There is nothing quite like a flavorsome plate of superbly sliced and diced sashimi on a warm Canberra day. However, deciphering the good from the bad is often difficult and it can be daunting to try a new place without knowing its reputation. So we’ve put our stomachs on the line for you and have sampled a whole range of sashimi in Canberra to find the very best. Here’s our top picks:
AKIBA
40 Bunda Street, Civic
With one of the best raw bars in the Canberra district, AKIBA is an obvious go-to for a great selection of sashimi. The venue has a number of options available including Tuna Tartare and Kingfish, however, my personal favourite is the Ocean Trout Ceviche complete with horseradish cream, wakame and preserved lemon.
Shogun Japanese Teppanyaki
70 Bunda Street, Civic
Establishing itself as one the most reputable, traditional teppanyaki restaurants in Canberra, Shogun is an experience worth having this summer! Start your meal off with a selection of sashimi sliced and diced right in front of your eyes and served with a Japanese mustard and soy sauce.
XO (pictured)
16 Iluka Street, Narrabundah
Moving toward the south side of Canberra, XO is the place to go for a feast of modern Asian delights. It is hard to decide on a favourite XO dish, but when it comes sashimi a must-try would be the miso-cured Hiramasa Kingfish with pineapple relish, wasabi nori, spelt and freeze-dried raspberry.
Lilotang
Burbury Hotel and Apartments
Located inside Barton’s Burbury Hotel and Apartments is Japanese extraordinaire Lilotang. With a range of small dishes, starters, sides and main plates to share, you can take your pick of traditional and modern plates, or if you want the full Lilotang experience, make sure you opt for the Chef’s Hat tasting menu. My personal favourite is the small dish of Tuna Sashimi with avocado, wasabi and soy – it’s simple, elegant and is a great way to start any feast!
Chaki Chaki Japanese Restaurant & Bar
First floor, ORI Building, 30 Lonsdale Street
Hidden above the hustle and bustle of busy Lonsdale Street in Braddon is a Japanese bar and restaurant that really packs a punch. This modern take on Japanese cuisine is engineered by head chef and food coordinator Yujiro Takeda, and is a welcomed addition to ‘hipster’ central. With a set Christmas menu to get you in the mood for the season, you can’t go past its daily selection of freshly prepared sashimi to start the feast.
Kagawa Japanese Cuisine
55 Woolley St, Dickson
For something a little more traditional, Kagawa Japanese Cuisine in Dickson is the place to go. With a menu filled with options that display the flavour and finesse of Japanese cuisine, you are sure to want to try them all. However, on your first visit, we suggest you try the Five Mix Sashimi complete with salmon, tuna, scallop, prawn and tako.
