Japanese is probably my favourite cuisine. I love the fresh, light flavors. While I’ll happily grab a couple of sushi rolls, sometimes I want something (way more) upmarket, I want to eat at Sydney’s best Japanese. When that’s the case, for me it’s a two horse race between Sake Restaurant & Bar and Sokyo.
Sake Restaurant & Bar
The fact that Sake Sydney is still going strong 9 years after it opened and they’ve opened sister restaurants in Double Bay, Melbourne and Brisbane is a testament to the quality of the food.
Neil Perry’s Rockpool Dining Group now owns the restaurant and in 2017 he revamped the menu, although he has kept a lot of the classics. I was a little concerned the change in hands might mean a change in quality but a recent visit indicates this isn’t the case.
The flavors are still wonderful and the presentation of the dishes meticulous. All the dishes are great, but the tuna ceviche is one of my favourites and one I order every time I eat there.
No matter what you order, save room for dessert. Desserts are often the one thing not even great Asian restaurants do well, but Sake seems to have nailed it. The dragon egg is worth ordering just for the theatre value (there are a tonne of videos on youtube if you want to check it out). Here is the egg before they pour the sauce on it and it collapses revealing the “dragon” inside:
Sake Restaurant & Bar
12 Argyle Street The Rocks
http://www.sakerestaurant.com.au/
Sokyo
While Sokyo is technically part of the Star, don’t let that turn you off, it’s actually in the Darling, the hotel adjoining the casino and you can get there without stepping foot into the casino.
This is again Japanese dining at it’s best. I’ve eaten almost everything on the menu and it’s all been great, but one of the dishes I order every time is the Tuna Crispy Rice.
In comparing it to Sake, the result is pretty neck and neck. The food is equally good at both. The service at Sokyo is probably slightly better and unlike Sake it has a bar where you can sit, sip a cocktail and have a snack or order from the complete restaurant menu but it doesn’t have Sake’s dragon egg. Which sounds like a great excuse to try both and decide for yourself.
Sokyo
Level G The Darling
80 Pyrmont Street Pyrmont
https://www.star.com.au/sydney/eat-and-drink/signature-dining/sokyo