One of the best things about returning back to Australia is the easy access to really great Asian food again. This is especially true of Japanese food, where the offerings in Europe were usually quite expensive and poor quality.

In Sydney, there is a vast Asian food district... well, there is lots of interesting stuff from all over Asia. The biggest problem is finding out what is decent or not... so, I figure we have to start somewhere.

This little upstairs restaurant called Kura Kura was suggested to me by an old friend... and I dropped in to see what it was like. The place that I would usually go to that was in near Central had since been closed and turned into a nail polish salon. So, no going back to that place...

At first, I was a little bit confused... I had sworn that I had already been to this place, but it turns out that the Kura Kura has two different shopfronts in the same place. The first is the restaurant upstairs which has a side entrance (the first photo)... and the second is a small little lunch/dinner bar that is situated on the corner. The sort of place where you just drop in by yourself to have a quick feed and then leave. Sort of the Japanese equivalent of fast food. That was the one that I knew...

The Space

Upstairs, there is a comfortable layout of seats and tables... I was lucky to catch the place before the evening rush, so I managed to get one of the unreserved tables. However, within another 15-20 minutes, the place was quite filled and there were no unreserved tables left. So, if you are planning to come during one of the busier hours, definitely reserve a table... this place is quite popular!

The area is also quite warm from the kitchen... so, perfect for those winter evenings. You also see that there appears to be the owner family of all ages hanging around... from the older grandparents through to the young kids.

The Menu

Oh man.... the billboard menu on the outside looks pretty damn awesome!

However, on the inside, you are given an iPad from which you can directly place orders. Keep in mind that they don't split the bill... so, if you come as a party, then make sure you have sort of way to do it! Normally, I just split equal shares... I don't tend to eat that much, so I do overpay a little... but it is less painful than doing the fine hairs splitting approach!

The Food

Now, what I liked best about the selections here was that you could order a half-half menu. For me, I'm always torn between ordering a rice dish or a ramen bowl... and here, you can have both! Ramen and Karaage chicken with rice... plus a nice set of sides as well.

Everything was superb... a barely cooked egg with the delicious fried chicken... The only thing that I had a complaint about was the very salty broth for the soup... however, it did flavour the noodles very well, but it wasn't for drinking directly!

... hmmmm, and there was a nice selection of different Japanese beers and sakes. This was a nice introduction to the Yoyogi craft Pale Ale. I see that you can order this online... and they are no longer a complete import, as they are starting to brew it in Australia as well. Top Pale Ale, with hints of mango... very refreshing and easy to drink, so that was a very pleasant discovery that will be more than welcome for the Australian summer!

The Experience

What can I say? I think that I have found my easy and quick Japanese dinner and lunch place that is close to Central for all those times when I'm travelling! I love the place... I do wish that the ramen soup could be a little bit less salty, but that is okay... I don't have to drink it and it does really add some really good flavour to the noodles!

Definitely a highly recommended option for anyone who is passing through Sydney!

Opening Times

Monday 12–2:30pm, 5:30–9pm
Tuesday 12–2pm, 5:30–9pm
Wednesday 12–2pm, 5:30–9pm
Thursday 12–2pm, 5:30–9pm
Friday 12–2:30pm, 5:30–10pm
Saturday 12–2:30pm, 5:30–10pm
Sunday 12–2:30pm, 5:30–9pm

Contact Details

Address: Level 1/76 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9212 1088
Website: http://kurakura.com.au/
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