Subscribe 
The Restaurants That Feel Like a Slice of Japan
Sydney's Japanese dining scene goes far deeper than sushi trains and teriyaki. These are the restaurants getting it right — from intimate omakase experiences to soul-warming bowls and izakaya-style spreads.
If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’ll know just how unique the food scene is there. And if you haven’t, it’s probably at the top of your bucket list if you’re a foodie. From its hole-in-the-wall ramen joints to the buzzing yakitori bars that are swirling with smoke and smells, you can walk in off the street almost anywhere and know you’ll get a good meal.
Luckily for us, the Sydney food scene does a pretty bang up job of recreating this magic. Whether you’re after a Michelin-recommended ramen or charcoal-grilled yakitori in an izakaya that feels like a Tokyo side street, there’s plenty of places giving it a very good crack.
In This Guide:
Best Authentic Japanese Restaurants: Ramen
Mensho Tokyo Ramen
After conquering San Francisco, Tokyo and Melbourne, ramen master Tomoharu Shono’s Michelin-recommended chain Mensho Ramen landed in Sydney, and the queues haven’t let up since. The noodles are milled in-house from Australian brown wheat, and the bowls range from a silky toripaitan chicken broth to the Sydney-exclusive lobster bisque ramen, (a dinner-only special made with a whole lobster) which was inspired by Shono’s first visit to the Sydney Fish Market). The open kitchen and moody black-and-gold fit-out make the whole thing feel like you’ve stepped right into Tokyo which is such a vibe.
2 Temperance Ln, Sydney NSW 2000
Ramen Auru
From the team behind Nakano Darling and Yakitori Yurippi, Ramen Auru sits on the second floor of a three-storey Japanese complex in Crows Nest, and it’s about as close to a Tokyo ramen hall as you’ll find in Sydney. Order via a custom-built ticket vending machine, grab a spot at the low tatami tables and choose from three bowls; yuzu shio chicken, prawn bisque and a classic tonkotsu you can customise to your liking.
Sitchu Tip: Fancy a late-night feed? From 10pm to 12pm, you can enjoy a rich and creamy Tonkotsu Ramen for just $15! Available Monday – Saturday.
2F 6/8 Falcon St, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Enjoying This One? Why Not Check Out
Our Favourite Asian Restaurants in Sydney Right Now
All Aboard for the Best Sushi Trains in Sydney
Best Authentic Japanese Restaurants: Katsu
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu
Japan’s number-one gyukatsu chain has landed in Sydney, and the queues tell you everything you need to know. As the name implies, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is a Kyoto-born cult spot that does one thing: beef cutlets, flash-fried in panko and served medium-rare with a personal stone grill so you can finish your meat exactly how you like it. The tenderloin is the move, though the Australian wagyu set is also hard to argue with. Come hungry!
Lv 2.01/252 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Senkatsu
A CBD spot dedicated entirely to the craft of katsu, Senkatsu is the kind of focused, considered restaurant that feels very Japan. Australian pork is wet-aged for 24 hours before frying, the wagyu gyukatsu is buttery-soft inside, and the matcha and black sesame desserts are worth saving room for (trust us).
Shop 1 116/120 Liverpool St, Sydney NSW 2000
Nakano Darling
From the team behind Yakitori Yurippi, Nakano Darling nails the very Japanese philosophy of doing a handful of things impeccably. House-made karaage and gyoza are the food stars, while Japanese whisky highballs (including the city’s only pour of Suntory Kakubin) are the reason you’ll stay longer than planned. The tatami room and horigotatsu tables make it feel like a Tokyo spot, though.
14 Steam Mill La, Haymarket NSW 2000
Best Authentic Japanese Restaurants: Izakaya
Izakaya Uomichi
Tucked inside Regent Place on level 9 of the George Street precinct, Uomichi has the feel of a laneway hidden in plain sight. The menu covers sushi, sashimi and yakitori alongside a range of Japanese sides, while the drinks list leans into wines from Yamanashi prefecture, which is a point of difference you won’t find many other places in the city.
Regent Place Shopping Centre, Lot 3, Level 9/501 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Gold Class Daruma
Resident at The Grace Hotel on York Street, Gold Class Daruma is an intimate sushi restaurant doing some of Sydney’s most accessible Omakase. The chef’s tasting menu runs through seasonal sashimi, chawanmushi, hotpot and wagyu beef tataki for just $89pp. The 500-year-old Akita cedar counter is worth the visit alone.
The Grace Sydney, Level 1/77 York St, Sydney NSW 2000
Kura Kura
A no-frills upstairs haunt, Kura Kura has been a Haymarket staple for good reason. It delivers solid, affordable Japanese classics without any fuss, including sashimi, donburi, ramen and bento. It’s the kind of place locals keep to themselves but we didn’t want to gatekeep!
Level 1/76 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000
Best Authentic Japanese Restaurants: Yakitori
Yakitori Bar Kitsch Tokyo
This Chatswood izakaya is perfectly kitschy, complete with a disco ball, Suntory crate stools and vintage beer posters, which should come as no surprise given it’s called Yakitori Bar Kitsch Tokyo. The charcoal-grilled skewers are the real draw though, and the Tokyo Platter ticks off wagyu, prawn, pork belly, unagi and more in one go. Wash it all down with a lemon highball, because, when in Tokyo.
Sitchu Tip: Cash gets you a discount!
Shop 3/7 Help St, Chatswood NSW 2067
Did you like this one? Why not check out our guide to the best Asian restaurants in Sydney, or our round-up of vibey hidden bars?
