Itoshin Japanese Restaurant Mermaid Beach

Tucked off the Gold Coast Highway, Itoshin delivers traditional Japanese craft with zero pretension. Locals who know their fish head straight for the massive sushi and sashimi boats—loaded with thick cuts of rich salmon, ocean trout, and Spanish mackerel. Nigiri arrives with a dedicated soy spray to preserve the warmth and seasoning of the shari, alongside distinct dipping sauces for rolls and sashimi. Beyond the raw bar, tables often share simmering pots of beef and seafood nabe, or pair crisp salmon tempura and seared duck tataki in sweet soy with glasses of unfiltered junmai sake. Free underground parking makes arrival easy, but dinner crowds arrive early.