This sushi bar and supermarket is the Japanese food repository you never knew you needed. If you’re looking to make something yourself, the packed shelves are your friend.

This hugely popular Collingwood restaurant is home to both traditional Japanese eats and contemporary fusion creations. You’ll find ramen, oden stews, katsu sandwiches and some of the best sushi and sashimi in Melbourne.

This South Yarra Japanese restaurant might be small (and easy to miss), but its menu is pretty damn big. Head chef and owner Seung Yeop Ryu uses traditional Japanese cooking methods and flavours throughout.

Starting in Sydney and Brisbane, Sake has brought its sharing philosophy, extensive cocktail list and sensational sushi to Melbourne’s Southbank. Tucked under Hamer Hall, boasting views across the Yarra, this spot is almost always busy.

Divided into two floors, this slim little eatery in Hawthorn gets quite a workout every night of the week (except Sundays). Don’t come expecting a quiet night out, though — this place is perpetually buzzing with big and small groups of diners.

Suzuran in Camberwell is unlike any takeaway sushi spot in Melbourne, for not only does it serve fresh and inventive sushi, but it’s also a Japanese market with a huge range of imported Japanese products you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

If you plan to visit Shira Nui, be sure to book ahead, because this place often has a waiting list a month in advance. Opened over twenty years ago by chef and owner Hiro Nishikura, Shira Nui is the type of restaurant where looks can be deceiving.

Kenzan is a proper Melbourne dining institution. For over 35 years, it has led the Japanese restaurant scene in Melbourne, training up some of the best Japanese chefs in the country.

Located on the ground floor of Hotel Fitzroy, Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya is the kind of Japanese restaurant where the food, which is exceptional, isn’t the only star. 

Named for the famous Tsukiji seafood market in Japan, this Melbourne Japanese diner is unlike your typical sushi and sashimi joint. Here you head to the deli fridge, select your fish, and watch the chefs carve it up for you fresh in the kitchen.