Bowl of ramen with boiled egg, green vegetables and pork. Person holding up the noodles with chopsticks.

The best new Japanese restaurants in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

From steaming bowls of ramen to crispy katsu and world-class sushi we’ve found the best new Japanese restaurants that you need to try. 

Katsuretsu Co 

Imagine an entire restaurant dedicated to crispy katsu. Well, with Katsuretsu Co you no longer have to just imagine. The delicious tonkatsu venue has just landed in Chinatown and is serving up some of the best katsu you’ve ever tasted. Head into MidCity Arcade for a plate of tender pork or fresh seafood and dunk your way around the endless range of sauces. 

Person in white shirt picking up piece of fried katsu chicken with chopsticks. Plate of katsu chicken is surrounded by sauces.
Katsuretsu co

Ronin Omakase 

From a Docklands pop-up to a permanent fixture on Little Collins street, Ronin Omakase takes your taste buds on a journey of explosive flavours. Enjoy the signature otoro nigiri, adorned with edible gold dust and crowned with exquisite caviar. Try the crab, scallop and kani miso. Pair your dish with sensational cocktails.  

Mr Hugo

³Ô¹ÏÍø has just scored an adorable new Japanese-style joint. Mr Hugo's menu features all the classics. Think hearty tonkatsu curry, steamy udon noodles and wagyu beef bowls. Finish with the hojicha hazelnut toast for a must-try sweet treat. Then sip on fun drinks like the Lemoricano – a citrusy take on the Americano.

A wooden tray with tempura and a bowl of udon noodles on it
Mr Hugo

Sara Craft Ramen 

Calling all ramen lovers! Sara Craft Ramen and Bar is a new must try on Little Lonsdale Street. Be transported to Japan with delicious flavours like duck yuzu, or the spicy tonkotsu. Choose from artisanal straight noodles or the two weeks aged wave noodles. Looking for something extra? Opt for the crab karaage, or the aburi wagyu sushi. 

Tokyo Motto 

Specialising in Japanese street food and omurice, Tokyo Motto is the ultimate casual lunch spot. Expect an array of crispy katsu, karaage chicken, vegetable tempura and more. If you’re feeling experimental opt for the spicy miso ramen topped with a soft serve ice cream cone. After 9pm the venue transforms into a late-night izakaya serving up bar snacks, crispy fried chicken and rivers of free-flowing sake, beer and Japanese-inspired cocktails. 

A bowl of ramen with corn and a soft serve ice cream in the middle, a person picking up the noodles with chopsticks.
Tokyo Motto

Waku Waku 

Authentic, hidden gem Waku Waku is the authentic and intimate dining space for your next dinner date. Dive into a bowl of winter warming Hokkaido curry soup. Or munch on some tempura prawns, fresh sashimi and karaage chicken. All dishes are packed with flavour and will have you coming back for more. 

Niku Shiki  

Dine in, or grab and go at Niku Shiki. from delicate sushi to sizzling sukiyaki, to paper thin beef wagyu you will be spoilt for choice. Try the hot pot for your next group catch-up. Level up your at home meals with the butcher’s seafood, fresh cuts of wagyu and more.  

Best new Japanese cafes and bakeries

Cafe intereior with large industrial-style seating area with tables and booths, Japanese-style flags and shelving.

Operator San

A Japanese brunch by Operator25 cafe, serving sweets, savouries, specialty coffee and drinks.

View from the street into a small and cosy interior of a cafe, a table of diners on the footpath and people also dining inside the small cafe.

Ilza

The second city venue for this popular Japanese snack bar and izakaya diner.

Exterior of a restaurant with small stools on the footpath facing an open window.

Onigiri Kitchen and Sake Bar

A beautifully designed space with a simple philosophy – to enjoy simple Japanese food.

Overhead view of a table filled with various plates of Japanese food including curry, rice, curry pan and mochi sweets, plus cans of drink.

°­²¹°ùé

Serving delicious umami-packed Japanese curry creations.

A takeaway food counter with display screens on the back wall, a refrigerated glass display and cute signage of Japanese cartoon style characters and a logo that says 'TASTE THE FUN', written on a wall.

Gacha Cafe

A cute takeaway counter serving Japanese drinks and desserts and a Gacha Gacha toy spot.

A selection of Japanese-inspired desserts with a strawberry tea on bamboo trays.

Miyama ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Celebrate the spirit of Japanese hospitality infused with the bold charm of ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

A plate with a soufflé pancake folded over with chocolate biscuit crumbs and whipped cream with a tall purple drink.

Kumo Desserts

Experience delicious Japanese-style soufflé pancakes.

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Last updated on Thu 2 Jan 2025

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Restaurant interior with round pendant lights, dark tables, wall mural and backlit counter.

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