Few of the city’s restaurants replicate the feeling of being in Japan quite like Kisuke. Maybe it’s because husband-and-wife duo Yusuke and Izumi Morita run the place all by themselves. Or maybe it’s the blond-timber and hushed ambiance. Whatever it is, Kisuke is as close as you’ll get to a true, neighbourhood omakase experience in Japan without leaving Sydney.

Door to door, it’s about a five minutes’ drive from Sydney Fish Market to Sokyo. With that kind of proximity, it’s not hard to see why the sushi and sashimi at Chase Kojima’s sophisticated Japanese restaurant draws an endless crowd. The best way to experience it? At Sokyo’s intimate omakase counter, where just six diners settle in for up to 23 dishes, from scallop ravioli to robata-grilled Wagyu.

Nobu Harada’s Sydney outpost has all the lofty hallmarks of his eponymous international restaurants, and one extra: a 10-seat omakase counter helmed by master sushi chef, Ryuichi Yoshii. Yoshii brings almost four decades of experience to the table, and his daily menu fetches exactly the kind of prices you’d expect from a restaurant at Crown Casino. But that doesn’t deter the high rollers – Yoshii’s place is notoriously hard to book.

From Sydney seafood restaurateur Joel Best comes this 12-seat omakase diner at the top end of town. Seafood nigiri takes pride of place, and there's a formidable selection of Japanese whisky to tipple. You might end up sharing some with your neighbour – it's all about the convivial vibe here. Lunch or dinner spans 18 courses, plus you can tack on a wine or sake pairing if you’re going all out.

Raita Noda was one of the first Japanese chefs in Sydney to strike out on their own and bring omakase dining to Sydney. Unlike the culinary marathons served by his peers, Noda prepares a keenly priced 10-course menu every night of the week except Sunday. It’s no less exacting, and will transport you to Japan every time.

Behind a nondescript door in the CBD, the second iteration of Toko echoes the experience beloved at the original Surry Hills site for more than 15 years – with good-times playlists, signature dishes including Moreton Bay bug tempura, and a dedicated omakase spanning a whopping 24 dishes – including 14 pieces of nigiri. This one’s only available on weekdays, and will be resuming later this year.

Set within the historical Campbell’s Stores precinct, this luxe Japanese diner lets you choose your own experience. There’s an omakase counter where your meal is left entirely up to the chefs, and a bigger dining area with a set menu. But there’s fresh-caught seafood and sake on the cards no matter where you sit.

A design inspired by Japanese folklore, an acclaimed chef behind the counter, and a surprising owner behind it all. This cavernous Japanese diner is in an unlikely spot – but it’s serving up one of Sydney’s must-try omakase experiences.

This tiny two-storey diner punches above its weight with a former Sokyo chef in the kitchen and a top mixologist behind the bar. Expect Japanese dishes reimagined with native Australian ingredients, fruity highballs and a warm neighbourhood vibe.

One of Sydney’s longest-running Japanese restaurants has moved to the old Bastardo space in the CBD – but it’s still a place of exquisite sushi, bento lunches and friendly old-school service.