Kushi Yakitori Bar & Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Queensland

After years of hearing all the hype, we finally made it out to Kushi for dinner tonight and wow, it certainly did not disappoint!

The service was warm and friendly, but the food… oh my… the food! It was absolutely mind-blowing!

Between the five of us, we ordered a range of different dishes, and honestly, picking a favourite had been nearly impossible.

I had to try the oysters and their yuzu sorbet oyster was a cracking start. Fresh, sweet and unique. So good!

Then came the showstopping scallops arrived, which packed such an incredible flavour punch we thought for sure they’d be hard to beat.

But then, the wagyu… I started out with the wagyu tataki (amazing in its own right), but when the wagyu skewers hit the table… tender, flavourful, and perfectly cooked, they instantly stole the night. We loved them so much we ordered another round, and they still disappeared before anyone could snap a photo!

The pork belly also deserves a solid mention though. Perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It was an EXTREMELY close rival to the wagyu skewers for the table favourite!

The nigiri was fresh and tasty, though not especially standout compared to the other dishes. We had ordered it for our sushi loving 6yr old who then proceeded to eat the salmon off the top, leaving the rice and instead stealing my wagyu and pork belly (who could blame him). Any sushimi was fresh and a pleasure to eat.

The warm mochi to finish up was also beautifully presented, though the flavour wasn’t quite to my personal taste. Great dessert if you like mochi and don’t want something too sweet.

As for the venue, we hadn’t been before, but the newly renovated deck is nice and spacious. It’s a bit stark in terms of décor, but the beachfront location tends to make up for that. Just a tip, it can get windy, and since there are no café blinds for protection, bring a jacket if you’re heading there on a breezy night.

All in all, an unforgettable dining experience that lived up to (and maybe even exceeded) the years of hype. Can’t wait to go back!...

Kushi Yakitori Bar & Japanese Restaurant offers a pleasant dining experience with a wide selection of delicious Japanese dishes. We started with edamame and tempura prawns, both of which were tasty and well-prepared. The sukiyaki was flavorful, but unfortunately, the food wasn’t consistently heated throughout, which detracted slightly from the experience. For dessert, we tried the Japanese mochi and the chocolate cheesecake—both were delicious, offering a satisfying end to the meal.

However, there were some areas where the restaurant could improve. One of the main disappointments was the sukiyaki, which, at $42, was priced quite high for the portion size, particularly with the limited amount of noodles. Given the cost, we expected a more substantial serving. Additionally, while the restaurant itself has a lovely Japanese-inspired aesthetic, some areas, like the white-tiled sections at the entrance and in the restrooms, appeared in need of a proper cleaning.

The service also left much to be desired. Once our food was served, there was very little follow-up. We had to actively wave down staff members for any further attention, and after finishing our meal, we waited 20 to 30 minutes for the table to be cleared. This lack of attention to guests after the initial service was disappointing, especially when considering the overall dining experience.

For two people, we spent $118, which is on the higher end for a meal. While the food was generally enjoyable, the service and some minor issues with cleanliness and portion sizes are areas that Kushi could definitely improve upon to provide a more polished...

As a foodie, I was really keen to have some delish Japanese food tonight but it didn’t quite hit the spot.

Ordered: Pork gyozas 🥟: good flavour, but the dough wasn’t the best (slightly thick and chewy). Chicken karaage 🍗: not bad, just a bit plain and boring. Coleslaw served alongside it was fantastic, though. Miso eggplant 🍆: didn’t expect it to be deep fried. Not a huge fan of it cooked this way! The miso was so salty because it ended up clumped on the plate all congealed as it cooked. Wagyu beef udon 🍜: Just see the photo attached…. this had a RIDICULOUSSS amount of oil. Each chopstick worth, I was drinking a tablespoon of oil. Just looking at the amount of oil at the bottom of the bowl made me sick. Just bad cooking technique I think. No good. Had great potential sadly. Tuna nigiri 🍣: quite fatty, hadn’t been cut off. The pieces were way too big and just overall not great.

Being from Melbourne, maybe we’re just spoilt with good Japanese food but sadly don’t think it deserves a 4.5 star average. Closer to a 3.5 at most.

However, I have to say, I was so thankful that we were able to be moved inside from the absolute gusts blowing outside (our original table was outside). Would recommend getting some plastic covers/blinds for those windy days as it made sitting outside impossible!! Thank you to the...