James Street, the Valley’s premier high street, is one of the chicest places in town for flat whites, cocktails and retail therapy, and now, with the opening of Hideki Izakaya, it’s also a great place to grab saké and kushiyaki skewers.

Located next to the buzzing At Sixes and Sevens , this is Hideki’s second outpost, following the moody Burnett Lane original. With a fit-out by Sophia Klemenz Ghanem, the James Street edition trades shadows for sunshine with ambient lighting, cherry-red banquettes and a Japanese maple at the entrance to beckon guests inside.

The restaurant is brighter and more casual than its CBD sibling and the menu follows suit. The izakaya format favours sharing, with skewers, sashimi and grilled meats all arriving in a well-paced procession. Standout menu items include a kingfish usuzukuri, which arrives nearly translucent, glossed with truffle-soy; and Coffin Bay oysters, which are topped with a frozen yuzu sorbet for a surprising jolt to the palate. At the robata grill, there’s Wagyu and pork belly, both of which are crisp and buttery soft.

Cocktails are built for the climate: ice-cold and tropical, with crowd-pleasers like the Lychee Martini. There’s also a tidy saké selection, and a wine list that sidesteps the expected.

Down the line, there are plans to introduce saké nights and host chef collaboration dinners.