The round-up: the best Japanese takeaway in Brisbane
Although social-distancing has been great for those of us that needed to sharpen our cooking skills, there are still a load of dishes that are beyond our humble capabilities. Master sushi chefs we are not, so when we’ve got a hankering for Japanese fare – be it ramen, sashimi or yakitori – we like to get it from the best. If you’re in the position to help out our local restaurant scene by ordering in, why not consider Japanese? We’ve compiled a quick list of spots that are offering authentic Japanese fare via takeaway or delivery, making it a satisfying and safe option for your next treat meal.
Sono, Hamilton: Porstide Wharf icon Sono Japanese Restaurant has rolled with the pandemic punches, joining the ever-growing ranks of restaurants pivoting to takeaway. A newly launched ‘Sono To Go’ menu is now available every Friday and Saturday evening, and boasts everything from lavish sashimi, nigiri and aburi platters and an a la carte sushi selection to hot snacks including deep-fried croquettes filled with cream and crab meat, pan-fried Japanese pork dumplings, nabemono (Japanese hot pot), and even the signature wagyu striploin – served with garlic soy jus, teriyaki sauce and ponzu sauce. Sono’s top-tier Japanese is rarely available to take home – so don’t miss your chance to grab it to go. Call 07 3268 6655 between 4:30–8:00 pm on Friday or Saturday to order.
Bishamon, Spring Hill: Lauded Boundary Street restaurant Bishamon is also offering it’s authentic cuisine to go – including lunch and dinner! If you’ve got an afternoon craving, you’ll have the choice of Bishamon’s mouth-watering lunch sets, which include the likes of pork katsu curry, mixed sashimi, teriyaki tomato hamburger steak and pan-fried gyoza sets, plus udon noodle soups and donburi bowls. When the sun sets, the menu flips to dinner, adding seaweed and avocado salads, deep-fried and grilled eggplant with sweet miso paste, agedashi tofu, crumbed pork-loin tonkatsu, and wagyu beef hot pot for two. Message Bishamon on Instagram or Facebook, or call the team directly on 07 3832 3888 to place an order!
hôntô, Fortitude Valley: Tucked away in the back streets of The Valley, moody Japanese restaurant hôntô is keeping its kitchen open, serving up its cutting-edge cuisine via contact-free takeaway. If you’ve never sampled the restaurant’s fare before, you’re in for a real treat. The menu is filled with drool-worthy morsels including lobster katsu sandos, chicken wings with miso glaze, miso cod and potato gyoza, DIY barbecue gochujang pork belly baos, slow-cooked beef short rib, miso and coffee bombe Alaska with praline and passionfruit, plus take-home cocktails and wine. The menu is available from Tuesday to Saturday from 5:00 pm – place your order by calling the team after 4:00 pm on 07 3193 7392.
Taro’s Ramen, Ascot and Stones Corner: There’s nothing quite like the feeling of slurping up some bone-warming ramen broth, especially if you’ve made it yourself. That being said, to get ramen right you can’t take any shortcuts, which is why we often find ourselves turning to the pros. Taro Akimoto and his team of broth makers have debuted a range of DIY take-home packs boasting all the ingredients you’ll need to make Taro’s signature ramen in your own kitchen. The packs include vacuum-sealed ingredients, ranging from the authentic noodles, your choice of broth and plenty of toppings. Head to Taro’s website and browse the selection, which includes half and full packs (four and eight servings, respectively) of Taro’s famed miso, classic tonkotsu, shio and fire ramen, as well as tasty vegan alternatives. Want extra? Pad out your order with extra serves of noodles, bamboo, charsiu tofu, marinated eggs and more. Also, you can order off Taro’s regular menu at his Ascot and Stones Corner stores through Menulog.
Bird’s Nest, South Brisbane: The yakitori experts at Bird’s Nest aren’t flapping about when it comes to keeping people fed – there are some seriously cool chooks at the helm. Bird’s Nest in South Brisbane is keeping its kitchen up and running, putting together a menu of fare that can be ordered to take away or get delivered to your door. Got a few mouths to feed? Order one of the gargantuan dinner sets – meat-lovers yakitori, veggie-loaded options and a mix of both. Additionally, the restaurant is whipping up loaded bowls (think tare-infused katsu curry, slow-braised wagyu tendon rice bowls and charcoal-grilled veggie don), katsu chicken caesar burgers, pork gyoza, edamame, fresh salmon carpaccio and more. Browse the menu and order via Bopple.
Hosokawa Japanese Restaurant, Hamilton: Beloved Japanese eatery Hosokawa has expanded its range of menu items for takeaway consumption, including its selection of sushi and chirashi (sashimi pieces over a bed of vinegar rice) while stocks last, as well as the likes of chicken katsu curry, bento boxes, karaage don, teriyaki don, katsu don and beef yakiniku. Hosokawa is open for takeaway six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday, opening for lunch between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, and then again between 5:00–8:00 pm for dinner. Call ahead on 07 3868 3762 to place an order!
Mizu, Teneriffe: Just because we’re practicing social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t treat ourselves to a gourmet bento box now and then! Mizu on Macquarie Street has a new takeaway menu as of April, and it’s chock-full of bento goodness! Pork tonkatsu, chicken karaage, salmon teriyaki, wagyu yakiniku and vegetable tempura are featured across Mizu’s bento options. These boxes are backed by an enhanced selection of delights such as sashimi teishoku, okonomiyaki (fried octopus dumplings), tofu and nasu dengaku, and even a selection of takeaway drinks. Mizu’s dedicated takeaway number is 0412 521 380 – call ahead to order!
Izakana-Ya Okuman, South Brisbane: If you like having variety at your fingertips, you’ll find plenty to like on Izakaya-Ya Okuman’s takeaway and delivery menu. Not only can you savour seven kinds of donburi rice bowls (including pork and ginger, wagyu beef and salmon teriyaki), you can also opt for one of five kinds of ramen (vegan sio, spicy tonkotsu and the signature seafood ramen), sashimi platters and heart-warming curries and gyoza. If you like to buy in bulk, the kitchen team has also whipped together vacuum-sealed family packs filled with gyoza, salmon sashimi, chicken karaage and chasiu. Hit the website to view the menu, or find the restaurant on Uber Eat and Deliveroo under Okuman Karaage & Ramen Bar.
Ku-O, Sunnybank: Craving some sush’? Fire up Menulog, Uber Eats or EASI – Sunnybank’s Ku-O is on all of them! The restaurant is cranking out lunch specials, including rice bowls, udon and soba noodles topped with teriyaki beef, sukiyaki, katsu chicken and more. If the craving hits again, double dip with a dinner feast – think crab-meat croquettes, agedashi tofu, mixed sashimi plates, spicy scallops and tempura prawns. Want to swing by to pick up your order? Call Ku–O on 07 3172 1319 to order ahead.
Hikari, Teneriffe: Over on Florence Street in Teneriffe, neighbourhood Japanese restaurant Hikari has tweaked its menu to cater to takeaway orders, offering tasty eats and even a selection of boozy beverages to accompany your meal. The dizzying selection includes bento boxes (featuring the likes of grilled Aussie wagyu short rib, soy dashi-braised pork belly and salmon sashimi), seared tuna tataki, soft-shell crab baos, panko-crumbed chicken katsu sandos and a selection of makimono and sushi rolls. Feeling thirsty? Add some Japanese beer, sake or umeshu to take home with you!
Moga, Paddington: Keen on a bento to go? Swing by Moga for a feast that’ll make quarantine a little easier to bear. All of Moga’s bento boxes come with rice, green salad, spring roll and the nigiri or sushi of the day, plus your choice of main – chicken katsu curry, grilled pork ribs, flamed teriyaki salmon or a double dose of sashimi. Want a bit more to help fill in any gaps? Go all in and tack on some deluxe spider maki, Moga roll or firework rolls. Those of you only after a quick bite can select express options from the takeaway sushi train instead. View the menus here and then call Moga on 07 3367 2808 to place an order.
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