+61 455 125 057+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Mon
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Thu
5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
$5.00 – $28.00
CUISINES
Japanese, Sushi, Fusion
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Does this restaurant offer table service?
Details
About
For the vibrant fresh flavours of Japanese cuisine, discerning Cairns diners head to Wawawa Izakaya on Lake Street. From the colourful wall murals of a Japanese Geisha woman and Mount Fuji to bright neon signage.
PRICE RANGE
$5.00 – $28.00
CUISINES
Japanese, Sushi, Fusion
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Seating, Street Parking, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Mastercard, Visa, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
243 reviews
Excellent
180
Very good
39
Average
16
Poor
5
Terrible
3
JoJeFe
Cairns4 contributions
Jan 2020 • friends
WoW!!! Simply blown away! We were in 4 adults and a young child and the service was excellent. The menu was small but filled with interesting options that it was difficult to choose. The food was outstanding, everything you expect from good Japanese food, but with a modern twist that was stunningly presented and very very tasty. We were offered small dishes of tempura whiting because they felt we waited too long. Soft funky reggae plays in the background and obscure Japanese theatre TV is the background for a supercool little restaurant with excellent food and fantastic service.
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seaview088
Queensland173 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
What a find! Tucked behind a curtain in a Cairns side street is this absolute banger of a Japanese restaurant.
The food is fresh and cooked to perfection and the service would put many of our very top restaurants to shame. The sake selection is on point and I loved the serving of it with the various Japanese sake traditions. This place is serious about quality but with a fun vibe.
Don’t miss the scallops and the beautifully prepared fresh sashimi.
Wawawa is well priced and if you like Japanese food, it’s not to be missed in Cairns.
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karan1263
Adelaide20 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
Arriving from interstate and hungry we headed for lunch at this small centrally located Japanese cafe. Beautiful street art adorns one wall and interesting vintage art in the very clean toilet! A good vibe.
Simple snappy service and we soon had a Sapporo beer in cold glass tankards, authentic bento and nigiri selection. Lovely fresh food, a spray bottle of nigiri sauce a nice touch. A great way to start a holiday in FNQueensland.
Written 7 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChillyWilly56
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • none
I went at 6pm on a weekday and received really slow service and the restaurant wasn't even full. The salmon wasn't very good and the wagyu beef noodle was a bit salty. We were really craving Japanese food, so it was a huge let down.I cannot believe this place is No.1 Japanese restaurant in Cairns.
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natasha B
Sunshine Coast20 contributions
Apr 2021 • family
I am definitely not one to go out of my way to write a review that is negative but I have been left tonight with empty stomachs due to a budget. I have dined in multiple Japanese venues in Australia and in Japan and the food was beautiful but unless you have $$$ to spare and your ok with spending top dollar for hardly any food I would not venture here. The sushi was fresh and prepared fast and effortlessly and the staff run a very quaint boutique dining experience but this is ideal for a date night not a family dinner. The booking process was challenging and was told multiple times that the table needed to be vacated by 1900. During Covid, I am aware we need to sit inside the window of time for our table but to sit down and be told that we needed to order quickly as they needed the table was the last straw for me. I hand over my BYO wine and to be told again that it is $15, I honestly can’t believe I actually paid $15 to open my bottle and use their glasses but helped us not have to succumb to the over charged drink prices. There is no kids menu and they WILL not adjust to anything you ask for them in terms of perhaps making a cucumber standard hosomaki roll! I will never recommend this venue nor stand for the service and price I paid for a very underwhelming experience. My only hope is that they can see the areas they can strengthen in but perhaps they are happy to stay not family friendly!
Written 10 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BaileyJack
Darwin65 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
Friendly quick service, food was ok and tasty, however it was quickly served- I was disappointed to see why it was served so quickly as a number of sauces for dishes being served from plastic bags such as the agedashi broth, the couple next to us had a dish served the same. -plain highly salted soy sauce for the beef tatake instead of a nice lighter style dipping sauce. Miso soup was very average. Having eaten in Japan and at other Japanese restaurants around the world, they build their reputation on the broths and sauces they make and serve. The difference is easy to taste and quite frankly not worth the rave rating this restaurant seems to have.
Written 18 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saran Deling
Cairns3 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
They say there’s a good chance that not every business will make it through this crisis. I really hope that this is not the case for these guys. One of the hardest working teams I’ve ever had the privilege of being treated by. Their relentless drive and dedication to their craft is reflected in the flawless food and service that they deliver to the table (pre-take away days). Also, with a vegetarian and a vegan in the family, we are all well catered for. The restaurant itself is quite cosy and intimate, so it’s a good idea to book ahead. Really hope to see our favourite go-to Japanese back soon.
Written 13 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChrisandJudy1000
Cleveland476 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
We do not usually eat Japanese food, but this cafe had some interesting options other than sushi.
The cafe is quite small, and relatively noisy, but I guess you could say it was 'lively and interesting'. We shared a number of dishes for dinner : Gyozas, chicken teriyaki, and what they call KFC. We liked them all, with the Gyozas being our favourite. The serving sizes are small, so better to order a bit more than you usually might.
The place was very busy on the mid-week night we visited. Luckily we booked in advance. Service was a little slow. It is licensed - no BYO. Prices are reasonable - bit higher than cafe but less than typical restaurant.
We would happily return for something a little different and very tasty.
Written 17 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seaside825511
9 contributions
Aug 2022 • couples
Have been here many times and it now sits very firmly as my favourite restaurant in Cairns. Food is always delicious, service is always attentive (even when they're super busy, which happens often - make sure you book a table!), the atmosphere is quirky and cosy. Great spot for a date but also lovely to go with a small group of friends. Prices for some things are slightly higher than elsewhere but this seems to reflect the quality and overall experience provided. Worth every cent. Favourite is the salmon bowl, although I have enjoyed every single thing I have eaten there. Definitely check this place out.
Written 23 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dominique G
Bondi24 contributions
Sept 2021 • none
Really gritty, authentic Japanese cuisine. Definitely book as we have had a few misses their due to popularity. Wagyu was divine as was the Tofu Agedashi, Wakame Salad...Felt like I was in a hole in the wall in the backstreets of Tokyo. Sake, wine and very delicious plates of all sizes and textures. Hard man in the kitchen drops the meals in timely fashion and the front of house could not be faulted. Tanoshinde kudasai.
Written 14 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BuzzyandLJ
Kuranda158 contributions
Apr 2021 • family
From the instant response from our text message booking, to the smile as we left after our meal, this experience at Wawawa Izakaya has been top shelf amazing. The service is phenomenal. The food is advertised as OMG, and OMG it really is! The scallops melt in the mouth and the secret dressing, well let’s just say I’d kill to be able to replicate it. The ambience and friendliness adds layers of enjoyment to the eating experience. The sushi and sashimi is as fresh as can be. You see the entire kitchen as your meal is being prepared and nothing is hidden. As other people have said, the portions are not huge, but then neither is the price. Just add more exquisite dishes to your order! We’ve already made the decision to go back and try some of the other dishes. Oh, have the wawawa Sakura cocktail made on sake and pink grapefruit! Amazing combination of flavour. Did I mention the fantastic service and attentive staff? And the OMG food? I’m sure I did, but it’s worth repeating! Just book and go eat! It’s worth it.
Written 17 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacey P
10 contributions
Apr 2021 • family
This restaurant was amazing! The food was delicious, something for everyone on the menu. The service was outstanding, always checking in & making sure the food was ok & if we needed more drinks. Would definitely come back here!!
Written 23 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex Thornton
Cairns9 contributions
May 2020 • none
This place is awesome! A cute little venue with incredible food! We pretty much ordered all the vegan dishes, spicy edamame, veggie tempura, shiitake agedashi tofu and the vegan sushi rolls! Every dish tasted so fresh and delicious! The service is also amazing! The staff were so lovely we felt really well taken care of. They even gave us free sake at the end of our meal. We will definitely be going back! I highly recommend this place!
Written 29 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bec Arnold
Mount Waverley88 contributions
Mar 2022 • couples
The food was so delicious and so reasonably priced. The staff were lovely and they work so hard. We barely waited for any of our food! We’d never tried sushi before and the waitress was able to recommend something for us to try for our first time and it was so good!!
Written 7 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sydneysider48
Sydney1188 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
From a relatively limited menu, we selected a number of dishes, all of which were excellent - well presented and very tasty. The sashimi was superb - a generous serving of tuna, salmon, kingfish, snapper and scallops, all served at just the right temperature. Service was very good and prices reasonable. A delicious and satisfying Japanese meal!
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
…
Showing results 1-15 of 225
Related Stories
Best moderately priced restaurants
See all
Best nearby
We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Best nearby hotels
See all 
Best nearby restaurants
See all 
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing