Okazu Sushi Bar

OKAZU, YOU’RE ON A ROLL

Where traditional Japanese flavours meet the modern palette.

Are you a sucker for sushi? Partial to a poke bowl, or simply nuts for noodles? Do you like your Japanese cuisine infused with the traditional essence of authentic flavours and culture? And do you go ape for artfully designed dishes that nourish both body and soul. If the answer is yes to any of the above, we have a public service announcement for you! There are not one but two places which tick these boxes, sharing the same name, postcode, and Executive Chef extraordinaire. We’re of course referring to Okazu, our favourite Japanese restaurant in the tuna-verse.

Okazu is loved the GC over for its highquality, healthy food, and family friendly vibe. With origins hailing from traditional Japanese street food, you’ll love the way they roll. Offering takeaway, some indoor dining, and more authentic Japanese flavour that you can poke a chopstick at, it’s no surprise that the OG Mermaid Beach Okazu gained a sibling. A hop skip and a jump away at Markeri Street, Mermaid Waters the food, feels, and friendly service at the second Okazu are equally on-point.

Executive Chef Mumma Michie hails from Osaka and friends, she is the real deal. Drawing from generations of handed-down cooking techniques and recipes, she delicately infuses the traditional essence of Japanese cuisine and culture into her beautifully handcrafted dishes. You can literally taste the expertise and passion, and we want to order everything on the menu.

Speaking of, curious to learn more about the Osaka brand’s crowd-pleasing menu? Upon sampling Okazu’s sushi sorcery, it’s painfully clear that our home-made avocado maki just reached new levels of underwhelming. Whipping up a variety of perfectly executed traditional sushi favourites, we’re mad for the Raw Salmon and Avocodo Roll, Japanese BBQ Crispy Chicken, Teriyaki Calamari and Mixed Vegetable Tempura.

Another local’s fave is the Poke Bowl and if you think you’ve had the best elsewhere, sorry, you’re wrong. With tuna, salmon, edamame, brown rice, cabbage, ginger, crispy shallots, wakame, chilli, soy sauce, cucumber and sesame mayo, it’s guaranteed to please even the most particular Poke punter.

You’ll also find a selection of other Japanese bowls, noodles, sides and more, plus Okonomiyaki, known as Japanese soul food. These healthy cabbage-based pancakes can be made with either seafood, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, or vegetables and Okazu’s are as memorable as they are morish.

Also brimming with contemporary authenticity is the fit-out of both venues. At the OG, you don’t know where to look first; the lengthy mural featuring an eye-catching graphic of a gorgeous Japanese lady fan-inhand, or the wall opposite with super cute ‘you make miso happy’ neon sign. Actually no, it’s the sushi display front and centre, because that big cabinet gets us gooood every.single.time. Offset by moody polished floors and a navyblue brick counter, it’s just goals.

At the Mermaid Waters Okazu, there’s more of a grab-and-go vibe. With a similar industrialesque design, it’s the perfect option for those time-poor days when you’re running behind schedule aka every day. Another swoon-worthy display of sushi greets you and seriously, so many rolls, so little time.

So when the mood strikes you next for a high quality Japanese food fix, think Okazu – the Gold Coast’s ‘roll’ model for traditional Japanese eats with a modern flare.

Words by Bianca Trathen

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High quality Japanese food fix!