Okami

Every evening, a crowd of people gather out the front of a shiny shopfront on Illawarra Road in Marrickville. They’re here for Okami, an all-you-can-eat Japanese diner with around 50 outlets across the country. And it’s popular for a reason – the experience is keenly priced ($39.80 for two hours), and there are around 30-odd dishes to choose from.

When you see the menu for the first time, it’s not hard to wonder if there’s a catch. Other all-you-can-eat venues might offer one or two protein dishes alongside low-cost carbs such as potatoes and rice. At Okami, the menu is full of classic dishes you’d see at any typical Japanese restaurant. Think sushi and sashimi platters, beef carpaccio and prawn gyoza.

It’s wise not to fill up on the small stuff, though, considering the heartier options include chicken katsu, miso-marinated steak and udon noodle soup. The dessert menu of ice-cream (vanilla, black sesame and green tea) and mochi rice cakes is a welcome end to the meat- and carb-heavy meal.

Plus, there’s an à la carte takeaway menu of sushi, bento boxes, rice bowls and katsu. And if you can’t get to Marrickville (or struggle to book a table), Okami’s list of Sydney locations includes Silverwater, Penrith, Pennant Hills and Sutherland.