Japanese restaurants in Brisbane: we spotlight the 10 best ones to satisfy your cravings for sushi, ramen and more

We’ve curated our top 10 Japanese restaurants in Brisbane to suit all palates, including vegetarian options for plant-based foodies. Traditional sushi and sashimi, crispy gyoza, and delicate tempura – there’s something in this selection to satisfy every craving.

Australia’s obsession with Japanese food is clear from the cuisine’s prevalence in the country’s food scene – whether you’re after street food staples, such as yakitori, hearty ramen, or locally caught sashimi or something more gourmet, there’s (almost) no reason to fly north to get your hands on authentic Japanese food. And Brissie, with its diverse food scene, is no exception.

And with Westpac Concierge Services, you can take advantage of an entire team of dining experts to secure your spot at these, and other, sought-after Japanese restaurants in Brisbane. Just read on to check – you may already have access. Itadakimasu!

Sono Japanese Restaurant Portside Wharf

Best for: dinner with a view (or two)

Sono offers a window into authentic Japanese cuisine through Australia’s fresh and flavourful ingredients, which you can experience in an effortlessly chic and modern space. Grab a window seat for sweeping views of the Brisbane River and indulge in six- or ten-course tasting menus, or, if you’re looking for a bit of gastronomic theatre, book the teppanyaki table where chefs will craft your lunch or dinner right in front of you using local ingredients, such as Queensland king prawns and Moreton Bay bug.

📍 Level 1, Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton, QLD 4007

Bird’s Nest Yakitori & Bar

Best for: sampling Japanese street food

Seemingly simple yet surprisingly tasty, yakitori has made a name for itself as the must-try Japanese street snack – and you can find it right here in Brisbane. Bird’s Nest Yakitori & Bar cooks its skewers in-house daily on the special binchōtan (white charcoal), with everything from traditional chicken thighs and gizzards to king oyster mushroom and okra. The omakase-style sharing sets are great for big groups, making it your new pit stop for a night out with friends.

📍 Shop 5, 220 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101

📍 Shop 4, 702 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006

📍 Shop G67A 9 Sherwood Rd, Toowong Village, QLD 4066

IPPIN Japanese Dining

Best for: a romantic fine-dining date

IPPIN is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane

For elevated Japanese fare, IPPIN Japanese Dining offers an elegant, modern space to try authentic dishes that pair some of the finest local produce with coveted imported Japanese ingredients. A warm, intimate setting makes it the perfect spot to bring that special someone. With a set menu featuring bluefin tuna toro-taku, barramundi with wasabi leaf san choy bow, and Wagyu tartare and signature cocktails such as the Matcha-groni with matcha-infused gin, your date is sure to be impressed. Make sure to also order the lobster popcorn – a crowd favourite among regulars.

📍 South Pavilion, West Village, Tenancy 2, 97 Boundary Street, West End, QLD 4101

Hot tip #1: be polite and slurp noodles

Want to know the perfect way to compliment your ramen chef? Slurp your noodles. It might seem contrary to our ingrained table manners, but slurping your noodles not only shows your appreciation for your meal, it also helps cool down your noodles, so you can eat them faster. It’s even purported to increase the flavour of the dish, as it engages more of your senses (think about the satisfying sluurrp!) and lets you enjoy the noodles before they become overcooked.

KatsuCo

Best for: western-style Japanese katsu

At KatsuCo, you can experience Japan’s obsession with katsu – western-influenced fried meat or seafood coated in panko breadcrumbs. And with big portions that include pork, chicken, tofu, tiger king prawns, and even mozzarella (with a dizzying cheese pull), you have plenty to sample along with dipping sauces, such as Japanese curry truffle olive oil. You’ll have two iterations to choose from in Brisbane, both of which offer understated, minimalist interiors.

📍 Shop 4, 699 Sherwood Road, Sherwood, QLD 4075 (Sherwood) or Unit 107, 53 Endeavour Boulevard, North Lakes, QLD 4509 (North Lakes)

HAKATAYA Ramen

Best for: authentic tonkotsu ramen

Buttery and warming, tonkotsu is a hearty favourite among ramen lovers, and you can get an authentic taste at HAKATAYA Ramen. All noodles are handmade in-house, and the broth is expertly crafted from scratch and simmered for 48 hours to develop a deep, rich flavour that’s garnered a cult-like following in Sunnybank. You’ll only have seven dishes to choose from, which you can enjoy in an intimate Tokyo-style eatery. There’s a total of eight of these Japanese restaurants in Brisbane but we like the flagship standalone one in Queen Street Mall best.

📍 Tenancy B1, 117 Queen Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000

Harajuku Gyoza

Best for: quick bites and sharing plates

Harajuku Gyoza is a lively and colourful space helmed by the cutest mascot, where you can fill up on plates upon plates of gyoza – Japanese dumplings with Chinese origins that are traditionally filled with meat or vegetables. If you’re feeling indecisive, there are plenty of fillings to try out, from classic pork or duck to cheeseburger or buffalo chicken. And when you’re ready for dessert, try the Ferrero Rocher gyoza or super jiggly and soft air cheesecake.

📍 141 Queen Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000 (Albert Lane) or 184 Grey Street, South Bank, Brisbane, QLD 4101 (South Bank)

Hot tip #2: brush up on your chopsticks etiquette

Yoko Dining

Best for: a trendy night out

In the spirit of a Tokyo music bar, Yoko Dining on the Brisbane River offers traditional Japanese dishes with contemporary flair – it even has a raw bar to satey your ceviche and sashimi cravings. On warmer days, you can opt for al fresco seating with waterside views and when the weather’s chilly, dine inside where Japan’s vinyl obsession comes to life. We suggest ordering the set menus, which come with an assortment of starters, a main, and dessert that’ll give you a decadent overview of the restaurant’s offering.

📍 Howard Smith Wharves, 2/5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City, QLD 4000

Shunsai

Best for: engaging your food senses

Shunsai – an intimate 12-seater dining room with a six-seater bar – elevates Japanese tradition to an art with its washoku menu. Each dish is crafted to reflect the season and nurtures harmony between its ingredients, meaning that every bite you take has been carefully considered to bring out the natural flavours. The vegetarian menu is an uncompromising delight for plant-based foodies, with taro glazed miso, persimmon salad, and tempura vegetables up for sampling.

📍 T5/45 Wellington Road, East Brisbane, QLD 4169

Fumiki’s Sushi Kappo

Best for: an up-close ‘cut and cook’ omakase experience

Fumiki’s Sushi Kappo offers a 15-course sushi kappo – an immersive dining experience where you’ll be seated at a counter with the chef preparing and plating each dish right in front of you. There’s no menu at this fine-dining omakase Brisbane’s establishment – instead, the offering is guided by seasonality and great ingredients available, guaranteeing a quality experience every time you visit. Be aware that allergy and dietary requirements are not catered to here, as ingredients are chosen for an optimal dining experience.

📍 Shop 6, 17 Barrett Street, Robertson, QLD 410

Ku-O

Best for: a romantic dinner

Traditional Japanese lanterns and umbrellas line the ceiling of this low-lit restaurant, where you can indulge in lavishly plated Japanese cuisine – from buttery soft sashimi and crispy tempura to rich curries and yakitori. This is the place to come to if you want to sample a large variety of Japanese fare, and the romantic vibe makes it the ideal spot to connect with that special someone too. The sashimi is particularly beloved here – and it can’t hurt to pair it with the restaurant’s original matcha-flavoured beer.

📍 5/28 Trafalgar Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102

📍 341 Main Rd, Sunnybank, QLD 4109

Remember that if you’re an eligible Westpac cardholder, we can secure your reservation at any of these, and any other, Japanese restaurants in Brisbane. Or maybe you’d like to organise a food tour of the land of the rising sun itself? Our on-the-ground travel experts in Japan have all the knowledge you need to craft an unforgettable gastronomic tour of the country. Gochisousama!

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Ariana Smit

Ariana is a writer based in Cape Town, with a focus on queer identity and sexual and reproductive health and rights. She's spent six years in feminist journalism, writing for publications such as The Tempest and Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women. She has also had prose and poetry published in South African journals such as Prufrock and Ja. Magazine, as well as being shortlisted for the National Poetry Prize in 2021. She's currently working on her debut novel.

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