Sokyo

Brisbane has been the lucky recipient of a few major interstate restaurants in recent years. Sydney Italian diner Otto made the trip north in 2016. Melbourne restaurateur Andrew McConnell gifted the city its own Supernormal (and a surprise second venue, Bar Miette) in 2024. Now we have Sokyo at The Star, the sibling to the acclaimed Sydney Japanese restaurant of the same name.

One of the biggest draw cards at the Brisbane iteration of Sokyo is chef Alex Yu, a master of sashimi and charcoal cooking, two skills honed through his experience at Sokyo Sydney. (He credits his time there as the most significant influence on his career.)

As you’d expect, Yu’s opening menu doesn’t stray far from the winning Sokyo formula. There’s an entire section dedicated to raw seafood – including Sokyo’s signature crispy rice topped with spicy tuna tartare, and around 14 different choices of sashimi and nigiri. From the robata grill, you might find Margra lamb loin with umeboshi (pickled Japanese plum) or king prawns with lemon butter.

The drinks menu offers a selection of Japanese beers and sakes. You can also expect shochu-based cocktails and a wine list with a strong champagne contingent.