Tokyo Canteen’s Panko chicken sando comes with a crunchy side serve of fried lotus chips. Photo: Michelle Rowe.
Japanese cuisine has been booming in Canberra in recent years, whether you’re looking to splurge at fine dining juggernauts like Raku, get adventurous with the fusion vibes of Lazy Su, or are just looking for a quick bite of sushi. But between the super pricey and the super niche, there are several places across Canberra showcasing the diversity of homestyle Japanese dishes.
We’ll leave the best sushi, best ramen and best fine dining Japanese lists for another day. But here are five of our favourite casual Japanese spots to eat.
Tokyo Canteen, Kingston
This understated Kingston venue is a favourite for lunch, with affordable meal sets and simple, hearty fare. Presented on wooden boards, the meal sets come with rice, salad, crunchy pickles and umami-laden miso soup.
The Teishoku Agedashi Tofu is particularly lovely. Tempura fried tofu and sweet potato served in a kombu dashi broth, savoury with the flavour of seaweed. Their panko chicken sando is also great: crisp, juicy fried chicken on pillowy soft white bread, with BBQ mayonnaise, house-made pickles, and crunchy lotus crisps. They make a good coffee, but try their range of premium Japanese green teas.
The Ebi Cream Udon is one of the creamy udon creations at Ikko. Photo: Tenele Conway.
Ikko, Belconnen
Ikko is tucked away in Belconnen’s Grazier Lane and is popular with local apartment dwellers.
Ikko has a wide-ranging Japanese menu, including pork tonakatsu, donburi rice bowls, lunchtime sandos and Japanese curry.
They are well regarded for their udon noodles, served in Japanese broths, or even ranging to fusion dishes that more closely resemble Italian pasta dishes. Their kitsune udon is particularly good, featuring the traditional dashi broth and topped with deep-fried tofu.
Raijin serves delicious Japanese curries. Photo Zilla Tam
Raijin Japanese Cuisine, McKellar
Many places claim the title of Suburban Gem, but few deserve it more than Raijin Japanese Cuisine, a family-run Japanese restaurant at McKellar Shops.
They serve a range of Japanese dishes, including a very delicious kuro black curry donburi – a smooth peppery curry sauce served over rice with cheesy scrambled egg, and a choice of protein. It’s particularly good paired with crispy chicken katsu.
The okonomiyaki pancake is filling and delicious, and their noodle soups are like a warm hug in winter. Chilli nerds should visit for their seasonal devil’s ramen. The intimate interior and friendly service further enhance the experience.
The chicken katsu with curry is a great meal, with lots of different components. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Ureshii, Tuggeranong
Ureshii Japanese Restaurant opened in 2023 and quickly became a fast favourite among Tuggeranong locals. Owner and chef Suresh Khadka runs the restaurant with his wife, Bristi Moktan, drawing on a career of working in Sydney’s Japanese restaurants to bring approachable Japanese to South Canberra. Suresh can often be seen on social media holding large fish, acquired daily from the markets and prepared to perfection.
Ureshii has also earned a reputation for generosity, regularly hosting free lunches for people in need.
Ogawa serves a range of Japanese dishes, such as unagi don (eel rice bowl). Photo: Ogawa.
Ogawa, Gungahlin
With a 10-page menu, Ogawa definitely showcases a wide range of Japanese foods from yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) to hotpot, and plenty in between. The unagi don is excellent: grilled eel and egg omelette, pickled ginger, and cucumber on a bed of rice. The lunch special bento boxes are good value for those on a budget. Start your meal with nasi dengaku (miso-glazed eggplant), gyoza, or spicy edamame.
What are your favourite casual Japanese restaurants in Canberra?
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Region Canberra.
