We love a good Japanese meal! And fortunately for us, Sydney is filled with plenty of great options to satisfy our cravings. Here’s 8 of our favourite places for Japanese food in Sydney.

Kanzo

For those love saucy sushi, Kanzo will be your new favourite haunt. We love the cheesy chicken roll - think melted cheese, saucy chicken schnitzel and a slight smokey flavour from the blowtorching. Just make sure you eat this one while it’s hot and fresh, otherwise you’ll find the cheese starts to harden! And our absolute favourite at Kanzo - the grilled salmon roll. You can opt to replace the usual prawn filling with cooked tuna and avocado, which is a total game-changer. Nothing beats a huge sushi roll topped with saucy grilled salmon!

Kanzo
Shop3/109-113 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kanzo/157153541010283
(02) 8628 0789

Oiden

For those looking for a budget friendly The rice bowls here remind us of the quick no-frills meals you’d find on the streets of Japan. You can add on extras here like their delicious half-boiled eggs which are silky and definitely add another element to meal!

Oiden
Shop 12/537-551 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.oiden.com.au
(02) 9267 1368

Ippudo

Ippudo in Westfield Sydney serves up authentic bowls of decadent ramen, just the way we remember them in Japan. We’d recommend ordering the akamauru ramen, so you can enjoy their famous tonkostu broth and delicious chasu pork. For those with dietary requirements, they also have pork-free and vegetarian ramen options on the menu. Be sure to order the cucumber salad along with your ramen - we never knew cucumber could be so delicious, it’ll blow your mind!

Ippudo
Shop 5021/188 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
http://ippudo.com.au
(02) 8078 7020

Pepper Lunch

While you can find this restaurant chain all over Asia, Pepper Lunch has its origins in Japanese culture as an answer to fast-food steak. It’s not hard to see why it’s so popular across the globe - the meals are filling, and there’s novelty of cooking your own food on a personal hotplate! Pepper Lunch currently has two locations in Sydney - Town Hall and Chatswood. Nothing beats their classic beef pepper rice plate, but recently we’ve been enjoying their curry beff/hamburger option as well. Make sure to add the sweet and garlic sauces to your rice while it’s still sizzling for an extra flavour boost.

Pepper Lunch
Shop 10/537 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
https://www.pepperlunch.com.au
(02) 9283 2017

Zushi

Zushi in Barangaroo is a modern Japanese restaurant with alfresco dining and a social mood. It’s a great place for special occasions, whether that be an intimate date or celebration with friends. We usually opt for their set menu so we can taste the best of what Zushi has to offer. They also have a great variety of sushi rolls and sashimi, and their honey prawns are to die for!

Zushi
10/33 Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000
https://zushi.com.au
(02) 8072 7383

Gumshara

One of the heavyweights on the Sydney Ramen scene, Gumshara is the perfect option for when you feel like chowing down on a hearty meal. Don’t let its unassuming location in a basement foodcourt fool you, this place is the real deal when it comes to thick and rich ramen broth. The crowd favourite here is the tonkostu ramen with pork spare rib, which is equal parts heavy and delicious.

Gumshara
Shop 211/25-29 Dixon St, Haymarket NSW 2000
https://www.gumshara.com
0410 253 180

Mikazuki

Mikazuki in Parramatta or Strathfield is the place to be when you’re in the mood for casual Japanese dining. With a huge variety of ramen, udon, rice bowls and sushi dishes, there’s sure to be something for every taste. One of the menu highlights at Mikazuki is their famous sashimi tacos. Think crispy taco shells, filled with fresh cubes of sashimi and dressed with avocado, mayo and vinaigrette. While these tacos aren’t very traditional, they certainly are delicious! We also love their chicken karaage curry - a generous portion of Japanese-style curry and fried karaage, served with rice and pickled ginger.

Mikazuki
Shop 5/169 Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW 2150
http://www.mikazuki.com.au
(02) 9633 2593

Okami

For $35 all-you-can-eat, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value Japanese meal in the Sydney! There are plenty of options for everyone tastebuds at Okami franchises, including gyoza, salads, spring rolls, rice, noodles, takoyaki, chicken kaarage and a whole range of main meat dishes. Our advice: skip the boring fillers like spring rolls and rice, and get stuck right into the meaty mains. The highlight for us here is the beef carpaccio, drizzled with ponzu and wasabi mayonnaise. The miso steak comes in at a close second, with small bites of tender beef cooked to perfection. There are plenty of Okami franchises around Sydney, but our favourite is their newly opened Cronulla branch.

Okami
Shop 1/19 - 21 Gerrale St, Cronulla NSW 2230
https://www.okamirestaurant.com.au
(02) 9523 6688

Want more foodie reccomendations? Read our 7 Best Places To Eat In Cabramatta or our 10 Best Places For Dessert In Sydney.