Review Sono Japanese Restaurant Portside Wharf - Brisbane

A must have experience for anyone in Brisbane or visiting. Their food is to die for and their service is impeccable. The meat is halal and their dishes are fresh and of the highest quality. The restaurant nails the atmosphere and the staff are very professional and knowledgeable. The prices are extremely fair for this level of service and experience, and I would recommend this place to anyone looking to celebrate or have a perfect night out

Some say Sono is the best Japanese fine dine in Queensland. We booked a table 2 months in advance of our trip to Queensland (booking essential). Coming from Sydney, our expectations were high and they were met and exceeded by much more. One of the best Japanese fine dines in the country hands down. The Zen course is fantastic. Great services and ambience, a very memorable night at Sono. Highly highly recommended!

The service is the best. Foods are really delicious. Good recommendations from friendly and considerate staff. The introduction before every dish were professional. Beautiful experience!

Had the Zen tasting course, $135/pp featuring 10 courses. The dining experience was very enjoyable. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful, it featured many traditional Japanese styled designs. The service was excellent and the staff were very friendly. The food presentation and plating were beautifully served and they tasted just as amazing as they look and all the ingredients were very fresh. One small downside was that the Donbinmushi was a little too salty.

We got the 6 course tasting package for my partner's birthday. She has a shellfish allergy and some of the courses had shellfish. Sono's chefs were very agile and came up with genuine alternative options that were well matched and had me a little envious, honestly. This place has spectacular attention to detail from the truly divine food to the ambience of the bathroom, and the concierge like experience of the service. The little things really matter to these guys. This place has ruined me for other restaurants.

My favourite Japanese restaurant in Brisbane. Even though it is quite pricey, it is worth the money and I only come for occassions. The food, service and experience was great, every visit was enjoyable. I love oysters and sashimi but their other dishes are great too.

We go here so often as a family because the food is consistently delicious, beautifully presented and the service is very attentive. We have tried the teppanyaki and the A La Carte menu and can't fault either. I do hope they will add more volume in the cocktails because it is pricey for what they give you. That would be my only complaint but really they are delicious that I don't mind paying a bot more.

My go to place whenever I am in Brisbane and crave for fine dining Japanese food. Had the omakase. It was really worth it. No wonder it was full house.

Sono u have increased ur prices multiple times last few months. I can understand the need to increase ur prices during this tough covid times but multiple times?...

Due to covid, sono has decreased the size of their menu. But doesn’t change the fact that their service and food quality is still one of the best japanese restaurants in Brisbane. Exceptional customer service and great vibe. Will definitely come back again

best Japanese restaurant in Brisbane,service and food best and that's not first time we been at SONO and wouldn't be the last so will highly recommend it

Thank you for an amazing anniversary dinner. Squeezed us in last minute. The sashimi and beef tataki were amazing, as were oysters and karage chicken. Awesome Sake. Great spot for dinner.

I’ve been twice now. Both times were outstanding. The best quality Japanese I’ve had in Brisbane. Although quite expensive, it’s well worth it. Staff are all so lovely. <br/><br/>One visit was for my brother’s 18th birthday. I let them know when I booked online. They surprised him (and me!) when they brought out dessert while singing happy birthday. The dessert even had a sparkler on it. <br/><br/>The aburi platter is a must. I don’t usually eat much wagyu but the wagyu aburi was just incredible. The teriyaki and karaage chicken dishes are so tender - easily the best I’ve had. <br/><br/>On a different visit, I shared a bento box with my cousin, along with a few other dishes. Every mouthful was divine. I love how many different flavours and dishes come on the bento box. <br/><br/>I’m looking forward to going again!!

The food was good but certain not spectacular, the service was poor and made one feel unwelcome. the feeling from all four diners, two of which were celebrating birthdays was that they wanted the food out a quick as possible so you would finish and they could prepare for the next round.

Perfect food, friendly service, good environment!!!

Great food and great experience

The food was ok, but why is it called fine dining?! Paper serviettes, dated decor, no ambience, nowhere to put a handbag. It’s a nice casual place and don’t expect more

Great service, the food is amazing.

Sono is one of the highest rated restaurants in Brisbane and the best Japanese restaurant I’ve been to. This fantastic restaurant has been a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time and with their beautiful atmosphere, friendly and efficient service and the quality of food it’s no surprise how that they’re so highly rated over with over 1000 reviewers. <br/><br/>I booked through Zomato with an instant reservation two days before I came and was seated immediately upon arrival. Our waitress was lovely and perfect with her service as well as the other staff that brought our food. We ordered the Lai Chi cocktail and a glass of Prosecco. The cocktail was fantastic coming in a jug to pour into an adorable small glass and I loved the flavour of the Prosecco. <br/><br/>Our entrees were so flavourful and the tofu was perfect in crispness with the sauce as well. For the main I had the braised beef which was cooked deliciously so it fell apart and had a side of rice as well and we also ordered the special which was an Australian wagyu that came with three dipping sauces. Then for dessert we ordered the special chocolate and caramel mousse and the dessert platter. They also presented it with a sparkler and writing on the place with our waitress being so sweet to sing happy birthday to me as well.<br/><br/>After all our food it still only totalled to around $200 so not only was it a great experience with delicious food it was also very fair in pricing at around $100 a perfect for three courses and a drink. I cannot wait to attend Sono again for another special event or just because there is so many other items on the menu I’m interested in trying.

Sono is a really fantastic Japanese restaurant. I believe it deserves the title of one of the best restaurants in Brisbane. I come to here several times per year and all the experiences are satisfying. When people ask me about Japanese restaurant in Brisbane, I will recommend them Sono. The sashimi was so fresh and sukiyaki hotpot was much more delicious than other restaurant.This year I celebrated my birthday here in August, and the waitress prepared a little surprise for me. It was so sweet! It will be my first choice of Japanese restaurant!

I came here straight from Brisbane airport. It was the first thing on my to-eat list for Brisbane. It was extremely impressive! The food itself was delicious. The tempura was crispy and light. My favourite dish was the agedashi tofu because it melted in your mouth. Everything was plated with care and attention to detail. The service was perfect too. Because we had booked in advance, we had our own room which gave us a lot of privacy. We spent $160 all together for 4 people and were completely full at the end. It was very good value for money. Would be back for sure!

First time to this restaurant, I decided to go with their Sono Course menu $95 and a glass of mocktail - Autumn in Kyoto $12<br/><br/>The mocktail was very refreshing but the portion was way too small. However, i did like the way they put the ice block and they actually made their own ice.<br/><br/>The foods were very fresh, nicely presented and well cooked. The only critic I have is the kobe beef, it was slightly over cooked ( I ordered medium rare but it was more towards medium) and it was not fatty enough. <br/><br/>Very attentive service.<br/><br/>Nice environment but the tables are a bit too close together and the lighting is a bit too bright.<br/><br/>Will come back :) <br/><br/>

Visited Sono Portside this time for lunch as the one we have previoulsy visited in the city is closed. This restauraunt has nice decor and views over the river and the staff are all very welcoming and lovely. We ordered a selection of Oysters to share and then the small Sashimi plate and then the slow cooked pork belly Buta Kakuni. Everything was beautifully presented and the seafood was fresh tasting and very delicious. The pork was maybe a little overcooked and slightly dry but the broth/sauce it was served with was fantastic. My wife also had a Miso soup and although I am not usually a fan, I found this one to be very good. We will certainly be back next time when in Brisbane. Will add some photos later.

I love sharing my good dining experience with others and one of those is Sono Hamilton. I enjoy dining here and taking some friends for their special occasion. Food great and service great!

Had an amazing lunch experience there with my customers, spent more than $200 for the three of us - the team serving us was fantastic and very accommodating. However, I've decided to give a 2 star rating as the person I spoke over the phone to make reservations was arrogant, rude and made me feel silly asking questions as a customer. If I had more time on that day, I would have immediately cancelled my reservation and go for another restaurant.

The Sono Dining Experience Japanese cuisine at its finest, modern contemporary and traditional.The freshest produce beautifully presented to tempt the most discerning palate and visual senses, complemented by an excellent international wine selection and Japanese Sake from our cellar. The tranquil surroundings with a texture featuring a mixture of wood, stone and water feature, all serve to enhance the overall lunch and dinner experience.Our Tasting Course with matching wine selection is exceptional or for a change of pace, we offer Teppanyaki, where interaction with the masterful chef is totally encouraged.With seven private Tatami rooms, some featuring audio-visual capability, SONO is ideally set up for sales presentations, birthday or engagement celebrations, or any important event. Exclusive use of the restaurant can also be arranged for cocktail parties up to 250 people With our dedicated Events Coordinator, we can accommodate all your specific needs.To enjoy an intimate dinner for two, our Japanese style seating by the window with river views is an ideal choice.

We went here for our wedding anniversary, as we heard good stories about it. Great luxurious ambiance and solid high quality food to match. Beautifully presented in a way that makes it worth every cent. Service was better than excellent. Japanese is my wife favorite, so brownie points for me.<br/><br/>Only one comment, the aircon was blasting at high on a cooler night. Which gave the service trouble in lighting the wagyu beef dish. <br/><br/>Also book well in advance for the in ground window seats. We'll be back.

Yes, the food is pricey but the quality and taste makes up for it. This is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane hands down. Wish I can afford it more often.

Went for our first anniversary. Had a booking and needed to make a last minute time change. Staff were very accommodating and food was excellent! 👌<br/>My girlfriend posted the experience on her Instagram story and 3 days later a friend went there for their anniversary aswell 😂😂😂.<br/>I’m kinda craving the Teriyaki Chicken now...

Not the best tepinyaki I’ve ever had but def not the worst, luv luv luv it and a great location and service was top notch, will be back for a-la-Carte one of the Hammo hammers local favs

Special birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Amazing setting with water views.<br/>Food was average, nothing was bad, but for the prices they charge we expected something outstanding and it certainly wasn't.

Great atmosphere right on the water, my wife and I had our anniversary here a while ago and we absolutely loved the food and service. Very extensive winelist for reasonable prices.<br/>We will definitely be back to try the more items On the menu.

This is my second time going to Sono for dinner. <br/><br/>First time being my anniversary with my boyfriend and second time is for my graduation celebration dinner.<br/>We made it a point that we will always go back for Sono for special occasions as I’m a huge fan of Japanese food. <br/><br/>But my second visit especially with my whole family has been really really disappointing. When the waitress took our order, it seems like she was rushing us to take our orders. But maybe cause the restaurant was busy, that was alright to us. <br/><br/>But the latter part wasn’t. <br/><br/>One of the waitress spilt soya sauce all over my boyfriend and grandma when she was cleaning the table after we finished our sushi. Without any apologies, and she just walked off. <br/><br/>Second time was, they cleared off my unfinished chawan mushi without asking if I’m done, and you could clearly see there was still half of it left. For a serving of (I think) 18$ steamed eggs, I think it doesn’t take much effort to ask your customer if theyre done with their food before taking it away. I was sharing sukiyaki with my brother at that time hence looked away from my side and by the time I turned by head, the chawan mushi was gone. <br/><br/>A f&b business is genuinely about 70% service and 30% food. I’m genuinely disappointed at my visit this time. <br/><br/>Also, would be nice to teach your staffs to not discriminate and choose to provide only good service selectively.

Wonderful service, sublime Japanese food and an ambiance that is fantastic. All the food we ordered was great, would highly recommend eating here!

A very high levels of Japanese food rarely seen outside of Japan. Friendly and attentive staff, but no overbearing. We walked in on a Saturday night (6 of us) and we were seated almost immediately. Thanks for the amazing food

I have enjoyed dinners here a few times and it never disappoints. The food is good as is the atmosphere. The staff are fantastic - genuinely friendly and amazingly efficient.

We enjoyed a lovely meal. The food was beautiful, and our service was impeccable. Our waitress looked after us very well, and ought to be commended (unfortunately I didn’t catch her name). As it was my birthday I received a complimentary scoop of green tea ice cream, which was very thoughtful.

My partner and I celebrated our anniversary dinner here, and it was definitely the best choice that we’ve made! Everything was perfect, from the zen ambience, very class and all decor had attention to detail. The hospitality was top notch, very friendly and very knowledgeable staff, who makes the dining experience more enjoyable and last but not least, the food was amazing! The wagyu beef striploin ishiyaki was totally out of this world!! The butteriest, most- tender , juicy slice of steak we’ve had outside of japan! Perfect umami flavours all throughout, would definitely 101% come back here and highly recommend this to everyone who loves Japanese cuisines! Thank you for having us, Sono! Special thanks to Kai and Yoshiko, your friendliness made it all the more memorable, we hope to dine here again soon!

Phuong Tran and I decide to lunch here today. Walking in, we are warmly greeted and ushered to our table with a view of the Brisbane River. Service at Sono is friendly and efficient. We decide on the Makunouchi Bento ($37), Shokado Bento ($42), Agedashi Tofu ($12) and Chawanmushi ($12). <br/><br/>We enjoy our meal in this beautiful restaurant. The food is good, not exceptional. We will try the ala carte menu next visit. Thank you Sono Portside!

Absolutely Devine. The food wash incredible. The wagyu beef melts in the mouth. The sashimi cuts were large. Every course that we had was amazing. The service was the best service we have had in any restaurant. The simple touch of explaining each course as they were delivered really made the experience enjoyable. The artistic flair and aesthetics were brilliant. When I made the booking, I said it was for my husbands birthday. Forgetting that I had mentioned it, we ordered dessert and the delivered it with a sparkler, happy birthday in chocolate and singing happy birthday. Love this restaurant and look forward to returning.

Always the best service at any of the two Sono restaurants. <br/><br/>Booked a table through the Zomato app and requested a table next to the window for the view as it was for a birthday dinner. They listened - got us the table and without asking brought out a beautiful birthday treat at the end. <br/><br/>Freshest of the fresh sashimi, vegetables and meat. <br/><br/>Pricey but worth it - especially if it’s for a special occasion.

The worst Japanese restaurant in Brisbane. Lack of organize. I ordered my entree and main at the same time, but the entree arrived when I already started my main. Doesn’t matter if other food, but having sukiyaki as a main and grilled king prawn with avocado (entree) come half way... taste weird!! <br/>Worst thing was the grilled king prawn come out cold, so guess have been ready for a while in the Kitchen but didn’t serve!! (Have enough staff for sure)<br/>Last was, 4 of us ordered green tea, they give us a small tea pot to share, so it wouldn’t even fill 4 cup, so I requested a bigger pot. The waiter come back and give me 2 pot, when I check the bill, they charge double... 2 x tea pot $16! So double tea charged for each person. First I only requested larger pot, second this was not explained to me, they say is noted in the drive menu, but when I request tea, they already took the drink menu away!!!! Last, last time I come they got large pot for 6 of us.... is this a new way to earn more money?!?!<br/>Would not recommend to anyone!

Their way of presenting foods is really nice and I just love their food quality. What’s cool is that some of their foods I have tried at home before by learning Japanese recipes from asianinspirations.com.au . This has helped me to learn Japanese food culture and try new Japanese recipes at Sono Japanese Restaurant.

Absolutely stunning and gorgeous Japanese cuisine. From the atmosphere as soon as you walk in through the door, to the mouth watering aromas that entrap your senses from the onset. I suggest you try the sashimi paired with a delicious bottle of chilled sake, take my word you will not be disappointed. 5/5 SONO

The freshest of quality food served with a smile - my favourite restaurant in Brisbane.  Very much looking forward to the re-opening of the city restaurant.

Best sashimi. Great range but expensive. Hard to find lobster sashimi in Brisbane, but certainty worth the trip and money. Large range of sake and attentive staff.

I feel like it's gone backwards recently. I used to love this restaurant but some of my favourite dishes seem to have doubled in price and halved in size and doesn't have the same atmosphere it used to have.

This is the first time I had been to a Japanese restaurant which wasn't a sushi train, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. 3 of the 4 in our party were vegetarians, but we were still ably catered for in the menu. I chose the vegetarian bento box as it seemed like an appropriate sampler for a newbie, and I had flavours I'd never experienced before. It was a wonderful contrast of textures.<br/><br/>The environment is dimly lit and surrounding ambience is calming. Ample space on the table for all of the dishes they brought us, which seemed to include numerous side dishes which we weren't aware of but were pleased with nonetheless.<br/><br/>The cost at the end was $240 for 4 people which I thought was pretty good as we went for a full 3 course meal. The only very slight negative was that the dishes did seem to take a while to come out, perhaps no longer than half an hour if I had to guess, but this would certainly not detract from us dining here again.

The best Japanese restaurant I have ever tried. Loved the complex yet balanced flavour of their steamed egg. And their juicy steaks is also very good. The most memorable dish would be the grilled prawn with avocado and mayonnaise, the creaminess and tenderness of the prawn is really satisfying.

In our experience this is the freshest Japanese food in bris. Never had a bad experience here. Sashimi and oysters are standout items but they also do many different share and main plates that are freshly prepared and delicious. Teppanyaki and sushi bar provide alternative dining options and they have a small bar area for aperitifs. They also have a number of private dining rooms which are a great experience for special occasions with friends and/or family. Service is always impeccable and pricing, as you’d expect, is reasonably above average. Daytime dining is rewarded with views over the Brisbane river.

This place is gorgeous, overlooking the water and great service. The seafood was was fresh and as you can see by the pictures the presentation was amazing. I found the flavour to be really lacking. I had crab balls, my pork belly was also bland and hard to eat as it was a little chewy. My bug looked impressive however It wasn't to my taste. I would certainly prefer to spend $150 elsewhere

Beautiful food and a lovely restaurant. Would highly recommend to anyone. The sashimi, chicken Teriyaki and snapper are amazing. The teppanyaki is also fantastic.

Wonderful location and atmosphere - good friendly service. We had a private room with a view over the river for my birthday celebrations and decided to indulge ourselves in the banquet - lovely array of Japanese foods - very fresh which is obviously extremely important with the sashimi. The tables in the general area had a “kitchen” feel about their layout. Service was timely. Dropped half a point for the wine list and prices - it’s ok or maybe my knowledge and choice was poor.

Beautiful food, interior and atmosphere. Was here for an anniversary lunch and everything was smooth. I enjoyed the food but I wouldn't say it's a stand out experience at lunch time anyway.<br/><br/>Entrees we had Ala care sashimi and scallops. Really good. Scallops and accompanying side plump, juicy, delicious. <br/>Mains had the cod saikoyaki and bug gratin. Also for dessert kanmi platter. Really delicious though not really wow factor. Maybe too hyped up for me. <br/><br/>Next time would want to see if we get seated in the traditional section or next to a window. The cruise ship was in so no water views but i liked the novelty of the ship being there. They were playing Studio Ghibli piano for background music which I personally liked. <br/><br/>Restrooms really nice with change table.

Wow. I have to come back to try the teppanyaki when I’m in town again. My dishes looked and tasted really yummy. Could see why this place is always booked out.

The food and service were both great. Our server, Jiwon, was lovely and always made sure we had everything we needed. We also mentioned it was my sister's birthday in passing, and we were pleasantly surprised that she had our dessert prepared to have a candle and a greeting on it. :) I also tend to judge fine dining establishments by the amount of water in my glass and mine was never empty throughout our meal.

Best Japanese restaurant in Brissy, friendly service, high quality authentic jap food, variety of dishes to choose from, top of my list for special occasions and weekend gatherings

Sono for us is our favourite Japanese restaraunt in Brisbane. The service is fantastic, the aptmosphere is amazing but most of all the food 👌👌👌 fresh Sashimi presented beautifully, so soft it melts in your mouth amd the wagyu steak😍. This is how we like our beef, marbled, full of flavour and oh so tender Look, its not cheap , especially if your like us and have to try everything but its worth it.

Quality of the food was great. The service unfortunately was quite average. <br/>We had excellent sashimi, tempura, wagyu, Moreton bay bug and miso eggplant. Nothing negative to say about the food at all.<br/>The experience was slightly let down by the waiters. Everyone was running around in a seeming panic, and the constant traffic of stressed out waiters brushing past our table really set a bad ambiance. Our waiter was very unfriendly, not even waiting for me to finish ordering before trying to run off, and generally had quite harried and unfriendly interactions with us. For a $200+ meal (for 2 people), I feel that the service was a letdown.

ごじそさまでした。great service, food & stunning view, I only wish that I could spend more time in Brisbane so I can go for dinner as well and hopefully secure a window seat. :)

Have been here a few times and have had really good experiences. Service is exceptional, location and ambiance is beautiful (suggest getting booth over looking the river). A little on the expensive side but worth it in my opinion. Menu is very extensive. The miso eggplant and tempura vegetables as well as sashimi are definitely my favourites. Absolutely recommend

terrible terrible over price !!!! <br/>horrible horrible service!!!<br/>i booked a table a month ! a month ago to celebrate my anniversary ask for a window table. <br/>1 day before the reservation they ring me said sorry, unable to give me the window seating. <br/>im like, you kidding me !!! i gave you a month notice, then 1 day before you ring me up say no... thats just unreal ! <br/>for that reason, i will tell everyone in this world DO NOT EVER GO THERE !<br/>so disappointing and angery<br/>

OK, Sono is very very above average in service and food quality. I have ALWAYS been very impressed with my dining experiences there. I love the traditional settings and the very artistically assembled food.

Sashimi and nigiri were very fresh! We also tried their wagyu beef cooked on a hot stone and it hit the spot! Would recommend if you're looking for a fancier Japanese dining experience as it is a bit more on the expensive side of things

Fresh sushi, amazing tempura and authentic sukiyaki. Problem is getting a table, it can be booked out on a Monday night. Early reservation recommended or be prepared to eat really fast and clear out. Priciest Japanese restaurant I've been in town but well worth it for the sushi (yes there are bad sushi vs excellent ones) and the tempura.

Was taken here for our anniversary by my fiancé, incredible service and the atmosphere was great.<br/>Beautiful dishes and really fresh fish, thanks.

SoNo more like So-YES!! <br/>Seriously Amazing! First of all I would like to mention that the service was absolutely incredible. The lady that took care of us was very informative about the dishes and took initiative to make sure we had a wonderful dining experience, as well as catering for allergies. Furthermore the food was outstanding. We started off with battered prawns which were very lovely and crunchy. Then we moved onto our entree which were pork dumplings and chicken karaage. The chicken kaarage was so delicious I could slap a baby however I personally found the gyoza to be nothing special. We then moved onto our mains which were braised beef and chicken teriyaki. Both were exceptionally tasty although you mustn't forget to order rice which I believe worked really well with both those dishes. Lastly we had a chocolate dish as well as a green tea ice-cream. If you have the slightest liking towards green tea flavoured food then you will love the ice cream they serve. The chocolate dish was perfect to end the night. Overall the night set me back $160 but it was definitely worth it for a nice occasion.

Great food and excellent service. The menu is well structured and has some mind blowing dishes - black cod was overwhelmingly well cocked. Expected a better location, but what you eat counts for 90% of the experience.

I feel like Sono is one of those place that is a standard "must-have-gone-at-least-once" places if 1. You have lived in Brisbane for a long time and 2. You have somewhat of an affinity for Japanese food. <br/><br/>I've been here three times. The first time I was itching to eat something and everything on the menu looked so appealing. I ended up getting one of the Bento box set lunches which you can never go wrong with. It is absolutely filling and you get quite a bit with it. My mistake was ordering an unnecessary side of sweet potato chips (which were great) but probably was a bit too much to eat.<br/><br/>The second time I went during the evening for the degustation/tasting plate. Let me tell you know that you will need an appetite for this because it is about 5-6 courses. I could barely get past the 5th course which was the main course which I felt was a waste. I also barely touched dessert because I was so full. The food was amazing nevertheless, and the soft shell crab entree is to absolutely die for. I think it is the best soft shell crab I have ever had. The crab claw just melts in your mouth. I think I would come back here just for the crab claw itself to be honest. To me, I felt the entrees really outshone the main course. <br/><br/>The third time I came here I had another bento box and we were seated in the area where you had to stand up and then sit down in the booths. It was novel but also inconvenient as well when it came to have to move to go to the bathroom or go get something.<br/><br/>If you are coming here, I would recommend the sashimi or the bento boxes. The tasting plate course was good but not standout amazing and you really have to be hungry for this one or it won't be worth your while.<br/><br/>If you are making a booking, I would recommend getting it near the window area for the view. Sometimes you do get cruise ships docked there and it does block it but I like watching people go by as they depart or return from their cruises.

Rubbish. $200 for average steak and stuffed mushrooms. Plus ok fish and a few scallops. Service was zero. Better food and service elsewhere for this money.

Great spot for a weekend lunch. The bento had everything I wanted, including soft shell crab, pork belly, sashimi and teriyaki chicken (plus more!). Loved the berry and Mellon mocktail.

Went here for my birthday dinner with my partner. The reservation we put through was not received (we were also 30 minutes late) but they seated us anyway to a table (phew!) The food was extraordinary! And it came out incredibly, INCREDIBLY fast. The service was great, constantly refilling our water and explaining our dishes. The small sashimi platter was fresh, 100% worth getting S The tempura platter was so good, it came with dipping sauce and 3 types of seasonings and salt, again the waitress explained our dishes every time which was nice. I recommend these platters. The wagyu beef was the least favourite, not to say that it was bad - just the others were outstanding. The dessert were so good! Would recommend the matcha parfait. HEAVENLY. Every meal was a flavour explosion. The prices were very reasonable as well, when the bill came out we were so surprised and expected it to be more! This place really makes for a special occasion with views of the bridge and was worth every penny. Will definitely be coming back. (Ps There's free parking underground when you validate your ticket!)

Decided to come here (portside Hamilton) for dinner to celebrate me and my girlfriend's anniversary. Booked this place 3 days in advance as I heard it was going to be crowded. I did however regret not requesting for a window seat in advance so I was not able to admire the view of the lake (remember to request early if u want a window seat!) the place was rather full for a Thursday night! The ambience was also really cosy which added to the positive experience<br/><br/>Food was spot on in terms of presentation and it was delicious. We ordered so much and yet we finished every single bit of it. My favorite was the soft shell crab shiso. It was crispy and flavorful and just a little sour to open your appetite to the other amazing dishes they have to offer. I entered the restaurant under the impression that the entrees and appetizers are small but they are actually quite sizable! All in all, all the dishes we ordered never failed to disappoint.<br/><br/>In my opinion, the service here is what makes this already amazing place even more amazing. The staff were friendly, polite and most of all attentive. I never had to request for the waitress to refill my water throughout my 2 and a half hour seating.she also helped to arrange the order of our dishes to be brought to us (waitress name was Kathy if I'm not mistaken)<br/><br/>Although this place is more on the pricey side, the immaculate service and scrumptious food made it well worth it. For those of you out there considering Sono Japanese @ portside, I'd highly recommend giving this place a try.

Firstly, this place is GORGEOUS! The view, the interior decor, everything about this place is just so beautiful. The staff were amazing, absolutely lovely, totally commendable for their excellent service! Getting down to the food ... not a morsel was left on either of our plates. Both the salmon and lamb were so well cooked and amazingly flavoured. We did get dessert but were too excited to eat it so no photos 😂 Seriously though, everything about this place is just amazing, they are doing a great job.

Food was just okay, but very well presented. So I'm not too fuss about it, as service is the main aspect that is expected from a fine dine restaurant. We got the whole room for a small birthday celebration, but we had the misfortune to have someone with terrible attitude to serve us. Basically the experience was spoilt. Her name was Kate, an assistant manager apparently, poor customer service. Very disappointed!

Scraping through the door just 'in the nick of time' at 8.45 before a 9 'last orders', after a weekend in 'Straddie' and a busy Sunday night, this crowded house was under pressure to deliver. Under dressed as some of us were - shorts, thongs etc - it wasn't a drama, which was helpful. <br/><br/>We were warned it was busy, but after removing our sandals (feet washing not included) and nearly breaking our backs to get into the chairs beside the low sunk table, the service was pleasant and thorough. <br/><br/>A clever attempt was made by the lady to up-sell sparkling or still water, but old clever clogs here went with 'no thank you, tap water's fine.' It's more fun with the bubbles (sparkling, champagne, jacuzzi's) but it all comes at a price, unfortunately...<br/><br/>Read this; for this is the bit - (probably the only bit many readers will be interested in) the Chefs special of Braised Beef in Rice Wine Vinegar - rocked. Not ruled, but seriously up there. Beautifully soft, tender, six hour marinated beef with a rich sauce balanced by cream and accompanied with vegetables. So much beef, and for $18 decent value!<br/><br/>Downside; a little more cream wouldn't have gone astray and I forgot to order rice; this is where an up sell would have worked wonders, but wally here knew they were busy and can only blame himself for that. You won't find it on the menu as it was a special, so apologies if the ingredients details were found wanting.

Exceptional modern Japanese, probably the closest thing to real, high class, quality Japanese cuisine in Brisbane. Do not let the price tag turn you off visiting sono, from the moment you enter you it feels like you are in Tokyo. With traditional Japanese seating and amazing staff, Sono excels at customer service. After coming here on numerous occasions I have been extremely satisfied with every meal. Teppanyaki is very good and has such a great atmosphere. So good love this place!

Had birthday lunch in here with a group of people. The decor is beautiful and the room we got was huge and comfortably accommodated us. It helped that we could close the doors to the rooms so it's great for intimate group settings. However was disappointed that the food was not up to the standard one would expect at a restaurant like this. The sashimi didn't feel fresh and the rest of the dishes lacked flavour and was disappointedly subpar. The staff did let us stay longer although the place was closing after the lunch service and the service was quite good. Really wished the food would have lived up to the decor and the service. <br/>

Favourite Japanese place ever. Price is high but not as expensive in comparison to fine dining restaurants like Alchemy etc. Quality is excellent and the waitstaff are always great. Love the atmosphere 👌

Fabulous staff, and fabulous food.  Try the Alpine salmon or Japanese tuna if it's available.  There's not much here that I haven't enjoyed, and the only issue we've ever had is trying to figure out how to fit everything in... <br/><br/>Sono Portside would have to be my favourite restaurant in Australia, due to it's consistent quality, friendly staff, and ambience.  Having just moved back to Melbourne, I'll miss it.

We managed to score a table in a private room here. What a treat! Our waitress (Kiya) was very attentive and polite. The wine list here is extensive... I was like a kid in a candy store! We ordered a number of dishes to share. My favourite...All of it! I wish you would put Okonomyaki on the menu...

Sono has been my favourite restaurant for many years now. Not only is the environment and decor of the restaurant beautiful and comfortable, but the food is always to the best standard. The sashimi is always fresh and presented beautifully in generous serving sizes. The sushi is faultless and for mains, I recommend the succulent wagyu striploin with teriyaki sauce. The service is also excellent, with accommodating staff who are friendly and polite. It is slightly pricey but you definitely get what you pay for and is a great dining experience, especially for special occasions.

The service here is not "fine dining" professional, if that's what you're looking for, but they are quite attentive and always help where they can. The menu is large and covers traditional and modern options for Japanese food. I have been here at least a dozen times and the food and service are always consistent and good. I would recommend this place and this is my preferred choice compared to their CBD restaurant.

Had lunch in the private 'Tatami' room (minimum 5 people and minimum spend of around $350 or so to get a booking FYI). The food was absolutely delectable, however the unagi (eel) was too salty for most of our table to finish eating. Couldn't fault anything else though - service was fantastic.

My fiancé and I dined here last month and the experience was absolutely amazing! We started off with the pork dumplings, and I went on to have my<br/>all time classic favourite Teriyaki Chicken, while he had the lamb. The meat was wonderful, very tender and cooked with detail. Loved snacking on the edamame and the wine was delicious. The waitress was very friendly and had suggestions to offer throughout. Will definitely come back!!

Not much else left to be said about Sono Portside really - pretty much one of the best fine dining Japanese in Brisbane IMO. We've been there for many years and the food and the service have never disappoint. <br/><br/>No frills Japanese this place is not perfect for special occasions or a fancier Friday dinner with special someone. Sono will sure make a great impression :)

Came on Saturday for lunch, I made a reservation as I have been to the one in city and I've been disappointed before as it is usually a full house!<br/><br/>Was surprised by the light atmosphere, and it had a very nice feel in the huge restaurant. Compared to the one in the city, I can already safely say that the one at portside appeals more to me! <br/><br/>The service was fast, we were seated immediately and the servers took our orders as soon as we were ready. <br/><br/>I ordered the chirashi set, it cost $38 but boy was it delicious! Generous servings of fish, as well as miso soup for a side. I have no complaints with the fish as each slice tasted super fresh, there was no bad after taste. I am a mad chirashi lover and I like how SONO's chirashi has about 5-6 kinds of fish. The only thing I wasn't satisfied with was the rice, the rice could have been better - it felt a little dry to me. <br/><br/>Other than that, great service and great food, I will definitely be back to try out their lunch specials beginning in July this year! <br/>

I'm not entirely sure if it's fair to be writing a review based on a function dinner. I've been to Sono previously for a la carte before (also for a birthday dinner) and perhaps because it was too long ago or other factors that may have affected my experience it never left a great impression so I've never been tempted to go back on my own accord.<br/><br/>Last Saturday however, a friend had organised a birthday dinner there and I might say this has been one of my best dining experiences this year. <br/><br/>The atmosphere at Sono cannot be faulted. I always love sitting in their faux tatami rooms. Maybe it's a bit kitsch but who cares, get into the spirit. Service was impeccable, again I can't be certain that wasn't due to the event but our designated waitress was attentive, informative and very tolerant. <br/><br/>Food. Was amazing. We had their tasting course and that was truly such a good showcase of their menu. I never think you can go too wrong with sashimi as long as it's fresh. So I never judge a Japanese restaurant based solely on that. But the sashimi at Sono blew me away. Some stand out items from their tasting menu in my opinion was: Oyster with lime sauce, snapper carpaccio, crab croquette, salmon belly. The duck main was also very well done.

Always consistently good. Sono Portside is definitely my go-to when entertaining overseas guests or just for a quick lunch. The service and quality of food never cease to disappoint.

This place would be my favorite Japanese restaurant in Brisbane CBD. The food is alway fresh and cooked perfectly. The Japanese waitresses are very friendly and nice, but sometimes their English is little bit confusing. It is always being very busy at Friday night and weekends, pre-booking is highly recommended.

Every time I go to this restaurant I am impressed with the quality of the food, the attention to detail in every part of the restaurant, and the dedication of each individual staff member. From the knowledgeable and helpful guys in the bar who can educate you on which sake to have with any dish, to the highly qualified chefs who are as consistent as they are creative, to the beautiful floor staff who always greet us with a smile and ensure that every night at Sono is a special one. Thanks guys!

Faultless<br/>service, food and atmosphere were all 100%+<br/>Our Teppanyaki chef was a comedian In disguise and made our experience what it was!<br/>A must do!!!

My sons and I always celebrate their birthdays at Sono at the teppanyaki station because they love it so much - always amazing food & service. Cannot recommend Sono enough it is one of Brisbane's best restaurants

SERVICE = 4.0<br/>FOOD = 4.0<br/>FOOD CONSISTENCY = 4.5<br/>Great place, always great to visit. Great sashimi. Love the teriyaki and other good offerings.

I had always heard good things about Sono and being somebody who enjoys all Asian cuisines immensely was lucky enough to be taken to the Ascot restaurant for my birthday. The decor was pleasant and we were able to get a table by the window which offered a brilliant view of the Brisbane river. The menu was extensive and I wished I could order about 6 dishes. Due to my desire to try everything we decided to go with the set menu. All of the 6 courses were exceptionally well presented, fresh and delicious. Our particular favourites were the crab croquettes and scampi spring rolls. The beverage selection was well matched to the meals. I had never thought much about Japanese desserts and did not know what to expect. I had to take a photo of the dessert when it arrived as it looked brilliant and was not at all what I was expecting. An absolutely delightful experience with great food, great service and a completely justified total bill. Will most certainly be going back to try more of the dishes as we saw about 5 other dishes delivered to other diners that I must try.

Was taken here for my birthday on a Thursday night and it was a fantastic experience. The staff were very attentive, the food was exceptional and came out at appropriate times, and the dessert was delicious. This restaurant is everything you would expect from a Japanese fine dining restaurant. Cannot wait to return

Brisbane's best Japanese. The teppanyaki is amazing and great for special occasions. Everything is of very high quality, definitely worth the money.

I got taken here on a date and I suddenly felt ill (so unlike me to be sick when eating) but the staff here were so wonderful and cooked everything so I could take it away and made sure that it was cooked so when I took it home and heated it up- it would be just right. Greatest sake and food pairings and so much food for the price! I've found sono in Portside to be the best value for money teppanyaki in Brisbane.

Beautifully decorated Japanese restaurant with the most polite and courteous staff. I've been there a couple of times, and the seafood has consistently been fresh and mouth-watering delicious. Yes it's expensive, but I do believe it's well worth it - the chefs are amazing! By far some of the best sashimi and sushi I've had.

<br/>This place is one of the best restaurants in Brisbane. The service was excellent with prompt drinks and food in a reasonable time. The private rooms are a great place to meet with friends. The vegetarian banquet was excellent, with plenty of food and choice. This place is one of my favourite restaurants in Brisbane. Experience it!!!

With views of the river and plenty of seating options to choose from, it caters for a romantic dinner for two all the way to group functions. Service here is good - professional. Food was fresh with great seasoning and all dishes came out promptly even though it was a Saturday night.

One of my close friends and I had a rather significant victory to commemorate, and when he offered to take me out to dinner at whatever place I wanted, I jumped at the offer and asked that we go to one of the most prestigious Japanese Restaurants in Brisbane. We went to Sono at Portside Wharf after enjoying The Man from U.N.C.L.E (which was very enjoyable and highly recommended.)