Exquisite dishes notwithstanding, Minamishima is a masterclass experience in excellent service and meticulous attention to detail. As we turn from one dish to the next, the table is meticulously constructed around us with different ceramic saucers and implements taking centre stage. Everything is elegant and artful, right down to the zigzagged wet towel for us to dampen our hands with between sushi eating.

Though securing a seat at Australia's best Japanese restaurant can take the patience of a Zen master, it's a wait that's always worth it for the seafood fans who revere Koichi Minamishima's hushed confidence with fish and rice. Over 15-odd omakase courses at this three-hatted temple, flavours range from delicate (sake-steamed Hokkaido scallops, say, or sweet ama ebi prawn with cod roe) to knock-you-sideways sublime – case in point, a swatch of buttery bluefin tuna belly, sourced direct from Tokyo and swiftly seared to bring out the best of itself. Sommelier Randolph Cheung oversees a list of superb sake and wine, and starch-collared staff move with poise and grace.

The best sushi temple in Melbourne (and quite possibly Australia), this hard-to-find spot in backstreet Richmond could give the top sushi-yas of Tokyo a run for their money. Behind the 12-seat wooden sushi counter, mood-lit for extra gravitas, sushi master Koichi Minamishimi and one chef offsider deftly palm lightly vinegared rice and top it with a rollcall of luxe ingredients. You can expect velvety-rich Hokkaido scallops or just-torched tuna belly that explodes into rivulets of fat, but also expect the unexpected: jellyfish with ankimo (monkfish liver) paste and shiso leaf, perhaps, or the meatiness of alfonsino offset by smoked radish.

If you’ve got a pretty penny to spend, there’s arguably nowhere in Australia doing finer sushi than this luxe, intimate diner tucked away on a quiet Richmond street. At Minamishima, they only serve omakase, or ‘chef’s choice’, a daily changing procession of deftly sliced, shaped, torched and brushed nigiri, presented piece by piece. The knife skills of sushi master, Koichi Minamishima, have been honed for over 30 years, resulting in his ability to create tastes and textures in sushi you’re unlikely to quickly forget - it's one of the best degustations in Melbourne.

We start this list with possibly the best fine dining experience you can find in Melbourne: Minamishima, one of the only handful of restaurants that have been awarded 3 Hats by The Age Good Food Guide. The owner, Koichi Minamishima, has dedicated his entire life to honing and mastering the art of traditional Japanese cuisine, and in particular, omakase. Since moving to Melbourne in 1998, Koichi has cemented his reputation as a renowned sushi chef, serving his customers with only the best sushi that meets his impeccable standards.

That Minamishima only takes bookings by phone speaks volumes; it’s a restaurant that centres on the artisan. Securing a seat at the oak-topped bar or in the small dark-hued dining room via conversation not website sets a tone that’s further expressed through textural handmade ceramics, a finely tuned drinks list that includes sparkling Japanese chardonnay and wild-ferment sake, and service displaying exacting – but never intrusive – attention to detail. Chef Koichi Minamishima’s omakase is the ultimate expression, though.

One of Melbourne’s best Japanese restaurants isn’t about to let current restrictions stop them from putting out their characteristically high-end dining experience. Hit up Minamishima for their curated pick up and delivery menu, which includes a winter obanzai box, lobster saikyo miso soup, tiyaki, and a freshly baked chestnut cheesecake with truffle honey. There’s also a bunch of kushiyaki skewers, scattered sushi boxes, and A5 wagyu on the menu, giving you more than enough to pick and choose from.

As of 2025, Richmond’s Minamishima maintains its well-deserved reputation as one of Melbourne’s best Japanese restaurants. With over 30 years of experience in Japanese cuisine and in preparing A-grade sashimi, the restaurant stands as the culmination of Chef Koichi Minamishima's life-long dedication to cuisine. Each plate is meticulously prepared using premium ingredients with the utmost attention—it’s a true testament to Japanese tradition and excellence in cuisine.

Hidden down a nondescript back alley just off Richmond’s thronging Bridge Road is where you’ll discover this coveted establishment. Having ascended the ranks from humble dishwasher to award winning restaurateur, sushi maestro Koichi Minamishima has built a place that’s both clandestine and marvellously minimalist. Everything’s omakase – or ‘chef’s choice’ – so prepare to be dazzled by Minamishima’s exquisite knife work and efforts to source the best fish going.

The highest of high-end sushi-yas, this refined temple to raw fish is found, improbably, in backstreet Richmond. Minamishima stakes a claim to Australia’s best thanks to the incredible skills of owner/chef Koichi Minamishima. The hot seats are the 12 along the counter where the omakase menu means watching the chefs deftly palm vinegared rice and top it with a broad array of ocean exotica, from konbu-cured whiting to tuna belly and flounder.

Minamishima, Richmond If you wish to experience the real Minamishima, try the Omakase of both nigiri and Japanese food served with meticulousness, accuracy, technique and fine produce. Their dishes are inspired by the Japanese haute cuisine and take you on a sensory trip between the shores of Japan and Australia. Explore the taste and textures presented on a shining lacquered plate and feel the flavour explode in your mouth.

The scene: Dining at Minamishima is a real treat for all the senses. From the breath-taking display of knife skills to the incredibly precise presentation of each plate and the captivating glisten of fresh seafood, your senses will feel full to the brim before you’ve placed one morsel into your mouth. Offering the most intimate Japanese dining experience you’ll find anywhere in the city, Minamishima doesn’t have a menu.

In the quiet sophistication of 4 Lord St, Richmond, Minamishima emerges as a sushi haven, offering an unparalleled omakase experience. The minimalist yet luxurious setting, attentive service, and treasures emerging from behind the kitchen door create an atmosphere of subtle luxury. Minamishima stands as a testament to Melbourne’s rising tide of omakase experiences, occupying a level of its own.

The hushed, reverent atmosphere here is well suited to owner-chef Koichi Minamishima's awe-inspiring knife skills. He works with both local seafood and fish flown direct from Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo to produce his peerless sushi. Settle in at the long bar to experience his 15-course omakase, which includes high-quality sushi nigiri along with seasonal small plates of seafood and Wagyu beef.

Sushi master Koichi Minamishima, with his deep-rooted shokunin philosophy – a relentless quest for perfection – guides the team at Minamishima. Opened in 2014, Minamishima is renowned for its daily-changing makase menu. This Richmond institution truly shines as the go-to spot in Melbourne for the freshest seafood and unpretentious ambience, all complemented by an impressive sake collection.

Located on Richmond’s Lord Street, Minamishima is one of Melbourne’s best fine dining Japanese restaurants. Serving up the omakase of Chef Koichi Minamishima, the 40-seat restaurant makes a stunning selection of authentic Japanese dishes. For A$185 per person, you can enjoy a 15-course sushi chef’s selection of omakase or a handful of shared dishes, ten courses of sushi and a dessert.

Minamishima is a chic restaurant found in Melbourne’s multicultural suburb of Richmond. The head chef and founder, Koichi Minamishima, has 25 years of experience, and developed his abilities in Japan before moving to Melbourne. Minamishima offers traditional Japanese dishes and serves, such as his uniquely-fashioned omakase (chef’s choice) which you can enjoy with friends and family.

For those seeking the finest sushi experience in Melbourne, Minamishima is the place to be. This intimate Japanese restaurant, helmed by sushi master Koichi Minamishima, offers an omakase-style menu that showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients. With two dining areas: the counter sushi bar that accommodates just two guests and, the dining room for gatherings of three and above.

From the moment you step in, you’re transported straight to the heart of Tokyo, with authentic flavours and a vibe that’s hard to match anywhere else in Melbourne. So, Minamishima ought to be at the top of your list the next time you’re in the mood for some of the best sushi around or you just want to treat yourself to a special night out. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you!

While we can confidently say Melbourne has Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai eating on lock, Japanese food hasn’t ever been a strong point. There are way too many $3 hand rolls filled with canned tuna to claim otherwise. But Minamishima is a true outlier, offering one of the only omakase menus in town and using both local seafood and fish imported straight from the Tokyo fish market.

Owner-chef Koichi Minamishima’s awe-inspiring knife talents are ideally suited to the subdued, reverent mood here. Chef Minamishima has over 30 years of experience under his belt, preparing the tastiest and most mouth-watering sushi you have ever laid your eyes on. To make his unrivalled sushi, he uses both local seafood and salmon flown directly from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market.

In this hushed and windowless room, all focus is on the practised movement of sushi master Koichi Minamishima. Details are key, from the silent gliding doors to the baskets provided for guests’ handbags. The 10-piece omakase experience might offer South Australian oysters, steamed then chilled and draped in glistening kombu, or the simple perfection of wagyu-like tuna belly.

One of the rarest forms of cuisine, omakase, delights the eyes and the stomach at the same time. In addition to your meal, you can expect a show from sushi master Koichi Minamishima, who has 25 years of experience performing this mesmerising display of knife skills. Only a handful of restaurants in Melbourne can match that for originality when it comes to hip restaurants.

Minamishima provides a top-notch Japanese dining experience, centered around the traditional omakase style, where the chef chooses each dish for you. Situated at 4 Lord St, Richmond, this restaurant offers a peaceful and cozy atmosphere for diners. The sushi is made with great attention to detail and uses only the best ingredients.

CUISINE: JapaneseADDRESS: 4 Lord St, Richmond VIC 3121OPENING HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday 5:30pm – 10pmINSTAGRAM: @minamishimamelbourne. Minamishima is a Japanese restaurant that serves the omakase of Chef Koichi Minamishima. Tucked down a one-way street in Richmond, it’s the most intimate Japanese dining experience in Melbourne.

This quiet oasis of calm is home to the best omakase experience in Melbourne. When Minamishima first opened in 2016, it didn’t take long for people to notice. After 15 years at the CBD’s Kenzan, sushi master Koichi Minamishima decided to go out on his own, and he almost immediately started making waves in the world of sushi.

The renowned Japanese chef Koichi Minamishima runs a traditional Japanese roots restaurant in Richmond, Virginia, called Minamishima. Omakase is an intimate dining experience played with by Koichi. For two dining choices at Minamishima, visit the sushi bar for small taste dishes or the dining room for a full degustation.

If you’re in search for a fine dining Japanese experience in Melbourne then you should definitely check out Minamishima in Lord St Richmond. The Japanese restaurant in Melbourne offers an intimate Japanese dining experience. It’s been said that Minamishima offers the highest quality of sushi in Melbourne.

The meticulous flavours and preparation of Japanese Chef Koinchi Minamishima and sushi chef Yoshiki Tano is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry. Even a Michelin inspector would be wowed. Three stars is the maximum amount of Michelin stars a restaurant can receive and is based on five criteria:

Minamishima is an intimate Japanese fine dining experience in Melbourne. Chef Koichi Minamishima serves an exquisite omakase sushi experience, tucked away on Lord Street in Richmond. Experience the art of sushi and the time-honoured tradition of Japanese cuisine at Minamishima.

For a truly exceptional best sushi in Melbourne‘s experience, Minamishima in Richmond is unparalleled. Chef Koichi Minamishima brings decades of experience to his omakase-style restaurant, where each piece of sushi is crafted as an extension of his culinary philosophy.

The chef at Minamishima has over 30 years of expertise and as you would expect, the food at this restaurant is of the highest standard. The sashimi is prepared with the utmost respect and care. To acknowledge how special it is, you get to try it one piece at a time.

Best for: Omakase, unadulterated Japanese fare, outstanding sake. Open: Tuesday – Saturday. Intimate and luxurious, the dark-walled ambiance of this 40-seat Japanese fine dining spot tucked away on Lord Street in Richmond is nothing short of a culinary experience.

Intimate, sophisticated and intrinsically Japanese are a few traits you’ll find at Minamishima. This understated and modern sushi house is home to the best sushi in Melbourne made by the expert Kenzana sushi master Koichi Minamishima himself.

operating hours:Tuesday - Saturday: 6–10pm, Sunday - Monday: Closed. The Richmond fine diner has added two private dining rooms, and a new chef and veteran of Melbourne’s Japanese dining scene. ”Amazing experience.

Minamishima is about sushi fine dining, with a set menu to show you what the chef can do... Sushi is showcased with delicacy and skill of a master.