The problem is that I can only give Etsu Izakaya 5 stars. Etsu Izakaya deserves at least 6 stars. This is a fantastic restaurant hidden behind an old wooden door. Great vibe. As soon as you enter you know you are in for a great experience. The mood is set. The staff are great always seeming to appear just as you need them. Helpful and very friendly. The food is amazing and the presentation is outstanding.

Had dinner at Etsu tonight. The food was amazing but the service we got from our waiter Ricky was even better. His recommendations were spot on as was his attentiveness. The restaurant itself has and awesome vibe and feel to it. Cannot recommend Etsu enough.

“Japanese style” Izakaya mainly run by non-Japanese staff which is quite a difference compare with other izakayas I’ve been. The presentation is very Japanese and the food is quite delicious. Been there two times both visits quite satisfied with their overall food presentation. The decor is quite an eye opener on the first visit but second time just feels standard. The first time we went we ordered sushi moriwase and it was a really pretty dish. Some minor points about the second visit: - tempura king prawn is actually underwhelming. I get it it’s a fancy prawn but not really good for tempura style with it’s firm flesh not holding any of the dashi broth. - the matcha tiramisu dessert stands out with its sweetness more than the matcha flavour.

Lived up to the hype!! Love the exclusivity with the barn door, would’ve gotten lost if I hadn’t read the reviews first 😅 food was absolutely delectable, only complaint was the waygu was quite burnt and I felt like the serving size was quite small. We did the $95 set menu with $60 sake and wine tasting, which were very well matched with the meals. Service was amazing also.

Had a wonderful dinner here, it is such a cool bar with excellent food and great vibes. My mocktail was delicious, all the drinks looked so yum. We ordered the set menu and every item was exquisite. I especially loved the skewers which were perfectly cooked and smoky. I would absolutely come back again!

I got take away from Etsu back when we were in covid lockdown last year and have been wanting to actually go to the restaurant ever since. Finally got to go and it was a great experience. Love the vibe and interior design of this place. All the food was really good but we thought the chicken was a stand out. Super tender with a sweet glaze and worked perfectly with the orange marmalade. Kingfish is probably my favourite sashimi and this one didn’t disappoint. Skewers were another highlight, you can actually see them cooking these over the charcoal grill and they were super tender. Did think $14 for 2 small skewers was steep tho. Duck was tender with a nice sauce to compliment the flavours. I also liked how unique the onion rings were. Gyozas are a must for a little entree, would say they’re up there with some of the best pork gyozas I’ve had in Aus. Drinks were delisshhh. I got the cocktails and just kept ordering them because they were so fresh and tasty. Food was super fast and staff were friendly. At times I did feel like they were just trying to hurry us up though

We had a great time at Etsu. We were served by Jamie. Would recommend the Aburi salmon and duck. The food was excellent and good value for money. Will definitely come back when next time in the Gold Coast.

Food was great, very busy restaurant. Ordered $90 set menu was pretty good, love the matcha and lemongrass cocktail so unique and yum. Expensive but worth it.

Etsu is such an amazing space. From the outside you can walk straight past it. As soon as you open the door your introduced to an inviting environment. The food was incredible and sushi was very fresh. Would highly recommend you test out the cocktails. Would recommend.

We were surprised when arrived there. It’s not a real Japanese restaurant But great combination of Japanese restaurant and Australian bar!! Lots of alcohol and tasty foods A staff was so kind and friendly. Definitely I will come back here to try other foods:))

This was my 2nd visit to Etsu in March 2022. 1st visit was back in 2018. Still the best Japanese restaurant on the Gold Coast. Full marks fir fiod and excellent service. Not cheap but all very high quality. I will be back yum

If you see the Japanese latern next to a big white barn door you've found the place. Almost a hidden bar type entry feel about it. Slide the barn door and Kabam 5star fine dining restaurant appears. Some of the tastiest Japanese food I have ever tasted holy damn. Flex and a half 💪 The salmon dish omfg whoever cooked that is a god. The Wagyu carpaccio was delicious!! Also doubles as a whiskey bar. Awesome vibe. Highly recommended. Pricey but empty ya wallets you won't be disappointed.

My girlfriends and I dined here for dinner and wow!! This was definitely one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve personally been to. The service was flawless and so was the food. It was very lively when we entered and was still busy when we left, clearly a popular place and I now I know why. Highly recommend if you’re around the area and looking for top notch modern Japanese food!

Sensational Japanese restaurant!! We had the set menu for 8 people $55/Head. They catered for some of our vegan friends and also some who didn’t want raw fish. Our waiter Jack from the UK looked after us extremely well 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 keep the good work guys!!

Highly recommend this spot!! Everything we ordered was so delicious especially the salmon sashimi and ponzu oysters, the vibe and ambiance was moody & intimate. The service was great too very friendly & accommodating keep in mind its a pricey spot but so worth it, great for a special occasion.

best japanese I've eaten in aus. plenty more things to try on the menu. has a menu of japanese beverages and that essence of japanese interior styling too.

Amazing service and beautiful food! We love to do something other than wine matching, so it was great to be able to pair sake with our food. The waitstaff were knowledgeable about the styles of sake and very helpful with choosing ones we might like. As a non seafood eater in a primarily seafood restaurant, it was AMAZING to have so many options to choose from - and the husband loved his endless seafood too. Shout out to the yuzu sorbet - not usually a dessert person but loved this! Has more of a bar vibe than fine dining - loud and cheerful, but quality of food and service is excellent.

Ours first time dining at Etsu Izakaya it was amazing food was fantastic !! Taylor who's host us with friendly ,professional and excellent service. Definitely will come back again.

Don’t expect it to be a quiet venue! The food were really great (consistently good from entrees to mains), friendly customer service too.

Nothing better than to start with the sashimi moriawase and follow up with spider maki and aburi salmon maki. Of course few amazing cocktails to match (Etsu chu hi, Boba fett, the Japanese gin garden, Matcharina)

Holy moly if you’re reading reviews to gauge on if Etsu is a good place, then read. I further than this: BOOK A TABLE ASAP. This place is amazing! The space itself is incredible. Once you find your way in, you instantly feel part of the cool club. The atmosphere is amazing with buzzing chatter and low hum of the funky playlist that’s playing. Onto the food - I wish I had three stomachs so I could eat everything. However, I did try! Please try The Kingfish Hammachi. It’s a flavour explosion that you’ll never want to end. The cocktails were amazing also! Staff were super nice and helpful. Overall great experience!

To say this food was amazing would be an insult. There isn't any words in the english language to describe the level and quality of food served here. I've eaten at more restaurants in my life than I could put into numbers and this is likes above all of them. The staff there are very fun, friendlyz attentive, and seem to enjoy working there. The meals are prepared in a great amount of time and come out amazingly presented absolutelt amazingly. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat wagyu or sashimi at any other place after eating here as it will just make me think of wanting to go back to this place. I couldn't possibly recommend it any more, absolutely 500/10.

Enjoyed some of the best contemporary Japanese food in the Gold Coast. This venue is beautiful, great ambiance and an inconspicuous entry, just like that of the izakayas in Japan. The service was top notch and the food is just so damn good.

Cool vibe as you entered the restaurant through the barn looking decor from the front. The dishes are a hit and miss for us. Chicken skewers and the Carpaccio are pretty average tasting. Miso rice ball was simple but works really well as it was sweet and salty whilst soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The wagyu steak was not worth it, we think it still felt a little tough for the price. Tooth fish is highly recommended, it was juicy and had this nice texture to it. Food - 7 Service - 8 Vibe - 9 Price - $$$$

We visited tonight for our 3 year anniversary. The service was absolutely spectacular across the board. All the waitresses were super attentive and worked very quickly. The food was cooked to perfection, alongside the amazing atmosphere that pulled the whole vibe together. It was interesting to try find it as it is almost hidden, but again, adds to the complete vibe!! Thank you so much to our lovely server (whom we didn’t get a name of unfortunately). We will most certainly be back, as alongside the service, every dish we had was well worth the cost and tasted divine.

Enjoyed everything in this place! First of all the service was really nice. The atmosphere is very cool, I loved that it looks like a hidden place. We got a few dished to share which was absolutely tasty: fish carpaccio, sushi roll, beef dumplings. Th cocktails are so good!

Etsu is a must go restaurant in the Gold Coast. The food is incredible, the vibes are amazing, and the restaurant is beautiful. We ordered the $95 set menu and it was divine. Alex is the best waiter ever, he looked after us the whole night. #Restaurantofthesummer

Awesome hidden Japanese bar. Great food and awesome service. Sam really took good care of us. Will be back for sure!

My partner and I ate here for his birthday and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious, the restaurant atmosphere was so cool and the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly (particularly Tess who helped us I believe). Great range of drinks as well. Will definitely be back!

Great food, great service. Loved the wagyu, although it did take a long time to come out and we only had 10mins left on our booking by the time it was served to us. Would have enjoyed it more if we weren't feeling so rushed!

Etsu Izakaya has a hidden bar atmosphere, as you slide the door you are greeted with a bustling bar/Japanese fusion vibe, like walking into a basement tunnel packed with excitement in inner city Melbourne. The service was great and the food was delicious, well worth the experience.

I’ve been wanting to come here for so long and finally got the chance - it did not disappoint! Everything we ordered was delicious with lots of flavour. The service was great, cocktails and desserts too. Can’t wait to come back and try other menu items! Thank you!

Had my birthday dinner in this restaurant (first time). The food was tasteful and superb customer service. May made us comfortable and explained what’s in the menu. Highly recommended and worth coming back.

Was lucky enough to get a last-minute booking for the earliest dinner time slot at this very popular restaurant while visiting Gold Coast. This place deserves 5 stars owing to fresh sashimi, delicious salmon maki rolls and friendly staff. Highly recommended!

Absolutely fantastic izakaya and atmosphere. Delicious food, we opted to sample a handful of things instead of the set menu. Portion sizes are small so don't expect anything crazy for the price, but after a few dishes and drinks you leave very satisfied. Great staff, electric atmosphere and just as good for couples. Highly recommend the Robata grilled mushrooms and skewers. Great selection of drinks including some rare Japanese sake and whiskey. Would love to hear some more Japanese hip hop and house music on the soundtrack.

The totally nondescript entrance barring a red lantern meant we walked past a few times before noticing where to enter, it was like finding a hidden treasure. And a treasure it is. Amazing food and cocktails. The sashimi was fresh and the tooth fish was savoury and well done. Thanks to Holly for taking care of us and making sure we had a great night.

We recently visited this restaurant and were impressed by the fusion Japanese cuisine. The decor was nice and the lighting really added to the atmosphere, making it feel like we were transported to another world. We opted for the $95 set menu and added on the $60 wine and sake tasting options. Although the food was delicious and it was clear that the chef had put a lot of effort into both the cooking techniques and presentation, the eating time of 1.5 hours was a bit not enough and could be improved upon, especially considering that our table spent a total of approximately $600. The only other downside was that the prawn tempura was slightly overcooked. Additionally, it would have been nice if the sashi portion was increased from one slice per person to three slices. Overall, the experience was satisfactory, but not particularly memorable!

Was really good and definitely worth trying. Excellent local fish. Just didn't find anything stood out, the fish and chips shop had excellent local fish too

One of the best restaurants on the coast, in my opinion. Amazing ambience, attentive staff and incredible food. Love coming here

Very good service and food! Surprisingly we love the vegetarian dishes (eggplant, edamame, mushroom). Their kingfish sashimi is a little too tangy to my liking, but it's still good. Wagyu is excellent. Had the sake mimosa and wagyu tenderloin which was on their specials. The only thing I find it unpleasant was sitting next to a table of a large group, it was really noisy for a side table just for 2 that was smacked at the end next to the grill. Otherwise, it was a great night.

I’m from Melbourne and my friend recommended this restaurant, WHAT A GEM! Everything was perfect! Food was unbelievable good and well done 👌🏼 The restaurant is also stunning 😍 Thanks Emily for fitting us in, and John for a good service 😊

10/10 Amazing. Top notch table service and the food was absoloutely amazing. Reasonably priced too.

Great place. Great staff. Food is amazing.

(Translated by Google) Sake is delicious, and the Japanese cuisine is very authentic! (Original) Sake 很好喝, 日式料理非常道地！

Food is the best around. Service is always friendly, but feels rushed. Can get a little noisy, but that's the experience.

Best Sashimi I've ever had! Excellent service also. Will definitely be back.

We don’t understand why this place is so highly rated. Uninspired food with haphazard service. Our tasting menu’s dishes at this trendy unmarked restaurant were in general unbalanced and lacked flavour. The wait staff forgot our paired drinks and then rushed us through the menu apologetically. Overall a chaotic, uninspired, and clumsy experience.

Amazing service and exceptional food - the sashimi is a must!

Perfect!!👌

Pretty exclusive restaurant. You wouldn't even know it was there walking past it on the street.

Very popular. Excellent food. Great service. Worth a look.

We were completely blown away by the food, service and interior design. The food was delicious especially the Salmon Skewers and Robata Grilled Duck. The Gin Garden No. 1 cocktail drink was nice and refreshing. Everything was fantastic, would definitely recommend.

Amazing Izakaya food, great atmosphere, cocktails, and more.

Surely their atmosphere was overwhelming and wonderful. All the employees were professional, and the table service was very satisfying. The wine list was good, too. But the food was too ordinary. It was a shame that they focused too much on the atmosphere, the plating, and the interior. I want the chefs to show their identity more.

Wow! My fiancé took me here for dinner last night and it’s the best restaurant I’ve been to in a long time. Our waitress Sadie was phenomenal she looked after us so well the whole way through :) We had the spicy edamame, pork gyoza’s, salmon skewers, beef cheek and etsu fried chicken which was all so yum! I wasn’t drinking so Sadie suggested some amazing mocktails and they seemed just like a cocktail ☺️ Amazing atmosphere, service and food will definitely be returning!

Amazing dinner for my partners birthday. Food was exceptional and service was 5 star. Great atmosphere and drink selection and JoJo’s attention and recommendations were spot on. Will definitely be back x thank you for an awesome night 👏😊☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

This is the best Japanese restaurant on the gold coast! You must try the rice ball with tare sauce, the mushrooms and the fried chicken! The chicken thigh yakitori was divine and the edamame cheesecake was pleasant but not a taste sensation like the rest of the home-run dishes we ordered! Beautiful restaurant and great service, beers were a little overpriced but that is how you make money when you serve such high quality food at a really affordable price. 10/10 would go back again in a heart beat!!

This was a really great place to celebrate a birthday. We had a fixed menu and the quality was excellent and generous. The wait staff did a great job looking after us all. Well done Lachlan. A place not to be missed if you are on the coast.

Absolutely amazing . Food excellent . The fish collar (I think that is what it was ) reminded me of home . Loved it. Soft shell crab ahhhh. Service was great . Charlotte thank you. Water was never empty and drink service was great. Atmosphere was great . Also was great to support a business and see people working again. Thanks.

Go for the set menu! It’s really yummy and fresh and inventive! Love Japanese food and this feels like you’re back in Tokyo eating dinner! Great selection of Japanese cocktails, beers and sake and whiskey 👌🏽

I visited Etsu Izakaya in January this year with a group of friends and it is, easily, one of (if not) the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. I cannot fault it. We had to wait for a table but it was well worth it! The atmosphere is amazing, and the food - oh my god the food - was just to die for. One of my friends was visiting from Canada and wanted a sashimi experience, and I think this is easily the best we could have offered her. The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The menu was expensive but honestly, for the quality, more than reasonable. This is a must visit if you are in the area and enjoy Japanese food.

Wish I could drive here from Brisbane every other day...

I have been to Etsu twice. Every time, the food was delicious. The waitress who took care of us was attentive and lovely. I would say however that the person at the gate was busy therefore a bit short. When fully booked the place gets really noisy which makes it unpleasant and hard to have a conversation with your friends without raising your voice. I would recommend coming early or having a late dinner when the crowded dies down.

Funky ambiance, banquet was good and filing! Staff were attentive. Nice for a special occasion

Absolutely delectable. The miso cod was to die for. Quite expensive but well worth it if you're planning to indulge. Some really interesting drinks and an intriguing atmosphere.

Most amazing staff, atmosphere and food! Jack at the bar was awesome as well as the main server who also works at commune (didn’t catch name).

Best ever

This venue sets the standard on the coast in so many ways. Thanks for being awesome and keep up the great work ♥️

We attended Etsu for a work Christmas party recently and had the $85 Set Menu. I was the annoying pregnant lady who couldn't eat the raw fish and let me tell you that the staff were the most accommodating and friendly bunch around! Nothing was too hard for them and I got my own special (and delicious!) menu. The food and service were just amazing. Thanks for a great night :)

Etsu is amazing. We come back time and time again. The food is very well priced yet somehow we always clock the bill up. The service we had tonight was the best service we have received in a very long time. The waitress was so friendly and made it enjoyable to be there. The atmosphere is always a good energy as well.

Food is always fabulous here, the service and knowledge of the staff is great and prices for what you get are reasonable

Excellent Japanese cuisine. Our 3rd visit. One of the best Japanese meals we have had. Highly recommended.

Edamame was the second best I've ever had (second only to my friend Yuki's). We ordered so many plates, one by one until we were full. The salmon was a standout but I don't remember the others. I tried three whiskey's for $30. I swear this japanese whiskey dissolved all my troubles for a night like magic. The unmarked white barn door and lantern at the entrance, like a secret club, is a nice touch.

Great food, drinks and service!

The gyoza were amazing, but for me, the music was too loud. Maybe I'm getting old. 🤔 Would definitely recommend it.

Amazing food atmosphere and staff.

Great food & Service

Amazing food! Highly rate the pork belly, and eggplant. Dessert was also spectacular. We loved the vibe. Will definitely be back!

nice place, providing good service, and very nice food

Best Izakaya in Australia! Food was amazing!! I loved the everything. Sashimi is really fresh and nice. Beef korokke is a 5-star dish, raw beef tatami on well fried potato balls is perfect combination. Set menu is 90 pp which we think is quite reasonable. We also enjoyed the atmosphere there, very modern with Japanese decor.