Melbourne's Best Sushi 2022

Wa Kenbo has captured the imagination since it burst onto the scene in 2018. The food does the talking, as there is little signage or fanfare surrounding this gem away from the main strip in Fitzroy. What critics are heralding is the use of produce from Chef Kenji Ito's private garden to feature in dishes, as well as the fine technique and element of fusion done well. One top Australian critic told me this was the best sashimi he had ever tasted in the world. Guests can enjoy dishes that draw on the purity and exacting nature of Japanese food but are uniquely Australian .
There is no a la carte menu; this is a journey through a progression of courses with the utmost focus on texture, balance and appearance – as decided by the chef. Minamishimais about sushi fine dining, with a set menu to show you what the chef fancy sushi restaurants can do... Supernormal is about Andrew McConnells favourite dishes from trips to Asia, notably Shanghai and Hong Kong. The menu is set up well for groups - just share dishes from small to large offerings and you can cover a lot of ground.

Saké Restaurant & Bar has been a favourite in Southbank and recently brought its award-winning contemporary Japanese dining experience to Melbourne’s much-loved gastronomic destination, Flinders Lane. The World Loves Melbourne has enjoyed fine meals at Sake in both Melbourne and Sydney. We enjoy the vibe in the Flinders Lane restaurant; modern Japanese cuisine in a modern atmospheric environment. Ishizuka Japanese kaiseki restaurant beautifully ties together design and the dining experience and features a kaiseki style of dining. The menu is top notch and is constantly evolving bringing in seasonality and access to the finest of produce.
Workload isn't too much for someone working full time to manage, but is still plenty to be challenging . Tucked down a one-way street in Richmond is Minamishima, the most intimate Japanese dining experience in Melbourne. Omakase involves placing faith in the integrity of the chef.
Supernormal largely caters for shared dining and the Slow cooked Szechuan lamb, spring onion pancake, coriander paste was a highlight. The slow cooked lamb was delectable but it was the sauce that arrested attention. Smoked beef, mustard leaf, clam mayonaisse was a triumph of taste and texture with cream, crunch and silky beef.

Being almost impossible to find, and seating just 12 people, Hajime is definitely at the expensive end of the range. OKAMI is a pioneer in bringing Japanese style All You Can Eat into Australia. Every dish at OKAMI is freshly made to order from the menu with 30+ options. Combined with the cozy atmosphere, this makes OKAMI an essentially family and group gathering friendly venue. For steaming bowls of ramen Tokyo-style, Melburnians seek out the glowing red and yellow sign of Shujinko on Elizabeth Street. This inner urban restaurant exudes a traditional vibe with diners cosy...
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.

Made in-house daily, these thin, springy wheat noodles are the perfect vehicle for their silky, aromatic tonkotsu soups. Toppings range from miso-simmered beef to fresh seafood, and even vegans are looked after with a meat-free chashu. If you’ve got a pretty penny to spend, there’s arguably nowhere in Australia doing finer sushi than this luxe, intimate diner tucked away on a quiet Richmond street. The knife skills of sushi master Koichi Minamishima have been honed for over 30 years, resulting in his ability to create tastes and textures in sushi you’re unlikely to quickly forget. Why not try one of their fabulous sakes to wash down your food?
A hand roll of Moreton Bay bug tempura is passed to each diner by the chef, in a gesture that breaks the fourth wall in a delicious fashion. Everything – the timing, the presentation, even the plates and vessels – is highly considered and breathtakingly beautiful. Saké Restaurant & Barmakes the perfect pre or post-theatre dinner date with its restaurant straddling two light-flooded levels that look out onto the Southbank promenade. Every dish on the menu is crafted with premium produce and precise craftsmanship and their sushi are made-to-order by meticulous in-house sushi masters. It will be almost impossible to not want to devour every morsel and savour every bite. The menu is more varied in its tastes than the usual premium Japanese eatery, scanning international flavours to satisfy an endless rotation of high-rolling regulars.