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

Every single dish on the Hao San Tasting menu was so delicious and beautifully presented. The cocktails were also very refreshing and tasty. The customer service was friendly, attentive and accommodating. The atmosphere was classy and lively. We were there for lunch on a Tuesday and it was pretty busy, so we highly recommend booking a table. We will definitely come back to Raku next time we're in Canberra.

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.

Raku is an absolutely amazing place! We had booked for 8 of us for a celebratory weekend and everyone recommended Raku. We were all very glad we did as it was our highlight for the whole weekend. Being a larger group we got to sit in the private room and had the tasting menu. It was so nice having an more quiet area just for our group. The staff as well were so nice and friendly, and made us all feel very special. In particular one who I didn't catch his name but he impressed us with his languages and humor and was all round amazing. He also was able to pick up on that two of us were Kosher based on dietary requests and was able to substitute certain foods with no issues at all. The food itself was so unique and fascinating but also very delicious, and was so well presented like nothing I had ever seen. There were so many new things I tried that night that I never had before and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I can't recommend Raku enough! Thank you so much for making our night so great!

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.

(Translated by Google) Except that the price is expensive and the environment is good, everything else is too average. There is too little food and the taste is average. The waiter was very rude (especially a tall and thin Asian waitress). After hearing that we were no longer adding dishes, she immediately took away the chopsticks, plates and other utensils in person. I was really disgusted. Generally speaking, the food and service are too poor, which does not match the restaurant environment. It's not the kind of excellent restaurant except expensive. 🙃 (Original) 除了价格贵环境还不错，其余的一切都太一般了。食物太少，味道也一般般。服务员很没礼貌（尤其是一个高瘦的亚裔女服务员），听到我们不再加菜后，她就立马当面收走筷子盘子和其它餐具，我真被恶心到了。总的来说就是食物、服务太差，与其餐馆环境不匹配。完全不是那种除了贵没毛病的优秀餐厅。🙃

Best Japanese in Canberra. Must book first as they book out very quickly. Great for a special occasion. Everything was really delicious and service was amazing. Wonderful and really tasty drinks menu. Great recommendation from staff too.

Incredible food, we probably got a bit carried away with our order as the portions were quite generous but everything we had was amazing. Our favourite was the popcorn shrimp. Can't wait to visit again soon.

We walked in and luckily they had a table available for us (advise to make a booking before you go!). The waitress were friendly and the food was divine. The sushi rice just melted in your mouth. Same with the beef cheeks - you can cut it with your spoon! All the dishes were great and you get to see the chefs making the sushi and sashimi right in front of you! They also have a great range of Japanese whisky, sake and cocktails. Definitely one I'd go back to.

Best and first fine dining experience we have had in the last 3 years with our two young girls, we sat outside and it was great, the girls loved the food (and they are super picky). Highly recommend the beef cheeks, popcorn shrimp and skewers. Servers were lovely and attentive. Thank you for wonderful experience Raku :)

(Translated by Google) It is suitable for white-collar workers in formal attire to come to eat. Tourists and students or casually dressed people don’t come. It feels like they are not here to eat, but to receive judgement from the waiter, especially a thin and tall Asian girl. The environment is great, the food is average, the price is slightly higher, the service is really bad, and people don’t want to eat more at all. After telling her that she will not order more meals, Zhen Nima collects all the tableware at the speed of light Up, fo down (Original) 适合穿正装的白领来吃饭，游客学生或者穿着休闲的各位就别来了，感觉不是来吃饭的，是来接收服务员的judgement的，尤其是一个瘦高的亚洲女孩。环境很棒，食物做的一般，价格略高，服务是真的差，让人一点儿都不想多吃，告诉她不再多点餐后，真尼玛是光速的把所有的餐具都给收了，fo了

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.

Foods are just average level，one young age gentleman waiter is very friendly but a middle-age waiter (around 35 years old) makes me and my friends felt very uncomfortable. I would prefer to throw the money away instead of being judge by the waiters.

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.

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.

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.

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 😊

Wow! What a great food experience that was. Raku did not disappoint! It was my adult daughter’s birthday, and we had five people. Whilst the booths were probably a bit tight, for a big fellas like me). Raku allowed us to use the private dinning room, this was so much appreciated. We had the Royal tasting menu, it was sublime. Course after course, all small servings satisfied us completely. The food was faultless, and the presentation was amazing. There was nothing I did not like. The sraff were amazing, each dish was explained, even the potion sized per person and how it is best eaten. They were lovely! I will come again. This is my favourite dining experience in Canberra.

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.

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 😊.

This is our second visit to RAKU and it didn’t disappoint. Service was perfection and food was delectable. We chose to do the set menu and the plates were perfectly paced. My personal favourite touch was the change over of plates, without prompting, between cold and hot dishes. (Not all dishes pictured)

Absolutely delicious food and perfect service 😊

We have visited three times now and we continue to be blown away by the exceptional food, sake pairings and service. Raku is my favourite restaurant in Canberra!

Treat yourself and go the royal tasting menu. It’s incredible. By far my favourite restaurant in Canberra!

Raku is always an amazing experience. Food is exquisite , service impeccable . One of my favourite restaurants in Canberra.

Food was very nice. The flavors were perfectly balanced and the presentation was impeccable. I especially enjoyed the combination of ingredients used in each dish. The chef's attention to detail was evident in every bite. Overall, it was a delightful culinary experience that left me wanting more.

Everything on the menu is fabulous. Sitting at the bar you can be mesmerised by the skill and care of the sushi chefs. I love everything about Raku - great staff, wonderful and inventive food and everything is superbly presented.

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!

What a wonderful experience! We chose the $100 degustation menu and every dish was not only delicious but a work of art. We sat opposite the three chefs who were instrumental in creating some of the most incredible dishes. Fabulous atmosphere. I highly recommend booking as the restaurant was full and it was a week night.

Our third visit and the most enjoyable. We ordered the Hao Sans Tasting Menu for two ($100 pp). It was all sooo tasty. Service was very friendly and helpful and also very well timed. The courses came to us at just the right intervals to allow some interspersed conversation. They even included a happy birthday desert for Moi 😜 We will definitely return as often as we can.

Just walking and decided we were hungry, Raku had seats and were more than happy to accommodate. The menu is full of things that have amazing flavours, textures and colours. Everything is so well presented you are not sure if you should really eat it. My suggestion is don't let it go to waste. There is an expense that come with it but the flavour is worth it. Service is fast and excellent, any questions they are more than happy to answer and explain.

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).

Went for a work dinner for the first time, the quality of the food was amazing & you can tell it’s all prepared very well. The staff were friendly & consistent defiantly props to the way things are ran & handled professionally Ordered the tasting menu & a few extras like the popcorn shrimp & Wagyu skewers which did not disappoint in any way. Easily one of the best fine dining restaurant experiences 📸🔥

Really enjoyed my experience, a solid combination of lovely food and atmosphere. Efficient service that's not over the top. A nice surprise was the outstanding wine list that was unexpected given the cuisine. Lunch or dinner, recommended. (I like the booths) But book!

Cannot fault this place for a delicious dinner. We have been a few times now, and it never fails to disappoint. This time we were sat where you can see the chefs preparing the sushi and sashimi which I really enjoyed. My favourite dish was the tempura prawn sushi roll, which I would go as far as to say was the best sushi I’ve ever had. 10/10 guys :)

Having been before, our expectations were high and they were exceeded. Top subtle service from the moment we entered. We sat at the bar and thoroughly enjoyed watching the creative plate and meal preparations. Quiet background music. Excellent wine list featuring many ACT wines. We had the $100 set menu and thought the variety of dishes were superb. Each small course was served with careful explanation. As good or better than anywhere we’ve eaten in Melbourne or Japan. Highly recommend.

We enjoyed the royal set menu that costs $160pp, Beautiful, elegant food and good service. Great for a date night. Really fresh seafood and everything was wonderful and unique. Really good experience overall. I recommend this restaurant if you like japanese food with a twist and lovely cocktails~

If you're a fan of Japanese cuisine, we highly recommend visiting Raku when you are in Canberra. The restaurant offers a very good dining experience; however, the selection of vegetarian dishes is somewhat limited. We were particularly impressed by the dessert—the Raku chef's platter—an absolute delight that we can recommend trying. The overall quality of the food at Raku is very good. As the place tends to get booked up, making a reservation in advance is advisable, and you can easily do so on their website.

We went there for my husband’s birthday and we had a phenomenal time! The attention to detail in every aspect of the restaurant was remarkable, from the beautifully crafted menu to the stylish decor. The food was simply out of this world. Each dish was carefully prepared and presented like a work of art. The flavours were bold, yet perfectly balanced, and every bite was a burst of deliciousness. We'll surely come back again!

Have been meaning to go for months and I'm happy to say the my expectations were blown away. The cocktails were perfectly balanced ways to start the meal. The atmosphere from the open kitchen and the fire grill immediately transport you away from CityWalk. We had the Hao San Tasting menu, which was perfectly portioned and a great journey through the various plates they offer. We were so excited for every page and so sad to finish them. Enjoy your time! You will not be disappointed.

We would give them 6* for our fabulous dinner experience. We had the 11-course tasting menu (with two substituted seafood for me (pescatarian) dishes) and 5-course Sake tasting. All dishes were wonderful and the staff really friendly and efficient. Need another excuse to visit Canberra and go back for dinner!

Great dining experience, food were scrumptious and worth all pennies spent.

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.

Great food and beautiful staff. Highly recommended restaraunt

👍👍👍👍☺👍👍

My wife and i have been many times and enjoyed the food very much ,and hats off to the staff all very polite.

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!

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 : Kumogani soft shell crab rolls, Truffle salmon rolls, signature nigiri selection, sukotchi firetto seared scotch fillet (or make it wagyu), tosuta goma sesame icecream with matcha wafers and caramelised almonds.

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.

Just awesome!! Went for bday loved it.

Love, love, love. Excellent food and wonderful atmosphere.

as always!

Perfect venue for a fine dining but casual experience. Food was devine.

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!!👌😝

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!

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Some of the best Japanese food in Canberra. The banquets are where it's at.

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!

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!

Best on ground in Canberra

Easily the best dining experience I've had in Canberra.

Fabulous food, great service in a relaxed dining environment.

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!!!!!!!

So yummy!! My fave place to eat in Canberra!!!

Amazing food, drinks and service. I tried a number of items on the menu that I would not ordinarily and they were delicious.

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!

Fantastic food and excellent service. Raku has rapidly become our favourite Canberra restaurant!

Astounding services and and excellent meal #welldone

Best Japanese restaurant in town

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.

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.

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.

First time back in several years and the food and service remains first-class. Bonus points for managing an onion intolerance perfectly.