The best sushi in Sydney

Serving a classic Japanese yakiniku experience for over 20 years, Suminoya features a range of sushi options alongside its meat platters. Book the special or deluxe BBQ buffet and enjoy 90 minutes of sushi plates and BBQ platters. For lunch, the Suminoya box for $55 features sushi, sashimi and tempura alongside wagyu beef and salmon salad. The relaxed, loft-style dining room features individual extraction vents at each table so you can enjoy the smoky charcoal flavours while staying fresh. Sushi and sashimi are available individually or as assorted plates, with aburi scallops, eel, prawn inari and more available. Pair your plates with fluffy bowls of rice or steaming miso soup, and finish off with matcha soft serve or coffee jelly for dessert.

Roughly translated as “sunny home”, Hinataya aims to be exactly that for each diner who visits. The warm, lively dining room blends colourful accents – like the ropes that cover the ceiling and hold up the lighting – with stylish minimalism. Affordable dishes and a casual atmosphere make this an ideal spot for small groups and family meals. Sushi and sashimi are the highlights of the menu, with mixed platters (including a special salmon lover boat) and a la carte options available. The bento boxes feature fresh sushi and sashimi alongside options like chicken katsu, unagi, beef teriyaki and more.

Kuon Sushi Sei is a refined Japanese seafood and sushi restaurant with counter seating around an open kitchen. Book the chef’s special for $115 and enjoy seasonal chawanmushi (savoury custard) followed by assorted sides, a hearty main and a range of sushi with soup or noodles, before finishing up with dessert. The Tokujo sushi course features chawanmushi and sides alongside an omakase selection of sushi and dessert. The $195 omakase booking offers a traditional omakase experience featuring fresh sashimi and a premium sushi omakase selection. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable, encouraging conversation with the sushi chefs as they prepare your meal. 

Ichoume is a collaboration between a range of experts in cooking, hospitality and drinks. Executive chef Akiko Ishikawa carefully crafted a menu that features fresh Japanese flavours, with sushi and sashimi prepared by expert sushi chef Shinsuke Toda. Book the four-course dinner and enjoy three different appetisers, including Hokkaido scallops and wagyu beef, followed by crunchy tempura and your choice of main (including assorted sushi), before finishing with Japanese coffee jelly for dessert. Sushi options include seared aburi salmon sushi, BBQ eel inside-out rolls and foie gras ship sushi. The sleek dining room feels elegant and modern, with dark-wood furnishing and a warmly lit central bar. 

With outposts in Barangaroo and Surry Hills, Zushi is a modern Japanese restaurant serving fresh, sustainable seafood dishes. The spacious Barangaroo restaurant is part of the harbour foreshore, with a refined interior designed by famed architect Koichi Takada. In Surry Hills, dine at the sushi counter inside or head out into the courtyard for an al fresco meal. Both outposts offer tasting menus designed for sharing, and in Surry Hills, you can also book a bottomless lunch featuring sashimi tacos, tiger rolls, chicken karaage and more. Surry Hills also offers sushi-making classes for kids, which include a kids’ apron and a sushi rolling mat to take home. For lunch, order the sashimi bento with 12 pieces of assorted sashimi alongside mixed tempura, veggies and rice for just $45. The range of special cakes, including yuzu marshmallow and chocolate mousse with matcha dust, makes this hotspot ideal for celebrations.

Head out to Bondi Beach for a coastal meal at SOY Japanese Restaurant. Situated steps from the beach, the kitchen serves up high-quality, creative Japanese dishes in a relaxed, brick-walled dining room. Take in views of the ocean while you dine or turn your attention to the semi-open kitchen and watch the chefs craft each dish. The range of sushi options includes popcorn prawn rolls, seared salmon aburi, salmon sashimi and more. Other Japanese flavours on the menu include tempura prawns, crispy pork gyoza and juicy karaage chicken. Great for groups, the menu also includes veggie options like teriyaki tofu, vegetarian rolls and miso-flavoured dengaku eggplant.

Watch the skilled sushi chef at work behind the counter at Jihomakase. With the lunch omakase for $80 or the dinner omakase for $180, you’ll enjoy a range of dishes created by chef Jiho. Think steamed eggs, udon noodles and sushi and sashimi. Each seafood dish features fish sourced fresh each morning, enhanced with chef Jiho’s special secret soy sauce. This means the menu is always changing with limited-time premium produce, like bluefin tuna and wagyu with aromatic truffle. The sleek sushi counter has cushioned wood-backed stools that offer a front-row seat to the work in the kitchen. Seating is limited and bookings are a must, so secure your spot on OpenTable today.

Komatsu is an elegant sushi bar offering counter seating as well as dining tables for groups. You’ll find all your favourite sushi flavours here, with everything from salmon and tuna to abalone and sea urchin. The 30-piece chef’s selection is perfect for feeding a group. Or, try tasty sushi rolls like the dragon with steamed prawn and crabstick and the spider with deep-fried soft-shell crab and spicy mayo. This is also one of the best sushi restaurants in Sydney for private dining, with an intimate private dining room with classic Japanese decor and a long table. Book one of the set menus, each of which features sushi and sashimi, or choose your own a la carte dishes. Other Japanese options include donburi bowls with chicken katsu or teriyaki wagyu beef, and hot or cold soba noodles.

Keeping things fresh and simple, Busshari specialises in delicate, traditional sashimi and sushi. The stylish dining room with soft lighting, a sushi counter and table seating is perfect for intimate special occasions, from date nights to family celebrations. Book the Busshari prix fixe for $150 and enjoy the kitchen’s best specialty meals, including home-made miso soup, crispy fried prawns and a chef’s choice selection of catch-of-the-day sushi. Alternatively, order a la carte and enjoy classic sushi and sashimi plates like hand-rolled eel and egg sushi, salmon and tuna sashimi, and cuttlefish nigiri. Other dishes include juicy karaage chicken, crunchy tempura and lotus root chips. Pair your meal with Japanese green tea or Ramune, a classic Japanese soft drink.