The Best Omakase Restaurants in Sydney

Sydney is home to one of the world’s biggest Japanese communities in the southern hemisphere. As a result, our Japanese dining scene is robust, and we’re lucky enough to enjoy every facet of the country’s cuisine and dining culture. Recently, we’ve fallen hard for omakase: the Japanese chef’s table par excellence. Seafood is a major component of this intimate experience, but otherwise it’s a pure expression of the seasons, as well the chef’s expertise. Like any chef’s table, this one usually comes with an eye-watering price tag – but it’s worth it. Here’s where to splash out.

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Updated on 10 July 2025

Restaurant

Kisuke

Few of the city’s restaurants replicate the feeling of being in Japan quite like Kisuke. Maybe it’s because husband-and-wife duo Yusuke and Izumi Morita run the place all by themselves. Or maybe it’s the blond-timber and hushed ambiance. Whatever it is, Kisuke is as close as you’ll get to a true, neighbourhood omakase experience in Japan without leaving Sydney.

Restaurant

Sokyo

Door to door, it’s about a five minutes’ drive from Sydney Fish Market to Sokyo. With that kind of proximity, it’s not hard to see why the sushi and sashimi at Chase Kojima’s sophisticated Japanese restaurant draws an endless crowd. The best way to experience it? At Sokyo’s intimate omakase counter, where just six diners settle in for up to 23 dishes, from scallop ravioli to robata-grilled Wagyu.

Restaurant

Nobu Sydney

Nobu Harada’s Sydney outpost has all the lofty hallmarks of his eponymous international restaurants, and one extra: a 10-seat omakase counter helmed by master sushi chef, Ryuichi Yoshii. Yoshii brings almost four decades of experience to the table, and his daily menu fetches exactly the kind of prices you’d expect from a restaurant at Crown Casino. But that doesn’t deter the high rollers – Yoshii’s place is notoriously hard to book.

Restaurant

Kuro

The truest expression of this ambitious fine diner’s “root-to-stem” philosophy is found at its 10-seat chef’s table, Kuro’s Kitchen. Helmed by head chef Taka Teramoto (formerly of Michelin-starred restaurants Restaurant Pages in Paris and Florilege in Tokyo), it’s an elegant experience with a surprisingly lo-fi booking system: text the number and you’ll receive a confirmation email if you’re successful. Then, it’s a three-hour culinary journey fusing Japanese tradition with French techniques.

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Restaurant

Besuto

From Sydney seafood restaurateur Joel Best comes this 12-seat omakase diner at the top end of town. Seafood nigiri takes pride of place, and there's a formidable selection of Japanese whisky to tipple. You might end up sharing some with your neighbour – it's all about the convivial vibe here. Lunch or dinner spans 18 courses, plus you can tack on a wine or sake pairing if you’re going all out.

Restaurant

Haco

In Japanese, Haco means “theatre”, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at this luxe omakase counter by Chaco Bar’s Keita Abe. The star of the show is Osaka-style kushiage: panko-crumbed skewers of meat and veg deep-fried in pork lard or extra-virgin sesame oil. But your 20-course degustation also involves market-best seafood, exquisite sake and the feeling that you are, indeed, a spectator to one hell of a show.

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Restaurant

Chaco Bar

For his moody yakitori den, Chaco Bar’s Keita Abe was inspired by the grungy yakitori joints in his Japanese hometown of Fukuoka. But there are luxurious Sydney touches here, too. The daily set menu is one of them – a free-wheeling degustation of skewered meats and high-end ingredients such as uni, caviar and truffles.

Restaurant

Raita Noda Chef's Kitchen

Raita Noda was one of the first Japanese chefs in Sydney to strike out on their own and bring omakase dining to Sydney. Unlike the culinary marathons served by his peers, Noda prepares a keenly priced 10-course menu every night of the week except Sunday. It’s no less exacting, and will transport you to Japan every time.

Restaurant

Toko Restaurant

Behind a nondescript door in the CBD, the second iteration of Toko echoes the experience beloved at the original Surry Hills site for more than 15 years – with good-times playlists, signature dishes including Moreton Bay bug tempura, and a dedicated omakase spanning a whopping 24 dishes – including 14 pieces of nigiri. This one’s only available on weekdays, and will be resuming later this year.

Restaurant

Rekodo

Matt Moran’s good-looking, Japanese-inspired listening bar at Barangaroo House is a relative newcomer on the omakase scene. But if you’re angling for an experience with a serious soundtrack (courtesy of Rekodo’s gorgeous, high-end sound system), this one’s for you. At around 10 courses, the smaller of the two omakase options is bang for your buck considering what you get. Harbour views included.

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Restaurant

Bay Nine Omakase

Set within the historical Campbell’s Stores precinct, this luxe Japanese diner lets you choose your own experience. There’s an omakase counter where your meal is left entirely up to the chefs, and a bigger dining area with a set menu. But there’s fresh-caught seafood and sake on the cards no matter where you sit.

Restaurant

Ora

A design inspired by Japanese folklore, an acclaimed chef behind the counter, and a surprising owner behind it all. This cavernous Japanese diner is in an unlikely spot – but it’s serving up one of Sydney’s must-try omakase experiences.

Restaurant

Moku

This tiny two-storey diner punches above its weight with a former Sokyo chef in the kitchen and a top mixologist behind the bar. Expect Japanese dishes reimagined with native Australian ingredients, fruity highballs and a warm neighbourhood vibe.

Restaurant

Azuma

One of Sydney’s longest-running Japanese restaurants has moved to the old Bastardo space in the CBD – but it’s still a place of exquisite sushi, bento lunches and friendly old-school service.

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Sushi Oe, Cammeray
Chef Toshihiko Oe opens up reservations at his eponymous restaurant one month in advance. And with only six seats and no way to book besides text message, the competition is stiff to say the least. If you’re lucky enough to snag a spot, you’ll be rewarded with more than just an elegant meal. Like Kisuke in Potts Point, the timber-clad Oe delivers an experience that suspends disbelief – you may as well be dining in a local gem on some Tokyo backstreet.

Kuon Omakase, Haymarket
There’s plenty to love – and loathe – about the shininess of Sydney’s Darling Square dining precinct. Kuon Omakase sits in the former category, and it’s (arguably) the most sought-after restaurant in the area for a reason. It’s high-end, to be sure – but the prices are justified for what you get: stellar seafood, a temple-like atmosphere, and a list of mostly French wines. Just 12 seats here.

Gold Class Daruma, Sydney
If you’re chasing a hotel omakase experience like you’d find in Japan, hop on the escalators and ascend to the first floor of The Grace Hotel on York Street. The white-jacketed chefs at Gold Class host multiple seatings throughout the day – including a late one on Fridays and Saturdays that kicks off at 10pm. You can also do a sake omakase for around $20.

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