The Best Japanese Cafes in Sydney
Japanese has long been one of Sydney's most popular cuisines when it comes to lunch and dinner. But in the last few years, we’ve seen a bloom in cafes making a strong case for the Japanese breakfast. Some, like Mona Vale's Cafe Monaka, serve teishoku sets (a trad morning meal of grilled fish, steamed rice, miso soup, pickles and fermented soybeans), while others are elevating konbini (shorthand for convenience store) favourites such as katsu sandos and onigiri. We’ve even got places specialising in sweet baked treats, like the kinds you’d find in a Tokyo subway station.
Cafe
Parami
Find this hidden Japanese gem for rice balls filled with salted salmon or mushroom and cheese. Plus, konbini-style rolls and single-origin matcha.
Cafe
Cafe Monaka
Decked out in raw oak, this breezy spot is one of a few Sydney cafes serving traditional Japanese breakfasts, plus brunch classics. The tea-house aesthetic is fitting – artisan green teas from Japan are brewed here daily.
Cafe
Rising Sun Workshop
The unlikely pairing of ramen and motorcycle repairs produces some pretty spectacular results at this casual all-day diner. Come for one of four signature ramens (including an outstanding breakfast number), izakaya snacks and lo-fi wines.
Cafe
Domo 39
A light-filled cafe inspired by the convenience stores of Japan. Come for bento box lunches, Japanese soft serve and iced coffees spiked with yuzu. From the teams behind Kurumac and Mapo Gelato.
Cafe
Otogo
Innovation meets affordability at Otogo. Cutting-edge tech is the key to its sharp prices – but quality is still king. Come for onigiri made with premium Japanese rice, soba with Kyoto-style duck, and housemade vanilla soft serve.
Cafe
St Kai
On a corner in South Sydney, this specialty-coffee destination is putting Japanese spins on the Aussie brunch. Think house-made bagels with Japanese fixings, cheeseburger donburi bowls and umami-packed noodle dishes.
Cafe
Poketto
This pocket-sized cafe in the old Cadbury chocolate factory is where to go for onigiri sets, cod roe toasties and a succinct menu of Japanese cocktails. Another winner from the Kurumac team.
Cafe
Kurumac
Japanese comfort food by the Cool Mac crew. Specialty coffee matched with onigiri, a staple sashimi bowl and the occasional ramen pop-up has turned this cool and unassuming cafe into a weekend hotspot. Arrive early.
Cafe
Cool Mac Cafe
Where else can you get a cheese melt with a plate of katsu or ochazuke? The dining space doubles as a gallery spruiking a rotation of Sydney artists. Anything goes at this long-standing Kirribilli joint; a Japanese through-line brings it all together.
Cafe
Kahii
On weekdays this sleek venue channels Japan’s kissaten (cafes), with single-origin coffees and pastries from Darlinghurst’s Tenacious Bakehouse. When night falls, it slides into wine-bar mode with French wines and elegant dishes from sister venue, fine diner Kuro.
Cafe
Edition Coffee Roasters Haymarket
Traditional Japanese mountain houses were the inspiration behind Edition’s flagship cafe. Enter this astounding space for fine-dining level breakfasts fusing Scandi and Japanese flavours, and some of the best coffee in Sydney.
Cafe
Tokyo Lamington
A former Black Star Pastry chef is behind this tiny bakery in an inner west backstreet. Playful spins on the classic Aussie cake are speciality (think yuzu-meringue or pandan and coconut), but you can also expect onigiri filled with traditional Japanese flavours and a few inspired creations such as bacon-and-egg.
Cafe
Sandoitchi
A buzzing cafe doing riffs on Japan’s most famous convenience store item: the katsu sando. The one here is staked with cabbage, pickled carrots, American cheese and more. And considering the size, it’s bang for your buck. Expect katsu salad bowls, smoothies and Single O coffee, too.
Cafe
Cafe Oratnek
Seasonal, Japanese-tinged breakfasts by former Bills head chef Kenny Takayama. Come for an exemplary katsu sando, comforting omurice, and sponge cake coated in a secret green tea mix (almost like a matcha lamington). Younger sibling Kentaro is also worth your time.
Cafe
Kentaro
Kentaro is Oratnek spelled backwards – a nod to its sister venue in Redfern. You can get Oratnek’s signature katsu sando here (“worth the 15 minute wait”), but there are also hard-to-find Japanese classics such as omurice. It’s restaurant-quality fare, set within an industrial fit-out.
Cafe
Dopa Donburi and Milk Bar
It’s all about Japanese comfort food and elaborate desserts at this diner and milk bar by the Devon team. It’s one of the few places in Sydney where you'll find popular Japanese date-night dessert, Kakigori, along with cheeseburger-inspired rice bowls, classic curries and more.
Restaurant
Sou Ramen Lab
A former Gumshara is making ramen with soul at this unassuming spot. The menu is ever-changing – but you can always expect chicken-based soups alongside rotating specials from 8am daily.
Cafe
Mogu Mogu
Choose from 12 ready-to-go flavours – including nanko-ume plum with shiso or marinated onsen egg – at this specialist onigiri shop. Luxe made-to-order options like flame-grilled M9 wagyu add a touch of drama to the diminutive space.
Cafe
Punpun
The “inner city sando committee” is in session. Come for next-level versions of the classic Japanese konbini snack, plus specialty coffee by a cult Sydney micro roaster.
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