Melbourne's Best Sushi 2022
It’s the best Japanese restaurant in South Melbourne for sure. Kisume is the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne for sashimi. Melbourne is home to a number of food spots and you are sure to find every cuisine and style of cooking without much effort. The assortment of imported sake, beer, and Japanese whisky make this a regular stop for locals even if they’re arriving with full stomachs. The following are the best Japanese restaurants Melbourne has to offer, from high-end, special-occasion dining, to experimental sketches of traditional techniques showcasing just how adaptive they can be.
This homey diner is a Smith Street sanctuary that’s popular with locals and a well-kept secret by everyone else. Undeniably of Melbourne’s finest Japanese restaurants, they’re known for their okonomiyaki, a Japanese savoury pancake packed with veg and drizzled with a cross-hatch of sauces. Papirica is run by a super-friendly Osaka expat who's sushi taco always happy to guide you through the comforting menu of bowls, curries, sandwiches and cakes, with vegan options aplenty. You can even pick up some cute homewares to take home as a souvenir. This city is renowned for its culinary expertise for a reason – it abounds with talented chefs, inventive minds, fine produce and fresh ingredients.
The A La Carte menu is light on the sushi joint stand-bys, but features plenty of other favourites like Chicken Karaage, Wagyu Tataki and Chicken Teriyaki. However, at this neat dining spot, the real stars of the show are the Set Menus, which come beautifully presented in multi-compartmented wooden trays. The experience is like eating from a jewellery box of filled with your favourite pieces.
But it’s worth a detour for their classic ramen and tsukemen . Order side dishes to share and crack a few bevs downstairs. As far as Japanese restaurants north of Melbourne go, Gogyo is one of the best. Their signature charred miso ramen dish is like nothing else found here, and their spicier dishes pack some heat (try the karaka-men bowl for a real punch in the tastebuds).
So chopsticks at the ready, here’s our pick of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. This sushi bar may be nudging 40, but shows few signs of weariness, quietly rolling out the classics with confidence and finesse its Flinders Lane neighbours should envy. Case in point, deftly sliced slips of sashimi, all killer, no filler crab hand rolls, and whisper-light tempura vegetables. Those who like a hands-on approach (or first date ice-breaker) can share cook-at-the-table nabe ryori – wafer-thin beef slices with assorted vegetables and piquant sauces. Perched at the bar for the theatre of live-action sashimi-slicing, or settled into the warmly lit room under the watchful eyes of discreet, sweet waitstaff, it's low fuss, high comfort stuff.
But if you’re in need of a quick meal on the go they've got plenty of sushi sets for one. While you're there, maybe pick up some ingredients from their grocer to try your hand at making your own sushi and or sake too. Melbourne has some of the best sushi going around and we’re not talking about a food court hand roll here. The city’s esteemed restaurants and takeaway storefronts are here to remind us that sushi is not only a traditional Japanese cuisine but also an honoured art form. At Nobu, guests can choose from a wide array of cocktails, sake and wine to go along with their meals.
This is the best spot for busy students and bankers alike. Go and sit on the state library lawn and tuck into one of their wholesome bento boxes in the lunchtime sun. Their rooftop bar is perfect for date nights and gatherings of friends. And as this spot is located on the busy Brunswick Street, it is also the perfect way to start off a good night out.
Wine and dine on a feast of extraordinary sashimi while appreciating the adjacent river views from the Southbank location. Kazuki’s offers its guests a quintessential menu that is packed with unique flavours. The menu features dishes that are the perfect blend of Japanese traditions and fresh Australian produce. These can be booked in advance and include the chef’;s table, a private Kuro dining room and chablis bar. Kisume is one of the restaurants with Omakase in Melbourne. The name, meaning ‘little one’ in Japanese, telegraphs the kind of minimalism and simplicity this cafe is hinged upon.
Whatever your motivation for wanting to learn Japanese, I highly recommend Nunawading Japanese School. As soon as you walk through the classroom door you are greeted by the teachers who engage you with their enthusiasm and immediately put a smile on your face. Even when the learning is challenging, the positive environment is encouraging and supportive. Chef Shigeo Nonaka brings you on an award-winning Japanese culinary journey for bold diners. Shoya fuses local produce, flavour composition and relaxed atmosphere to effect. The vibe here is perfect for that catch up or romantic soiree.