Best Modern izakaya restaurants in Australia

Great spot for a day out. Was a tad anxious when I first booked Yoko after reading others reviews. But if you're happy to spend money on good food, good service and a beautiful location, this is your place. We decided to go with the al la carte menu, best decision ever. Choosing foods we enjoyed. The grilled prawns and wagyu kushiyaki is a must try. And the staff are very attentive and welcoming.
Thank you for the amazing experience

Great atmosphere, beautiful food and drinks and outstanding service, made us feel right at home and like we were already friends which I always appreciate!

Sat at the bar which was comfortable and still intimate enough.

Fab river views and top location for further adventures into the night…

Keep it up! 👍

Sashimi was below expectations. Other dishes went okay. The place was really crowded during the weekend and the hostess was a bit mean to everyone who did not have a reservation. We did not have a reservation :-(.
The servers were well trained and the vibe is nice. Everyone seemed to enjoy the sunny day, good food and good companies.

We had a beautiful lunch here.
Eggplant sticks: eggplant was soft and the batter was very crispy.
Tuna rice crisps: great texture - had a beautiful bite to it.
Kingfish goma: exquisite and favourite of the day! The fish was fresh and the sesame sauce with chilli oil was smooth and full of flavour.
Grilled prawns: nicely cooked, flavours weren't as pronounced as I would've liked.
Chicken karaage with mango hot sauce: the batter was crunchy and seasoned well. Wish the sauce was hotter!
Hibachi chicken with red pepper and torikawa: most of the meat was tender with some bits slightly dry. The sauce had great flavour.
Orange and lemon myrtle sorbet: fragrant and not too sweet.
Fried bread with Yuzu curd: super delicious! Great texture and flavours.
Mochi: the texture of the mochi was perfect - thin and soft with a bit of a bite.

The river views were beautiful and the service was attentive. Great spot for lunch!

Me and my sister went for lunch on Easter Monday with my 2 kids. We had great time there. Kids enjoy food, special and delicious, especially spicy pork udon, its kids acceptable. Me and my sister has enjoy special Sake set, it’s lovely. Staff are very friendly and respond our request very quick.

Took part in the "Buns and Bubbles" lunch on Saturday. For two hours, we enjoyed bottomless wines and an incredible banquet menu. Staff were attentive and friendly. Food was 10/10. We grabbed a few desserts on top of the banquet but definitely didn't need to as we were filled right up. I'd say best value for money bottomless lunch I've been to.

Yoko Dining in Brisbane impressed with its contemporary Japanese cuisine. The dishes were artfully crafted. The service was attentive, and the staff was knowledgeable about the menu. The river and Story Bridge view added to the overall charm.

Yoko gave us a fantastic culinary experience and service excellence. I couldn't, for the life of me, remember my server's name, but she deserves a raise. She was very attentive. And, knowing from the notes we sent, we were from hospo and celebrating a belated Valentine's date, she was incredibly casual with us, and we were really comfortable with her. The food was fantastic, but desserts weren't our favourite as we weren't big on desserts, and the steak was alright, but we're just too used to MB9+ wagyu, so MB7 is a bit underwhelming. But everything else was perfect, and I can't wait to go back!

A friend and I always visit Surfers Paradise every year for a getaway. This time around, it was my friend's birthday, and Yamagen was recommended by his colleague at work.

Food:

We had the following dishes.

SUSHI & SASHIMI PLATTER / $45
Chef's selection of seasonal sashimi & nigiri (12pc)
SASHIMI TACOS / $24
Salmon, wasabi salsa & tuna, mustard soy, yuzu avocado, warm sushi rice, nori, watermelon radish, house spicy mayo
GYOZA / $20
House-made & pan-fried wagyu beef, miso mustard
SOFT-SHELL CRAB / $22
Soft-shell crab, cucumber, tobiko, wasabi mayonnaise
SALMON AVOCADO / $20
Tobiko, shiso

All the food was great! not complaint with the dishes at all.

Service:

On 06/10/23, we were served by a very polite waitress who guided us on picking dishes on the menu and recommended a great cocktail for our last drink.Very happy!!!

Atmosphere:

The ambiance was great due to the fit-out sparking a great authentic Japanese experience.

Would I go back to Yamagen? YES
Why? Because I'd like to try more food on the Menu.

Attached : Some images

Nice interior designs and great customer service. However, their foods quality isn’t great as expected. Sashimi was not fresh enough, the way they cooked the tooth fish wasted the fish.

We had an incredible experience & wonderful meal here tonight!!! All the dishes were delicately plated with well balanced flavour profiles 👍🏼👌🏼 My all time favourites were the Urimaki rolls and especially the dessert, Mt Fuji Apple - it’s an absolute must try 🤤 The cocktails were really amazing as well - courtesy of the excellent Mixologists 🍹 A big shout out to Samson our waiter and to Cameron - your service was second to none & it was an absolute pleasure to have you serve us, and help make my Daughter’s birthday celebrations a memorable one 🥰 You guys are an absolute asset to Yamagen 🙌🏼

It was a really warm place here. We had birthday dinner here last month for my husband. Just a small note on my booking information, but all staffs kept that in mind! He got the blessings right after we checked in. He got a little pudding with a candle as a surprise! Truly thank you for doing that. It was so friendly and impressive. Regards

Came from Sydney for the weekend, Cameron & Sam were our waiters they were so lovely and their customer service was AMAZING they recommended some of their favourite dishes & drinks which they were right were amazing!! Food was amazing and drinks were even better! Will be back!! Thank you Sam & Cameron especially for the amazing experience you gave us!!!!

During my stay at the QT, I decided to treat myself to a meal at Yamagen. The evening was quiet, making it easy to secure a reservation. However, upon arrival, the host seemed a bit distracted, possibly by his phone, which slightly marred the initial impression. But once I was seated, the ambiance and service quickly made up for that fleeting moment.

Choosing the Sakura Fizz Mocktail was a delightful decision, where the blend of Lyre’s London dry pink spirit, fresh yuzu, cherry blossom syrup, and other ingredients harmonized into a sweet but balanced concoction.

One minor setback was the unavailability of tasting menus for solo diners, which I found a tad disappointing. But, my chosen dishes didn’t let that feeling linger for long. The Aburi Tasting Set showcased fresh ingredients with impeccable presentation; the salmon, scallop, and kingfish each leaving a unique, delightful taste.

Continuing the journey, the thinly sliced Kingfish Ceviche was a dance of flavors, perfectly balancing the subtle tang of lime zest with the crunchy toasted almonds. The Truffle Wagyu Tartare was a bold choice, both in flavor and texture. The MS6+ wagyu was delectable, although the ao nori potato crisps posed a bit of a messy challenge.

To conclude, the Passionfruit & Coconut Panna Cotta was an exploration into a unique fruity realm, reminiscent of a "corgis" flavor palette. Venturing into this dessert was the right call, as it offered a refreshing divergence from past dessert experiences here.

Having dined at Yamagen before, this experience only deepens my fondness for the place. It strikes the right balance, whether you're in for a celebration, a casual outing, or a formal dinner. Without hesitation, I'd recommend Yamagen for a splendid Japanese culinary experience on the Gold Coast.

This is a superb restaurant. The food was extremely delicious, the staff extremely professional, helpful and knowledgeable. The atmosphere was wonderful. A more expensive restaurant for that special occasion.

Food was really decent. Sashimi was fresh and tasty, and the cooked items were really well done. Interesting and innovative items on the menu too. Highly recommend the beef skewer with wasabi butter.