Daikoku Restaurant and Bar
Daikoku Restaurant and Bar is a Japanese restaurant in Port Moresby's Harbour City precinct that serves the business community with sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki, and a bar area that draws an after-work crowd. The restaurant occupies a ground-floor space with a sushi counter, teppanyaki grill stations, table seating for about 50, and a bar area with another 15 seats. The Japanese cuisine is surprisingly competent for a Pacific island capital, with fresh fish sourced from local waters and the teppanyaki chefs putting on a show that livens up business dinners. The bar area serves SP Lager, imported Japanese beer (Asahi, Sapporo), sake, spirits, and cocktails. Prices reflect Port Moresby's import-dependent economy: mains PGK 60-120, drinks PGK 25-50. The clientele is predominantly business: Japanese, Australian, and multinational corporate visitors, along with embassy staff and the PNG professional class. Daikoku serves as an alternative to hotel dining for visitors tired of the compound circuit. The food quality and the variety of the menu make it worth the vehicle trip from the hotel zone.
What to Expect
A Japanese restaurant with a bar that provides an alternative to hotel compound dining. Competent sushi and teppanyaki in a city where restaurant options are limited. The setting is modest but the food quality justifies the visit.
Restaurant-focused with a social bar corner. The teppanyaki grill creates energy and entertainment at the cooking stations.
Soft Japanese-influenced background music. Quiet and unobtrusive.
Smart casual. Business dinner standard.
Business diners, Japanese food enthusiasts, anyone wanting a change from hotel restaurants, groups celebrating with teppanyaki
Cards accepted. Cash (Kina) also fine. Can handle large group bills.
Price Range
Sushi set PGK 50-80, sashimi PGK 60-100, teppanyaki PGK 80-120, beer PGK 25-40, sake PGK 30-60, cocktails PGK 40-65
Sushi set ~$14-22.40 / ~12.85-20.55 EUR, teppanyaki ~$22.40-33.60 / ~20.55-30.80 EUR, beer ~$7-11.20 / ~6.40-10.30 EUR
Hours
12:00-14:00 and 18:00-22:00 Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday
Insider Tip
Reserve for Friday dinner; the teppanyaki seats fill first. The sashimi platter uses local reef fish and is the kitchen's highlight. Japanese beer pairs better with the food than SP Lager. The bar area stays open slightly after the kitchen closes.
Full Review
Daikoku exists because Port Moresby's business community needs more than hotel buffets and compound bars. The restaurant provides a genuine dining experience in a city where the options are limited, and the bar area gives visitors a reason to linger after the meal.
The location in Harbour City places it within the broader downtown waterfront area, accessible by vehicle from the hotel compounds. The space is mid-range in design: clean, functional, with the sushi counter and teppanyaki stations providing visual interest. The sushi counter seats 8 and lets you watch the chef work with fish that arrived that morning.
The sashimi is the kitchen's strongest offering. Local reef fish, tuna, and prawns are sliced with proper technique and served with real wasabi. In a city where supply chains are unreliable, the consistency of the fish quality speaks to the restaurant's sourcing relationships. Sushi sets (PGK 50-80) provide a good introduction. The teppanyaki experience (PGK 80-120) adds theatrical value, with chefs performing the traditional knife and spatula routines that make business dinners more entertaining.
The bar area occupies a corner of the restaurant, with stools at a counter and a few tables. SP Lager and imported Japanese beers are the primary options. Sake by the carafe provides an authentic Japanese drinking experience that the hotel bars can't match. Spirits and basic cocktails round out the selection.
Friday evening is the busiest, with the restaurant filling for business dinners and the bar capturing those who arrive for drinks first. The Japanese business community in Port Moresby is significant (Japan is a major investor in PNG's resource sector), and Daikoku serves as their gathering point.
Getting to Daikoku requires the same pre-arranged transport as everything in Port Moresby. The drive from the hotel zone is short but must be organized. Call the restaurant for directions if your driver doesn't know the Harbour City area.
As an alternative to the hotel circuit, Daikoku adds genuine value. The food is better and more varied than hotel restaurant options, and the atmosphere provides a change from the compound routine.
The Neighborhood
In Harbour City, the downtown waterfront precinct. The hotel compounds (Crowne Plaza, Stanley) are accessible by vehicle in 5-10 minutes. The restaurant is within the broader secured waterfront area.
Getting There
Pre-arranged vehicle from your hotel to Harbour City. The restaurant is at ground level in the precinct. Ask your hotel concierge or call Daikoku directly for directions. Do not walk from the hotels.
Address
Harbour City, Downtown, Port Moresby
Other Venues in Downtown Waterfront
Crowne Plaza Bar
Port Moresby's most active hotel bar, serving as the default social hub for the business and expat community. Cold SP Lager and imported spirits in an air-conditioned lounge. Beer PGK 20-35, spirits PGK 40-70. Thursday and Friday evenings draw the biggest crowds.
Royal Papua Yacht Club
Private members' club on the waterfront with a bar, restaurant, and outdoor terrace overlooking the harbor. Visitors can enter as guests of members. The most social venue in Port Moresby, with a mix of expats, diplomats, and PNG professionals. Beer PGK 15-30.
Stanley Hotel Bar
Modern hotel bar in the Stanley Hotel compound. Quieter than the Crowne Plaza but comfortable. The rooftop pool area hosts occasional social events. Beer PGK 20-35, cocktails PGK 40-65. Open daily until 11 PM.
Gold Club
Port Moresby's only venue that resembles a nightclub, with a dance floor, DJ, and bar. Located within a secured compound. Mixed crowd of expats and locals. Open Friday and Saturday nights. Entry PGK 20-50. The sound system is loud, the crowd is ready to move.