Top Japanese restaurants in Australia

Joy ★ 4.8 · Brisbane

Shop 7, 694 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006

Joy is the 10-seat counter on Ann Street in Fortitude Valley. Sarah Scott runs short and long tasting menus with Japanese cadence, two seatings only.

Matsu ★ 4.7 · Melbourne

yarraville · 275 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011

Matsu in Footscray holds two Good Food Guide hats for kaiseki across 12 seats. Chef Hansol Lee's room runs near-silent; the cooking demands that attention.

Ante ★ 4.7 · Sydney

newtown · 10 Wilson Street, Newtown NSW 2042

Japanese sake bar on Wilson Street, Newtown, Sydney. Kaiseki-style seasonal plates pair with one of the country's deepest sake-by-the-glass lists.

Chaco Bar ★ 4.4 · Sydney

potts-point · 186 Victoria Street, Potts Point NSW 2011

Yakitori counter on Victoria Street, Potts Point, Sydney. Chicken skewers cooked over binchotan, ramen at lunch, sake and Japanese whisky list.

Izakaya Fujiyama ★ 4.2 · Sydney

surry-hills · Shop G09, 38-52 Waterloo ST Surry Hills NSW 2010

Japanese izakaya on Waterloo Street, Surry Hills, Sydney. Yakitori from binchotan, tonkotsu ramen, sake-and-highball list, dinner Monday to Saturday.

Tip: Dinner Monday to Saturday; book ahead for the weekend sittings.

Suupaa ★ 4.1 · Melbourne

collingwood · 65 Dover Street, Cremorne VIC 3121

Suupaa in Cremorne takes the Japanese konbini concept seriously: udon bolognese and tamago sandwiches with precise daily specials and excellent canned sake.

Suupaa ★ 4.1 · Melbourne

collingwood · 65 Dover Street, Cremorne VIC 3121

Suupaa in Cremorne takes the Japanese konbini as inspiration and applies serious cooking: the udon bolognese beats most Italian noodle dishes in the city.

Kid Kyoto ★ 4.1 · Sydney

cbd · 17-19 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Late-night izakaya on Bridge Street, Sydney CBD. Wagyu tartare, sake-driven cocktails, dark room with a constant playlist of 80s J-pop classics.

Tip: Bar walk-ins after 9pm; kitchen open till midnight Friday and Saturday.