Yoko Dining
Brisbane CBD
Yoko Dining is a stunning, two-level, waterfront Japanese restaurant and bar in the Howard Smith Wharves precinct in Brisbane CBD.
Inspired by the lively izakayas and music bars in Tokyo, Yoko Dining is a well-priced, laidback, Japanese bistro-style restaurant for everyone from families to friends and couples, by the owners of neighbouring Greek bar and eatery Greca.
Diners can take their choice of seating on the outside terrace with retractable roof and stunning Story Bridge and city views, or inside the massive, split-level, corrugated iron shed-like building where there's an open kitchen featuring a hibachi charcoal grill.
From the food menu, diners can start with izkaya snacks such as edamame, nori and tagerashi, pork katsu steamed bun or pickled cabbage, cucumber and chilli.
From the raw bar, there's oysters, ume and lemon myrtle, beef tartare, ponzu and cucumber or must-try ocean trout, pepper and wasabi while tempura dishes include okra, chicken or prawn karaage.
Noodle and dumpling plates include the likes of spicy rice noodles with chicken and spring onion, pork gyoza and vinegar or mushroom gyoza with chilli and ponzu.
Meat and seafood dishes include teriyaki fish collar, charcoal chicken with sansho pepper, stuffed calamari with yuzu kosho, soy braised pork belly in lettuce cups and wagyu intercostal with onion salad, with sides such as butter lettuce with kombu dressing, koshihikari rice or steamed greens and ginger soy.
Then for sweets, there's soft serve matcha or mango sorbet, steamed lemon pudding with seasonal fruit, or shaved milk ice, kinako and caramelised pistachio. And, for groups or those who can't decide, Yoko offers an Izakaya Set (8 courses of chef's recommendations) or a Yoko Feast (11 courses).
As for the drinks menu, there's an impressive selection of sake (fruity, light and crisp; aromatic with rounded texture or full flavoured and complex), Japanese beers (including Suntory All Free or Rich Malt, Asahi Super Dry Japan or Black, Green Label or Orion Lager and Sapporo Premium Lager) and local craft beers including Yoko Smooth Ale by Felons (neighbouring HSW brewery). There's also a selection of boutique wines by the glass or bottle and cocktails including classics such as Cherry Blossom Daiquiri, Raspberry Ginger Highball or Matcha Melon and jasmin-vodka based Ice tea and a special Yoko Spritz.
The menu may have changed since our visit.
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