The Best Japanese Restaurants in Sydney for 2024

Where the old masters of the classics meet a new wave of smart Asian fusion.
Concrete Playground
April 01, 2023
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  • Bar

    Toko Restaurant

    275 George Street, Sydney

    A go-to for great Japanese food in Sydney is now in a sleek new subterranean home on George Street with much to love.

  • Restaurant

    Sushi Jones Japanese Bistro

    2–10 Fountain Street, Alexandria

    An affordable, unassuming Japanese eatery that will let you bring you four-legged friend with you.

  • Restaurant

    Sunset Sabi

    28 Pittwater Road, Manly

    Watch the sun go down with some killer sushi rolls at one of the best places to eat Japanese food in Sydney.

  • Bar

    Sake Restaurant and Bar Manly

    Level One, Manly Wharf, West Esplanade, Manly

    A breezy indoor-outdoor Japanese restaurant in Sydney with views out over Manly Cove.

  • Bar

    Sushi e

    252 George Street, Sydney

    The multi-award winning Merivale establishment that will make your local sushi train feel like child's play.

  • Bar

    Sokyo

    The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont

    The popular Sydney Japanese restaurant does elegance extraordinarily well.

  • Restaurant

    Bay Nine Omakase

    7-27 Circular Quay West, The Rocks

    Leave the decisions to the chef at this waterfront omakase restaurant offering six, eight and 11-course menus.

  • Restaurant

    Okami Marrickville

    Shop 6–7, 359 Illawarra Road, Marrickville

    All-you-can-eat Japanese feasts for less than $40 a head.

  • Restaurant

    Mashi No Mashi

    80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont

    This wagyu ramen restaurant in The Star sources its beef from Japan's top 20 beef farmers and brews its ramen for 24 hours in Ozaki beef bone stock.

  • Restaurant

    Ume Burger

    33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo

    Japanese burgers and a soft serve machine by the water.

  • Restaurant

    Gojima

    1909 Dining Precinct, Level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket

    Sushi burgers and green tea thickshakes inside Market City.

  • Restaurant

    Sandoitchi Cafe

    113-115 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst

    Single O coffee and untraditional, tasty katsu sandos in Darlinghurst.

  • Restaurant

    KOI Dessert Bar

    6 Central Park Avenue, Chippendale

    Reynold Poernomo's "dream venue" contains a classic dessert bar, a cocktail bar and an intimate 12-seat restaurant dedicated to ten-course degustations.

  • Restaurant

    Kazan Dining

    25 Martin Place, Sydney

    This sleek Japanese fine diner above the Theatre Royal features a contemporary menu with subtle nods to Nikkei cuisine.

  • Restaurant

    Tsuki Yo Darling Square

    19 Little Hay Street, Haymarket

    Find golden-brown takoyaki balls and fish-shaped taiyaki waffles at this neon-lit eatery.

  • Restaurant

    Zushi

    Shop 2A, 285A Crown Street, Surry Hills

    Sushi as it should be, and so much more.

  • Restaurant

    Besuto

    6 Loftus Lane, Sydney

    This tiny 12-seat Japanese restaurant in Sydney serves up 18-course omakase menus across three sittings per day.

  • Restaurant

    Senpai Ramen

    88 Archer Street, Chatswood

    Chase Kojima's Chatswood omakase restaurant offers one option for dinner: a ramen-heavy seven-course set menu.

  • Restaurant

    Bones Ramen

    51-57 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay

    Choose from four bowls of ramen at this tiny 20-seat ramen bar tucked away down Bayswater Road.

  • Bar

    Tokyo Bird

    Shop 2, 226-228 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills

    Tokyo Bird is ruling the roost with a focus on hot-right-now Japanese whisky and yakitori sticks.

  • Restaurant

    Gram Cafe & Pancakes The Galeries

    500 George Street, Sydney

    This beloved Japanese cafe has brought its signature soufflé pancakes to Sydney's CBD with a new 80-seat flagship store.

  • Restaurant

    Yuzu Restaurant

    1 Scott Street, Pyrmont

    This hidden-away eatery is one of Sydney's best Japanese restaurants.

  • Restaurant

    Chaco Bar

    186-188 Victoria Street, Potts Point

    A new yakitori joint in Potts Point from the team behind Sydney's favourite ramen.

  • Bar

    Sekka Dining

    472-488 Pacific Highway, St Leonards

    An izakaya on the lower north shore from one of Sydney's best ramen chefs.

  • Restaurant

    Gram Cafe & Pancakes

    436 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

    Try fluffy soufflé pancakes at the Chatswood outpost of this Japanese cult-favourite.

  • Bar

    Nakano Darling

    14 Steam Mill Lane, Haymarket

    This Haymarket izakaya serves up highballs and free karaage chicken during happy hour.

  • Bar

    Nikkei Bar & Restaurant

    216 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills

    The Tokyo Bird team is serving up a Japanese-Peruvian menu at its newest Surry Hills restaurant.

  • Restaurant

    Tokki

    44a Foveaux Street, Surry Hills

    This Surry Hills izakaya combines Korean and Japanese flavours with minimal-intervention Aussie wines.

  • Restaurant

    Kuro

    368 Kent Street, Sydney

    A Japanese cafe, bar and restaurant inside a historic CBD sandstone building.

  • Restaurant

    Kurumac

    107 Addison Road, Marrickville

    A Marrickville Japanese cafe selling comfort food for breakfast and lunch.

  • Restaurant

    Chaco Ramen

    238 Crown Street, Darlinghurst

    All ramen, all the time at this Darlinghurst favourite.

  • Restaurant

    Dopa Don and Milk Bar

    Shop 5-6, 2 Little Hay Street, Darling Square

    A Japanese take on the classic Aussie milk bar by the Devon team.

  • Restaurant

    Ichi-ban Boshi

    Level 2, The Galeries, 500 George Street, Sydney

    It's worth braving the long lunchtime lines for great ramen at this CBD restaurant.

  • Restaurant

    RaRa

    66b Regent Street, Redfern

    Redfern's 28-seater neighbourhood ramen joint.

  • Restaurant

    Edition Haymarket

    60 Darling Drive, Haymarket

    Pair quality cuppas with innovative, Japanese-inspired brekkies at this inner city cafe.

  • Restaurant

    Busshari

    119 Macleay Street, Potts Point

    An unassuming Potts Point eatery serving up some of the city's best Japanese.

  • Restaurant

    Gaku Robata Grill

    132 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst

    A Sydney ramen joint by day, an innovative Japanese restaurant by night.

  • Restaurant

    Ippudo Sydney

    188 Pitt Street, Sydney

    In a city not short on a bowl of ramen, this soupy joint stands out from the crowd.

  • Restaurant

    Gogyo

    52-54 Albion Street, Surry Hills

    The chain's famed burnt ramen has arrived in Surry Hills.

  • Restaurant

    Kid Kyoto

    19 Bridge Street, Sydney

    A neon-lit izakaya den inspired by 90s alternative rock.

  • Restaurant

    Spice Alley

    Kensington Street, Chippendale

    A not-so-secret, hidden alley of Asian culinary delights.

  • Restaurant

    Ramen Goku

    30 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

    Sydney's beloved ramen joint comes to Glebe- and it's BYO wine.

  • Restaurant

    Cafe Kentaro

    616 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

    Bourke Street's Japanese-influenced brunch spot from the team behind Oratnek.

  • Restaurant

    Ramen Zundo

    World Square, 644 George Street, Sydney

    Tsukemen ramen is the order of the day at this Sydney Japanese restaurant.

  • Restaurant

    Zushi Barangaroo

    33 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo

    The Sydney sushi masters' third offering brings their acclaimed offering to Barangaroo.

  • Restaurant

    Osaka Trading Co.

    Shop 18,1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge

    From sake and chicken karaage to whisky and edamame, this izakaya has all your Japanese cravings covered.

  • Restaurant

    Rising Sun Workshop

    1C Whateley Street, Newtown

    A ramen cafe and bike shop run by ramen-loving bikers.

  • Restaurant

    Yakitori Yurippi

    7 Falcon Street, Crows Nest

    Crows Nest's tiny six-table yakitori joint.

  • Restaurant

    Sushi on Stanley

    85 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst

    This well-priced Japanese casual eatery in Sydney has stood the test of time.

  • Restaurant

    Mamasan

    57-59 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach

    A tempting fusion of Taiwanese street food and Japanese deliciousness.

  • Restaurant

    Ippudo

    Central Park, Lower Ground Floor, 28 Broadway, Chippendale

    Are you a hopeless ramen-tic? Find comforting bowls of bone broth at this popular ramen chain.

  • Restaurant

    Ryo's Noodles

    125 Falcon Street, Crows Nest

    One of Sydney's best bowls of ramen is hidden away in Crows Nest.

  • Restaurant

    Cho Cho San

    73 Macleay Street, Potts Point

    In a minimalist, well-designed setting, you’ll enjoy Japanese cuisine in a reimagined izakaya style.

  • Restaurant

    Tetsuya's

    529 Kent Street, Sydney

    Sure you might’ve been able to fly to Melbourne and back (twice), but dining at Tetsuya’s is an occasion that is slightly more palpable.

  • Restaurant

    Sake

    12 Argyle Street, The Rocks

    Home to some of Sydney's greatest sushi chefs.

  • Restaurant

    Gumshara

    Eating World Harbour Plaza, 25–29 Dixon Street, Haymarket

    This Haymarket stable is famed for its rich, gravy-like tonkotsu ramen.

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