Osaki all-you-can-eat Japanese to replace Elizabeth 285 at North Hobart

A North Hobart food institution is set to make way for a unique dining concept. There are nearly 50 on the mainland – now Tasmania can see what the fuss is all about.

The new All-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant which is due to open in North Hobart in the coming weeks. Picture: Linda Higginson

Tasmania’s sushi king is set to take over a shuttered North Hobart dining institution to debut his own take on a massive mainland franchise where diners can gorge on all-you-can-eat Japanese.

Howrah man Eric Yang, one of three business partners behind the hugely successful Hokkaido Sushi brand, which has six locations across the state, told the Mercury he hopes to open Osaki Japanese Restaurant before Christmas.

“Our renovation is almost done, we are just waiting on the kitchen equipment,” he said.

Osaki will be located at 2/285 Elizabeth St, North Hobart, the former home of Elizabeth 285 Asian Fusion Cuisine, which closed last month.

Menu options at the new Okami Japanese Restaurant North Hobart, which offers all-you-can-eat. Picture: Supplied

Osaki is similar to mainland heavyweight Okami, a franchise-based business which opened its first all-you-can-eat restaurant in Hampton, Melbourne, in 2013. It now has nearly 50 locations Australia-wide, but as yet, the concept of all-you-can-eat Japanese has not been explored in Tasmania – until now.

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For $39.80 a pop (less for children), diners can gorge themselves on dozens of freshly made dishes, including classics like sushi, sashimi, chicken karaage, katsu and teriyaki, gyoza, udon and soba noodles, and green tea and black sesame ice cream. The menu features more than 30 dishes.

Hokkaido Sushi co-owner Eric Yang, of Howrah. Picture: Alex Treacy

Mr Yang said he had been wanting to bring the concept to Tasmania for more than a year, but needed a suitably large tenancy – he expects his Osaki will be able to seat 120–150 patrons. The new tenancy is approximately 360 sqm.

“It will be the biggest Japanese restaurant in Tasmania,” Mr Yang claimed.

Up to 25 new jobs will be created, with hiring to commence this week.

Staff shortages have so far been the ambitious sushi boss’ Achilles heel.

He said he could comfortably hire an additional 12–15 employees across his existing stores, ignoring Osaki, but has been unable to find them.

Mr Yang said the shortage was worse in Launceston than Hobart.

Andy Li is the manager of the new all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant which is due to open in North Hobart in the coming weeks. Picture: Linda Higginson

The new Launceston CBD sushi train – one of two Hokkaido Sushi outlets he opened this year – has proven especially popular with the punters. Mr Yang said it had been turning over approximately $50,000 per week.

Mr Yang previously told the Mercury he had high hopes of bringing Hokkaido Sushi to Devonport and Burnie. Mr Yang opened his first restaurant in 2018.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Mr Yang was opening up an Okami franchise. This was incorrect. Osaki and Okami are not related.