As the love for Japanese cuisine spreads across South Africa, more restaurants are mastering the art of traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes.
Whether you are a sushi enthusiast or a ramen lover, these six restaurants across the country offer an authentic and unforgettable Japanese dining experience.
Each of the establishments provides a taste of Japan’s rich culinary heritage.
Durban
Yori Oki
Yori Oki is the newest addition to Eat Street’s restaurant scene, adding a Japanese fusion cuisine to the offering at Lifestyle Centre Ballito.
The restaurant is big on Japan, big on flavour and big on atmosphere. It is also big on the intimacy the small space offers an on the little things that can make all the difference.
Yori Oki’s approach is focused on representing the time-honoured art of sushi and presenting the distinctive flavours of contemporary Japanese fusion as part of an immersive culinary and sensory experience.
The sushi, food, ambience and service embody the meaning of Yori Oki.
On the menu, you will find mamezara (dishes that are between 6cm and 10cm in diameter), robatayaki (flame-grilled skewers), ramen, shushoku (main meals), sum dim sum (light snacks) and okashi (desserts).
Kofu
Situated at one of Durban’s trendiest spots, The Food Box in Morningside, Kofu, presents fresh, vibrant Japanese cuisine in the form of delectable sushi, with a modern twist, and traditional hot grill teppanyaki.
Also relatively new to the market, the restaurant has quickly established itself as one of the more popular foodie destinations in Durban.
You can enjoy fresh sushi prepared with the chef’s secret twists and marvel at their skill when you watch your teppanyaki grilled and prepared before your eyes.
Johannesburg
Daruma by Oskido
Daruma by Oskido is in Waterfall Corner Shopping Centre in Midrand. It offers a variety of dining options including à la carte, vegetarian, meat, seafood, sushi and signature teppanyaki dishes – food cooked on a hot iron griddle.
The African chefs are all well-trained under the supervision of Japanese chefs. Most of the sauces are made from original recipes that use organic and healthy ingredients.
Yamato
Yamato is the home of fresh Japanese cuisine any food lover ought to try. It has a wide variety of sushi and sashimi dishes on deck. Located in Melrose Arch, Yamato is an award-winning, family-run restaurant offering an authentic Japanese dining experience.
On the menus is a a wide array of delicious food, freshly prepared in the traditional Japanese method. Yamato serves some of the finest sushi and sashimi in Johannesburg and offer soups, starter salads and noodles.
Cape Town
Willoughby & Co.
Since its opening, the restaurant has offered its guests a full Japanese culinary experience. Head Asian chef Sam and his dedicated team have continued to create new and exciting dishes.
Through their creations, thousands of patrons have been introduced to fusion-style Japanese cuisine, for which the restaurant has become world-renowned.
Located on the ground floor within the V&A Waterfront, the restaurant offers its clientele a full Japanese kitchen, ranging from the freshest sushi to tempura dishes, and oyster shooters to soups and salads.
Every dish on the menu uses the finest available ingredients to bring out unique flavours.
Tjing Tjing House
Tjing Tjing House is a one-stop hot spot for an all-out Japanese extravaganza. It covers three storeys, with Japanese street food downstairs at Tjing Tjing Torii and cocktails and electro-indie beats upstairs at the Tjing Tjing Rooftop bar.
The extensive decor and lively ambiance make the place a perfect spot for a night out with friends. Situated in Longmarket, the restaurant brings a slice of Japan to the heart of Cape Town.
On the street food menu are dishes like traditional Japanese breakfast, bento and sando boxes, tempura temaki (hand-rolled sushi), steamed hirata buns, yakitori (skewered meat), gyoza (dumplings), ramen and rice bowls.