Raku Japanese Restaurant reviews . (Restaurant) in Canberra (Australian Capital Territory).

Raku Japanese Restaurant

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387 Comments

Restaurant

Japanese restaurant

148 Bunda St, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

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Comments of Raku Japanese Restaurant

M. C.

Absolutely amazing, delicious, fresh and prompt. Had our anniversary lunch at Raku with their tasting menu and some wine. When I go back next, definitely trying their whiskey tasting paddle. Highly recommended. Thank you Raku for a memorable dining experience! We will be back.

T. M.

Wow! Amazing food. Had the Hao San’s Tasting menu and Enjoyed all the dishes. Flavourful and the produce was of high quality. The service was great and loved observing the open kitchen. Lovely dining experience can’t wait to return for more.

a.

Wow. This place really lived up to the reviews! We went for a la carte to order everything from the menu. Everything was absolutely delicious! The service was amazing as well! Highly recommend, and we I'll definitely be back 😊

J.

TL;DR Amazing, knowledgeable staff. Swift, welcoming service. Incredibly delicious food. Fresh seafood, and the best beef cheeks I've ever had. Longer version: This was my first time dining at Raku and it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Canberra. The service was first rate. Incredibly welcoming, very fast. There were three of us and as we ordered our waiter was able to make suggestions about adding an extra skewer or gyoza so that we could all have one (or two in some cases). At one point my friend dropped a chopstick, and our waiter was immediately on hand with a new pair. His ears clearly super attuned to exactly this sound. We ordered from all over the menu. The food was brought out in an order that made sense, two or three plates at a time for us to share. This is some exceptional food. Among my favourites were the koebi popcorn shrimp. Which were recognisably fresh prawn chunks, in light, crispy tempura batter, with yuzu, garlic and chili mayonnaise. The Wagyu beef cheeks with horseradish sour cream were the best beef cheeks I've ever had. Just sticky and rich and melting apart like butter at the hint of a poke with a spoon. The slow cooked lamb short ribs would not be picked up by a rib to chew on. The ribs slid out perfectly clean. The meat was sticky, tender and decadent, glazed with chili and sweet soy. Everything we ordered was delicious. We even tried a number of cocktails. Again, these arrived swiftly, looked beautiful, and tasted wonderful. Complex and refreshing. My favourite was the Bao and Fuji, a tart, vodka based concoction for two. Or one, if you're me. In the bustle of lunch service we didn't feel rushed, and the noise level was fine for me, who is somewhat sensitive to such things. We had our own little booth that was it's own calm, relaxed little dining room. For me, there's nothing not to recommend about Raku. You should get out and try it!

M. D.

I have been wanting to go Raku for a while now but haven’t had the time during the last few trips I have had to Canberra. When I finally took the initiative to book in advance, locking myself into going. Raku blew myself and my partner away, amazing cuts of sashimi, thick and very fresh. Food prepared right in front of your eyes and a gorgeous interior that felt authentic and elegant. We opted for the A la carte menu so we can try a dynamic collection of their menu. Doing this showed us the versatile nature of the food that Raku has. The service was also amazing, friendly, attentive, and quick. I would also like to note that Raku was probably the best Japanese food I have had in Australia far superior to any of the up-market Japanese restaurants in Melbourne and australia more broadly. 5/5

S. L.

Must try the Hao San tasting menu if you are in Canberra. You can't get that kind of Japanese food in Sydney for $90 per guest! The salmon tartar with miso & squid ink cracker is fantastic and easily the best dish of the night. The wagyu gyoza with truffle oil is unbelievable (just one piece, can have half a dozen). Not to mention the perfectly cooked Canadian scallop and the Scotch fillet. Book early. If fully booked, try to go there at 5:30 pm. They might just have a table for the early birds. When I told the waiter that my wife doesn't take beef. They immediately suggested to swap the gyoza and Scott fillet with soft shell spider crab and king prawn. What a service - we'll be back.

B. P.

I returned today to this wonderful restaurant in Canberra , the food once again was absolutely fantastic, I had a grilled avocado and the dressing it came with complimented it amazingly, followed by wagu and crab roll which just melted in my mouth and then popcorn prawns with a tangy dressing , I could not fault the food. However there was a couple of stand outs today that I will mention here and I mean them as constructive criticism to only help improve this allready incredible restaurant. Firstly you can refer to the photos I posted with this review to help explain what I'm mentioning. I was sat at the bar , my favourite place ,but directly in front of me was a tray of frozen scallops,I presume, thawing for use. Approx 60 cm from , not the most attractive thing to spend your time looking at. Firstly I was disappointed to see the use of frozen scallops as the quality of what I have previously eaten would suggest the restaurant would use fresh. They seemed to be located right next to and over what seemed to be a sink of some kind , and then they were not covered just exposed to to the air the total time I was seated. It was a very busy area with lots of staff around not the best place to thaw seafood. I would suggest this sort of procedure be undertaken in the back kitchen, and that the view and what customers sitting at the bar are looking at, are considered carefully. Secondly and abit more disappointing was the lack of my beverages being topped up or refilled. Apon arrival I was promptly served my mineral water and my $20 glass of wine I ordered by I must say a very polite server and can I mention the staff are all friendly and polite and make nice conversation, but that's where it stopped . I finnish both my drinks half way through my entrees and deliberately then placed my empty wine glass on the bar, expecting to be ask for a refill for both my beverages. Alas I finished my entrees then my main course and still I had empty glasses which stayed that way until I left. I did have a late lunch booking 1.30pm, so I understand the staff may be abit tired after a very busy service but it's the consistency of excellent service and the attention to details that make a great restaurant an excellent one. My bill would have been doubled what it was if I had been offered more wine. I hope you find this helpful and informative to making your wonderful and memorable restaurant a even better experience for all those who venture through your doors. I shall return next week to once again enjoy my new favourite restaurant.

B. c.

Best Japanese I’ve had outside of Japan in 3 to 4 years. The tasting menus leave little to be desired other then a second serving’s. If you’re prepared to pay for the good quality of food definitely a top recommendation.

N. D.

This is a much more refined experience than typical Japanese place I’ve been to. Lovely food and service, every dishes were done well. The food come out quickly. too. I’ll definitely be back.

n. a.

Fantastic Japanese food which should not be missed. Stand outs: exceptional Wagyu gyoza, and there are some creative and delicious signature nigiri which are pretty unique. But not a single dish missed for us - I wanted to try ALL of the maki sushi varieties and we gave it our best shot. And because it’s Canberra, you can actually get a booking on the day before (bless you oh sweet accessible city).

P. L.

Very nice Japanese style restaurant with a little bit of fusion of other cultures. We were happy the Japanese character was preserved in the presentation.

G. C.

Amazing food, ambience and service. Sashimi and nigiri was very fresh and was a highlight. The grapefruit mousse was also amazing and loved the tofu. Can't wait to come back again to try more of the menu.

D. F.

Must-try in Canberra. My 2nd visit at this restaurant, food quality has been consistently delicous. Customer service was great. Big fan of Moreton Bay Bug tempura. Deserts are also highlights, love my whisky jelley mocha pannacotta.

A. C.

Had the 90$ tasting platter. Amazing food. Salmon and black ink crackers, I would highly highly recommend. Portion could be a bit bigger though.

E. R.

Lovely staff and experience. Food was amazing and everything is perfect. The chef is very talented with ensuring the food cook properly. Oysters and prawns are fresh too. Definitely worth the price. This is my second time here and I will come again for the third time, the forth, and so on.

M. T.

Food is fantastic! Service is great. I wouldn’t order the miso eggplant again, too salty/savory

M. A.

Raku is often fully booked (even on weekdays) so you need to ensure to make a reservation in advance. The food here is always delicious, seafood is fresh and staff explain each dish as they serve. We recently tried the tasting menu which is 11 courses, we enjoyed all of them (maybe besides one which was just a dish of cherry tomatoes on a tofu paste) everything else was amazing. On their drinks menu they offer a coriander vodka infused oyster shot which was very interesting but also delicious.

M. S.

Raku deserves each of the 5 stars. Absolutely wonderful. My husband and I were lucky enough to grab a late booking for dinner. A very full restaurant even on a Tuesday night is a good sign. The waiter recommended the banquet menu and it was a fabulous meal with a great variety. Service was attentive and friendly. We’ll be back next time we’re in Canberra for sure. I highly recommend Raku for a superior Japanese dining experience.

J. B.

Smashing meal, good service. The Miso kamo (duck breat) and Uisukī + chokorēto (Japanese whisky chocolate fondant) were the picks from the dishes we selected. That said, everything was great!

R. N.

Exceptional food! We went here last Saturday for dinner and went for the set menu. My friend and I were absolutely happy with our dining experience. Place has got that warm and positive ambience. Staff has good knowledge of the foods they are serving. Flavours spot on and just delicious! A must when you're in Canberra.

L. O.

Booked after a recommendation from a friend and, pleased to say, it was well worth the visit. We opted for the Royal Tasting Menu which was, in a word, superb! The flavours, the produce quality, the plating, and the ambience was great. Also selected the sake experience for one of us which worked very well. My choice of Premium Wine Tasting was a little hit and miss with the courses - and, hence, not a 5 Star rating. Overall though, a great experience.

B.

I have been there twice and on both occasions the experience has been amazing. Amazingly fresh food, well made cocktails and a great range of Sake. I would recommend the set menu along with the Sake Experience. It is so good I would easily drive 3 hours from Sydney for lunch and return.. thanks once again.

A. W.

The chefs tasting selection was great value for money and left my boyfriend and I feeling full and satisfied. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was great. We had to ask the staff to slow down the food service though so we could pace ourselves and enjoy our meal without being rushed.

N.

Amazing food, one of the best fine dining Japanese restaurants I’ve tried. Would recommend the set menu if you haven’t been here before. Was a good amount of seafood and protein, the only thing I thought might be one to leave off the menu is the tomato salad

s. s.

This is the second time in less than 2 months I've gone with my partner for a special occasion and we have not been disappointed! We have tried now 2 different set menus and they are DELICIOUS! The staff were very kind in adding a message on our dessert for both occasions (Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary) and they made us feel well looked after. We have gone both weekend and weekday, and food was consistent in deliciousness, highly recommend!

L. B.

Seafoods are fresh, wagyu steak is juicy and tender. Can tell the quality of ingredients. However, $80 meal is not of enough amount to get filled. And the dessert is too sweet.

A. M.

Wonderful evening. Well organized booking and reminders. The food was extraordinary in both taste and presentation. The service was exceptional, not intrusive but constantly ensuring we had a marvelous experience. This is one you should absolutely not miss. No question we will go back

J. W.

Food was delicious, customer service was even better! Great selection of beers and wine, and a fantastic food menu! Highly recommend!

m.

Most amazing food, drinks and service! All the food was brought out quickly, and was so fresh and delicious. The cocktails were amazing too, and everyone who served us was lovely and helpful. Very reasonably priced for how incredible everything was, will definitely be returning to Raku!

B. l.

Great Japanese restaurant in Canberra. Lovely food, great friendly wait staff. Service can be a little slow if you don’t tell them you are in a hurry but excellent if you do. Sake flight was amazing, one of the best I’ve had.

J. M.

In the land outside the Greater Sydney lockdown, RAKU attracts two full sittings, even on a Monday night. Seated at the sushi bar sipping on Asahi Wakamatsu 'Omachi & Nihonbare' sake ($70/720ml) that has been made by the same family for 11 generations, I’m in my happy place. Aged for three years, the textural, wine-like sake gives my palate something to contemplate as I eagerly await my sashimi nanaten ($75). Chosen by the chef, this dish gives you seven sorts of seafood presented over ice, with Aussie entries running from nicely dressed Merimbula oysters to Tasmanian salmon and lovely firm kingfish. However, it’s the imports that really impress, from Japanese bluefin tuna to flavoursome New Zealand snapper. The best being bluefin otoro with its long flavour length and meat-like complexity, and Hokkaido scallops that offer great texture and a wonderful sense of the ocean lacking in most scallops I’ve eaten before. Sashimi paves the way for the menu’s highlight—Raku’s signature nigiri selection—ordered by the pair. Tenaga ebi ($27/2 pieces) is the must eat, with delicate New Zealand scampi teamed with truffle oil and soy jelly under a fluffy dusting of shaved foie gras. It’s an all-of-mouth experience that takes me as close to religious ecstasy as I’ve ever been. By the end of the meal, we’ve eaten the whole signature nigiri list, working our way from the standout tamago ($11/2 pieces) to charcoal-seared aburi wagyu ($25/2 pieces) made on Kagoshima A5 (9+ marble score) wagyu beef. This menu has been updated since my last visit, with newcomers like unagi foie gras ($18/2 pieces) topping Taiwanese eel with a pat of foie gras butter and a puffed potato crisp, joining old favourites like otoru toryufu ($$27/2 pieces) where diced bluefin otoro tartar is spiked with truffle. While we do eat a few other things, from wagyu gyoza ($24) accentuated with truffle oil, white ponzu, pickled mustard and sesame to Canadian scallops ($24) with jalapeno, green apple and garlic mayonnaise, these hot dishes pale in comparison to the sushi bar’s nigiri delights. The only kitchen misstep was teriyaki jyagaimo ($12.50) where duck fat confit Kipfler potatoes arrived slightly undercooked in an overbearing teriyaki butter. My suggestion is, exhaust your dining budget on the nigiri range that makes Raku famous, and supplement at home with a toasted sandwich if your belly outweighs your budget.

N. K.

Raku is my first go-to place for Japanese cuisine in Canberra. In my first visit, I thought it was quite pricey. But the more I visit other places, the more I think Raku is the best and worth the money. Very nice service and the food tastes amazing. The range and quality of sushi can vary depends on the day but overall its quite fresh. Never disappointed with their food.

P. M.

Superb Japanese dining experience. Just excellent. Take advice from your waiter to enhance your meal. Do the Sake tasting. Have a cocktail. Try everyone else’s. Come back again for the things you didn’t try. Raku is just the best.

O. L.

Pretty good in terms of the food quality, great venue for a good date night

B. C.

Absolutely fantastic dinner for our anniversary. The food, wine and service were amazing. It is not cheap but you definitely get what you pay for. I can highly recommend it.

B. C.

I can honestly say one of the Best Japanese we have been to in Australia!! The sashimi n sushi was like it just came fresh from the sea n onto the plate!!! The staff were very attentive and explained the menu to us. Ambience n deco perfect! We had booked a couple of days ahead and when we entered were brought to a very intimate lovely cubicle ; elegant warm n cosy. We were explained the menu n staff answered all our questions promptly n we chose to have the very delightful Tasting menu n also added a few extra dishes... my absolute favourite was the aburi salmon with a hint of truffle . Not forgetting the extremely fresh Oysters which came with a dash of Chefs special sauce n the very fresh n amazing arrangement of sashimi!! So so good!! Well done Raku!!! Keep up the good work!! Raku would be a reason for us to visit Canberra again from Sydney!!! YES!! I love it that much!!👌😝

L. H.

Simply put, the Raku is extraordinary. Professional and friendly service is matched by inventive (but not fussy or tricky) food. I ate my first Japanese meal over 50 years ago, and this is one of the best, up there with that served in the finest ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Kyoto.

A. Y.

Great table service and ambient atmosphere. Feels high end with mood lighting! The dishes came in a timely manner and were all super tasty. Bit pricey so more for a fancy night out. Would go again!

A. C.

While the place attracts fairly high reviews, the overall offering by Raku is not as impressive as the ratings suggest it to be. The sushi and sashimi offerings are fair, with the seafood being quite fresh (albeit the items could sometimes be served on the icy side, compromising the seafood's delicate flavour). The cooked items suffer from greater variability. The fish and meats were often burnt and charred too much, suggesting the searing/grilling was not timed well. When seared to the right amount, the natural oils from the meat are unlocked; over over-charring again destroys the delicate flavours of the ingredients. Overall it is an enjoyable place, but the offerings could improve from greater attention to the output.

L. J. D.

Our visit was upon a recommendation but we had no idea how fantastic Raku would be. Every dish ordered was delicious and the cocktails were gorgeous also. Would highly recommend Raku. Best restaurant we visited during our stay 💙.

B. P.

Absolutely perfect. Have been her many times now and every single time i go i can not fault anything. The food is amazing but paired with a beautiful decor and Absolutely incredible staff, trust me you wont find a better dining experience in Canberra. If i could give more stars I would without hesitation. I cant thank them enough.

F. D.

Pretty fast and efficient lunch service. Went with 4 dishes for lunch and the food came out quite fast. There was a bit of confusion when staff cleared my plates as I was still waiting for the yakitori which was dry. The other food dishes were delicious especially the salmon tartar. Would try again when I'm in Canberra

A. M.

I really wish we had discovered Raku sooner. Sitting at the table watching the chefs work their magic was an awesome experience. We got the $80 set menu and the food was incredibly fresh and tasty. The dessert even surprised us. Highly recommend raku and we look forward to returning .

E. T.

Food was excellent. Definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants I've been too. The Dragon was the highlight of the night and worth visiting again. The yakitori was cooked perfectly. The gyoza was crunchy. The karaage was a bit salty , but otherwise cooked properly. Not your normal batter as well. Service was excellent. The only downside was we saw one of the staff peeling mint for the drinks, scratched his neck and proceeded to peel more to the drinks without washing his hands. A bit of a hygiene issue there.

I. G.

Popped in accidentally for a few cocktails while we were waiting for a table at a different restaurant. What an amazing place. All cocktails we tried (7 actually) were absolutely delicious. Food was great as well certainly want to come back. Staff was friendly and quite promptly. Cocktails came quickly - almost no waiting time (and we were at the busiest time on Saturday 8pm).

A. Y. Y.

Food is well prepared and presentation is good. However, some training for waiting staff is required for how to interact with patrons in such way to minimise the disturbances (physically and/or perception wise) when next course or dish is being brought onto the table. It's not very elegant in just pushing other dishes around to make room for the new plate. This can be achieved either skillfully or verbally when servicing at the table. Afterall this is a 4.5 or 5 🌟 venue.

h. s.

We had a lovely dinner. The quality of the food and service are more than 5*. Their sashimi are so fresh and mouth watering. Best restaurant in Canberra!! Highly recommended.

A. H.

Fantastic food but its delivery to our table was so fast McDonald's would have been proud. We had a 7.45 booking for 4 and we were served a dozen courses by 9pm. The whole evening we were being pushed out the door so they could lock up at 10pm. I wouldn't go back.

E. Z.

Fancy looking place. But only good food we had was the toro nigiri, rest was average, a lot of truffle used in sushi took the flavour of fish and rice away. Octopus was frozen not fresh. Brisket was cooked right but the texture of the beef was far away from good. Disappointing meal.

J. D.

I went here for my birthday celebration and it was perfect. The food, service, and overall ambience were incredible. Definitely one of my favourite restaurants in Canberra. The food highlights were the oysters (super fresh with delicious sauce), nigiri board (fancy and nice variety), and matcha panna cotta (delicious and super thoughtful with the birthday message).

D.

Best Japanese restaurant ever! Service was fantastic and the food was the die for. They even had a little surprise on the dessert as we just got married. My husband and I loved dinner so much that we went back the next day for lunch 😊.

C. N.

Great place and great food, thank you very much to the team at Raku, will definitely be back!

R. C.

A truly amazing dining experience we enjoyed at the bar, watching our tasting menu being made. The service was fantastic; I went the Japanese Whiskey 🥃 tasting as well, with each whiskey being provided with a u full description of tasting notes - a truly fantastic experience.

l. j. d.

My fav restaurant in CBR at the moment and best Japanese I've had anywhere (granted I haven't been to Japan yet 😜). Def coming back! Thank u Raku for a great evening 💝 Elegant decor with secluded booths in back, large shared tables in middle, seated tables by windows, bar and part open/viewable cooking stations. We had a party of 4 and were seated in a mostly enclosed booth, which felt like we could've had the restaurant to ourselves. Plenty of space, probably could have seated 6 comfortably and had entry from both sides. Seated next to glass enclosed grill section so able to see chef cooking grilled disheswithout feeling the heat or getting smoked out 👍🏻 Excellent and very friendly & polite customer service, good amount of checking in. One of the dishes wasn't available and was replaced with a tofu dish, one of us didn't like tofu so they subbed it for a soft shell crab dish instead. One of our friend's drink was too sour for their liking, so we asked for some sweetness to be added and they took it to fix with no issue. Was still a bit sour, so they ended up remaking a whole new drink. We ordered the $80 p/person Hao san’s tasting menu (Min 2 guests) >>> highly recommendn but will try the royal tasting menu next time. Every dish was delicious. Very tasty, great sauces, fresh clean seafood (not fishy, slimy or dried out) & plated beautifully. Would have been good amount to be full enough, but we did order an extra dish and dessert just because they sounded good. Was over full by the end of the meal including having 2 cocktails. Here's what we ate: - Signature Merimbula rock oysters, cucumber, tosazu >> I'm not a big oyster fan, but super fresh and the tosazu sauce + little crunch of cucumber just made it so good. ‐ Tasmanian salmon tartar w yuzu miso & squid ink cracker - Sashimi santen >> fresh, clean taste, 6 pieces each (2 x salmon, 2 x king fish, 2 x scallop) - Chef’s selection nigiri ( 2 different kinds so got 1 of each) - Crispy tofu w barley miso & avocado salsa, dried chilli julienne (normally get Tempura zucchini flowers, feta, goma, tofu paste, dashi broth but wasn't available) - Canadian scallop, jalapeno, green apple, garlic mayonnaise - Wagyu gyoza w truffle oil, white ponzu, mustard seed - Cherry tomato salad, fried quinoa, honey soy, spicy tofu creme, beach bananas - 150-day grain fed Scotch fillet w wafu, wasabi sour cream, rhubarb salt White miso dashi w tofu, wakame & spring onion - miso soup - Toasted sesame ice cream w caramelised almonds sticky miso caramel, matcha wafer Extra orders - Dragon maki - Raku Chef's plate (selection of 3 desserts designed to share, but were 3 full sized dessert serving), included: * Sakura pavlova Baked meringue, lychee & raspberry sorbet, rose chantilly, raspberry jelly * O-cha mochi & bīru aisu Matcha mochi, genmaicha cream, almond crumb * Yuzu kurīmu Yuzu & matcha pannacotta, sake jelly, cookie crumbs Drink Raku Cobbler Pineapple tepache, fino sherry, pomegranate, grenadine, orange bitters.

M. N.

This is my favourite restaurant in Canberra. Delicious, fresh Japanese food, expertly prepared & paired with an excellent wine menu. Seriously good food. If you haven’t been by now, do yourself a favour & book in a table. Everything on the menu is amazing, but my go-to dishes are the eggplant, sashimi, tuna & salmon rolls. Divine!

G. V.

Our third time at Raku and after a lengthy pandemic absence, our experience was still excellent. The wagyu gyoza amazing along with a bunch of other tasty delights .We also sampled the dessert options on this occasion and just wow!

W. S.

Had the best meal again .... Haven't found as good of a Japanese restaurant in Sydney so we drove all the way to Canberra for it. It fresh and it's variety is exciting. Even though we only stopped by for lunch we ordered the banquet anyway ..... This place is highly recommended and 10/10

M. G.

Our recent dinner at Raku was excellent very tasty Japanese food! We ordered a selection of dishes and all were great especially the salmon starter grilled prawns and maki rolls . The cocktails are divine. Very good friendly service thanks for a great night

B. M.

We had an amazing dinner here. Everything we had was delicious and presented really well. The dishes were really interesting and we had never tried sushi like this before. Being able to sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs make your sushi makes you appreciate the work involved. Will be back next time we are in Canberra.

N. L.

Misleading entry conditions due to COVID. Probably the best Japanese restaurant in Canberra. Prices are elevated for that reason. Deco inside is woody chic with low lighting, good for dates or intimate conversations. There are a decent selections of sakes, as well as wines. The food choices are varied and are relatively fusionesque, with some interesting twists. Balance between cooked dishes and sushi, there will be something available for everyone here. The tasting menus are overall good quality but might require an additional order or two on the side if larger portions are sought. Service is reasonably efficient, although if it gets busy the waiting staff will be flitting about most of the time you are there.

L. W.

The place is super cool with a New York vibe. There are tables, booths or my preferred seat at the bar watching the chefs at work. $80 tasting menu was so good (the sirloin the only thing that was not perfect). David looked after us to perfection. So good to have good service. The sake tasting was unbelievably generous and fun.

A. R. T.

Awesome food and service. Should go for a great experience of Japanese food, wine cocktails. I prefer this place and rate 1 of 3 restaurants in Canberra.

C. b.

We visited Raku on Saturday evening. It was an amazing experience, we ordered the $90 degustation menu. It was absolutely delicious, every course was great, and there was plenty of food. Matching sake went really well together. Can’t wait to go back.

M. F.

Absolutely stunning. Would be in the top few Japanese meals I've ever had. Not just the food, either. Cocktails were brought less than 5 minutes after ordering and were excellent, amazing speed and attentiveness of service. Now to the food. We had the degustation, which was great all the way through. We were sitting at the bar stools across from the sashimi chef working, which is always nice to watch. Probably the highlight for us was the char grill - the degustation only had a wagyu from that, so we added a teriyaki salmon and some yakitori. I think it's the softest salmon I've ever had. Crusted on the outside and so yielding on the inside, just incredible. It seems I always find these places far from where I live - if I lived near here I'd be a regular.

R. A.

AMAZING! We found it by walking and fell in LOVE, try to book but fully booked so joined the wait list…. We decided to go and check 15min prior our booking and the host was super and find us a table! The staff are all super attentive and the food is OMG… I am obsess with the Wagu Gyoza 😍 Awesome cocktails as well with a Japanese twist…. A must go in Canberra! 👏🏼

J. P.

Had the best night, amazing food and experience. Thanks Raku :) We had the Hao Sans tasting menu the sashimi was outstanding and the wagu beef with the miso cream and sauce was to die for. Every item that came out looked so good visually and it was a great talking point with my partner to talk about the flavours etc. Our waitress explained every plate as she served them. We sat at the bar in front of the bartender which was a great experience as the bartender was able to help us with with choosing really cool cocktails. We did try to book the restaurant on the night but was fully booked so went on the waitlist, we thought we would try our luck around our waitlist time as we hadn’t heard back and to our surprise the Matradee was able to squeeze us in at the bar. Really made our night. Thanks again :)

A. H.

I think this place is a bit overrated. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a nice and up market dining spot if you after some authentic Japanese cuisine. But for me personally the quality of the food is just average compare to the price as well as the portion size. I order the wagyu 7+carpaccio which cost23.5 and the dish is a bit turndown. The sashimi is just okay not super fresh. We didn’t order any drinks or desserts still cost 143 for 2 people. And the most important thing was we left the place hungry. And we had to end up to eat some things in the food court. Haha I think they just need to be more generous with the portion size.

J. d.

A very enjoyable birthday dinner, we opted for Had San's Tasting Menu for $80 each. Although some of the dishes seemed small for 2 (steak, dessert); there was plenty of food overall.The sashimi looked spectacular and was outstandingly fresh, I have had better, but only in Japan. Wait-staff were pleasant and knowledgeable, we asked for a swap-out of the dessert with almonds due to allergy, this wasn't a problem. One of the nicest things was the ambiance. We were seated at the bar and could observe sushi and sashimi preparation and see what other patrons were eating. The lady next to us was raving about the Uchiwabe, tempura Morton Bay Bug. Next time!

D. M.

Our second visit to Raku, and we were not disappointed. Food is always fresh, beautifully presented and flavoursome. As you can see in the photos, we couldn’t stop ourselves. Service was attentive, and we found all staff friendly & helpful. My only negative is the dining floor plan. We had a booking for two, and were sat at the long bench table, which is placed at the entrance to the restaurant. Firstly, I understand those tables are designed to accommodate a lot of diners (post Covid-19) but people in general do not like to dine sitting next to strangers. Sorry, but for us this is not fine dining. You feel like you are in a school canteen. Secondly, the table’s location places it in heavy constant flow of people - staff back n forth, and guests in and out of the entrance to the restaurant. You feel very conspicuous & it’s not nice to feel you cannot dine in peace. Next time, we will be more table specific during our booking request.

H. K.

My best fusion Japanese ever. Staffs are very friendly (when we were wondering which sake we choose, they allowed us for tasting.). Beautiful place. Food was amazing. My recommendation is Hiramasa sashimi with truffle, yakitori, beef amiyaki and sushi.

C. B.

Excellent! Had the Hao San tasting menu for a fancy lunch, and everything was delicious and thoughtfully presented. Standouts were the wagyu dumplings, salmon/black truffle nigiri and the scallops. My friend rated the scotch fillet as the best he's ever had. Obviously, we'll be back.

R.

Awesome experience. Food was top notch, service was excellent. Hard to choose a favourite dish from the Hao San menu. Favourites were probably the seared salmon nigiri with truffle and the scallop with jalapeño and apple. Miso soup was on point. Cocktails were spectacular and extensive. Would have liked to have done the sake tasters but had a long trip afterwards. Will definitely return at some stage.

T.

Best restaurant I've been to in Canberra and can't wait to go back. Service was great great, food was great and they served so quickly. 1000% recommend

N. S.

Amazing as always. Crazily efficient service, great atmosphere and divine food. Great attention to detail from chefs and waiters. The Royal Banquet is a good way to sample dishes from across Raku's menu and they did not mind that we wanted to swap out one dish for something else. The wine and cocktail menu is extensive and food melts in the mouth. We mentioned to the waiter at the start of our meal that it was our anniversary and when desert arrived, it came with a very thoughtful anniversary message hand piped in white chocolate. Rare to get this kind of quality of service. Oh, and parking is a breeze as it's two minutes from the Canberra Centre.

N. H.

Absolutely loved our dining experience and we cannot wait to back again!!!

D. R.

Amazing food and superb service. Premium at a price but definitely considered it worth it. Highly recommend the Wagyu skewers and the popcorn shrimp.

M. B.

It was excellent. The staff were wonderful, knowledgeable and helpful. The food was amazing and brought out in a timely manner. We loved our experience. Thank you!!

M. T.

It was delightful. My favourites were the beef gyoza, Scotch fillet and dessert with ice-cream and candied nuts with caramel. The atmosphere and layout of the restaurant were good. We ate at the bar but next time would prefer a table (either in a private room or the ones near the entrance). Service was slow to start but cracking once we started. We ordered the $80 tasting menu and that was enough to fill us both up.

B. D.

It was amazing the best restaurant I have tried recently..Staff so friend.Me and my friend even didnt have a booking but bcs I really wanted some sushi we were lucky and got spot..We went out so happy and so full ..Thank you

h. g.

Over-priced. Staff did not know the food they were serving, I had to correct a waitress who referred to anago (eel) as uni (sea urchin). Supposedly there were two pieces of Toro (tuna belly) on the nigiri selection. Wrong. Toro is usually pale pink and extremely tender, not more red and chewy. I order two serves of the zucchini flower and fetta tempera, while the food was generally good (a tad oily, Japanese tempera batter is supposed to be made only 30 mins before cooking and ice is used to stop high absorption of oil ~ hence the tempera should not have been oily). But when the tempura arrived, everything was on one plate (which is fine) but only one sauce <-- never in Japan or any top restaurant in Melbourne or Sydney. At least, there should have been two sauce because having only one forces people to share, you cannot redip because this is considered very rude in Japanese manners. The zucchini flower itself with fetta, I thought was very interesting choice and quite nice. But, if you are going to bill yourself as a Japanese restaurant @ $90 or $140 per person set menu, then more needs to be done learning what Japanese cuisine and serve means

J. T.

Wonderful night. Beautiful presentation of all dishes. Very fresh sashimi & sushi. Hot food was very tasty too. Down side I didn’t feel the Japanese atmosphere

K. T.

Lovely food, lovely service, lovely staff! The portion is quite small though. We got the tasting menu. The entrees were amazing and I thought it made sense to share entree. However, I was a little surprised that we were also sharing the main. There was one main - it was a piece of wagyu steak, but it was quite thin and small. It was very delicious but we certainly were not full after the meal.

H.

We arrived a bit rush hour and were arranged outside, which is good with street view and breeze. The staff are friendly and the dishes look fancy and cost high. When it was getting 9pm, the staff showed kind of impatience for us staying outside till we paid the bill, which is a bit unpleasant. Still, I have to say some of dishes taste good of you would like to have a go with Japanese cuisine.

T. T.

Love love love this restaurant!! ❤ Everything is always so delicious and fresh! The delicate flavours are complimented so beautifully in every bite and the desserts are equally as impressive! 😁 Always delightful every time we visit. Compliments to the talented chefs and wonderful front of house staff. Highly recommend! Love your work 😊 Edit: the staff are so knowledgeable and polite and we still love coming here 3 years after my OG review

T. S.

4.3 We were super impressed with Raku, a stylish modern Japanese restaurant. We chose it carefully as a special restaurant experience for our stay in Canberra. Our research was sound. We were delighted with the experience. We chose the feed me option at $80 a head. We thought it offered a range of fantastic dishes. It wasn’t easy to choose favourite dishes as they were all good. The oysters were delicious and the squid ink cracker both cute and tasty. The sashimi was first class - so fresh and beautifully chilled - as was the nigiri. The tempura zucchini flower was gorgeous and delightfully flavoured. The Canadian scallops were terrific and we adored the Wagyu gyozas as well. The tomato salad was cute and the scotch fillet beautifully prepared and cooked. The miso to finish the savoury courses was beautiful. This is no ordinary miso. It was notable for its quality and depth of flavour. The toasted sesame ice cream to finish was a beauty. Great depth of flavour and not too sweet. Little things matter here. We noted that the soy sauce and wasabi being used seemed to be very good quality. The wasabi was particularly good. Design and decor is lovely throughout the restaurant. It’s a classy and lovely space. We were lucky enough to get a booth I assume because we had booked some time ago. There are advantages and disadvantages to a booth. The extra privacy is great but you can be a little out of sight for wine top ups and reordering. Overall it’s well worth doing The wine options are good here. There’s a good range of quality wines at reasonable prices. We had a riesling and a Pinot noir fanatic blend. Service was excellent throughout the night. We had a succession of servers who all knew their role well and were nice throughout. My booking experience was a good one too. All done online with multiple reminders. This is a very good restaurant. We highly recommend it.

E. T.

Upon entry the preparation stations and charcoal grill is showcased. The restaurant is modern Japanese also evident in it's interior design language. The food was extremely fresh and full of flavours. Many of the dishes had multiple elements and had contrasting textures and some with unique flavours. Defiantly a great option!

C. M.

What an amazing experience! A friend of ours recommended Raku Japanese and said it was the best Japanese restaurant they had been to. I totally agree! The food is amazing, staff are super friendly and professional! Fantastic wine list. We tried the tasting plate along with a wine tasting and everything was perfect! Cannot wait to go back. Thanks Raku

A. D.

A truly remarkable dining experience. I wish that I could go more often than I do - but scarcity makes every trip even more memorable. I cannot recommend Raku more highly - just go!

R. B.

Fantastic experience, great service and excellent meals. Highly recommended, we visited on Sunday night after Remembrance Day Ceremony and were told we'd need to vacate the table by 6:30pm (we arrived at 5:30pm) I was worried since it was only an hour but the meals came out quick and tasted fantastic. Then they had a cancellation so we managed to stay another hour and continued dining but ordered more hot dishes. Thank you for a lovely evening and wonderful service! 👍

T. H.

The interior of Raku is beautiful with a full view to the charcoal grill and other prep stations. We got placed in a booth which is semi private and blocked out most of the noise which was nice. The food taste and quality is good, but be prepared to spend a fair bit of money. 4 member of the party had the $120 tasting menu which included a wide variety of good and diverse dishes. The location in civic makes it a very convenient place to catch up after work.

Y. B.

What a stunning place!!! Incredible food! The tasting menu is really value for money! If you can sit in the bar you can see the chefs doing their work! Quite skilled!! The service is also very good! All in all a great experience!

M. S.

I always love any excuse to dine at this lovely restaurant, and I also love an excuse to take anyone there. Delicious food, presented beautifully with care and style. A great dining experience

G. W.

This was our first visit to Raku in some time and again we were not disappointed. The service was excellent and the food was nothing short of brilliant. Can’t wait for our next visit.

S. G.

Celebrated our 36 years of marriage at RAKU. We were not disappointed. We had HAO SAN’S tasting menu. It was perfect. The food was divine and the staff exceptional. We will be back. Thank you for helping make our night so special.

S. A.

Just fabulous. All dishes are top quality. We had the tasting menu and there was plenty of food and great variety. Start off with one of their cocktails. They are delicious. The wine list is very good and the dessert at the end was just perfect. Service was also impeccable. Highly recommended, especially for those special occasions. Let them know in advance - well worth it.

S. H.

Superb food. Fresh with some real out of the box thinking (truffle on Salmon!) Delicate, small tasting platters, the service was immaculate. I will be back next time I'm in Canberra

R. B.

Called in for lunch with some colleagues and decide we'd have the tasting menu. All dishes were spot on with their own unique flavours and textures. All in all a very enjoyable meal. Would have no issue returning.

A. -.

Service always faultless and very accommodating, happy to customise set menus for dietary requirements, plus the food is pretty great too. Atmosphere and music levels have been dialed in great each time I've been.

j. e.

Fantastic meal. My son and I got the royal tasting menu. Incredible. Service is first class led by manager nick clarke. I see why the won ACT restaurant of the year.

L. T.

Fantastic lunch for 2. Shared plates for $40 pp. fresh and delicious. We had the added bonus of sitting at the bar watching the chefs prepare the meals. Highly recommend

M. H.

Last night's dinner @rakudining was sensational. The food was amazing, especially the seared bluefin and the matcha pannacotta dessert. Outstanding! Fabulous staff, too. A great experience all round.

C. K.

I tried Express lunch special but its available only weekday. Great deal and mouth watering food. I added sushi as an extra and made me so full.

A. C.

Amazing restaurant - can’t recommend it enough. We went in a group of 4 for dinner and had the tasting menu. We were seated in a private booth, which was nice and intimate. Every dish from the tasting menu was a delight - presented beautifully and delicious. The staff were attentive and lovely.

A.

We had a great dining experience at Raku and it was one of the best Japanese restaurants in recent memory. The seafood was fresh and the signature nigiri was a highlight! I also enjoyed the robata grill chicken skewers and the Octopus. Overall, a 5 star experience and must visit when coming to Canberra.

J. L.

Food was fabulous and excellent hospitality. Wish we tried the drinks the drinks menu looked divine. Had the lunch tasting menu and it was beautifully presented and tasted delicious.

S. c. (.

Raku is what we’d describe as contemporary fine dining Japanese. We were in Canberra for the weekend between Christmas and new year and had heard good words about this restaurant. We are so glad to have visited and it ended up making our best of list for 2018. The restaurant is located in the main CBD precinct near the shopping centre and thus was easy to locate. The space is large with table seating or right up at the chefs kitchen as well private dining spaces. It is dimly lit and has a romantic feel to it. We learn that Raku is named after a Japanese style of pottery (fired in open flames), which is apt for a Robata style restaurant. Secondly, the ceramics here were absolutely beautiful and demonstrated different designs and techniques. The robata method enables the flavour of the flame to shine through the meat, seafood and vegetables and the blue eyed cod has to be one of the best things we’ve ever ordered. You can watch the chefs prepare the meats on the grill over the flame and it is mesmerising. Given our seats in front of the chef, we could watch the masters at action, preparing beautiful plates of sashimi and nigiri as well as maki rolls. The chefs were precise, fast and seemed to be so calm and thoroughly enjoying their job. The menu is extensive, so much so we found it an extremely difficult task to decide what to get. The tasting menu sounded brilliant, and the price is appropriate for what it includes. However we thought that ordering ala Carte would allow us to spend the same, whilst enabling us to try more of a variety of the menu offerings. We started with some miso followed by the loved the Bresaola with kingfish sashimi and a light but lovely truffle dressing $22. The sashimi looked great and you can order this in the 3, 5 or 7 varieties. We opted for the 5 varieties, which included bluefin tuna, scallops, snapper, kingfish and salmon. It was lovely sashimi and sliced to a nice size, served with wasabi and soy $47. The absolute winner on the night was the Alaskan black cod $38 with Saikyo miso and picked cauliflower. The Smokey flavour was beautiful and it was so soft and melted in your mouth. We added a side of Asparagus with a miso butter. We were still little hungry and so added on a maki roll and we were glad we did, as this was another favourite. A South Australian Kingfish with yuzu, truffle, chives and fresh chilli. We ended with a whiskey ice cream which was also superb. Drinks wise, they have some solid cocktails with Japanese flavours, sake, beers and wines and ask for the waiters suggestion to match your meal. It was an all round fantastic experience, with a clean and sophisticated aesthetic, prompt service and incredible food. Whilst it is quite upper end for the budget, it’s worth every dollar.

J. H.

We have the best experience every time. The food is amazing! I highly recommend the soft shell crab!!

M. V.

We went to Raku for a casual last minute lunch decision last weekend when we were down in Canberra for business. From the moment we walked in, the service was outstanding. Everyone was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of their products. Being tight for time we couldnt do the banquet menu ( even though we really wanted to do it) so we opted out for a la carte instead. And let me tell you, every single dish that came out was faultless! Tuna tartare, Wagyu beef, Mushrooms, soft shell crab, you name it, basically everything off that menu was going to be spectacular! Cant wait to be back there again when we are down there next!

L.

We finally managed to book a table at Raku on our 2nd visit to Canberra. Worth the wait - amazing food and great bar staff. We chose Hao San's Tasting Menu for 2 paired with the Sake experience.. just heavenly! Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. Worth booking ahead to dine here.

J. L.

Raku is a great fine dining Japanese themed restaurant in Canberra, if you're willing to spend big dollars for small portions. Overall the experience is good and most of the staff are friendly, however the waiter who served us only addressed me the entire time, ignoring my partner completely. He also brought the bill and EFTPOS machine to us as soon as we had finished our main, my guess in an attempt to push us out (after only 30 minutes of being seated).

M. C.

Service is excellent. We celebrated anniversary here and had the tasting menu with 11 courses. Good thing we did. Highly recommended.

C. J.

Not the first time at Raku but first time since August Covid lock down. The restaurant was busy but we felt safe with all staff wearing facemask, table distance. Staff was so friendly and really cared. Amazing food as usual - the NZ snapper sashimi with Wagyu bresaolo blended with the perfect sauce - fresh and so tasty ; signature nigiri simply melts in your mouth. Great dining experience. Well done!

G. L.

Came here for a dinner for 1 on a work trip on a Wed eve. I had the chefs selection of nigiri (pieces) and some miso soup. The menu is expansive and unfortunately I cannot advise on the full details of the various dishes and mains on offer (I will have to come back again!) what I did have was delicious, the fish was cut beautifully and the ginger and soy perfect. The service was immaculate throughout and the new modern fitout both indoors and outdoor dining has been thoughtfully put together for both style and comfort. The prices are on the high side but the quality is also high. I will be back again.

Y. Z.

Went here for both lunch and dinner during a work trip down to Canberra last week. The food there is far beyond being impressive.The high quality of the food and the deliciousness is enough for me to come back to Canberra again and again just for this restaurant. The sashimi is superbly fresh and the black cod and salmon are just melting in your month! The Wagyu beef is so tender and flavoursome. And that is not it! The dessert just topped the whole experience! Go for the matcha ice cream or lychee sorbet! It was sensational way to wrap up a beautiful food experience! The service also was professional and attentive. Highly recommend to book a table before you try your luck coz they are just so popular!

A. S.

Food as usual was magnificent and service was great BUT... We booked a private room for 8pm with the full top end set menu and then they rushed us thru dinner, closed the bar at 9:45 and basically stopped service at 10 pm, we spent over $1800, was my daughters 21st so it was very disappointing that one of Canberra's best restaurants rushed us thru and stopped serving drinks. Very shabby indeed! If you don't want to serve us properly then don't take late booking on a Sunday. I have been in local Hospo for 40 years and think that this end of the market should do a lot better than this!

T.

Raku has to be my favourite restaurant in Canberra!! I have been there 4 times and every meal is an absolute delight. Raku’s standard of food, service and ambience is just incredible. My most recent experience was last weekend and the entire experience was flawless. There was no lag between dishes, the seafood was very fresh and flavourful and the service was excellent. Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful experience!!!

R. T.

Can only describe our meal at Raku as wonderful. The food was exceptional and the staff were all fantastic. Would I book there again? In a word YES, without hestitation.

D. B.

The food here is amazing, the restaurant isn't too noisy and the service is generally very good. It's quite expensive but well worth it if you can afford it. My only complaint is that our waiter explicitly asked us for a tip, which we would have given anyway. It felt like I was being approached be a panhandler. This didn't happen the first time I ate there so I assume it was a one-off.

D.

Raku has the potential to be a great restaurant, and depending on the day, it is. The food that I tasted and are included in these photos was great, although returning on a different day produces a different result. Worth a visit, although I found attentive service to be somewhat lacking.

A. O.

Such a wonderful dinner, the service was fantastic and the food super fresh and delicious. Would highly recommend the lamb ribs!

K. R.

Amazing food, fantastic service. Expensive, but worth every penny. Wish we could have stayed longer than two hours.

D. L.

This place was spectacular. Service was professional/attentive and the environment was organised and clean. We ordered the tasting set menu and all the food came out within 1 hour. Booking is essential.

J. P.

Raku is simply sublime on many levels. The design of the restaurant itself lends itself to a intimate evening without being imposing; the service by the staff is above and beyond; the food is all the right kinds of amazing, perfectly cooked, spot on portions and is priced far lower than it has the right to be. Anyone who dines at Raku will not leave disappointed

Y. S.

Fantastic atmosphere, amazing food... All in all some of the best Japanese I have probably ever had.

T. K.

A wonderful, holistic experience. Booked for a high-end, intimate birthday dinner with my fiancé. Highly recommended for special occasions or intimate date-nights if you value quality/service and can accommodate the well-deserved price tag. Customer service: ☆☆☆☆☆ The staff worked cohesively between clients. Warmly greeted, quickly seated, and served in a timely manner. Our server throughout the evening was polite, professional and personable; he checked appropriately at regular intervals. The online booking process was seamless, however, there were some website configuration issues when viewing on mobile. Multiple email reminders of the booking were greatly appreciated and helpful. Price: ☆☆☆☆ It's important to set the expectation that you are paying for quality not quantity. Not all dishes we sampled were substantial, however, the price was reflective of the quality. It is very deserving of the price tag. Food: ☆☆☆☆☆ The food was fresh and delicious. The skill of the chefs is apparent as all dishes were well balanced and well paired with complimentary flavours. The bartenders made fantastic cocktails.The signature nigri, ebi tempura maki and wagyu gyoza was outstanding, 10/10. Parking: ☆☆ The nearest parking lot is best accessed from Ainslie Ave/Cooyong Street and is paid. There is minimal street parking outside the restaurant, however, if you intend to use a ride service you can be dropped at the doorstep. There is ample parking at the Civic Centre if you don't mind the short walk, however, familiarisation with the centre is required if you park after business hours due to closure of walkways/escalators. Accessibility and inclusivity: ☆☆☆ The restaurant is situated on the ground level and is wheelchair accessible, however, it is worth noting that the pathways in the restaurant are narrow in areas. Seating arrangement is varied; there are lovely tables by the windows that would allow for wheelchair access without compromising on experience. Parking in the Civic Centre allows for elevator access; for fatigue management, it is a short distance when mobilising to the restaurant. The restaurant is busy and filled with comfortable background conversation, light music and dim lighting. It may be suitable for individuals with lower sensory processing requirements, however, individual discretion is advised based on individualistic requirements.

M. A.

Quality food reasonably priced. The outdoor bench seats are uncomfortable as they can’t be moved and you need to sit on the edge to be close to the table.

V. R.

My favourite and only restaurant I recommend to anyone visiting Canberra. I visit every year for my birthday and shall be going again shortly.

s. l.

Best $80 tasting menu I’ve ever had! Service was amazing too. Thank you. Oysters and salmon nigiri with the truffle paste is a must.

K. T.

Loved this place! Great decor and design. We had the express lunch set for $40 a head, fantastic food and great value for money. Good service too. There is a buzzy atmosphere, the noise levels work really well and you can still have a private conversation.

J. X.

The best Japanese restaurant (fine dining) I ever had in Canberra. Strongly recommend to everyone. Absolutely love every dishes we had today!!

A. C.

$40 express lunch menu is fantastic and fast and really tasty. Dinner set menu is also fantastic however a little more expensive. Great Japanese food in Canberra. Restaurant ambiance chic and classy.

J. H. I. D.

Always fabulous and my foodie guests from Sydney were really impressed. I prefer the delightful booth so will endeavour to book for 6 persons.

K. H.

Great service, great timing of dishes. Not a connoisseur of Japanese food but most of the dishes were tasty and some delicious. But stay away from the wine menu. Very expensive......

K. N. v.

Wife and I went to this restaurant and went ala carte and boyyyyy, was this place awesome. We smashed it and left nothing behind.

T. F.

The food was simply sensational and the service was no less. Overall a great dining experience and we will be back 😊

S. R.

Food is great each time I’ve eaten here. Service is friendly and quick. A nice night out for a delayed post lockdown birthday dinner.

R. W.

The team is really professional. You won't regret anything from their menu. Best Japanese cuisine in ACT. Most fresh sashimi in a restaurant other than from fresh food market.

P. D.

We had booked and put down allergy to crustaceans and this was confirmed with staff when seated. They served us scampi 🍤 luckily I knew that it was a crustacean or our wedding anniversary would have been a disaster.

T. V. (.

This restaurant is by far the best Japanese restaurant in Canberra and I would recommend it to anyone. They have maintained a high standard of food for a number of years now and fully deserve their chef's hat. Yours truly @fooderarri

d. w.

My girlfriend came from Adelaide to visit me and we had an excellent time at Raku, also very friendly staff 😊😊 02/05/2021

D. R.

RAKU is just everything you would want from a dining experience. Amazing AMAZING food, extensive menu, great wine list, professional and knowledgeable team looking after your every need. This place never misses and always provides a rockstar experience. Dinner date, business lunch, sneaky lunch, group dinning RAKU ticks all the boxes.

P. C.

Very fresh sashimi and sushi. Great atmosphere! We went there for Sunday lunch and everything was perfect. We topped it up with dessert and cocktail. Definitely will visit again!!

U. K.

Lovely food, exceptional service. The private dining room was big enough for 10 people to dine in.

T. O.

Raku lived up to the hype. Fantastic food and a great environment with private booths and good service. Well done, I will be back again.

S. B.

The best Japanese restaurant in Canberra so far. Very good quality food and very friendly service. I have tried lunch and dinner here and both are amazing. Have to try when you are in town.

J. H. P.

Amazing meal! We had the $80 banquet and every dish was a beautiful, fresh, melt in your mouth sensation. It's hard to pick a standout dish! Next time we're in Canberra, we're definitely returning but we'll ask to sit overlooking the kitchen. Cocktails were pretty good, as well. Please open a restaurant in Melbourne!

S. I.

Amazing food, great wine, incredible service. We got to sit and watch the chefs while we ate, which was awesome - like dinner and a show!

A. S.

Amazing food, amazing service. We went for the chef's choice menu which has always proven to delight. This time was no different. The selection was a delightful array of sashimi and sushi with oysters and salmon tartare, finished off with a sesame icecream. Raku always lives up to it's reputation of delivering a wonderful fusion of modern Japanese flavours in a great setting.

T. M.

Had a wonderful family celebration, food was exceptional as always and the staff were very accommodating.

G. C.

Such an amazing food they provide. Incredible favor matching. Sashimi is so fresh

L. O.

Absolutely spectacular, beautiful, delicious food in a vibrant but not loud atmosphere with gorgeous crockery and wonderful staff. A great find. Excellent place for a special intimate celebration. Or a first date - sit at the bar and watch the chefs work to take the pressure off chatting. (Also the chicken is free range - this place is perfect ☺)

E. H.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, we very much appreciated their help with explaining and recommending for us Japanese cuisine novices. The food was out of this world. The deep fried tofu was heavenly and the flame seared snapper was the best piece of fish I'd had for a long while.

J. S.

Went here on Monday night. Absolutely amazing service from Jasmine! She knew everything on the menu and chose some delightful food for us. Ask for jasmine

J. L.

Nice Japanese food and fusion cuisine. Staffs are friendly and introduce every dish kindly.

J. S.

Raku is most definitely my favourite restaurant in Canberra. Whenever I have friends coming from interstate, I always take them to raku in hope to show them that Canberra cuisine can stand up to Sydney and Melbourne. The interior decor is so beautiful and if you manage to snag a booth seat you'll feel like you're in your own private restaurant ( make sure you book in advance ) I have to say, I keep coming back for more and have been here so often I've just about tried everything on the menu. The cocktail menu is also impressive along with their range of spirits and liquors. My recommended menu items are: Edamame ... like Normal edamame but way better because it comes with this incredible house made rhubarb salt. Eggplant— I'm a sucker for asian style eggplant and this one is no exception. It comes with red and white miso smothered on top in a half half pattern and toasted sesame seeds for crunch. popcorn shrimp consistently cooked perfectly crispy and accompanied with chilli and mayonaise. Charcoal seared wagyu, this comes cut up into little cubes and every bite size piece is a flavour explosion! Brocolini covered in miso ( can you tell I love miso) Maloolaba King prawns with XO sauce ( these are incredible) and the eel ! you have to try the eel. I was not someone that would ever be adventurous enough to try eel but after trying it for the first time at raku I now order it every time ! For cocktails I recommend the Yuzu sour and Melon baller ( I love fresh tasting cocktails ) couldn't recommend Raku any more !

D. G.

This is a fine dining Japanese restaurant. The food, staff and the whole experience is of the highest standard. The set menus are a fantastic way to taste an exciting range of dishes. I sat at the bar and enjoyed the theatre of watching the chefs in action.

T. G.

4 visits for us and brilliant every single time. Last visit was the tasting menu and I don't think food can get any better than that. Both the produce and the kitchen technique are astounding. The room is lovely, and the service excellent.

M. H.

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Raku. Delicious food and wonderful service.

E. S.

Went here for my 30th the quality of the food, freshness, taste and ambiance was on point.

M. P.

Oh my goodness this was a superb meal! We’re not familiar with Japanese cuisine, but our very cheerful and knowledgeable waitress walked us through all the options, taking into account our preferences and tastes, to help us select some astonishingly delicious dishes. Seafood, vegetables and beef off the grill like I’ve never tasted before. And with the wine, again our waitress advised just right. The dining environment is lovely, not too noisy. This was a memorable occasion!

G. T.

Some of the best Japanese and we are super fussy this compares to Toko and Sake 💯. The spider maki roll AMAZING!! Sashimi AMAZING!! The steak was our least favorite to chewy and fatty... but still a 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A. S.

Excellent customer service, superb food & great beverage selection. Highly recommended to all discerning patrons. Outstanding foodie experience

L. S.

Food is great, fresh seafood and cooked dishes are served hot. Staff are attentive and watch course progression before bringing further dishes. Wide range of Sake and other drinks available.

G. W.

The food is delightful, service excellent. Definitely be back again. Dragon roll and the Soft shell crab roll was really awesome.

T. F. (.

Great food ! The best Japanese cuisine in Canberra. The sashimi sushi here is so fresh with mellow taste and rich flavor. The staffed named Emma served us with friendly attitude and detailed intro of the food. Definitely will come again

F. S.

For someone who loves Japanese fine dining - absolutely amazing food and time spent at Raku! Everything we have tried from the menu was to die for… great fresh selection, combination of food…We decided to try different things rather than a set menu and the food just melts in your mouth. It is a bit pricey comparatively speaking but Raku is worth it for everything it offers, food, ambience, great staff and service combined. I specifically choose Raku again for my partner’s bday as I was sure they will not disappoint and it was amazing again!

C. H.

Incredible meal and excellent quality sushi and sashimi. Service was also excellent!

M. T.

Outstanding meals for the ladies and I and the most exquisite Michael Deiss Riquewihr vino to go with it too. Strongly recommended as a step or two above the rest.

g. B.

Absolutely beautiful Japanese and the staff were great. The egg nigiri was amazing. I would definitely come back.

L. M.

Awesome food, beautifully presented. Great service and ambiance too!

L. B.

Raku sets the bar for fine Japanese dining in Canberra, and it sets the bar quite high. It's always a delight entertaining guests at Raku.

C. P.

Everything was perfect! The food, the atmosphere, the service, all spectacular. Raku is a feast for the pallete and the senses. Very highly recommended.

K. N.

This restaurant is incredible! We had the $80 tasting menu and it was a delight from start to finish. The experience was one of my favourite and most memorable fine dining experiences ever.

K. L.

Excellent quality food, great dining experience. We had a time restraint and the restaurant were able to meet this.

J. C.

Legit. Most delicious restaurant I’ve ever eaten at. Customer service is phenomenal. I cannot rate this place highly enough.

4.

The culinary experience here is second to none in Canberra. I did book my reservation online as it was a special event, and I didn’t wish to miss out. On arrival we were quickly seated at our requested location at the bar, in full view of the kitchen area. If freshness of ingredients and attention to detail is a prerequisite to your dining experience, than you definitely won’t be disappointed. A true tasting experience, coupled with wonderful service. I look forward to next time.

S. G.

Had the set menu with friends and the waiter was amazing. One friend was vegetarian and the waiter made her a custom menu.

E. R.

I expected a lot from Raku but they delivered 2 folds. We opted out of set menu even though I can see the appeal. The food was outstanding. The eel, Canadian scallop, snapper saviche, wagu beef skewers and much more was refined, you couldn't fault it. The service was brilliant. Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. We are from Sydney and I will be sure to mention Raku to anyone planning to visit Canberra. Loved it!!

L. L.

Quality of food and service is second to none don't understand how tomato salad fits in a Japanese restaurant, servings are small and with the set menu for 2 you would think everything should be x2 !

D. W.

What a dining delight. The food was amazing. The atmosphere was excellent as we dined in the outdoor area and the staff were very polite and helpful. Highly recommend the experience.

J. E.

We had dinner for the first time here on a Monday night. Really was a fantastic experience from top to bottom. The staff were fantastic, attentive without being in your face the whole time, and really knew their stuff (we'd never tried sake so had some questions about the different varieties). Food was excellent, we (2 of us) shared a few dishes and only one of them I found less inspiring, still good don't get me wrong, but not bloody delicious like the others were. Really great time and can't wait to return and get a little more adventurous with what's on their menu.

D. T.

This was our first time visiting Raku restaurant and we booked it on the back of a friends recommendation. It was a perfect place for us to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Staff were so attentive and helpful. We had their $80/pp, tasting dinner. They accommodated me with a gluten free option easily. And, the food...it was to die for. So tasty, fresh and just right. We will certainly be back. Thank you again Raku for a wonderful evening.

r.

I got takeaway bento boxes with my friends because my friend was saying how much cheaper they were now. The salmon one was $34 so honestly it is not cheap now anyway though. I had the eggplant ($18) and it was not very enjoyable. The sides were all great but the sauce on the eggplant was so overpowering that I literally couldn't taste any eggplant. At first I was like this sauce is pretty nice but after like two bites it became overwhelming and I was not enjoying it.

A. M.

I'm so glad Raku is open again! Great food, drink and service. The set menu took us from beautiful fresh sashimi through to perfectly cooked steak and a dessert of toasted sesame ice cream.

G. B.

Wonderful food and wonderful service! My partner and I experienced beautifully cooked and prepared food and drink. All staff were lovely and accommodating. Our dishes and drinks came out perfectly on time with no issues or delays. Even the mood lighting was great! Each dish that came out was different from the last and had a multitude of flavours. Absolutely delicious! We had a beautiful night, thank you very much!

R. R.

RAKU is fantastic! A very Japanese experience: food-wise, drink-wise, ambient-wise. I have dined twice in the restaurant, and have ordered takeaway during the Covid-19 saga. The bento boxes cater well to any stomach. The sashimi and sushi are second to none. Great variety of drinks on the menu. Always an elegant and enjoyable experience!!!

Z. H.

Overall an enjoyable dining experience. Food was delicious and staff were friendly, polite and informative. Nice for that special occasion if you would like to try something a little different. My only reservation was that we were being rushed through to make way for other diners (we were allowed 90 minutes before we had to leave). I can understand this is necessary given the popularity of the restaurant but for me, personally, did not lend to a relaxed atmosphere. None the less I would recommend you give it a try.

J. B.

My favourite restaurant in Canberra since first visit. Totally recommended ! Sushi and sashimis are just the best

F. N.

Very good food. We tried the Wagyu beef slow cooked for hours item. Also tried the maki rolls.

Y. L.

Good quality food in each courses are delivered in time and super nice staffs!! Had a really good time at RAKU. Strongly recommend Wagyu gyoza and the dessert Toasted sesame ice cream :)

j. h.

Amazing experience with the tasting menu, everything was delicious and perfect. Lovely atmosphere and staff too, thank you

N. D.

We were lucky to book our dinner a couple of days in advance while on short holiday in Canberra. The dinner exceeded our expectations: we love Japanese cuisine and tried it many times in many places in Japan, and RAKU dinner was as good as the best restaurants over there. We had a la carte menu and kept ordering dishes as it was delicious! The service was perfect! I hope to find something of the same level in Sydney.

N. N.

Great place to meet with friends and share a wonderful meal together. The restaurant was busy but the service is superb, the best sushi we have ever had! We can taste the freshness, the beautiful blend of each ingredient! Black cod just melts in your mouth, definitely going back again very soon!

K. X.

Absolute number 1 favourite restaurant in Canberra that I always choose to take guests or family to, or for a special occasion. Impeccable flavours, presentation and variety. Super attentive service each time as well. The interior is beautiful with booths available too for a bit more intimacy. I commend the chefs and the team for creating one of Canberra’s best dining experiences! I cannot speak more highly of this place. Must haves: Oysters, Kumogani soft shell crab rolls, Truffle salmon rolls, salmon tartare with squid ink crackers, signature nigiri selection, tosuta goma sesame icecream with matcha wafers and caramelised almonds.

S. B.

What an experience. Exceptional Japanese food. If We can only eat one more place before we go, this is it.

A. J.

Smart Japanese in Civic. Really good drinks list including some good by the glass options. Quite expensive but good value.

C. M.

Absolutely amazing food. Best Japanese that I've ever had. Great experience

G. S.

We went to Raku to celebrate a special occasion and had a tasting menu lunch for two. The food was sophisticated and tasted fantastic. There was no rush in service but no long pauses either. We had a warm sake, which was wonderful too. This was our first special occasion experience here and Raku is definitely on our permanent list of great restaurants in Canberra.

V. M.

Good quality, but overpriced, small portions - classic Japanese fine dining. Need to come once to see that would be enough.

C. G.

Outstanding - food was out of this world and the service was really great.

A. K.

Great food and even better service

D. P.

What a beautiful evening. Raku came highly recommended and we were not disappointed. From the exciting cocktails/mocktails menu to the comprehensive food offering, we decided on the set menu so we didn't need to make decisions! The service was excellent, with the team describing every dish in delicious detail and keeping our drinks topped up. The food and its presentation was divine. Recommenders were jealous, and we now know why. Can't wait to return.

P. C.

A delightful dining experience. Delicious food, beautifully presented with excellent service. The saki recommendation was particularly good. Strongly recommended.

A. N.

Swift, well paced service. Excellent food. Great Japanese service, style and flavour

A. R.

Best meal we have had in Canberra since moving here 18 months ago. Waitress we had was fantastic and guided us through the different sakes on offer to suit our taste. Every plate we got was great, stand out was the tofu and scallops. Enough time between each plate coming out so not to feel rushed eating. Highly recommend.

M.

I recall about 2010, Canberra restaurants started realising that they needed to provide more than a concrete partition in which food was served. Things started getting more atmospheric and creative, music and mood lighting matched the decor, wait staff started applying awareness and pride to their work. (The latter has some way to go yet for most venues) Raku are absolutely nailing all elements in their own style best described as modern, sophisticated but very welcoming. A fantastic destination if you want to impress a date or client. I only sampled a taste of their menu tonight but am looking forward to going back 😊😊

a.

Fabulous food and amazing service every time! Definitely recommend visiting Raku if you get a chance! My favourite dishes are the 9 Piece Nigiri, Karaage Chicken and Nasu Dengaku!

B. E.

We really enjoy this restaurant. Been half a dozen times it just gets better and better. The wine list is good with all regions well represented . The quality of the food is sensational great flavours great presentation. Last night we went for the “Royal” which is many small courses finished with an amazing chocolate fondant. Great value and service will be back again for sure.

K. P.

As always the food and service we on point. Still one of the best dinning experiences in Canberra.

K.

Beautiful food! Could not fault the service or the food. The recommendations we received from the waitstaff when selecting drinks or different meals were on point. My one thing would be that I feel having a vegetarian option in the tasting menu would be just a little more inclusive rather than choosing the same amount of meals as the tasting platter to match everyone else. Will definitely be back though!!!!!!!

J. S.

So impressed with the foods and environment. Love to go back in future to have all delicious and yummy foods

D. P.

Amazing food and Amazing service and Atmosphere!! Our new Favourite Japanese restaurant...This place is a must!!

S. D.

Raku delivers delicious and fresh Japanese. Service is fantastic and overall a great experience.

K. T.

The atmosphere and decorations were great. Waitresses were nice and attentive. Dessert was awesome. The chef is well skilled in traditional Japanese sushi. Nigiri tasted great especially Otoro. Sashimi and nigiri looked beautiful. However, some fish were not fresh enough and were a bit smelly e.g. kingfish. I assume that it might because fishermen in Australia normally don't deal with them as sashimi grade materials (commonly salmon and tuna) and it's also hard to have really fresh fish in Canberra as it is at least 2 hours away from beaches and 3 hours away from ports. Besides, it's a shame that some sauces were too strong to bring out the original flavour of the materials in general. It seems the restaurant or the chefs more focus on creativity, garnishing, and presentation over the taste I'm afraid.

j. h.

Food and service is amazing. Standout restaurant in Canberra

M. W.

We got the banquet ($80pp), which not only had amazing food and presentation,but great service. Big thumbs up to Marko(?), our main server, who served with great timing, as well as helping create a vegan tasting menu with our friend, on the spot. Excellent, see you again Raku!

L. B.

Moved to Perth since 2018 but every time I went back to Canberra I would definitely visit RAKU. Tried lots of Japanese restaurant, some are much pricy than RAKU but I must say RAKU is one of the top among them. God I missed Canberra.

K. S.

We had the lunch express for $40 per person and it was delicious. Just the right amount of food without feeling bloated. Service was exceptional and staff were very personable. Would highly recommend. We will certainly return when next in Canberra.

A. G.

Couldn’t have had a better experience! Absolutely amazing food and drinks. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable and gave good meal suggestions. Up there with the top 5% food / drinks / service of all places I have ever been. My partner and I have already said we want to come back to Canberra just to come back here! It is a must go.

D. M.

Delicious food as always. Presentation is immaculate and the booths make it nice ad private for a small group

J. P.

Raku is amazing. From the time we walked in the door we felt welcomed and not just another customer. We had the banquet which included the most delicious and unique selection of food. The a la carte menu also looks amazing but we decided to leave the choice to the experts. It was my son's birthday and they iced Happy Birthday onto the dessert plate which was a special touch. The drinks menu had a huge selection from cocktails to beer to sake and other choices. The sparkling sake was delicious and the Hiroshima sake a bit too tasty. Everything was so well done and displayed in typical Japanese fashion. We will definitely be visiting again soon. It made my son's day. Thank you Raku.

J. M. (.

Exceptional every day of the week. The highest quality sushimi from in-house masters, crafting exquisite Japanese dishes with precision, balance of flavour with pinpoint accuracy. Recommend taking a seat at the Bar for a front row seat in the creation of mind blowing flavours. Try the Eggplant with black Miso must be tried!

L. K.

Our family had a dinner last weekend. Took lots of time to book it but well worth of waiting. Amazing Japanese food. We’ll be back soon.

c. w.

Top shelf food and service. A must on any Canberran's excellent restaurant list

B. W.

Of all meals I have ever eaten - of any cuisine, Raku was far and away the best meal I have ever had. This statement was echoed by my partner. Absolutely phenomenal will definitely visit again next time I’m in Canberra.

G. D.

Such a diverse menu so we went with the banquet. Each course was impeccably presented and the ‘on point’ staff gave some really useful course descriptions and hints on how to best enjoy each course. The flavours were well balanced and created a lot of conversation about what each element was. It was a fun and educational lunch full of discovery. We sat at the Chefs counter and got to see all the preparation. Certainly worth doing at least once.

M.

Fantastic food and fantastic service. Best Japanese food in Canberra. Always impressed and di go back for more.

J. K.

Delicious inventive food in a pleasant atmosphere. Excellent service. I chose a Pinot Noir which was quite acidic and felt it would not compliment the food. The staff very willingly changed the wine for me. I would definitely dine there again.

L. 9.

I enjoyed a wonderful dinner here with my friend Takako and we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The service and staff were terrific. Would certainly recommend to anyone seeking the best of Japanese food and restaurant experience in Canberra.

o. t.

Had such a wonderful experience tonight at Raku, Anna was so lovely and attentive. Such lovely food, drinks and service. Thank you for your cocktail recommendations and attention to detail. Absolutely superb !

E. C.

Super good food. Must try eel sushi and wagyu ! And the service also wonderful!

m.

Wicked wine list , great beer choices. Food was great. Ill be back.

R. '. H. “. H. G.

Omg for a spur of a moment restaurant choice we were so lucky ! The food here was OMG good. Prices were reasonable and the experience was perfect. Didn’t get a chance to take pics but I did finally remember for dessert! So good !

J. B.

My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience at Raku. The ambience was fantastic and the wait staff were among the most well organised and efficient I have ever seen. The set menu we ordered was absolutely delicious and we will be returning in the future for another lovely evening.

J. R.

Probably the best Japanese restaurant I’ve been to in my life! Extremely popular in a very nice part of the city. Service is stupendously fast and is worth it. Very nice waitresses that help you out at all times. The food is 10/10 and would absolutely come back here again. Very highly recommended.

G. T.

The food was excellent, staffs were very educational about the food. Will come back again

P. G.

Absolutely gorgeous food. By far the best Japanese fusion dining I've experienced in Canberra to date. And attentive informed staff to top my evening off. Will be bringing my partner and a handful of friends and introducing them to Raku very soon!

T. W.

Easily the best Japanese in Canberra. The food is high quality, the service is always spot on and a great selection of sake and beers to accompany the meal. I’ve been here more than 10 times and the consistency is unmatched. The best quality sashimi that I’ve had outside of Japan.

D. S.

Absolutely wonderful Restauant experience excellent food great cocktails & excellent service

k. l.

Amazing food, Amazing food service by Anna and wine service by two lovely gentleman. I took my partner here for his birthday. If you are looking for a high quality dining experience this is the place to go.

L. S.

Hao San's Tasting Menu-- probably one of the best degustation's i've had in my 29 years of existence. Bravo!

D. M.

Raku is brilliant! My son and myself shared an exceptional dinner by the bar, where we could watch artistry in food preparation and also select and enjoy some superb whiskies. All of our dishes were superb - the amazingly tasty Wagyu carpaccio, miso soup, richly flavoured karaage chicken, yakitori chicken, grilled broccolini with miso sauce - and an incredible chocolate fondant with chocolate soil, caramel, whisky ice cream. They were all superbly presented and delicious. Their whisky selection was excellent, with an extensive range of Japanese and Australian whiskies, a few well chosen Scotch whiskies and bourbons, and many other spirits. They accompanied our meal so well. The staff were most hospitable, and very knowledgeable about the foods and whiskies. Highest recommendation - top class!

N. P.

Eating at Raku was honestly the best dining experience I have ever had! My boyfriend and I went out for dinner and we had Hao San's Tasting Menu. Every dish just kept getting better and all the staff were happy, friendly and knowledgeable.

H. G. C.

Stunning dining experience. We were fortunate to have a booth for our dinner reservation, and the whole experience was fabulous. The New Zealand Snapper sashimi and Tuna sashimi were standout dishes. Thank you!

B. C.

Our go to place in Canberra that never disappoints- excellent staff, amazing food

J. S.

Raku again delivered high quality, beautifully presented and delicious food! Raku has earned its reputation as the number one Japanese restaurant in Canberra and I suggest in Australia. It is must experience!

B. A.

Quality food, quality service, just very pricey. It’s that kind of place, though. Very nice elegant ~vibes~.

M. M.

Had wonderful dinner at Raku with a group of friends we went with the tasting plate option, every single dish was delicious and they were happy to change few things to accommodate dietary requirements. Although a bit more of eye contact and attentiveness from staff would make the experience even better..

J. W.

This is the best Japanese restaurant and my favorite restaurant in Canberra. Every dish is amazing with some interesting kicks when you taste it. I totally love their sauce on the oyster, you can never miss that dish. I stayed in Canberra for two years and celebrated my biggest moments at Raku. I went there the last time after I got into a nice school in New York with my boyfriend at that time, had an absolutely fun time. Now I’m in New York, trying different nice restaurants every week. Yet, I still miss the days that I only know about Raku and save money for it.

L. O.

Exceptional food in a beautiful space. The sashimi was wonderful, everything from the grill was an excellent sensory experience. Absolutely loved the experimental cocktail also!

A. P.

The Tasting Menu and matching wines were a brilliant choice for us. Each course was a wonderful taste experience and the quality of the food and wine were specularly good. Cannot wait to visit again. Highly recommended.

J. D.

Outstanding! My favourite restaurant in Canberra. The food is exquisite and the service is amazing. I have a severe allergy and this is one of very few places that I feel safe to eat. The staff go out of their way, taking every measure to ensure your allergy requirements are met. For a melt-in-your-mouth meal, delicious wines and the perfect ambience, Raku is the place to go.

L. M.

Visited Raku last Sunday and the food was fantastic. We had the $80pp Hao San's tasting menu. Our favourites were the salmon tartar, the tempura zucchini flowers and the wagyu gyoza with truffle oil. Service is great, but a bit cold. Don't expect any chats or connection from staff. Would definitely recommend.

M. R.

Absolutely flawless food, service and cocktails. I can't recommend this place highly enough! Highlights were the gyoza and absolutely all of the sushi we tried. We sat at the bar and watched the chef's at work, and they are absolute professionals. We'll be back! Thank you for our amazing dining experience.

P. A. L.

Best Japanese restaurant in Canberra. The food is fresh and delicious. I really love the Japanese vinegar sauce for oyster. Great service! Staffs always introduce the dishes kindly when serving. Highly recommended!

A. P.

It was our first visit to Raku. I took my husband for his birthday. The food was absolutely delicious. The staff were very efficient. Since we don't eat red meet the chef was kind enough to alter their set tasting menu to suit our requirements. While making the booking online I was given the option to mention if I am coming to celebrate an event, which was nice. So I ticked the box which was next to "Birthday". Upon arrival we were asked whose birthday it was and the person who showed us to our table wished my husband a "happy birthday" . However, it would be nice if you could do something small (like fixing a sparkle on the desert or writing "happy Birthday" on the plate or if it is for a little one to have a candle on the desert....) to make it "special". If this is not possible then I would suggest you not to ask about it and to remove this option. However, the overall experience with the food and the atmosphere was excellent and we enjoyed our meal. Thank you Raku.

J. G.

Always fully booked when I stop by. I had the lunch with my son at outside dining area. We ordered beef, eel and sushi. But I am not very impressed about the shushi as all the rice fell apart when I use the chopsticks.

N. M.

Amazing service and such friendly staff. We sat at the bar and had well paired flavours of very fresh ingredients, paired with great cocktails and mocktails. The use of flavours and texture like sorbet and sashimi with wasabi, left us wanting more. Who knew a humble salad, well dressed could make for a lovely introduction to scallops. You must try this place.

M. O.

Had the best time, food was out of this world! But I have say my waitress made the night. Big thank you to Anna for her incredible service and making our night amazing! So much love to Anna!!

M. W.

Just wow. Had very pleasant dinning here. Thank you to all the lovely staff!

T. B.

Wonderful food but served far too quickly and far too cold

T.

This is my third visit, and Raku restaurant continues to delight! I have gone in groups of 5-6 and recommend ordering a good range of entrees to share and a few bowls of rice : eggplant miso, popcorn shrimp, grilled prawns, chicken yakitori, fresh oysters, any sashimi, plate of 9 nilgiri. Whatever you order will be yum! And the desserts to die for - encrusted sesame ice cream, pavlova Japanese style, all of them divine. Service is great, friendly, helpful staff. Beautiful restaurant and not at all pretentious. No BYO and wines are pretty expensive. I can recommend the Mount Majura Pinot Gris at the lower end, and very nice accompaniment. Expect to pay around $70-90 depending on what you order, how many attending, and if you drink, and what. But great culinary experience/evening out. Especially for special event.

I. B.

I booked a week in advance for my daughter’s birthday & requested a table with a view. When we arrived it was a private booth & the lady was more interested in letting me know we needed to be out in 1:45hr & asked was it for a birthday. The food came at a rapid pace, delicious, nice presentation but unfortunately no time to enjoy it. No mention of the birthday again. We had the $80 banquet for 4 people & drinks but the service didn’t reflect that, it was like a race to see how quick they could get us out. A shame really because On previous occasions we were able to savour each dish & feel that we were somewhere special.

Z. C.

I have been to Raku a few times. They are getting better and better each time. Especially the signature nigiri, quality of fresh seafood and superbuperb waygu beef from last night. I have to admit you get what you paid for. Highly recommended tasting menu for special occasion. I am not surprised you have to book early

D. K.

Absolutely wonderful meal.We had the 5 course tasting menu and enjoyed every course. Each course left you with a luscious mouth feel. Well wort the trip to Canberra. Will definitely come here again

V. B.

Raku is Canberra's best restaurant. Every visit is special and memorable because of the amazing staff and the exquisitely presented, out-of-this-world delicious food. Try one of the banquets for the full Raku experience.

J. W.

Good food, but like every new Canberran business that's popular, it has gotten a bit arrogant in their tone and it comes through when you walk in without a booking, or want a more comfortable seat. The seating is terrible, no back support at all. Spending $200 on near fine dining food to find ourselves sitting on tiny hard wooden stools. What's with that ?

K. P.

We had Dinner at Raku on Sunday night and what an unbelievable experience it was! The lady Kate who served us was absolutely amazing, her service skills were second to none! We highly recommend and would definitely come back next time we are in Canberra!

M. M.

niiiccceeeee food! good atmosphere, different to get a table in a short time

J. S.

Raku is repeatedly the most phenomenal dining experience. Me and my wife have dined all over the world and specifically trying to beat the quality of food at Raku. We have failed to get a higher quality of fresh food at any restaurant. If you get the chance of sitting at the bar watching and talking to the amazing bar staff and sushi chefs is an unbeatable experience. The raw sashimi 7 varieties is by far the greatest on the menu. Tuna belly is to die for.

S. M.

Raku is probably one of the top 3 restaurants in Canberra. The sushi is melt in your mouth good. It will cost 2-4x as much a regular sushi train but will taste 10x better. Tempura popcorn shrimp is perfectly fried with a light batter. Only dish that wasn’t quite there was the chicken karaagge. But lamb ribs and desserts more than made up for it. Seriously worth a visit for anyone in Canberra - and as a final bonus cocktails are the best I’ve had.

N. L.

Excellent authentic Japanese cuisine. Wonderful service with friendly and professional staff. Definitely recommend trying their cocktails.

C. P.

Well lit, spacious and clean restaurant. Ambience was good and not noisy compared to other restaurant. Food was AMAZING! Sushi and sashimi were the BEST! Oh and very accommodating and friendly staff. Would be coming back for more quality delectable meal... ☺️🥰Thanks guys!

W. C.

We enjoyed a special birthday dinner at Raku a couple of weeks ago. The banquet menus simplified choosing what to eat. The wait staff were attentive and they kept an eye on where we were up to during our meal, resulting in the dishes coming to the table at a suitable pace. We were never wondering when the next one was coming. As the food was delivered each course was named and explained. Food was really delicious and drinks menu extensive.

B.

Dining at Raku was absolutely incredible. The food was amazing, we sat at the bar and watched the chef prepare food with the utmost care and precision. The staff were friendly and professional and made us feel so very special during our seating. We were blown away by our overall experience at Raku, 100% will return.

G. L.

We had lunch at Raku Japanese Restaurant yesterday, and loved the experience. The service and meal was excellent. We live in Crookwell, and we will certainly travel to Canberra again to dine at this outstanding Restaurant.

J. L.

Had a very positive experience here. The wait staff were very attentive and recommended great dishes for the table. The food was tremendous!!!! I would highly recommend for anyone traveling in Canberra to here to stop by :)!

I. G.

Great Japanese food matched with great service and Sake! I just loved the Unagi, the popcorn shrimp and the deep-fried eggplant to name just a few! And it was all matched with some great Sake - well worth a try! And if you're not sure, just ask as the service was both friendly and knowledgeable. Thanks

L. S.

Fantastic food, great service & nice setting. I’ll be back.

E. F.

One of the best Japanese restaurants you could find in Australia. 👌

S. G.

Canberra fine dining at it's best. Had our wedding lunch here 12 months ago and came back to have our first wedding anniversary this weekend. Food and service continues to be of the highest standard. Would highly recommend.

I. A.

We were a late booking for lunch, Raku were able to accommodate us with a great table. The food was superb and teamed with the recommended sake made the lunch memorable, we have no hesitation in recommending Raku for a great dining experience.

R. A.

At last! A decent (actually a lot better than decent) Japanese restaurant in Canberra! Particularly liked the sushi which pushes the bounds of traditionality out a little, but in ways that Japanese would appreciate - with subtlety and class. Highly recommended

J. W.

It all was delicious. The Yuzu Sour cocktail was delightful too.

M. M.

Staff more interested in the 2 hour sitting than core duties. Restaurant not open at our 5.30 pm booking time. Told to wait outside until they are ready for us. When finally asked to come in staff member reminded us that we only have a booking till 7.30. Not sure if this person has read the definition of hospitality. Food ok but rushed.Overwhelmingly, the impression I had was that it was more important that we be managed as a througput item, I would prefer to be treated as a guest. A significant element of the Japanese dining experience , the ability to enjoy rare flavours , was sacrificed for customer management.

L. L.

Our first time dining there . We had the Hao SAN’s Tasting menu. It was delicious , starting with oysters, salmon tartare , zucchini flowers etc for entree’s followed by the scotch fillet beef and sides to finish off with the most delicious dessert tstd sesame ice cream w caramelised almonds . Every dish had its unique flavour, compliments to the chef’s . Service provided by Matt was excellent as was the other staff. Well done all. We will be back . 👏❤️

P. S.

We recently celebrated my wife’s birthday at Raku. Very polite and attentive staff without being intrusive. We chose the chefs tasting menu and it was beautifully presented and very tasty. The stools we sat on were a little uncomfy for our old bones so would choose a booth next time. A thoroughly enjoyable dining experience.

I. R.

Incredible cocktail list and delicious food. Don't go past the duck

H. J.

Food is amazing, great environment, service was fantastic.

j.

Great atmosphere. The food looked and tasted amazing. My wife is coeliac and they gave her a menu that was 100% gluten free which was a great plus.

M. G.

The Raku experience is a mixed one. The food is fabulous, but the overwhelming impression is one of anxiety, haste and throughput. On the booking front, I received a booking confirmation, perhaps two, followed by a booking reminder. I also received a phone call asking me if I wanted to cancel my booking. On arrival, we were reminded that our table was booked for the next sitting and that we had two hours. The food arrived in a rush, with dishes piling up on our table well before we had a chance to savour anything. They made sure we were out with 30-40 minutes of our allotted time still available. Overwhelmingly, the impression I had was that it was more important that we be managed as a througput item, with a minimised chance that a valuable production slot would be missed. I would prefer to be treated as a guest. A significant element of the Japanese dining experience - the ability to enjoy rare flavours - was sacrificed to customer management imperatives.

F. B.

The food was insanely good and the people that work there are super friendly and helpful!

M. C.

Food is always great and fresh, service is fantastic!

P. L.

Great night earlier this week. Thanks for the fab service and attention.

A. M.

Absolutely incredible food. Service was amazing, tasting menu was delicious, every single dish was just phenomenal. Will definitely be going back there again.

S. L.

Extremely impressive menu. Ordered the edamame, dragon maki roll, yakitori, vegetable tempura, and 9 piece nigiri and I would highly recommend them all, especially the 9 piece nigiri. Fresh ingredients, prepared just the right way. If you're in Canberra for a trip, I would recommend squeezing in a reservation for lunch. You won't regret it.

D. D.

Always a fantastic experience at Raku! The tasting menus are well thought out and a well balanced amount of food. The staff are generally all very knowledgeable. The waiter who assisted me with selecting sake really knew his stuff. It will be hard to look past Raku for any special occasions.

R. L.

Amazing food, cosy ambient and super amazing service! Been there many times and would still highly recommend this place any time!

C. C.

The royal tasting menu was a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion - the tuna belly nigiri and wagyu the two highlights for us. Sake tasting flight was also wonderful, as was the service. Sashimi was fresh and dishes were full of flavour. Can’t wait to return!

K. S.

The food and service is outstanding. Sitting at the bar in front of the kitchen was an experience of its own. The skill in preparing food was extraordinary to watch and the chefs were extremely clean. The only thing I would suggest is slowing down each course. Both times I’ve dined here I’ve felt rushed and had to ask staff to slow down the courses as I was filling up too quickly. Other than that it was a wonderful experience.

P. C.

The best Japanese restaurant we have come across in Canberra. The food is well executed, fresh – just exquisite. Wine list is great and the overall feel of this is understated elegance. Recommend!

L. L.

Absolutely delicious food experience!! We had the Hao San's tasting menu (oysters, salmon tartar, sashimi, nigiri, zucchini tempura, canadian scallop, wagyu gyoza, tomato salad, scotch fillet, miso soup, sesame ice cream, $80 pp) and it was mind blowing. I especially liked the fish/ seafood part. The oysters, tartar, nigiri, scallop and gyoza were so delicious that I am still drooling over. Only negatives: noisy and sometimes chaotic service. Totally recommended.

B. N.

Best Japanese Food Ever! Thank you, our family really enjoyed the day and the experience. We will be back. Thank you to Staff and to the Chef's. 10/10

A. &. P.

What an amazing experience. It was 5 stars from when we walked it to when we walked out. We had the $80 tasting menu and every plate that was presented was exceptional and very, very tasty. The wine list was not all that large but there was enough of a selection to keep all palets satisfied. All front end staff that served us were professional and friendly and just enhanced the food and wine experience. I highly recommend Raku for anyone from couples to groups and I know my wife and I will be back with friends next time so we can share the experience .

N. R.

We had the tasting menu. It was the perfect amount of food and each dish was a delight. There were so many highlights but I think my favourites were the sashimi, steak w wasabi cream and the salmon tartare. Will definitely be back!

H. W.

Dinner was a totally wonderful dining experience. So delicious and the presentation was stunning. The service was great. Will definitely recommend Raku to all our family and friends.

A. L.

Best quality Japanese in Canberra. A great space, delicious food, and friendly service. On the pricey side but worth spoiling yourself on a special occasion or to quell your sashimi craving.

S. H.

The highlights of this place is definitely the wagyu! Definitely must try!

R. D.

Every bite was delicious! I'm vegan and my husband isn't but we both ate amazing, wonderful food. It is worth the higher price you pay. The miso eggplant, crispy tofu, avocado side dish and 2 vegan maki rolls were absolutely DELICIOUS! Go here!!! Service is nice too.

W. C.

Seafood is very fresh. A bit disappointed with the amount of seasoning & sauces used on the seafood. It was overpowering the natural taste of the very fresh produce. The quality of the rice used for the nigiri should be higher.

P. A. A.

The food at this restaurant was very good. We all found the service just too obtrusive and chaotic. What I want is a knowledgeable waiter ( our wine waiter suggested a sweet riesling with fish and at least 2 of our chosen wines were not available). The courses came to 4 people in a totally random sequence: side orders before mains, one main 15 minutes after the rest and 20 minutes after the side order, unnecessarily loud and garrulous waiter, dishes given to the wrong person etc etc. Everyone was friendly but when the waiters disturb the conversation and dominate the evening you can’t wait for it to be over. The wait staff have what it takes, they just need training.

J. T.

Delicious food, outstanding attentive staff. Tried a tasting menu, beautifully balanced and exquisite presentation. Definitely will revisit when next in Canberra.

J. W.

First off, definitely not a place you'd go to in terms of value for money. It's not cheap. However, once you've gotten past that point and want to have absolutely amazing Japanese food, this is definitely the place. We came here twice on our trip to Canberra and wish there was something like this in Sydney. They take COVID-19 safety measures very seriously and diners were either in their own separate booths or seated extremely far apart. Good start. Food, especially the seafood was exceptionally fresh. Really great mix of flavours in all the sushis without being overpowering.

W. S.

Came here all the way from Sydney to enjoy the fresh and tasty japanese cuisine. And it's worth the 3 hrs drive and to celebrate a birthday. really enjoyed our meal and it's a 10/10!! We will come back again for sure - even though we have been back 4 times already we still miss the food.

J. L.

A faultless Canberra dining experience. RAKU takes Canberra's dining scene to a whole new level while still remaining very relaxed as youd expect in a small city like Canberra. Food was exceptional, there wasnt one mediocre dish. Sashimi and Nigiri was the best Ive ever had in the world, delicate and well presented. The Duck and Wagyu main dishes were top quality. The lighting and design of the space really sets this place apart as well, and the service was relaxed and tentative. A brilliant night on all levels, thank you Raku team.

P. T.

We chose the $80 set menu. The presentations of all the dishes were stunning. The food was at high quality and delicious. We had so much food and had a wonderful night with top service from Raku’s staffs. Thank you.

M. P.

Outstanding!! the food was amazing, cocktails spectacular. I will definitely going back, this time for the larger tasting menu. Would highly recommend.

R. G.

We’ve ordered express lunch set. Food is really good! Only is that the portion is a bit small... and as a traveller, you’d probably should choose something more interesting instead of just the express lunch set!

J. S.

We had a top experience at Raku! The service was spot on and the gluten free tasting course was amazing. Highly recommend the sake tasting as well!

M. M.

Such a beautiful meal with every dish so thoughtfully and carefully prepared and presented. The atmosphere is also lovely, my husband and I appreciated the private seating arrangement. The staff were friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and proud of what they were serving. We’ll be back 😊

E. A.

We had a fabulous dining experience at Raku for a birthday lunch. We ordered the tasting menu and the selection of dishes showcased the cuisine delightfully. Staff were attentive but not overbearing. My only suggestion is to request that you are not seated on the small stools. They are not comfortable and detracted from the overall experience.

G. H.

We enjoyed a most wonderful dining experience at Raku last Wednesday evening. We had the smaller tasting menu and found it exciting and totally delicious. The service was faultless and the ambience was great. We will be back as soon as we can!

S. Q.

Excellent service and wonderful food. We had the tasting menu and it was a great way to experience a wide variety of dishes.

M. R.

Rocked up without an appointment, but they were happy to accommodate. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and even asked the kitchen staff for details on the dishes. The snapper and air dried wagyu may have been the most delicious thing I have put in my mouth 🤣

D. R.

We have been to Raku multiple times and very much enjoyed the food and the service. Yesterday however, the service was poor. On arrival at 11.31am (booking at 11.30am) we were told that the table was re booked at 1pm but the last of the mains was only brought in at 12.50pm which made us rush through dessert. The food was as good as every other time.

S. C.

Since the situation in Canberra with COVID-19 is looking so good at the moment - though I'm not relaxing just yet - I went into the city for a few essential and long-overdue things. After the dentist and haircut, I noticed that Raku was open. It’s an old favourite, which we hadn’t been to since the pandemic struck, though we had looked at how we could get takeaway during the worst bits. We needed to grab some lunch, so we thought why not support one of our local businesses. There was plenty of space and it was so good to relax for a while. The food (and wine - they have a good list) was exceptional. I had almost forgotten just how good this place is and why we have always liked it so much. I just hope our fortunate state continues and that all our Victorian friends and relatives will be able to do this again soon, too.

P. D.

Quality of the food and service was first class. Drinks menu very impressive. expect to spend big $$$

D. S.

I went to Raku for my 10th wedding anniversary with hubby. My husband had previously been there for a work lunch, and so I had heard amazing things about it. It was absolutely amazing! I had the Butterfly Pea Syrup cocktail; Shobu's Delight, and the Blueberry, Lychee and Jasmine cocktail Murasaki for starters, and of them my favourite was the Shobu's Delight, creamy and an incredible vibrant blue. We had the $80 tasting menu, which you can view on their website. The rock oysters were very fresh without any hint of fishiness. The Salmon tartar was creamy, melt-in-the mouth fatty with a bright salty seaweed and squid ink cracker and the zippy offset of yuzu citrus miso. The sashimi trio came out on a spectacular ice sculpture platter, followed by a delicately grilled scallop. Just one wagyu beef gyoza, but it was the most memorable flavour of the night, with hot truffle self-sauce oozing out, a perfect blend of fat, umami and mustard zing. I was excited to taste the tomato salad, with the special feature of beach bananas, which is the Australian native Pig Face. It was crispy, salty and slightly sweet just like a pickled cucumber minus the vinegar. The absolute highlight was the toasted sesame ice cream at the end. Caramelized miso absolutely works, and is an amazing and interesting taste experience! I love sesame flavours with all my heart and I'm still hoping I can somehow get my hands on that ice cream again! Would absolutely go back for another treat in a heartbeat, and all the staff were very lovely and welcoming, even leaving a beautiful anniversary message on our dessert at the end.

L. D.

Love this place! Best sushi and cocktails in town.

B. L.

Fantastic, excellent service and food.

A. B.

Excellent service, great food and despite being very busy 100% on the service.

H. M.

Second time at Raku this time with 2 family members. We had Hao San's Tasting menu and a serve of the Deep Fried eggplant it was excellent. We recommend Raku highly. Service was excellent, a great team and we could actually have conversation, something which can be quite difficult in some restaurants. Thank you Raku.

P. B.

We went on a Thursday night. The restaurant was busy but the service was beyond outstanding. The staff knew the food and the sake well. We did the tasting menu and would absolutely recommend it. All the food was wonderful and there was enough to be completely full. A great way of trying new things. We also did the sake tasting and tried some very unusual sakes. I lived them all. The people serving the sakes really knew their stuff. A wonderful experience- will definitely be back- great food great service.

W. P.

All in all an excellent dining experience Great variety in the tasting menu however the portions felt a bit undersized for 3 of us. Service felt a little rushed for a Sunday night even though it wasn't that busy. Diverse and well priced wine menu. Well presented with good attention to detail; will be returning for another meal.

N. M.

Arguably one of, if not the best restaurant in Canberra. Ambience, selection of food and drinks, service and taste, has not disappointed us ever. Not many things wrong here. A definite must go place. Modern Japanese, fresh sushi and sashimi, bbq seafood and meats make it a pleasant experience.

V. D.

The food was nicely served. I'm not sure if it's casual or fancy or what? What are they trying to do? All I know for sure was that it was busy and it was dark. The front of house team are drilled and busy looking. But I did feel a bit turned over. The web site lays down the rules which sets the scene for a thorough processing of the meal/ restaurant experience. Nothing new or innovative here as far as flavour but the meat was fresh and the price about right.

K. C.

We visited RAKU to experience top level Japanese cuisine given COVID cancelled plans to holiday in Tokyo. In the weeks leading up to our occasion, we had several friends ask if we had been yet. Our impression was that RAKU is well known as a fine dining location in the Canberra scene. Having just returned from our visit, we are extremely pleased to report that RAKU satisfied in all regards, from the initial greeting cards table service, ambience and, of course, the meal it's self. An excellent dining experience.

S. R.

Food tastes very good, service was great and very attentive. We had the taster menu and the food came out quickly. The staff were friendly and cleared plates without interrupting conversation. However, a few hours later it had not sat well, but hopefully just a once off occurrence.

S.

Love the cheaper banquet menu in comparison to the more expensive one. Delicious oysters. Would not order the rolls though as they’re quite small and overpriced.

J. D.

This was our first experience of Japanese cuisine. A delightful introduction, great service and incredible food. A big thank you to our server Molly. Very patient with us wonderful service. We will be back.

M. L.

Just outstandingly delicious. Traditional Japanese does in a modern way in exquisite surroundings. We had the Royal Tasting Menu. Perfectly matched sines and just the right amount of food.

N. R.

So good! Best Japanese I’ve ever had! It’s a must if you’re in Canberra and want to have Japanese food.

L. S.

Sophisticated, tranquil atmosphere, affable staff and mind blowing food. Had the banquet. Perfectly sized, rich and delicately presented course after course. Topped off with the incredible dessert (matcha wafers for the win!!) Definitely up there as one of my favourites for fine dining here in Canberra and a great way to break the isolation dining-out drought!!

P. C.

We chose Raku to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The ratings for Raku seemed to be higher than its competitors, and we agree with them. The tasting menu was exceptional,and the service was excellent.

E. N. S.

Exquisite food Expensive but worth the treat Make sure to book in advance.

m. d.

Best restaurant in Canberra! Service is incredible and food is out of this world! So we’ll priced for what you get, will definitely continue coming here and recommending it to others!

F. C.

Fantastic, Fantastic. Brilliant restaurant with great service, amazing food and a fantastic ambience. Food that leaves your pallet with a fresh taste sensation. Highly recommended. I want to go back again and again.

K. S.

We love Raku and it has never disappointed. The food is beautifully presented and tastes just as good as it looks. We had the royal banquet this time. My only hesitation with recommending it is that the tasting menu is very similar and is honestly just as good. Why pay $45 more for something that is very similar in size, quality and content. We were still happy with our choice but will probably order the tasting menu in future, which is fantastic.

S. M.

The food was exceptional especially the black cod, well worth the price. Staff were attentive and the sommelier especially helpful. Will be back!

G. B.

Raku is one of my favourite places in Canberra. Highly recommend, it never disappoints, sophisticated delicious food, loved it. My fiancé proposed to me on that day and we went there afterwards and it was the perfect restaurant to celebrate, we had the 6menu course with champagne, what a day to remember! Amazing quality food yummy

T.

i dont eat seafood so was worried that i would not have many options however there were alot of vege and other meat options. the lamb ribs were amazing! i found the price reasonable and the staff were excellent. would recommend!

D. G.

Everything was great. The Alaskan black cod was particularly good.

R. O.

Amazing food and fantastic service. The chef was also happy to change two dishes on the set menu for us. Highly recommend - we cant wait to come back again!

C. K.

Excellent Japanese fine dining. Good food and service.

M. S.

If I could give this place play six stars I would this was the most amazing food I may have ever eaten in my life. My wife and I ate here for our 10th wedding anniversary and chose the 11 course degustation. Each dish was unique and flavourful to the point where we weren’t overly full at the end but we couldn’t eat anything else because of the overloading of flavours. It was an experience like none other maybe equivalent of Charlies chocolate factory but for Japanese food.

M. E.

Excellent. Would highly recommend the royal tasting menu

B. A.

Not really big on sushi and Japanese food in general, but my partners birthday, so she got to choose! The service was exemplary from all perspectives and the food (we got the royal banquet) was fantastic. We were lucky enough to be seated at the bar and had prime viewing of the chef's at work, it almost became a show. A great experience and I will be back the next time in Canberra.

T. W.

Come in knowing what it is: Very expensive short courses of modern Japanese food arranged mostly in a set menu of various levels. Delicious and fresh. Presentation aside; sashimi sets are essentially no better than your average Japanese restaurant. Tuna tartare was uninteresting, cooked fish main was confused. They clearly have pride in their work, many of the dishes are more art than food; that experience in itself is worth a trip. Atmosphere is austere and clientele are definitely the most corporate of corporate, especially for lunch. Seems like the place where deals are done. Professional and skilled staff.

C. T.

My Husband and I went to Raku for our anniversary. We had the royal tasting menu which was divine. We dine at Raku quite often as it never disappoints or gets monotonous and the service is continuously excellent.

L. C.

Hands down our favourite place in Canberra. The food (and drinks) are exceptional.

J. M.

Celebrated a special occasion recently at Raku and the experience exceeded all expectations. The food was presented well, healthy and delicious. the service levels of all staff were exceptional. Highly recommended and will be returning soon.

j. l.

Some dishes are really good, my son enjoyed most of them. However, I ordered Black Rod which recommended by staff not as good as I expected. The price is a little bit expensive than reasonable.

C. M.

I had wanted to go to Raku for ages and finally got there for a lovely Friday lunch with a business partner. The whole experience was amazing, quite honestly straight from using their booking app to arrival. We had a set menu and I could not fault a dish. I would highly recommend Raku

I. L.

Fantastic experience!! We had the tasting menu and loved every dishes!! The ingredients are so fresh and the presentation was exquisite! Open kitchen style that you can see the care the chef place in each dish. Great services too! Will definitely come back!

A. T. H.

Absolutely phenomenal. Service. Atmosphere. Food quality. One of the best (if not best) dining experiences that I've ever had (my two friends who I was with agree). Maybe a little biased because of the variety (had the royal banquet), but regardless, very highly recommend making a stop here if you are anywhere near Canberra.

J. W.

Apart from the superb healthy delicious food this is a great restaurant for people with food allergies - nothing was too much trouble and checked for nuts gluten etc as family members have range of food allergies. Loved getting the takeaway bento boxes during COVID lockdown too!

J. M.

Hands down the best dining experience I have ever had, service is second to none, the food is amazing, setting is excellent. Could happily spend my whole pay check on this place !!

V. H.

First time I had been to Raku, the service was outstanding, food was incredible. The atmosphere and mood of the establishment was warm and relaxing. The staff were welcoming and very well presented. Overall one of the nicest restaurants I have ever been to. Will be going back again for sure!

J. T.

Sensational experience all round. Food was exquisite, ably assisted by our knowledgeable young waiter. Loved the scallops and the eggplant especially. Wine list is good and also enthusiastic wine waiter. Excellent food, attentive service. Highly recommended!

S. P.

This place delights me every time we visit. The fresh fish is just heavenly, the service is outstanding and the staff know how to please. The exquisite selection on the menu is complimented by exceptional high quality wines and a large choice of whiskies and cocktails. From the moment you enter Raku you are greeted at the door and shown to your seat. The menu is perfect for this modern fine dining Japanese experience. The flavours of the sashimi are delicate and each dish is unique, delicious and prepared from the finest freshest ingredients. Raku offers as an amazing selection of Japanese food whether it’s the large selection of maki rolls, fresh sashimi dishes that are a must every time, or the unforgettable grilled octopus or wagyu. This is the place to celebrate with friends and family or enjoy a lunch with work colleagues or a special dinner.

J. I.

Absolutely top rate lunch experience on 1 July 2020. Tasting menu never disappoints. Fabulous food, fabulous drinks. Sushant (front of house) was a complete gem finding us a booth and just being a legend all around.

G. B.

Special occasion dinner, shared the $80 tasting menu. Best food we have eaten out in ages - every morsel was memorable. We’ll be back

M. M.

It is nice to find a special restaurant in the middle of Canberra, somewhere that takes you to another country. It was a fabulous experience from the service, wine and of course the food. Very memorable in a totally forgettable year.

L. K.

The food was amazing, high-quality ingredients and some dishes had the wow factor, especially red snapper with wagyu bresaola. We had the degustation for $120p.p. and enjoyed rhe meal way more than our recent Tetsuya's experience. This restaurant deserves a hat, best food I have had in a long time.

F. H.

Food was excellent, but expensive. Dishes were smaller than we expected. The place was jammed and considering that, the service was great. We had a large party and walked in while a large convention was in town. they were able to accommodate us with not too long a wait. the menu options were varied and everyone liked their food. Recommended, thankyou Raku!

L. 4.

Good food. Friendly staff. $$$

N. H.

What a delight! After reading reviews I had been want to try this restaurant for a while and it definitely didn't disappoint! Agree with other reviews it's worth sitting at the bar and watching the chefs prepare the food it's like an art and very entertaining. We had the $80 set menu and it was fantastic, plenty of food and very fresh. Service was great, attentive but not overbearing. Great ambiance and music, will definitely be going again!

N. M.

Great service, great food, great drinks

D. R.

Simply the best Japanese restaurant I have ever been too. Fresh stylish and great tasting food. If you want great Japanese look no further!

K. S.

Came here on a Tuesday night with a good friend of mine. I left very satisfied and full, the staff were all extremely helpful and kind. Would definitely recommend.

J. O.

Wonderful dining experience. The flavours are to die for and the presentation was just beautiful. The service was excellent. Thorough recommend this restaurant

H.

I had dinner with a friend of mine at Raku and it was one of the best dining experiences I have had the pleasure of enjoying. The hot and cold food was gorgeous! Fresh and prepared perfectly, the service was five star and the dishes came out at the perfect time. I will definitely eat at Raku again and recommend them if you enjoy Japanese cuisine.

I. T.

The food and service were of the highest standard. Friendly staff explained all the dishes and beverages with total professionalism. My wife and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary and were very happy with our special treatment.

R. B.

Great food. Good service.

T. F.

Delectable and artistically presented dishes, each one a unique flavour explosion. The Royal tasting menu, Yasai, Ebi sumibi yaki and Sakura pavlova - highly recommended.

A. R.

This Japanese restaurant is amazing. I took my husband out for his birthday and we opted to sit up and watch the chef's preparing our meal. This made our evening that much more special. They take pride in everything they do and the meal was devine. The service was also spectactular; we didn't have to wait at all to order drinks or extra food. And the Sake was amazing, as was the wine list! Highly recommend :)

D. H.

So lucky Canberra have RAKU - finally an excellent traditional Japanese with a twist👍🏼 Service is excellent as well - lovely and attention to the guests needs and very knowledgeable with their products. Will never get tired of this restaurant. Keep doing what you are doing RAKU and the customers will never get tired of your food😋

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