You want Japanese near Upfield tonight, not a padded list that sends you halfway across the north. Start with Izakaya if you want the best all-round meal, then use the rest of this guide only when price, queues, or delivery matter.
The Verdict
Izakaya is the pick if you only choose one Japanese option around Upfield. It has the strongest mix of rating, value, and usefulness: a 4.8 rating, a $23-33 listed range, a $20 average in the price table, and delivery when the other higher-rated options mostly make you show up in person. It is listed as best for udon, but the smarter order is the okonomiyaki and sushi combination because it gives you something hot, something clean, and enough range to judge the kitchen properly.
Sakura is the obvious challenger because its 4.7 rating is excellent and it is the ramen play, but the $30-40 range makes it harder to call the default. Sushi Train is more casual and still dependable, especially if you want katsu, yakitori, and sushi without overthinking dinner, but weekend queues make it less useful when you are already hungry. Nori Sushi is solid if you are already nearby. Tokyo Ramen is the one to approach carefully: it has a good 4.4 rating and yakitori angle, but the $34-44 range is steep for a place where the note is still only worth the trip. Don’t get pulled into Tokyo Ramen’s dessert menu; stick to mains or you will feel like you paid extra for the wrong part of the meal.
Local Reality
Upfield is not a suburb where Japanese dinner should become a logistics project. If you are near Upfield Station or moving along the main local strips, pick the place that matches your night rather than chasing the highest price bracket. Izakaya works best when you want the least friction: no usual weeknight wait, delivery available, and a menu that does not force a single-specialty choice. Sakura also looks easy on weeknights, so it is the ramen fallback when you are willing to spend more for a sit-down bowl.
The queue warning belongs to Sushi Train and Tokyo Ramen. Both are marked as weekend queue spots, which means the correct move is arriving early or ordering ahead instead of pretending Saturday night will be casual. Sushi Train is still the better queue gamble because the $19-29 range is friendlier and the katsu plus sushi order suits a quick, practical dinner. Tokyo Ramen asks more money and more patience, so it needs to be exactly what you are craving.
Parking is listed as street parking, which usually means fine on a quiet night and annoying when everyone has had the same dinner idea. Walk-in is usually fine across the guide, but midweek is the sweet spot for no queue and full menu. Skip this if you need a polished special-occasion booking with guaranteed timing; these picks are more useful for a normal local dinner. If you are west of Upfield Station and already closer to another dining strip, do not force the trip back just for Nori Sushi or Tokyo Ramen unless one of their specific dishes is the point.
Who This Suits
If you are a value-first local, pick Izakaya. It has the best rating on the list, the lowest average in the comparison table, and delivery, which is rare in this set. If you are a ramen person, pick Sakura and accept that the bill will probably sit higher. If you are feeding someone picky, pick Sushi Train because katsu, yakitori, and sushi are safer crowd-pleasers. If you are already near Nori Sushi, use it as the convenient option rather than a destination. If you want yakitori and do not mind paying more, Tokyo Ramen is the deliberate splurge, not the automatic winner.
For cost, plan on $16-28 per person as the broad local range, but the individual venues move around more than that. Izakaya is listed at a $20 average, Sushi Train at $24, Nori Sushi and Tokyo Ramen at $31, and Sakura at $34. The practical version: two people can keep dinner sensible at Izakaya or Sushi Train, while Sakura and Tokyo Ramen can start to feel like a proper night out once drinks or extras enter the order. BYO is only marked for Sushi Train and Nori Sushi, so factor that in if the final bill matters.
Time of day changes the answer. Midweek is when this guide is easiest to use: walk-in usually works, menus are intact, and Sakura, Nori Sushi, and Izakaya are noted as usually having no wait. Weekends push you toward planning. For Sushi Train and Tokyo Ramen, arrive early or order ahead. In colder months, Sakura’s ramen case gets stronger; on a lazy night when nobody wants to leave home, Izakaya wins because it is the only listed delivery option.
What to Do Next
Order Izakaya first for udon, okonomiyaki, and sushi; use Sushi Train when you want cheaper katsu without fuss. For a broader night-out shortlist, read the Upfield best restaurants guide before you commit.
Price Comparison
| Venue | Avg Per Person | BYO | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Train | $24 | Yes | No |
| Sakura | $34 | No | No |
| Nori Sushi | $31 | Yes | No |
| Tokyo Ramen | $31 | No | No |
| Izakaya | $20 | No | Yes |
Original Quick Stats
8 japanese restaurants within easy reach | Price range: $16-28 per person | Best for: udon
Preserved Venue Notes
Sushi Train
Rating: 4.1/5 | Price: $19-29 per person | Best for: katsu
What to order: yakitori and sushi Skip: nothing, it is all solid
Sakura
Rating: 4.7/5 | Price: $30-40 per person | Best for: ramen
What to order: ramen and okonomiyaki Skip: nothing, it is all solid
Nori Sushi
Rating: 4.2/5 | Price: $23-33 per person | Best for: katsu
What to order: ramen and yakitori Skip: nothing, it is all solid
Tokyo Ramen
Rating: 4.4/5 | Price: $34-44 per person | Best for: yakitori
What to order: sushi and okonomiyaki Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
Izakaya
Rating: 4.8/5 | Price: $23-33 per person | Best for: udon
What to order: okonomiyaki and sushi Skip: nothing, it is all solid
What to Know Before You Go
- Best night to visit: Midweek for no queue and full menu
- Booking recommended? Walk-in usually fine
- Parking: Street parking available
- Dietary options: Vegetarian options at all venues
All venues visited and verified in 2026. Prices and hours may change. Check venue directly before visiting.
