Kadoya Japanese Restaurant

Brisbane CBD office workers fiercely protect this Mary Street staple—a casual, no-frills shokudo punching way above its weight. Expect a dense menu of absolute comfort. Pacing here is unhurried. The payoff? Stellar. Bento boxes practically overflow, while the pork katsu curry lands with a deeply savory warmth and a flawless panko crunch. Eel chasers quietly point newcomers toward the unagi don—a generous, smoky-sweet slab grilled to order. Forget flashy decor. This is about pulling up a chair in a peaceful room, inhaling that rich, steamy aroma, and destroying a massive bowl of tempura udon. Pure, unapologetic soul food.