The wave of Japanese restaurants has left Sydney overflowing with omakases and ramen joints, but a new niche is emerging in the sector: venues subtly marrying Japanese with other cuisines and cultures.

Bistro Nido, a French bistro with a Japanese twist, has popped up in the CBD, while chef Luke Mangan will also put a foot in both countries with his new food-led bar opening at Potts Point in September.

“Two of my favourite food spots in the world, France and Japan. I’ve called it Luc-San. Luc for Luke, San for the Japanese part,” Mangan says.

The Pennys Lane venue will mix Japanese whisky and sake with French wines. A peek at Luc-San’s draft menu includes potato boulangere cooked in dashi, beef with sansho pepper and a mirin hollandaise and nori-wrapped asparagus.

The hybrid trend is also taking hold in Surry Hills. Last week Ibby Moubadder closed Cuckoo Callay, the Crown Street cafe opposite his Nour restaurant. The plan is to open Ito, a Japanese restaurant with Italian touches, in its place.

“It’ll be a Japanese restaurant, but with a sprinkle of head chef Erik Ortolani’s Italian background,” Moubadder explains.

A former head chef at Cho Cho San, Ortolani will sweep Japanese favourites, with the occasional Italian bump in the road.

“There’ll be a pasta dish with Japanese ingredients,” Moubadder says.

You’ll also be able to snack on focaccia with miso butter when Ito opens in September.