tokyo. Say hello to Kanade, a vibrant restaurant inspired by the richness of Japanese cuisine and culture. 

For those seeking a truly exceptional foodie adventure, Kanade is home to Australia's first Japanese-Italian fusion kaiseki. This unique dining experience combines traditional Japanese meals with delightful Italian influences. However, reservations are limited to only twelve diners each week, so act fast to secure your spot.

62 Clarence Street, Sydney

Kazan

This delicious Japanese restaurant in the CBD is making waves for all the right reasons. With a lunchtime set menu for just $55 per person and a traditional dinner set menu for less than $120 with wagyu tacos, a sushi and sashimi selection, ebi tempura and angus tenderloin and a Japanese dessert, dining at Kazan is a culinary experience you will want to sign up for ASAP. If you’d prefer to order a la carte, choose from miso eggplant, sushi, sashimi, delicate Patagonian toothfish, and seven Asian fusion desserts.

Level 8, 25 Martin Place, MLC Center, Sydney

Bay Nine Omakase

A truly unique experience with just 10 counter-seats available, Bay Nine Omakase is incredibly exclusive - and just as delicious. The intimate space - which boasts a gorgeous harbour view - is the perfect setting for the 11-course Omakase experience. The curated menu changes daily depending on the day's freshest ingredients, with the chef taking guests on a journey of creativity and expertise through dishes that blend traditional and authentic Japanese cuisine with contemporary techniques. Steps things up a notch with the Seasonal Sake Pairing, with each drink chosen to complement each dish. 

Campbell’s Stores, Bay 9, 7-27 Circular Quay West, The Rocks

Oborozuki

This Japanese fine-dining kaiseki and teppanyaki restaurant and bar is located within Sydney Harbour's uber-luxe Opera Residences. Oborozuki and Oborozuki Bar sit side-by-side over two soaring levels with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that perfectly showcase the spectacular backdrop of Sydney's Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The food is equally as spectacular as the views, led by head chef Felix Zheng, Oborozuki offers 3 private teppanyaki dining rooms as well as a Kaiseki dining experience, which is considered one of the world’s finest Japanese culinary experiences, akin to degustation. 

Level 3, 4/71 Macquarie Street, Sydney

TOKO

Much loved Japanese restaurant TOKO now calls Sydney CBD home. Tucked away on George Street, a discreet entrance leads to a lower ground level where the new TOKO awaits with seating for up to 100 guests. The venue boasts a robata grill counter, sushi bar, and a private dining room, providing an intimate dining experience for all occasions. TOKO's menu, carefully crafted by owner Matt Yazbek and head chef Sunil Shresthra, combines classic favourites from the restaurant's 15-year history with exciting new dishes. Complement your meal with a drink from their extensive selection of sake, shochu, and Japanese whisky for the ultimate culinary experience.

275 George Street, Sydney

Besuto

One of the best new restaurants of 2022, Besuto is simply magical. This intimate 12-seater omakase restaurant from head chef Hirofumi Fujita offers an other-worldly dining experience. For those not familiar with the concept, omakase literally means ‘I’ll leave it to you’ and that’s exactly what you’ll do at this new Quay Quarter Lane restaurant. Serving only 18-course omakase menus for $180 per person, so you simply arrive and allow the talented and generous chefs to hand you plate after plate of some of the best Japanese food you'll ever taste! The menu is decided each day based on the freshest produce that the team can source on their early morning fish market run but - trust us - no matter what's on the menu it's going to be phenomenal! 

6 Loftus Lane, Quay Quarter Lanes, Sydney

Kaiza Izakaya

One of the rising stars of the Sydney food scene, Chef Jason Nguyen of Kaiza Izakaya is serving up some of the most unique Asian fusion dishes in Sydney. Having grown up watching his dad cook tradition Vietnamese fare before formally training in Japanese culinary art, these are truly unique flavours. As well as being home to one of our favourite set menus under $100, this Newtown Japanese restaurant is serving up deliciously inventive treats that you won't find in any old Japanese restaurant.

95 Enmore Road, Newtown

Maeda

This hidden gem in the heart of Five Ways, is churning some of the best high-quality and low-cost sushi in the game. Just across the road from the iconic Royal Hotel, Maeda has made a name for itself among the notoriously choosy Paddington locals as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. Their fresh sushi is made of the highest quality fish and is almost suspiciously reasonably priced with mini rolls ranging from $5.50 - $7.50. Their small plates are also some of our absolute favourites with eggplant miso, chicken karaage and salmon carpaccio that you absolutely can’t miss. 

2/2A Heeley Street, Paddington

Sushi on Stanley

Locally legendary, this hole-in-the-wall joint on buzzy Stanley Street has made a name for itself as one of the best BYO spots in Sydney. Compact and casual, Sushi on Stanley is the place to go cheap and cheerful combo meals, sushi rolls and hearty bowls of udon.  The entire place is exceedingly affordable and the perfect jumping off point for a night of bar hopping. Once you’re done with dinner we recommend you check out some of the great bars on Stanley Street, the nearby dark and sultry speakeasy, The Long Goodbye, is one of our all time favourite spots.

85 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst

GOGYO

A sister restaurant to the major Japanese ramen chain, Ippudo, GOGYO has hands down the best ramen in Sydney. The signature dish at this Sydney Japanese restaurant is the kogashi (burnt miso) ramen which is made by setting a miso pasta alight and then extinguishing it with chicken broth. The resulting ramen is soul warming and downright slurp inducing. 

52-54 Albion Street, Surry Hills

Zushi

One of our favourite Japanese restaurants in Sydney, Head Chef Yoon Jae Lee paves the way with a blend of sushi and Izakaya inspired dishes. No matter what your tastes are there will be something at Zushi that satisfies. Their set menus make for the perfect sushi date night and their bento boxes the ultimate weekday lunch. Their reach is steadily growing with two locations in Surry Hills and Barangaroo so you’re never far from some of the best Japanese in Sydney.

13/33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo

239 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst

Sokyo

Smack bang in the middle of The Star you'll find Sokyo, a Japanese restaurant that is the perfect marriage of cutting-edge Tokyo-cool and Sydney’s stylish foodie scene. Chef Chase Kojima’s commitment to craftsmanship is unparalleled and it has allowed Sokyo to plate up some of the most innovative and visually captivating dishes available in Sydney. An ode to contemporary Japanese flavours and their unrivalled aesthetic sensibilities, Sokyo is where you’ll find some of the most beautiful sushi in the game with plates loaded up with luminescent jewel toned fish and adorned with flowers. Plus, it’s in a casino so of course the tempura comes with truffle and you can add caviar to almost anything!

The Star, Level G, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont

sushi e

This Japanese spot is pure Merivale: perfectionism, professionalism and almost pedantically chic interiors. A lot of high end Japanese menus can be intimidating but at sushi e you’ll never go astray with the chef’s selection or the signature tasting menu. Only available for groups of four or more, the $120pp menu is the perfect ‘treat yourself’ meal. With eleven dishes on offer you’ll eat your way through pink snapper with white soy, Balmain bug lettuce cups, score 9 wagyu beef cooked over charcoal and a major selection of sashimi and nigiri. Chopsticks at the ready, you’ll be in for a damn delicious night.

4/252 George Street, Sydney

Cho Cho San

With eye-catching, award-winning interiors and a diverse and delectable menu, this Sydney Japanese restaurant is a feast for all the senses. If you’re looking for a choice cross-section of the Cho Cho San menu, they have two truly delicious set menus for $65 and $95 respectively. The best à la carte dishes would have to be the sticky and sweet eggplant miso yakitori sticks ($6 each) or the prawns with kombu butter ($36) or, another popular favourite, the pork katsu steam bun ($10) which manages to be light and fluffy as well as crisp and crunchy all at the same time. 

73 Macleay Street, Potts Point

Kid Kyoto

Kid Kyoto is a delicious and rebellious Japanese izakaya inspired by the laneway bars of Tokyo. With Chef Rhys Watson-Lamb at the helm, the menu is all about putting a modern Aussie twist on traditional Japanese dishes. You can dine à la carte or, for $70 per person,  try the “Trust Us” menu which is an absolute godsend for indecisive diners everywhere. The watermelon sashimi is the hero of the raw menu. When it comes to the best mains, we’re split between the slow braised lamb rump and the crispy skin chicken.

17-19 Bridge Street, Sydney

Nobu

Nobu needs absolutely no introduction. Celebrity Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has become synonymous with high end Japanese cuisine. Opening up at the new Crown Sydney, people have been flocking to get a taste of the iconic menu. To try it all, book in for the omakase experience, or if you’re looking for something more casual drop in for the Nobu tacos available on their bar and lunch menus with lobster wasabi sour cream ($14), wagyu beef ($14) or tuna tomato salsa tacos ($10).

Crown Sydney, Level 2, 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo

Loved our favourite Japanese restaurants in Sydney and keen to keep travelling with your tastebuds? Make your way through the rest of the continent and check out our roundups of the best Thai restaurants in town, the best Vietnamese restaurants in Sydney, the best Indian in Sydney and, last but not least, the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney.