Oozing with ambience, sleek Japanese fine diner Sokyo is a standout restaurant in Sydney’s The Star. Headed up by Chase Kojima, the open kitchen shows the sushi masters at work, skilfully demonstrating their flair with the knife. The dimly lit izakaya-inspired room is buzzing with energy, and the kitchen is sending out precision plates of Japanese food that’ll have you dreaming of your next trip to Tokyo.

The quality of excellent Japanese food can often be judged by the fish, and the sashimi offering at Sokyo is a natural place to start a meal here. Kingfish ceviche does not disappoint. The thin slices of raw fish are dressed in a superb sweet miso dressing, then crowned by crispy fried matchsticks of potato. Lightly seared slices of blushing pink tuna on a bed of baby shiso leaves are garnished with nuggets of pickled shitake mushrooms and a gel of gari (ginger) that is the perfect sweet and spicy condiment for the fish.

Splash out on an $80 wagyu flank steak tenderised in a shio koji marinade and charred on the robata grill. The meat is cooked to a perfect medium pink and served simply and elegantly with a good spoonful of freshly crushed Tasmanian wasabi and a light garlic ponzu. The dish is superior in its simplicity. Order skewers until you’re stuffed, with a classic yakitori from the robata served with yuzu kosho for lingering heat, and cubes of pork belly seasoned by apple and wasabi. The gentle heat of the coals imbues the skewers with a light smoky flavour without overpowering the ingredients. Don’t stop there – the traditional nigiri offering is a standout, highlighting Sokyo as one of the best Japanese dining experiences in Australia. But don’t settle in – sittings are limited to 90 minutes, so make every second count!