Service and food is always impeccable! Love this place although an update of the shop may be needed!
We had lunch here without any expectations but the service was top and the food was top class!! Would recommend to anyone!!
Just had a party platter and the sashimi was superb. This goes on my list of favs
I love this place. The food is amazing the service is impeccable and there is a great selection of Sake �
I've been several times, in quite large groups (6-8 people), and all times it has been a fantastic experience. The ordering is easy and the timing for food is impeccable. I think they have a really large and well priced menu for the quality, and the staff are so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend!
A great atmosphere, varied and interesting menu, & attentive staff made our experience here noteable. Looking forward to a return visit!
Fabulous Japanese tapas, consistently great and always friendly staff. Love using the iPads for ordering. Thank you Izakaya Samurai people!
Shhhhh... the best eating experience on the north shore. Don't tell anyone.
High quality. Never disappointed yet. Very attentive staff as well.
Great services, love to use tablet to order good. Will go there again. Food is amazing as well.
Great food and good service. Book in advance, can be busy during the week. Definitely will visit again.
I love this restaurant . Very nice food and good service . And so easy to find a parking .
Best Japanese restaurant this side of Sydney. Even better is the fact that the prices are so reasonable. The Tuesday grilled sushi lunch special is the winner!
Food was very fresh, delicious and reasonably priced, service was great too. My kids loved the kids meals. Would definitely go again!
Favourite Japanese in Sydney. Wonderful atmosphere.
Hungriestsam - Samantha
+4
I've been going here for years (even back when it was called sushi samurai). It was a go to for my family dinners when it was someone's birthday or something. We love the food and friendly staff.
The lunch sets are also really good and fairly priced.
Great place.
The sushi is a bit expensive.
Try the spicy karage chicken and pork and prawn gyoza.
They charge for wasabi and ginger extra which seemed a bit weird. As i haven’t experienced that before.
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There’s always an excitement in the air every time I go for an Izakaya dining. Not only does it remind me of our big Friday night after-work food and drinks with work mates during my 6 months stay in Tokyo, but this Japanese gastropub style offers a great selection of delicious small to medium size dishes / tapas style food along with a wide variety of alcohol particularly beer and sake. It’s a good time! In recent times, Sydney has embraced Izakaya dining and it gives everyone an opportunity to experience this lively, vibrant and casual way of dining.
Last week Steve and I had the chance to experience Izakaya Samurai Neutral Bay, in collaboration with Washuko Lovers. We have been here before for lunch and this was our second venture, it did not fail to amaze us.
Nestled inside the Quadrant Building at 197 Military Road in Neutral Bay, Izakaya Samurai has got just about everything you could want for Japanese Izakaya dining. It offers both indoor and outdoor space in the central area of the building. When you step inside the dining area, you’ll be captivated by the stylish and modern fit out, it’s warm and inviting, it feels like being transported to the heart of Tokyo with very enthusiastic staff greeting you in high and welcoming tone of ‘Irrashaimase’ – Welcome! I can’t stop looking at the array of Japanese sake bottles on display which come in all sizes, pleasantly back-lit adding to that easy feel. Along with nicely arranged table and chairs, there are a number of seating booths accented and separated by orange dividers creating a contrast to the wooden panels with ideal level of lighting to complete the mood. Every table has an iPad installed for ordering but don’t worry if you’re not comfortable with this gadget as they also offer a menu to peruse. If you are in any doubts about either, the staff will guide you through. Owner/ Chef Shinya showed us how to order through the iPad and I must say it’s a piece of cake, you can really zip through the side index and see the tempting array of food and drink just a tap away!
A tasting menu was curated for us and the first one to arrive was the main size Sashimi – $37. Shinya-san said it is one of their best sellers and I can see his point. The freshness of seafood mix, slices of tuna, salmon, king fish, snapper, scallop and scampi served on a bamboo mat along with stringy daikon, sliced lemons, parsley and lettuce all to embellish the presentation was jaw dropping and tasted just sensational, you will not be disappointed!
If you’re a fan of tacos, check out their Salmon Taco – $8.80, crispy taco shell filled with slightly seared salmon cuts, it’s smokey and flavoursome. Adding a bursting little juicy pop on the palate are the ‘tobiko’ (flying fish roe) shallots and thinly sliced onion.
Hardcore nigiri sushi lovers take note! Their Salmon Aburi – $16.80 and Mixed Sushi Aburi $18.80 (scallops, white fish and salmon) is definitely not to be missed. ‘Nigiri’ (hand-pressed sushi) is all about technique, the presentation speaks for itself! The fish and scallops are slightly charred on the surface leaving the inside fresh. What I liked with these sushi was the slightly vinegar taste of the ‘shari’ (sushi rice) which was not overpowered by the smokey taste of the fish and scallops, it maintained a well-balanced flavour. Adding to the poetry of this sushi are mayonnaise, flying fish roe, shallots and soy sauce. Because of the toppings, you may find that the chopsticks will not hold everything and cause the nigiri to separate. Don’t worry, use your hands, it is an acceptable sushi etiquette.
I can’t help but have a big smile on my face when the Japanese-style beef hamburger – $17.80 or ‘hambagu’ with chips served on a sizzling plate arrived. This dish brings back memories of my time in Japan. It’s one of my favourites in between Izakaya dishes to order, so the timing was spot on. Big on flavour the meat is thick and juicy. The grated ‘daikon’ (white raddish) on top of the patty and ponzu dressing adds a refreshing and citrusy touch and who doesn’t love some crinkle cut chips!
The service remains impeccable, staff keep on checking our table making sure that all empty plates were taken away and if there is anything we may need. Shinya-san came over and explained in detail some of the elements of the dishes and answering any questions we had.
Eggplant with Sweet Miso $10.80 and Pan Fried Pork Gyoza $8.80 were served together.
Steve and I love this eggplant with sweet miso (Nasu Dengaku). Hands down to Izakaya Samurai’s version. Eggplant is creamy with a soft texture slathered with sweet and savoury sweet miso. The marriage between the two is a delectable combination, it may appear simple, but the depth of flavours are amazing and keep you digging to the last possible piece.
Oh holy Gyoza! It is as ubiquitous as ramen in Japan and I reckon it’s the most sought after Izakaya dish. Give me a gyoza and sake or beer and I’ll go to heaven. Five pork dumplings served on a hot plate, perfectly pan-fried juicy on the inside and golden brown on the outside. You can never go wrong with this dish!
Room for dessert? I was in awe when they brought the Dessert Plate – $17.80. It was well-plated with slices of green tea cake, cheese cake, custard and vanilla ice cream. Every bite was heavenly, never had such a variety of luscious patisserie on one plate! The accompanying strawberry slices, mandarin and cream added harmony to this plate.
Finishing off with a high note and thanking everyone for a wonderful dinner. Gochisosama deshita!
Order your meals through an iPad 😀 we had a lovely casual dinner here. The agedashi eggplant 🍆 was a stand out dish for me! Must order! The sashimi platter was good but the raw prawn 🦐 had a really strong smell to it so decided to leave that one on the plate. Edamame was fresh and delicious. Green rice tea was yumoooo! 🍵
The food here is really great.
I give 4 star instead of 5 because it’s a little bit pricey since the portion of food is small.
The fired chicken doesn’t look like fired but it’s delicious
BTW, the restaurant has a little spot for kid to play which is really nice
Nice little area - suitable for people who want to have some drinks and light meals. And the live guitar music created a peaceful and relaxing ambience. It’s handy to order food on iPads and the staff are all very friendly Japanese people. When the sun goes down in the summer, it is so nice to sit outdoor and enjoy drinks/food/live musics with your loved ones. I will definitely visit again.
Ordered:
1. Steam egg - I didn’t not like this dish at all, normally this is my fav dish but there is too much liquid and sauce in this which made it soggy
2. Seaweed sushi/ California roll/ avocado and chicken sushi - fresh and yum
3. Tofu seaweed salad - nice and refreshing
4. Asahi beer - one of my fav beer, it is light and goes really well with the food
5. Green tea dessert set - average, my fav one is the green tea sponge roll cake
Will I go back: yes when I crave sushi, I love the touch screen ordering system
Most generous servings of wine here! We ordered the pork belly bun which was YUM especially for me because it wasn't too fatty (which I don't like). The edamame is different from usual, lots of garlic!! We also ordered grilled salmon nigiri and eggplant dish which were yum. You order from a computer screen. Cool place, a good staple Japanese restaurant.
Very quick and friendly service, came in off the street with no reservation. In and out in 30mins. The food was very nice and fresh. I'll definitely be back and I loved the use of iPads on each table to ensure hassle free ordering
I think it was a great choice to come here for lunch...coz dinner was our leftovers! Lunch sets here have very generous serves with salad, sashimi, agedashi tofu, edamame beans and miso soup. They are all small side dishes but very filling. We also ordered grilled kingfish head, spicy kaarage chicken, tempura and a soft shell crab roll. All in all, the food was tasty, service was friendly and attentive, we will definitely be back!
Nice little place with large choice of Japanese dishes. There is a lovely mood in this place for lunch or dinner. It is pleasant to eat there although he place is small. Prices are very reasonable and products are fresh. Always a pleasure to go there. Very friendly and efficient staff.
Izakaya Samurai recently celebrated their 3rd anniversary. I totally rate Izakaya Samurai as one of best Japanese restaurants in Sydney. I love the fresh produce, the friendly staff and the prices are reasonable for the portions. To celebrate the occasion of Izakaya's 3rd Anniversary, Yuri, Melle and I had a few choya sodas to start the night and then waited for the Tuna show to start. It's a sweet and low alcohol drink.
Great service, prompt service and the food came out quickly for a busy Sunday dinner. Had the pork hot pot with entrees- eggplant and pork gyoza. Delicious food and friendly service. Very reasonable price at $50 for both of us.
Will definitely come back here for lunch or dinner again soon!
#japanese #dinner #delicious #pork #kimchi #hotpot #eggplant #gyoza #porkbelly
Izakaya Samurai has been around for many years in Neutral Bay. Its one of those restaurants that are able to maintain their good quality food for many years. They've made some slight changes in their menu where they have taken out the Earl Grey Brulee, but added in some new desserts in their menu. Entrees and mains are still great. Although the pancakes of the pork belly Peking style are a little bit dry and the pork belly is tend to be a bit fatty (well, I don't really mind that :P). Overall, the service is great. Very friendly! Booking I'd essential, as this is a popular izakaya type of jap restaurant. Fair price for awesome quality food! Highly recommended :)
Nice, welcoming atmosphere and staff happy to accommodate. Tried the tofu lunch box and left feeling so full. nice and cosy on a rainy winters day.
Efficient service, loads of choices of dishes - great for groups of mates (they serve beers in jugs). Like an authentic Izakaya found in Japan.
Sashimi fresh and sushi and rolls made well. Friendly staff and although some may find the self ordering on the iPad a bit impersonal, I dorm have any problems with it. Would return and would recommend to others.
We come here whenever we can. Amazing fresh food, perfect service from all the waitresses. Especially from Shinya, who knows what you're asking for before you've even asked for it!! He is so fast and helpful, he deserves an award. I've never seen service like this. Thanks Shinya!!
My workmates and I came here to beat our hunger after 12 hrs work. We came out full and the food was fairly priced. All the foods that came out to the table (and they came out pretty fast, thankfully) were nice, but nothing too mind-blowingly amazing. The soup for their Agedashi tofu was really good, but the beef tataki was unnecessarily covered with tomatos. I got mocktail called Sakura. it was refreshing, but too sweet. I wasn't sure what particular flavor it was, but I had to add water into it. Their steamed prawn dumpling had a bit more dough than prawn, but quite soft. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite nice, comfortable and friendly. Overall, quite alright. And like I said, we went home happily full
Izakaya Samurai takes the concept of traditional Japanese Izakaya and turns it on its head, infusing it with eastern and contemporary flavours and techniques. It's an ingenious and well executed idea that spans the breadth of the menu and is what helps make the restaurant so universally attractive to Japanese lovers everywhere. A DIY ordering system is enabled by the tablets which adorn every table – navigate through the user-friendly sub headings to view images of the dishes and select what you like. With traditional classics on the menu alongside fusion, east-meets-west style fare, it is both a family friendly eatery and venue ideal for intimate dinners.
Izakaya Samurai is a neighbourhood gem that serves up an extensive menu of food and drinks. Love their quality fresh sashimi and generous in serving size lunch sets plus they are kid-friendly making it a great venue to bring the whole family along!
We had a family dinner there tonight
And I'm glad I didn't read the reviews below before going in
We are local but didn't go to that place for years as we have other Asians outlet around the corners but all on holidays at the moment
The food was sublime !! Fresh and tasty speedy and friendly service . Great happy hours offer . A wonderful experience and the were full for a Monday night not bad
It's a somewhat chilly spring evening and what better way to wind down on a Sunday than being able to eat good quality no-fuss Japanese izakaya-style food. It seemed many had the same idea as upon arriving it was quite a full house. Yuri (from SD Marketing) had kindly booked DT and I a table al fresco and a table indoors, we opted for the former so we could enjoy the fresh air and have better lighting for photography.
I love the food here. The quality is high with a reasonable price amongst Japanese restaurant.
Foods like Teriyaki Salmon, Beef, Hotpot, Gyoza, Deep Fire Chicken, Sashimi are all amazing. This become one of my regular dinning place even though I take me at least 35 mins drive to get here.
Ellen Ehrhardt Smith
+3.5
On a chilly, damn chilly, night in Sydney, it’s time for some hot pot and top quality sushi at Izakaya Samurai. . There’s an extra bit of fun at Izakaya Samurai in that you get to order on an iPad – and the food arrives super quick! We also noticed a little sign tacked on to the side of the screen. Ever heard of Washoku Lovers? It’s a foodie community that’s all about Japanese food culture. They’ve teamed up with a whole lot of Japanese restaurants around Sydney, not just to promote them but also to bring you some exclusive offers if you become a Washoku member! Our offer at Izakaya Samurai, for example, was to get a Suntory Malt’s Tap Beer for $5 instead of $8.80 (or a small glass of Japanese Sake Ippin for $5 instead of $9.50 or 1 free soft drink) – not bad, hey! Make sure you check out the other offers on the Washoku Lovers website.
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My favourite definition of Izakaya is it's more modern adaptive interpretation as a Japanese-style tavern serving food and drinks without the intention of trying to turn over customers. A place where you can linger with good friends, food and drinks.
Despite the cold weather I still enjoy the fresh, brisk taste of a beer with my meal. So I started off with a glass of Suntory on tap... it even came in its own sponsored glass.
My wife opted for some cold Ippin Sake. Ippin has spent a lot of hard work trying to break into the Australian market. It offers a great, clean and extra dry sake. It's smooth to drink and pairs extremely well with fantastic Japanese foods.
One unique feature Izakaya offers is there Kids Play Area. This secure section allows you to enjoy your meal while the kids can entertain themselves. With quite a cosy layout, it was a thoughtful inclusion as to compliment the "no rush" mentality of an Izakaya.
Majority of the menu was recommended to us by the manager and Yuri (Managing Director of Washoku Lovers). We started with their Spicy Grilled Salmon Sushi. One bite and my eyes grew wide as I stared at my wife. "You need to try this!" I said with excitement.
The grilled salmon melted in your mouth and that spicy, creamy sauce was just perfection. Each bite was consistently orgasmic and I could have polished the plate of six easily.
Next up was the Prawn and Cod Roe Gratin. The mixture of vegetables, potatoes, prawns, cod roe and lots of cheese was another home run dish. The texture yet again can only be described as melt in your mouth.... so decadent and so good.
The dish itself had a very fishy scent and taste to it (from the roe), which I don't have a problem with but some might. We almost had to fight over who will polish off the remaining creamy goodness. The size of the dish is enough to leave you beckoning for more.
Our last recommended meal was their Spicy Seafood Hotpot with Miso Soup. It comes with a portable gas cooker on your table... which is fine but that left very limited space left to maneuver your plates and access to the touch screen. The seafood was fantastically fresh, the vegetables were plentiful, that tofu was silky smooth and the broth was delicate and sophisticated.
As I was enjoying the subtle flavours of the hot pot, I was explaining to my wife how this hot pot experience combined with their wooden decor really transported my dining experience away up to a small cabin in the mountains on a cold winter's night. Despite both of us not being huge hot pot buffs, there was not much left but soup and handful of vegetables when they cleared the table.
Still feeling slightly peckish (I know, we're massive eaters), we ordered a serving of Lotus Root Chips. I loved the consistently even seasoning of salt and seaweed powder on each chip. The salty crunch of Renkon paired well as I guzzled down the last drops of my Suntory.
To finish off, we always need something sweet... and I mistakenly chose the Tokyo Tower Parfait. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way implying this parfait lacked in quality... I'm just saying this isn't the type of dessert I normally enjoy. Layered with cream, ice-cream (vanilla and green tea), mochi, cornflakes, red bean and topped with mint and a Nice biscuit... it was what a parfait should be... except I don't ever recall trying parfait and my wife insisted I wouldn't enjoy parfaits at all. I went against her judgement and then was left admitting "I was wrong". I'm at least happy how photogenic the dessert was... that I can appreciate.
One thing to commend about this place is their service. It's the perfect mannered, polite, efficient service you'd expect from a great Japanese restaurant. I love that the culture instills this in them. Despite walking past at least three other Japanese restaurants from where I parked, what I notice was the stream of customers dining inside and outside this place. The proof is in the pudding... or gratin in this case.
I also loved the heavily wooden decor and the massive collection of Sake bottles dividing the dining area and the kitchen. The additional touches with cushions along the long bench that extends the depth of the restaurant is nice too.
There are many other Japanese places (Mizuya and Wagaya come to mind) that adopted the self-ordering system at the table... and I'm glad Izakaya Samurai has as well. It allows a gradual ordering of food without accidentally over-commitment from the get go. Plus the ability to monitor your expenses and to call staff from a screen is an added bonus.
WASHOKU LOVERS
If you are not already a member of Washoku Lovers, and I don't know why you wouldn't be, then I definitely recommend going to their page and signing up. They offer many perks at an ever growing list of Japanese restaurants.
In the case of Izakaya Samurai, you can enjoy your Suntory Malt for only $5 instead of $8.80 OR a small glass of Japanese Sake Ippin for $5 instead of $9.50 OR a free soft drink for you Dry July-ers.
Sign Up Here
I can comprehend why despite there being many other Japanese options, this place (slightly hidden mind you) still has it's fair shares of patrons. It's their perfect combination of a warm ambiance, impeccable service and salivating-worthy food.
Thanks goes out to Washoku Lovers and Izakaya Samurai for inviting me to sample their menu. As an avid fan of Japanese cuisine, I appreciate the consideration.
Kampai!
Good solid food at just above average prices. Cool vibe & very efficient ordering process using iPad which tracks where each dish is at, plus good service.
Over the years I have been to many Japanese restaurants in Neutral Bay, including Sushi Samurai which has been rebranded to Izakaya Samurai. It is actually the sister restaurant of Izakaya Yebisu in the city. Like Yebisu, the restaurant features touch screen menus which makes ordering ultra simple. Before we had finished ordering, our first dish had already arrived. Talk about efficiency! First up was the lotus root chips . I am not a fan of lotus root generally, but it is a different story when they are deep fried! Unfortunately these were a bit chewy and not crispy enough. Lotus Root Chips $5.80 Seafood carpaccio with Japanese ume dressing. It's like a Japanese take on ceviche, the tangy soy dressing went really well with the fresh sashimi. It was something different to the regular sashimi...which we also ordered. The main sashimi plate comprised of tuna, snapper, kingfish, salmon, prawn, salmon roe and scallops. The slices were beautifully presented and were quickly chowed down.
What I really liked was the fact that despite the size being smaller than your usual restaurant, they still accommodated a place for a shrine of sorts, traditionally Japanese, as well as a small corner for small children to be left in, complete with toys and games. I am not going to lie to you when I say that I really enjoyed those when I was little, and if it was acceptable, I would love to sit and chill in one now :P
Confessions Of A Glutton
+4.5
This sushi mix was a little on the exxy side but was presented beautifully. There was a piece each of aburi scallop, salmon, and a white fish which I guessed to be kingfish. Deliciously fresh and faultless sushi.
The dish we had been looking forward to the most all evening arrived. We had ordered the Ramen Hot Pot for 1-2 people ($25.80), and were staggered at the size of the pot that arrived at our table, complete with a self-controlled gas burner.
Chopinand Mysaucepan
+4.5
Restaurants along Military road in the suburbs of Neutral Bay and Cremorne range from Thai, Italian, Chinese, modern Australian, Japanese, bar and pub fare, Indian and the list just goes on.
We have our favourites among so many restaurants. Tonight, we settle on Sushi Samurai, a tried and test favourite over the years.
The girls and I had our ramen cravings again. Yes again. A common occurrence amongst my circle of foodie friends. We had a problem though, Ryo's was closed! Relocated to Hong Kong airport. Disaster! After hyperventilating for some time, we decided to head down to Cremorne and search for some noodely offerings there. We had all been wanting to head down the weird alleyway (which ended up joining up with the Military Road entrance and being the same split restaurant). It's an authentic Japanese experience, from the stylish wooden interior, clean and also stylish bathroom, food and efficient and friendly service. You can also make a donation to the Japanese earth quake disaster while you dine. We start with the chili and garlic edamame , which compared to Mizuya 's, which has large deep fried pieces of garlic and chilli and a thick, sweet, dark soy, Sushi Samurai's version is a more garlicky, than chili affair, with no soy. Still very tasty. But we breathed extremely garlicky breath of do
Each person must start of with a starter, of a sushi platter, of which there are two choices, before being able to order the sushi and other dishes from the all-you-can-eat menu. We went with two of each of the platters (to share) to try a bit of everything
Grilled Salmon Belly. Standout dishes were from the grill. Salmon Belly and Pork Belly were both delicious. Felt the other dishes , Udon, Sushi and Tempura we slightly below par. Special mention to the watery tempura sauce. Service and setting is good and ordering via the LCD screen was fun.
Perfect Japanese!. Quality Japanese and excellent service:)))
Just had the most enjoyable dinner - I highly recommend the grilled salmon sushi. Their miso was the best I've had in a long time. Also tried their chilli garlic edamame which was fun. Great fresh food, friendly waitstaff and affordable prices. I'll definitely be returning.
Love the service and food.. Make sure u book b4 u go
Highly recommend the seared salmon roll, but the California was mediocre at best. The chicken terryaki plate was enormous, tasty and a great value. Service was slow and it was about average sushi prices. Fun and casual atmosphere.
Enjoyable! Fast professional service on a busy Saturday night. A good range of Japanese dishes and beverages. Okinomiyaki was quite traditional, good selection of karage dishes. Unagi rolls were worth savouring. Good value, will return.
Excellent value for money. Some pretty interesting rolls.
All of the dinner sets are fantastic value for money! Don't go past the green tea icecream
Saketome!. Try the Lotus root chips from the specials menu, but skip the soft shell crab.
Book ahead on weekends.
This is our go to for Japanese in the area. Always fresh, convenient ordering and well priced. Good assortment of Sake and Japanese whiskey and beers
One of the friendliest restaurants I've ever been to. All the staff greet you when you walk in, and they all say goodbye when you leave. Their ordering system is very advanced, using tablets to order food and ask for the bill. The food was cooked very quick and they didn't disappoint with quality. Everything was so tasty and It's my top Japanese restaurant. This place won't disappoint 😃.
Nice little Japanese restaurant in the area. Price and portions reasonable .
Good for the price. Sushi platter is excellent value, though there were no photos of the platter on their website so we ordered it blindly. Would have preferred something with nigiri. The kingfish head had a lot of meat and was very tasty!
Everything is always fresh and tastes incredible. Love ordering on the ipad as well, makes it so easy and I love how every thing has photos. The food is such good quality and is delicious.
The cooked tuna sushi is by far my favourite, as well as the prawn tempura roll!!!
The pork and duck dish is divine. Quality not quantity. Melts in your mouth. Beautiful waitress completed the Japanese cuisine experience. Recommended.
Been frequenting this great little Japanese Izakaya with lovely lunch bento boxes n alacarte dinner selection for years now. -Tucked away in a hidden small courtyard on Rangers Road/ Military Road
They have specials on the booze from Monday to Friday. ($5/ drink)
Our favourite would have to be their Aburi Salmon which just melts in the mouth with just the right amount of smokiness n sauce .... heavenly!
Their specialty , Sushi n Sashimi. It’s only a small restaurant inside with some outdoor seating. Booking advised unless prepared to wait. Food n service always good👌
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