Whether you’re after a quick bowl of ramen or some karaage chicken, here's where you'll find it.
There’s something about Geelong and its adoration of Japanese cuisine. Whether it’s our passion for rating a good ramen, a night with sakes and rare whiskies, or that we simply love to tear into yakitori, our love affair with Japanese food is something that continues to grow, helped along by the high-quality local restaurants we’ve got access to.
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Whether you’re after a cheap eat or a fine dining experience, there’s a Japanese restaurant here for you.
Here are some of our favourites:
Okami
Sitting pretty on Pakington Street, this famed restaurant is a big deal in Geelong, known for plating up over 30 different Japanese dishes at a price that is too good to be true with their all-you-can-eat.
For only $ 36.80, treat yourself and chow down on limitless plates full of lightly seared beef carpaccio, edamame, crunchy Karaage chicken, veggie spring rolls, prawn gyoza, fried rice, teriyaki steak, udon noodle soup, seafood tempura and even green tea ice cream.
Eat as much as you can in a two-hour sitting, while every dish is freshly made by your order. Additionally, an à la carte menu and a takeaway menu are also provided with a wider range of options to choose from for more occasions.
It’s some of the very best!
Okami is located at 214 Pakington Street. Order by calling 03 4207 0373 or order online.
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Kosaten
Kosaten Japanese Restaurant has called Geelong’s CBD home with a unique and playful take on the traditional sushi train eatery that is popular in Japan. Here, instead of selecting from a stream of dishes as they travel past, you order from an a la carte menu via an iPad and the dishes and drinks are delivered directly from the kitchen to you via a train. Shinkansen-style.
Kosaten’s creative dishes blend the modern and traditional Japanese culinary style, using the best local produce wherever possible. From nigiri and sushi rolls to vegetarian delights, there is something for everyone on the appealing menu. You’ll also find oysters, Tataki, sashimi, fried prawns, Soba salad, Miso soup, and Edamame. There’s even Pork Belly, tuna salad, a wakame salad (Japanese style seaweed salad) and Japanese fried chicken, and they cater for vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten-free, so it’s a good time all around.
You’ll also find some oh-so-delicious sake on the drinks list, alongside a range of beer, wine and cider. It’s of course the dessert that has our mouths watering, with a matcha ice cream, green tea pannacotta and vanilla ice cream with chocolate spring roll. Yum!
Kosaten is located at 110 Ryrie Street, Geelong. Call (03) 5298 1649.
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Sakaratei
Tucked away on Shannon Ave, this absolute gem is a hidden treasure when it comes to quality Japanese.
What we love about Sakaratei is that it never disappoints: The food is always very fresh, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the menu is incredibly fairly priced.
Perfect for a casual lunch or dinner, here you’ll find delicious gyoza, Harumaki, Okonomiyaki, Miso Shiru Soup, sushi and sashimi, California rolls, Wafu steak, Yaki Salmon, a range of Bento, ramen and so much more. They even do Japanese desserts like Dorayaki (rice bean pancake with ice cream), Tempura banana and Macha ice cream.
Sakaratei is located at 161 Shannon Avenue Manifold Heights, Geelong. Order by calling (03) 52226668 or via Menulog, Ubereats and Doordash.
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Tomodachi Izakaya
Over the last couple of years, Tomodachi Izakaya has been teaching Geelong about the Izakaya style of dining with a warm environment with their cosy little space on Little Malop St. Known as a style that revolves around eating, drinking and sharing in a casual environment with good people, this little hot spot is a favourite when it comes to immersing yourself in Japanese cuisine.
The menu is centred around sharing: from succulent meats like pork belly, beef, chicken; to fresh seafood and sashimi; plus, plenty of vegetarian options too.
All the classic Japanese options are available, like mouth-watering takoyaki, tempura, karaage, unagi, and okonomiyaki. A number of more unique dishes are on offer to try as well, such as renkon chips (made from sliced lotus root), kani korokke, and chicken curry udon.
Alongside the food, their bar takes inspiration from the backstreet, corner bars found throughout Tokyo. Here you’ll find a perfectly curated cocktail menu, and a slew of sake, beer, and wine, with cocktails and sake available for takeaway too!
Tomodachi Izakaya is located at 85A Little Malop Street. Order via Deliveroo, or call them on 0352009360 or 0432733092.
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Shinya Ramen
While Japan may lay claim to inventing the world’s most sumptuous noodle soup, Geelong’s own Shinya Ramen is an authentic and traditional ramen restaurant that boasts an experienced Japanese chef with a passion for his craft.
With two venues in Geelong, one in Waurn Ponds and one in the CBD, this is one of the best places to go when you’re looking for soul-warming ramen served with the flair and integrity that only a real ramen chef can provide.
Made with egg-free noodles, every dish is cooked fresh to order, whether you decide on chicken ramen, a pork tonkotsu ramen, or vegan ramen! If you’re about the heat, you can turn your dinner up by selecting the spicy option. Already regarded by locals as the best ramen outside of Japan, the soup is hot and silky, and the noodles are perfectly cooked.
If you’re wanting to explore outside ramen or you’re looking for some bites to start you off, we’d recommend you give the Veggie Tempura or Japanese paella a go, or indulge in freshly-made Gyoza. They’ve also got delicious options like Teriyaki chicken bento, Takoyaki, spring rolls or even the crab claws on offer.
Catering to all dietary requirements, while maintaining their passion and experience, they even offer a fresh tofu salad with tasty Japanese sesame sauce, the aforementioned vegan ramen, a veggie tempura don, and some finger-licking edamame.
Treat yourself tonight, you won’t regret it.
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Sumi
For Japanese with a bit of a twist, Sumi is one of the most indulgent places to go for a very unique cultural experience.
A 26-seat Asian barbecue restaurant and bar in Geelong, the menu is inspired by various cultures, thanks to chef Kyle Wang, whose heritage is Chinese, has worked in Thailand, Hong Kong and locally including Fisherman’s Pier and Vue Grand Queenscliff and he’s passionate about cooking over fire, resulting in some seriously beautiful flavours.
With foods centred around charcoals, you’ll find Kingfish ceviche, corn cob, scallops and vermicelli, fried chicken bao, whole crispy shallow crusted snapper, and Alaskan King Crab with spice butter.
Also on the menu is squid skewers with chilli miso and squid ink sauce, XO sauce poached oysters, eggplant with SUMI chilli garlic sauce, and mushroom port dumplings, just to name a few. Oh and there’s a pretty mouth-watering Lobster Roll if you really feel like treating yourself.
A solid range of beers and sakes and a shortlist of wines has been geared to the chargrilled dishes.
SUMI is located 47 Gheringhap Street, Geelong. Takeaway from 5pm to 8pm.
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Sober Ramen
One of the most intimate dining experiences in town, Sober Ramen is one of our favourite spots to go for a dose of ramen, dumplings and sake!
You’ll find a bunch of delicious starters including Edamame, prawn and chicken dumplings, spicy calamari, and their signature beef Tataki, plus a bunch of different ramen options for those that like to slurp! There’s the Yasai Udon, the Dandanmen, or our personal favourite, the Spicy dumplings ramen which combines the best of both worlds.
There’s also ramen plates, Wagyu Don, and a bunch of vegetarian options too.
Pair your food with a pint of frosty beer or knock back some sake for the entire Sober Ramen experience.
Located at 85 Little Malop Street, Geelong.
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Toki
Located in Torquay, just a short drive from Geelong, and coming from the team who brought us Shinya Ramen, an authentic and traditional ramen restaurant, Toki is all about the heritage of seasonal Japanese flavours with a modern flair. Toki cooks with the seasons, and savour the peak flavour of ingredients. The menu is extensive, featuring Japanese head chef Motoki Saito’s seasonal courses and a la cart creations.
Saito’s experience in contemporary Japanese cuisine is evident, serving an elegant mix of classic Japanese dishes, ranging from King Fish Sashimi and Soba Salad to Japanese Wagyu steak, Dashi Tofu Humberg and signature sushi rolls. Other highlights from the a la cart menu include Edamame, signature tartar salmon, Teriyaki chicken, Mentaiko Udon and Dashimaki Tamago, a Japanese rolled omelette. There’s also the camembert fry (deep-fried Japanese panko-crumbed camembert cheese), cold gyoza, Karaage chicken, and assorted tempura.
For dessert, there’s Crème Brulee and homemade green tea ice cream. Oishii!
Located at Shop 14, Level 1 4-6 Gilbert Street, Torquay, Toki is open Wednesday through to Sunday, for both lunch and dinner.
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Hana Japanese Restaurant
The welcoming and cosy atmosphere here is well suited to the Izakaya-style dining Hana aims to deliver. Ubiquitous in Japan, an izakaya is a place where people come to unwind with co-workers and friends. More like a tapas bar or gastropub than just a bar, at an izakaya, you take your pick from beer, whiskey, sake, and a wide variety of Japanese (and not-so-Japanese) foods.
And that’s exactly what you’ll find at Hana. Here, share plates are king and you can expect a carefree and interactive dining experience, featuring a dynamic and playful menu fusing together modern, traditional and energetic flavours with innovative execution. Each visit to Hana promises to be unique as their ambitious chefs constantly revolve the menu around the freshest produce and seasonal ingredients.
There’s Edamame, pork gyoza (or prawn, or veggie), Tori Karaage (AKA fried chicken dice in Japanese style), Yakitori (chicken skewer), Japanese fried chicken wings, crab claw, deep-fried oysters, miso soup, or a Wakame Salad. Catering to the region’s love for soul-warming ramen, Hana serves bowls and bowls of it. There’s also Udon, and a menu dedicated to Don, featuring Oyako don, spicy teriyaki chicken don, Ontama original beef don, as well as a selection of curry.
Settle in, and enjoy the unforgettable premium Japanese dining experience of Hana’s innovative and changing seasonal dishes.
Hana Japanese is located at 35 Malop Street Geelong.
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