Where to eat Japanese faves like ramen, udon, bento, and gyoza in Newcastle

Japanese cuisine has long been a favourite of Newcastle diners. Today, the city is home to plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars that are sustaining our love of Japanese food.

Let this be your reminder to revisit an old favourite or branch out and try somewhere new.

Âpé Chilean Nikkei Restaurant

Brought to you by the experienced team behind Nagisa and Susuru. Owner Taiyo Namba wanted to create a restaurant that showcased only the best Hunter produce, cooked over fire – and that's exactly what you get when you dine at Âpé.
Where: The Boardwalk, Shop 3n/1 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Cafe Inu

Drop into Cafe Inu for Japanese-inspired breakfast and lunch eats in a huge warehouse space in Carrington. Expect a miso katsu don special, yuzu soda, and an omu curry on the specials menu alongside a selection of Aussie classics. This chilled spot is dog-friendly too, so you can bring your furry friend along when you're grabbing a feed.
Where: 43 Denison St, Carrington

Fukusui Japanese Restaurant

Fukusui Japanese Restaurant has resided in The Esplanade Hotel for more than 20 years, bringing locals a fun (and sometimes messy, unless you've got great hand-eye coordination) teppanyaki experience. With three different teppanyaki options you'll get a range of seafood and meat fresh off the grill. Up for a challenge? Try catching some fried rice in your mouth to test your coordination.
Where: 568 The Esplanade, Warners Bay

Hero Sushi

The team at Hero Sushi offer a range of sushi, nigiri, rolls in several sizes,  as well as delicious sushi cups. You can also order premium boxes of sashimi and nigiri.
Where: Jesmond Central | Westfield Kotara

Hokkaiya Japanese Restaurant

Hokkaiya serves up ramen, udon, donburi, and more traditional Japanese dishes in its intimate Beaumont Street space. Owners Cassie and Evan are committed to using the best ingredients and culinary techniques to deliver authentic ramen, slow-cooking their pork for six hours to make a richly-flavoured broth. Make sure you get to Hokkaiya early – it gets full quickly!
Where: 2/22 Beaumont Street, Hamilton

Jams Karaoke & Bar

While you might think of karaoke as the star of the show at Jams, next time you head in, make sure you order some Osaka-style street food to fuel your singing exploits. Think snacks like takoyaki, gyoza, and karaage chicken. The drinks offering also features Japanese beer, whisky, and sake, plus cocktails with Japanese ingredients like yuzu.
Where: 8 Union St, Newcastle West

JenSmith Cheesecakes

Keen for something sweet?Jen has nailed the fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s synonymous with Japanese cheesecakes. The range includes honey & yorkshire tea, chocolate, and matcha tea, as well as the super creamy Basque Burnt cheesecake, and Japanese pancakes. You can order online, or book a table to dine-in. The time slots fill quickly, so you may need to join the wait list. Jen recommends booking at least three weeks in advance.
Where:  89 Young St, Carrington

Kitami

A staple of Japanese cuisine in Newcastle for more than 30 years, Kitami is a hole-in-the-wall spot in Carrington. Try its extensive range of ramen, udon, gyoza, donburi, curries, tempura, and more at its Carrington location, takeaway, or delivered to your house. Stock up on a range of Japanese groceries like soy sauce, miso, and traditional sweets and snacks while you're there.
Where: 53 Young St, Carrington

Maru Hi-Fi

In September 2025, Maru Hi-Fi officially opened its doors, introducing locals to a Japanese-inspired listening cafe. Designed as both a jazz cafe and a listening bar, the venue draws inspiration from Japan’s famed Jazz Kissa culture, where people would gather in intimate day and night spaces to listen to records, unwind, and find community outside of home and work. Alongside the music is a Japanese fusion food and drink offering that runs from morning through to late-night.
Where: 10 Union St, Newcastle West

Menya Makoto

After working in Japanese restaurants for years, Yuki Doi finally decided to open her own in 2022. The result is Menya Makoto, an authentic Japanese joint full of family recipes that will have you coming back time and time again. Try the spicy tonkotsu ramen for an extra kick of chilli.
Where: 301 Hunter St, Newcastle

Meshiya Japan

Cosy home-style Japanese meals have landed in Newcastle West on the Coles side of Marketown. Opening in early May, Meshiya Japan offers both dine-in and takeaway options with the menu including teishoku, donburi, curry, ramen, udon, sashimi, and more.
Where: 23 Steel St, Newcastle West

Mitamiya Sushi Cafe

Don't let the name mislead you – Mitamiya Sushi Cafe does serve up fresh sushi, but this unassuming Mayfield spot also offers bento and udon. If you don't feel like eating in, grab one of the cafe's takeaway specials to eat for lunch. Chances are, you'll want to keep coming back to try the rest of the menu.
Where: 77 Maitland Rd, Mayfield

Mizumi

Mizumi is bringing traditional Japanese to Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, and the locals are lapping it up. From ramen to udon, and sashimi to bento boxes, there's something to suit every mood and taste. Wash it all down with Mizumi’s selection of Japanese beers.
Where: 2/58 The Boulevarde, Toronto | 1 Alma Rd, New Lambton

Nagisa

Since opening in 2004, Nagisa been earned a reputation for consistently delivering the freshest and most innovative Japanese cuisine in Newcastle. Located in the Honeysuckle precinct overlooking Newcastle Harbour, Nagisa effortlessly fuses the elegance and tradition of Japanese cuisine with modern flavours.
Where: 2/1 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Natsu Sushi

Natsu Sushi's name might be slightly misleading – this no-frills Japanese joint is tucked away in Charlestown's Hilltop Plaza and is serving up some excellent bento, curry, ramen, udon, and more Japanese faves. You can also expect smaller bites like gyoza, karaage chicken, and takoyaki. Hungry yet?
Where: Hilltop Plaza, 1/226 Pacific Hwy, Charlestown

Sushi Castle

Sushi Castle is a bit of a hidden gem in Honeysuckle, serving up an extensive menu of Japanese and Korean favourites. There are bento boxes, sushi, udon, ramen, and more, plus plenty of side dishes to complement your main meal, like okonomiyaki, inari, miso soup, and gyoza.
Where: 6/12-17 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Sushi Koo

This family-run business has been providing Novocastrians with their sushi fix since their original Hunter Street mall opening in 2006. That store has since closed but you can find all of your sushi faves at Junction Fair and Marketown. 
Where: Junction Fair, Shop 23, 204 Union St, The Junction | Marketown West, Kiosk 2.23 Steel St, Newcastle West

Sushi POP Japan

Located within the former SushiNet store, you'll find Sushi POP Japan on Hunter Street opposite The Lock-Up. This weekday cafe has sushi rolls, sashimi, lunch boxes, donburi, udon, and Japanese curry on the menu.
Where: 65 Hunter St, Newcastle

Sushi Revolution

For a more casual Japanese dining experience in Newcastle, Sushi Revolution has you covered. There’s something about eating directly from a sushi train that transports you straight to Japan. Sushi Revolution also offers Japanese dishes other than sushi like donburi, udon, and tempura vegetables.
Where: 97 Darby St, Cooks Hill | 93 Beaumont St, Hamilton

Susuru Izakaya

Brought to you by the team behind much-loved Japanese restaurant Nagisa and Âpé Chillean Restaurant, Susuru is all about traditional ramen and gyoza with a modern twist.
Where: 140 King Street, Newcastle

Toto Sushi

With a few locations, Toto Sushi is serving up all flavours of sushi, as well as offering a range of mixed party platters.
Where: Marketown East | Lake Macquarie Square | Westfield Koteara

UMAYA

A fairly recent addition (late 2024) to The Rooftop at Westfield Kotara, UMAYA offers high-quality and authentic Japanese cuisine with the menu featuring sushi, sashimi, donburi, ramen and more.
Where: Park Ave, Kotara

Umi Japanese Restaurant

On the main strip in Toronto sits Umi Japanese Restaurant – where you can experience fusion Japanese cuisine where traditional flavours meet creative twists, from fresh seafood to wagyu beef.
Where: Shop 2/68 The Boulevarde, Toronto

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