Review Chaco Ramen

Misspiggyexplores

The service was superb! Super friendly & lovely! Beautiful ambience and decor inside and nice casual seating outside. We chose the outdoor dining as it would feel safer and sensible since the covid outbreak. I ordered the salted fish broth super flavoursome, I add scallops 😍 and chilli powder to make the experience more intense. The yuzu drink was very refreshing. I would certainly come back to try the rest of the ramen. It’s a 15-minute walk to the restaurant from Kings Cross train station.

Wilsen Tjhung

A great ramen joint, one of the best in Sydney. Their soy tonkotsu broth was amazing, very smooth, buttery and porky. And you adjust the fattiness level too. Their pork belly slice is thick and tender too. You can also try the chicken chili coriander ramen if you want something different. It's light, spicy and refreshing. Their karaage is a must-have too, it's crispy, lightly battered and lightly doused in soy.

Anna Y.

Did the recipe change? We didn't see fat soy on the menu so we ordered classic soy instead assuming it's the new name for fat soy. Unfortunately, it tastes generic now.. still good but generic. I remember fat soy to be the best ramen I've ever tasted in Sydney. Bring it back please 🙏 What happened? :( New management? New chef?

Christie and Matt

Looking for a cozy place that will transport you back to Japan? Chaco Ramen did exactly that. I've rarely seen cold ramen before on a menu so had to order it (still hasn't won me over a warm bowl of ramen though). Pair your ramen with a refreshing drink and some gyozas! 😋 What we ordered: 🥢 Classic soy ramen 🍅 Cold tomato truffle ramen 🥟 Gyoza 🍋 Yuzu punch

Lifestyle Sharing

Always wanted to check out Chaco Ramen Darlinghurst for a long time, and today is the day. I ordered “YUZU SCALLOP” Taste: 4.5/5 (Hokkaidō Scallop, John Dory wonton, black fungus, leek, mizuna) this is what I call quality not quantity, the silky smooth thick broth, freshness of the scallop and John Dory Wonton (sooo good not fishy at all), my favourite wavy noodle. My friend had the “CLASSIC SOY” Taste 4.8/5 (Chashu Pork, half egg, black fungus, nori, shallots) it was more garlic stronger flavour broth. It was perfect bowl portion for us, we enjoyed very much. We travel a lot to Japan before Covid, we can say this is one of top best authentic Ramen shop in Sydney.

K

Best ramen I have had post COVID in city CBD area. The soy base was rich without being overwhelming. The fish base has a light fragrance and suprisingly rich unlike most places. Both were perfectly seasoned. 10/10 experience, this is the ramen joint to satisfy your ramen cravings. Update: Came back to try some of their other ramens. Chilli coriander ramen reminds me malatang with the strong Sichuan pepper. Don't worry it isn't very chilli. It's considered mild in Sichuan cuisine. Highly recommended if you want something different. It's really well done. Yuzu Scallop Ramen has a very rich buttery broth with the Yuzu breaking it up. Also well done, but I personally prefer the other ramens they have to offer. It's worth trying.

Erick T

Decent ramen but a bit too expensive. I just had the classic special to try. Pork taste good. Egg was perfect. Not a fan of the noodles. Broth was alright. Not too thin and not too thick. I'll probably come back one more time to try the other ramen

Popdiary_

Easily one of the best ramen spots in Sydney! The broth of the original ramen is perfect. Best ramen egg I've had in Australia! The bone marrow curry was also delicious. Would go back in a heartbeat!

Samuel Widjaja

Fat soy is one of the best tonkotsu ramen that I've tried so far in Sydney, very flavourful and it reminds me of my time in Osaka and Tokyo Japan. The service is awesome, she fills up our cups without us to call service. Would recommend!

Viseat Sydney

Amazing scallop broth with yuzu taste. Although I prefer the vegetarian Ramen more. This place is very crowded but it’s worth the wait. The staff is very friendly.

EaT EAT EAT

recommend booking in advanced. especially if you are being a date😆 I love that you can peep into the kitchen and see chefs efforts. and maybe go early as some menus may sold out.

Trabadillocaryl

I really love the Ramens! Me and my friends tried different orders so I was able to try the other ones. Everything was good. I’m glad my friend recommended this place. Will definitely come back! 😊

Blair

The first time we came here and we all fell in love. It’s worth to wait for 30 minutes as they were full. Food was very good with reasonable size. The only thing I would say no is, they don’t have much sides to choose now. I was coming for the triangle rice sandwich I don’t know what’s the name but seems like they removed it from the menu so now only available in another store. It’s not convenient if I want to have ramen and the side I like at the same time.

Lisafoodadventures

One of the best ramen places in Sydney. Their traditional ramen are great but also their yuzu ramen is quite a treat!

Dlau992

Cosy authentic Japanese restaurant, I’ve tried a few of their ramen and bone marrow curry. I didn’t particularly enjoy the scallop yuzu ramen, flavour was particularly weak and sourness wasn’t balanced. The bone marrow curry was anything out of the ordinary either. However their Fish Salt and Fat Soy ramen are great and got strong flavours. 50/50 for me.

Sydney

The food was fine, but the service was disappointing . 30minutes to get our drinks and 40minutes before a single morsel of food arrived. Five tables after us had already started eating many of the dishes we had ordered and when we asked the wait staff the progress of the food the response was “it’s on its way” without bothering to check. So really luck of the draw what kind of night you will have

Cullinhere @allinhere.official

Totally in love with the "Wagyu Bone Marrow Curry". Taste different than normal Japanese Curry. This one is more savoury and give a very nice aroma. Look at that inner part of the bone 😋 Definitely mouth watering

Food Baaraati

An amazing Japanese cuisine restaurant .they have one of the best barbecues in the place. their noodles are also just amazing. The services to are really good

Xihuahua 🐶

My dear Guorium🧪 booked this Japanese skewer bar one day before for celebrating 🥳 our first 1/2 anniversary! When I enjoyed the lovely, warm and sold light atmosphere, I was dreaming about I was in Japan. — we did ask the waitress if we can get a larger place, and she kindly refuse my request. —So, we faced the ugly wall for whole night. The food, generally is over-seasoning! I would say I am into the texture, but every single skewer is either too sweet or too salty... and then I feel they are overpriced. However, Gyoza 🥟 is the best among all the fried dumplings I tried in Sydney, but the best fried dumplings I tried worldwide is in Beijing, called ‘WuMing Panfried Dumplings” I don’t know why they are so probably... it’s soo congested inside and because the open kitchen and so close to the dinning room, Funny kitchen smell left on Guo’s sweater. I gonna show you the real Sichuan chuan chuan when you are in my hometown and then you will know how fantastic that even chuan chuan can be cooked in several ways!

Guorium🧪

A dimly lit little Japanese chuan chuan 🍡 bbq place. Very low-key exterior, it was hard to find on first visit. I and Xihuahua 🐶 went there for our sweet semi-anniversary. Tables are tiny and the place was later ham packed with eaters. Bad luck if you are claustrophobic. Tuna belly is a bit of a novel dish being basically pigs ear salad. I liked it. Gyoza is fantastic and tbh the best I have had in Sydney. Quite $$$ as well. No sure what filling it had. Comes with a nice dipping sauce. Chuan chuan fell below my expectations overall for the price. Chicken thigh and heart was ok. Ox tongue was very chewy and probably overcooked. Pork with enoki was great but I did not like the dry outside and overly sweet marinate. Whole wing was surprisingly not on a stick and too salty but it was tender though. Miso eggplant was nice coming in 4 cubes on a stick! They serve the initial 2 skewers on a small bed of cabbage which I loved but later skewers were delivered individually to the bed of diminishing cabbage. Ume wine was super gooooooood! LOVED IT! I think perhaps it is best to have wine and gyoza here, they do go while together! An old Chinese sayings goes like “🥟饺子就酒，越喝越有。🥃” Perhaps we will go back for ramen one day too!

Derek

While I had been here prior for dinner and was unhappy at the cost of glorified yakitori, people have been telling me to come for the lunchtime ramen which has improved my perception of Chaco bar. The servings were quite reasonable for the price and this ramen is unique in that you could choose the fattiness of the broth. The karaage and gyoza was not amazing however

140

Small bar, big flavours. Rich yuzu-enhanced taste in their signature Yuzu Scallop Ramen. For those that want some spice, try the Chilli Coriander.

Culinary Artist

Gyoza is to die for! Venue: Tiny ramen bar with communal table on crown street. Service: Awesome, they give sometimes for you to decide even though I came just before lunch service ended at 2 pm, and they tell you special on the wall is available only for dinner. Food & Drink: Gyoza : Recommended! House made and serves 4 pieces. Trust me you will come back for this gyoza. Yuzu Scallop: I never had such and interesting ramen like this in my life. The both is super yummy, the combination all together is making sense, love the black fungus in the broth. The dory dumpling was smooth and delicate! For me the scallop a little bit chewy, because of the side muscle is still intake, but then again it’s only my opinion.

YARM

We finally made it to this much hyped and cosy place on a Monday to grab some ramen and we weren’t disappointed. The soups are absolutely heavy with flavour, the ramen noodles are the slightly curly kind but not too thick, and the egg is nice and gooey. We had the Fat Soy, and also I’d really recommend the Fish Salt ramen which comes with fish wontons for about $20 if you’d like to try something that is original and quite different!

Does My Bomb Look Big In This

Stooping to get under low hanging noren, we sink into the intimate sub-basement space dubbed Chaco Bar.Dominated by a long communal table overhung with fabric bunting, the room is dimly lit and buzzing with a convivial hum.With the neat precision of origami, we’re soon folded into a corner table under a quirky thematic mural, peering at the chalkboard specials through the gaps between other diners’ heads. The tiny restaurant works on a timetable that oscillates between ramen and yakitori. Being a Friday night, we’re here to eat stuff on sticks, like tender Aged Wagyu Tongue ($14) glistening and charred with anchovy butter, punching umami like nobody’s business. Owner and chef, Keita Abe, walks a...

Rachael

Had a wonderful end to the working week at Chaco Bar. Three of us arrived about 12:30 for lunch and managed to squeeze onto the communal middle table. We went up to order our ramen at the counter and received our bowls of steaming hot noodles in about 5 minutes. It was delicious! Hot broth that was thick, salty and flavourful. The noodles and other toppings were perfect. The half cooked egg was interesting, I couldn’t seem to break the egg wth my spoon or chopsticks, so in it went down in a slurp. The yolk on the other hand managed to semi dissolve into the soup. I tried less fat because overall it just doesn’t seem right to order extra fat.. plus the saltiness in the broth. Will be back again I can imagine soon :) Thank you for a lovely meal.

Jasmine

Great ramen and rice dishes. Would definitely recommend! We were lucky to get a table without any waiting time. Staffs were nice and attentive. The place is a bit small but I like the decor.

Haruru

I had a really good time here. I love their yakitori, especially liver is amazing. They have many kinds of nihonsyu. I enjoyed their nihonsyu with my friend. The atomosphere looked like Japan, I miss Japan. Staffs are nice n kind, I'm so satisfied. 30/11/18

Iman&ivy

Great Place. one of our favourite japanese restaurant in Sydney. We enjoyed everything from the smoked edamame, chawanmushi, the fresh sashimi, tsukune, skewers, till the dessert. we had a table on our own as well thats why its a win for us given the circumstance of the venue.

MK Chu

What a cozy ambience this place offers. A go-to lunch spot for workers alike. Ordered the scallop ramen. Soup and noodles were good-it had a lemon-y touch which was quite a different taste experience for me. Though the tiny dumpling in the ramen was tasty, I was expecting more than just one piece. The scallop they use included the entire body with all its intestines and shell. Would come here again for my ramen fix. Also keen to try the yakitori!

Sandra Le

This restaurant exceeded my expectations, staff was lovely. We had one of their specials “Uni wagyu with truffle”, they are known to have amazing specials so I would highly recommend ordering from that menu. Another favourite dish was the famous meat ball so I definitely recommend getting that.

Food_critic2307

a cosy little restaurant tucked away in Surry hills that transports you to Japan. Came to satisfy some serious ramen cravings and was utterly blown away. It is nothing like any other ramen joint in Sydney. This sets a very high standard of ramen in Sydney and nothing as of yet comes close. Cant wait to go back for more. This has to be on the top of the list for anyone going out for ramen

Janicexrose

Chaco Bar concocts new and exciting ramen flavours. However, ramen is only available at night on Mondays and no reservations. We ended up waiting for about 1.5 hrs and that was for 4 people. The ramen wasn’t worth the wait, at least open up another ramen night or make reservations available so customers can book. *Note* prices on the website and Zomato appeared to be less than the menu we got in person. Overall, quite expensive and I felt the broths needed more depth in flavour but if you like a more unique broth then give Chaco Bar a try but be prepared for the long queue! Ordered: •Karaage chicken ($13) - friends said it was delicious •Gyoza 6pcs ($14) - plump & meaty filling of gyoza, good but expensive for 6pcs •Fat soy ramen ($18) - you can choose the level of fat for the pork back fat & we chose “normal” which was just right - needed more depth of flavour •Yuzu scallop ramen ($19) - definitely the most interesting ramen broth I’ve had, the Yuzu gave it that tangy-ness that I wasn’t used to but my friend thought it was a refreshing taste •Fish salt ramen ($18) - light broth for those who prefer lighter broths - I liked this one •Yuzu rum cocktail ($15) - I liked yuzu in the rum and it was a nice and refreshing drink

Marcela Purnomo

We came here after being recommended by a friend, and they really have amazing food! We came during lunch time so we couldn't try the yakitori, but we were so impressed by the ramen that we will definitely come back for them. The ramen was wonderful, we tried 3 different ramens offered in the menu: Fat soy, chili corriander and Yuzu scallops. The fat soy is amazing, you can customise the level of fat in the ramen according to your taste. The chili corriander is an interesting taste but it results in a very fresh taste, so the combination of ordering fat soy and chili corriander is a perfect one because the flavours balances nicely together. Wouldn't really recommend the yuzu scallops unless you are a very very big fan of yuzu flavour, because aside from that there isn't too much else going in that bowl. Sadly the place is tiny and couldn't fit a lot of people, but amazing nonetheless.

Katrina

Food is amazing here which is why I keep coming back. The gyozas, the wagyu skewers, the rice balls - everything they do is delicious. One thing to keep in mind is that the eggplant takes awhile, but it is worth the wait.

Edwige Gnt

WHAT A DELIGHT. We left the place totally enchanted. The food was amazing: we shared 2 sliders (braised pork belly), today's sashimi for 2 (see photo!), gyozas, spicy lamb shoulder's skewers and today's special TAS truffle rice with organic egg and parmegiano. Not only did we appreciate the food, but the service was super efficient and always extremely nice and polite. Next time, we will back for Monday's ramen. See you soon Chaco Bar!

IEats

This place is tiny. The service could be improved. The prices are pretty fair for the main meals but for the yakitori etc. it's a bit pricey. Staff seemed kind of rude.

The Casual Diner

Will be back for: + Egg custard + Chef’s 6 skewers This is an intimate little bar that will not be out of place in yakitori lane in Tokyo. Yakitori’s were well grilled, and had great charcoal flavours. I particularly liked the chicken wing, lamb shoulder and chicken crackling. The egg custard was smooth, the fish perfectly moist, and had a great truffle essence through the dish - delicious. A hot green tea in this case, rounded off the meal well on a cold winters night. Service was great and polite but a little slow on a packed night - understandable in this case. Will be back to try the ramens!

Queenie

An authentic Japanese izakaya, remember to book in advance, or u won't have a sear for sure in a weekend evening. The place is not too big, but that makes u feel more in the real Japan. The yakitori is a must try here. The wagyu uni truffle is not plating the way we thought it will be and maybe the truffle oil is too strong for me. Anyway, it's a good place to hang out with friend and enjoy a Japanese style evening. Wanna try their ramen, but they don't serve it the time we went there😭

Anna Tran

Chaco Bar is seriously amazing! Really wanted to try their famous Uni Wagyu but they didn’t have it that day. Their Kim chi rice + bone marrow was a bit overrated though! The duck with egg yolk was honestly sooooo good! The prices at Chaco Bar wasn’t too bad too! Definitely need to try out their ramen one day!

Wendy

Busy Friday night with the place turning away anyone without a booking. Food was amazing and the highlight was the wagyu uni truffle main which very innovative in combining flavours which we never imagined. The Match mousse dessert was also outstanding. Will be back again!

Jeffrey Adam

Been wanting to try this place for a while, and finally decided to go today.. booking is essential guys, we were seated near the entrance and saw at least 2-3 times people try to walk in, end up not given any seat.. the staff are pretty attentive and helpful.. we ordered the 9+ wagyu tataki on special menu, followed by hokkaido scallops, cawanmusshi, WAGYU TONGUE skewers 😍😍😍, chicken liver skewers, MEATBALLS, gyoza and GRILLED RICE WITH CHASCHU and a jug of sake which we cant finish.. overall they all delicious dishes.. will come back for the wagyu skewerss

Mashimaro

Unlike other small restaurants, you still can sit comfortably when enjoying your meal. The staffs are friendly as well. The gyoza is one of the best I ever tried so far. Certainly, you must have the ramen when you visit this place. My fav is Chilli Corriander.

Dan W

Had the ramen here. The broth is creamy and umami, however the noodles are clearly store bought. The egg wasn't quite the ramen egg I was expecting either. It's a good bowl of ramen, nothing amazing.

Mrs Foodie

This tiny restaurant isn't the easiest of places to get by public transport or to drive (very limited parking around). We trekked here after work and had a table booked, but when we go there, the only table they had available was quite literally a small wooden box a top a metal stool and 2 tiny stools wedged into a corner (not so bad for me being asian, but my friend who is over 5"7", not so great). The yakitori was delicious, but pricey for the size.

April

Highly recommend! Everything here is great. Fresh sashimi with great plum wine tasted fantastic. Make sure you book a table before you go, as it is so popular and worth trying.

GiGi MV

This is a secret ramen/yakitori gem! They serve ramen during the day and by night it will transform into a happy yakitori bar. The ramen is authentic and very delicious. The limited edition cold prawn ramen is absolutely superb!👍 The only downside is the place is really tiny, so wait time is expected. Otherwise a good eating spot. I wonder how long is the wait for the yakitori at night?

Veronica Indrawan

We ordered the $60 dollar set menu and overall it was ok. It started with a delightful sashimi platter and the rest was just ok because some of the meal taste burnt like the gyoza and skewers. The ambience was great, perfect for small gathering

Leon

Chaco Bar is that tiny hipster yakitori bar which is featured in virtually every food guide and stamped as one of the “Best Japanese Restaurants” in Sydney. Australians’ adoration for Japanese cuisine is understandable but the standard of Japanese dining in Sydney is at most rudimentary and pale in comparison to other cities like Melbourne, Singapore, Hong Kong or Taipei. I ordered three yakitoris (chicken skin, thigh and pork belly). The yakitoris were considerably cheaper than Tokyo Bird’s but still expensive at $5-6. The skewered meats were “grilled over charcoal” but did not have any crunchy texture nor develop any fragrant aromas. The meats were hard and dry. The texture of the chawanmushi was probably the best in town. The silky and soft texture does not disintegrate (like Sushi E’s) or tastes like a salt mine (like Shiki). However, the chawanmushi does not have a ginkgo nut to break the monotonous flavour and tastes dreadfully eggy.

Famishedduo

We originally wanted to visit this place for their ramen, however only arriving to find out that ramen was only on Monday's! However... we were not disappointed. We ordered majority of dishes off their specials menu which usually changes every week or so. We ordered the: Bone Marrow, Scallop and Kimchi Rice 🍚 what a delicious combination. The well balanced flavours "Happy Hens" Healthy Organic Yolk, TAS Truffle Reggiano and House made bonito soy. John Dory - Tiger prawn dumplings The atmosphere was low lit and intimate. Great for a cosy dinner amongst a few, however they have a larger dining table at the front of the restaurant for bigger groups. The restaurant has a small space and you can hear the kitchen from anywhere you sit, giving it a great atmosphere

Lien Nguyen

Chaco bar didn't really meet my expectations. Firstly the place was quite small, so we waited about 15 mins or so for a table, which I didn't mind. I'm quite used to lining up for some decent ramen. But what was sort of a let down was how fast things sold out. I wanted the special wagyu ramen & karaage chicken. Both were sold out, so I settled for the yuzu salt while my partner got the pork cha shu. The dishes came out looking delicious! Another let down was how small the portions were... I have never gone to a ramen restaurant where I finished all my noodles and was still starving. Usually I'm stuffed and unable to finish all the noodles. The ramen was delicious but my partner and I can both agree that it was nothing special. Aside from all that, the restaurant is very cosy and has some beautiful artwork and decor, giving it a very nice vibe and atmosphere. I'll like to come back here and try the yakitori some time, so until then.

Foodbabyofmine

Man, this place was disappointing. Firstly, ramen is only on Monday nights and during then, they don't have yakitori. You need to make a booking or chances are you'll be turned away. But the trigger for me writing this review is the BLANDNESS of the food. The gyoza lacked seasoning. Didn't taste like much. Although I like the fact that it came sizzling on a plate. But even the soy sauce didn't help with the blandness. Same with their special bone marrow kimchi scallop rice. Didn't taste like kimchi and not much taste. It was sad and overpriced. The only good points are the scallop (6$ a pop, which my friend liked) and the tiger prawn tempura bau (which was succulent and well seasoned that I couldn't get enough of; $9 for 1 tempura in a bau). The place is cute & tiny too. But sadly, the overpriced tiny portions of bland food means I won't be coming back anytime soon.

Han Yuan

so bland. over priced..very crowded would not recommend 10/10.. $27 for a plain bowl of rice. gyoza had absolutely 0 flavour. sashimi was ok but wouldn't not get again.

Kerri

Really enjoyed my dinner here tonight. The dishes ranged from amazing to good. Absolutely loved the eggplant foie gras, so soft, rich, cut through with a little citrus and sweetness. It is pricey for the size at $17 but I enjoyed it and it was unique so didn't mind in the end. Prawn mayo was also delicious. Sweet but not too sweet. Just yummy. Taro chips were really nice. Not exactly what I expected. Had typical sliced crunchy pieces but then these soft round white balls of taro that were very enjoyable. Gyozas were yum, especially with the sauce that came with it. The two skewers we ordered were nice, up to standard but nothing atypical. Thought I would like the bone marrow kimchi rice dish more but I think there wasn't enough marrow for the amount of rice and felt a little like just eating plain rice. Prawn slider was also a bit of a nothing dish. Atmosphere was good. Service was quick. Dishes were on small side for price but I had such a great experience that it felt worth it. We spent $100 for food all up for 2 people.

Joanie Jangles

All round favourite ramen spot! Spent three years living in Japan and this place makes me feel "at home" again. The specials are my go-to! Love that they are constantly changing it up as ramen is the evolutionary meal that morphs, just like a good stock. Pick your fat allocation and be merry! Slurping optional.

Ned

Chaco Bar is an ambient, modern yakitori-ya in a quieter part of Darlinghurst that also specialises in ramen for lunch. Ramen: Their ramen is nothing short of amazing, and always the one I recommend when asked about good ramen in Sydney. The selection is limited, which, if you know your ramen, is a sign of authenticity. All the choices are quite unique and clearly handcrafted, down to their toppings including the delicious John Dory wonton. Their menu changes always improves on previous iterations subtly. Their latest yuzu scallop has become a personal favourite, with a great balance of buttery richness and zestiness of yuzu in the broth. Abit heavier than the famous Afuri yuzu ramen in Japan, but very similar. I also always go around opening time and have never had to wait for a seat. Yakitori: Selection of yakitori is limited but executed decently. They have a great variety of other izakaya style dishes, especially in their specials which usually feature some unique seafood. The specials can be hit or miss but some of the good ones have been very very good. Decent variety in whiskey and Japanese craft beer also. Tldr: amazing ramen, decent yakitori

Jennifer Tang

i love the interior of this cute little restaurant, it feels like i'm actually in japan. the staff were incredibly friendly and the food didn't take too long to come out and was packed with flavour. I would definitely come back here

Tommy Birken

Chaco Bar is a quiet and intimate Japanese restaurant/ Bar specialising in Yakatori and Japanese Whisky. The Mrs was a bit sick so we didn't try any whisky this time :( The serving sizes are quite small but every bite was amazing. Each dish seems to have been prepared with extra care, thus enhancing the flavour and experience. The special was a kimchi rice with bone marrow. OMG it was amazing!!!

Peanutbutter&jelly

Boo. Too much effort to get ramen. The first time we tried to eat here we were told it would be a 2 hour wait. The second time we did book we were give the world's tiniest bench facing the wall. The menu didn't even fit on that bench. And of course they didn't serve ramen on a Saturday night. This I don't get. We tried the yakitori menu and the meat was ok. But probably not worth the $5-7 price tag. I did like the prawn slider but again...overpriced. I really didn't enjoy their famous meatball either - it's quite sweet. You can get better grilled meat on sticks at plenty of other places that don't come with the hipster exploiting price tag. Sorry hipsters you have been punk'd.

Thomas Christian Waldeier

Worst service. These guys they don't know how to look after people. Food itself (if you actually get the chance) is decent. But man you guys need to work on customer approach!!

MsBrulee

There are just 25 seats in this intimate dining spot, so it’s excrutiating wherever you’re seated you’ll get a sniff of something delicious wafting from another table. It’s rather quaint and low key here, making it an ideal place to cosy in with a warm bowl of ramen or grilled meat. An impressive line up of alcohol next to the kitchen offers sake and house-made umeshu. You can spot this easily as they’re the mammoth jars full to the brim of umeboshi plums curing in shochu.

Fatmine

The awesome thing is, you can order just ONE of each skewer and since there was only 2 of us dining, We got one of each skewer to share and got to try alot. It was ALL good. The gyozas were fat and juicy and hot and crispy. Everything was fresh and authentic and flavoursome and exciting. Cocktails were also yummm. Perfect date spot, great for small groups. I love this place so much I'm going to make it my 'I know a cool place' place. You know when you and your friends don't know where to go so you all stand around and then 💡, 'Ohhh I know a cool place' 😏. And you take them to this really cool cultured Japanese hidden gem in downtown Sydney? Yehhhh those kind of places..

KAYEATS

LOVED this restaurant, so cosy! Small restaurant tucked away, feels like I am back in Japan. The staff are so friendly and the food is amazing. Definitely try the tsukune, enoki maki, yakioni and taro chips with aonori. Can't wait to go back!!

Alan Price

Chaco is a little Japanese restaurant on Crown St. The tiny sign just above the door makes it easy to miss. They serve Japanese street style bbq. The portions are tiny so it's pretty pricy for bbq. Everything tastes pretty decent, but it's definitely not worth the price they're charging. They've got a pretty big range of japanese whiskey and sake.

Betty Lui

Very good environment, even small but warm and friendly people, staff are very nice, food is excellent, very good quality, the bbq is wonderful...only one thing is too noisy if too busy, but overall very good

Onara

Like Ryo's in Crows Nest, this is no ordinary ramen. This is rich and thick and fatty with a multitude of flavours swirling in harmony. Delicious

Don't Believe The Hype

Very impressive eye for detail! You can see they put a lot of thought into the order they bring out the dishes, time between dishes and their flavours. Every dish was very tasty and the fit out was small and quite authentic. I really have nothing negative to say. What to try their lunch time Ramen next time

Julia Tan

Amazing ramen here, but the attitude of the waiter is extremely bad. Been there a few times he always ruin my experience. Please fire him, I really want to enjoy my ramen.

SuperSamson

Been to Japan recently and miss all the Izakaya restaurants? Chaco Bar is the closest thing to traditional Japanese BBQ. Cute little restaurant with a small sign which might be a bit hard to find, but once you're there, it's like being transported to Japan. Cosy with nice Japanese decor, Chaco Bar boasts a nice list of Japanese Whiskey which perfectly accompanies the food. Ramen is also good, but only available on certain days.

Mark

Cannot falter. The staff beam. The yakitori is reliably smoky, sweet, and moreish. The sake and whisky selection is top notch, and the whole vibe is homely and chilled. When we leave we feel cuddled. Personal favourites are the Miso Eggplant and Chicken Hartu (heart) skewers.

Bill Hurst

The food is tasty but it's just too expensive. Spent over $100 for two on Yakitori (japanese bbq) and we were still hungry. Overall, It was a good experience, but we wont be rushing back.

Martiniandkoh

Pokey traditional Japanese experience. Everything we ordered was flavoursome, service was private, not intrusive, warm. Simplicity at its finest with lovely service & thoughtful sake to match. An unassuming foodie experience & I can't wait to eat my way through the rest of the menu! BYO = cherry on the cake, a rarity in Sydney city!

Kim Tara

Friendly service and funky cool little restaurant. Highly recommended to book if you go with big group. We have been twice once for ramen night which was just ok . The other time was for their normal menu. Food was excellent ! Will be back to try more

Sarahversuscarbs

I’m a bit late to the party, but Chaco Bar is indubitably excellent for yakitori and other delicious Japanese dishes in a cozy, homely Crown Street space. Taro chips with aonori are mixed with what we think are potato chips. Half a dozen plump gyoza are served in the pan – they get quite sticky to the point of exploding chaos. They’re without a doubt the best gyoza I’ve eaten in Sydney. Tsukune is paired with a perfect 62-degree egg. Deep fried calamari is matched with squid ink aioli. We get overexcited and order too much food: especially the two serves of the grilled rice ball with black cod moromi was way too much.

Memoirs Of A Foodie

Looking for an authentic izakaya in Sydney? Well look no further because Chaco Bar has the food and alcohol and the ambience covered. It's a tiny restaurant (much smaller than I had thought) so I was quite shocked that they could accomodate a group of roughly 15 people. They did so happily even though we literally occupied most of the restaurant. The place had a really nice vibe as we could enjoy the food and chat away without the roaring noise expected at a typical bar.

YeeMon Snow

Chaco Bar is one if the best Japanese restaurant in Sydney with it's awesome food. Their " Signature Snapper Sashimi" is a MUST for those sashimi lovers. They have the best bbq which is a MUST for bbq lovers. Pork Slider ( some called it Bao) is so soft and the meat and their sauce is a perfection. Although a place is small and price is a bit expensive, it's totally worth it! Make sure you book ahead before going because they have small space.

Sam Knott

Great atmosphere but we came for the famous ramen which they dont serve for dinner. Interesting choice not serving the signature dish. Didn't try anything else cause we walked out unhappy, unsatisfied and with a bitter taste of staff contempt.

Fattyyy

Authentic as it gets. This Japanese Izakaya bar reminds me of Japan. Their gyoza ($8) was one of the best around, along with the dipping sauce - not just ponzu! The Fat Soy ($14) was also excellent - just the right balance of all the flavours! You can also choose how much backfat you want in the bowl!

Jmanchatty

Pretty good ramen here and the wonton side is pretty nice too. Soup base was decent and the gyoza the table next to me ordered looks nice although i was too full to try em The skewers are the best thing, mainly the wagyu tongue and liver, definitely recommend these two. The uni tuna on rice was ok, the sashimi was amazing except the rice was very average. Not a bad place although abit expensive

Hahappieats

Can I give this place a 4.8? For the vibe. Just walk in and soak up the Jazz, the contemporary decors in all its colour pops and earth-toned furnitures. I was only in Sydney for a couple of days but I visited twice cos the broth is genius. The blends of fish salt x chicken blew me away. F i s h S a l t R a m e n Chicken has always been the cleaner mouthfeel of the paitan series. Addition of fish stock makes it an even lighter broth. Chaco Bar's blend made it such that it was light and comfortable to gush yet SO PACKED with wafts of meaty flavours The fish/prawn wanton is amazing at its briny resemblance of the ocean While I think I have tasted quite the most Perfect AJITAMA🐣; by its flavour-wellstained yolk. You can actually catch of whiff of the mirin x soy in the yolk Oh and there was nicely charred/caramelised charsiu and sweet crunch leek 🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜 cheers to awesome awesome ramen. Flavours easily superseding Ippudo. My love ❤️Hahappieats Extra F a t S o y Yes.. when i Went back again and tried their other signature. Of course I'd get extra fat. Ahhaha. Was told the flavours came from the fat. See the rich sticky slick? Hahaha Amidst the thick wrap of fat fragrance, a complexly pungently briny yet also sweet taste of soy strikes your palate Soy x Fat Hakata broth and thicker chewy ramen 😋😋👌🏻

Vivian

Awful experience! Tried to book a table but no one answered the phone, so we just walked in around 7pm. The manager told us to finish before 8 which is fair enough since we were very hungry and would eat fast. We ordered in 10 mins. Looked around, it is a nice Japanese bar which brought us back to Kyoto. Only four couples there so I supposed food would arrive very soon based on my experience in Japan. But then, it was the endless waiting. Around 735pm, we only had two tiny skinny skewers. Too hungry to talk, I was looking at the food deliver window and wondering which one would be mine. The amazing part is that, the cook didn't tell waiters which table the food is for. Those three went through all the orders for everything they received from the cook with a pink marker! And I saw a cockroach climbed around that window!! Finally, when it came to 8pm, I asked the waitress where is the pork belly. She was actually surprised and asked us more than three times like "haven't you eaten it"?! Excuse me? Could it be any more offensive? Anyway, they gave us a small discount on the lost pork belly in the end, but we will NEVER come back again.

Margaret S

Chaco bar is a quaint little Japanese bar. While the skewers come slow and steady you get them fresh of the grill which is really nice. We got a mix of skewers, my favourites were the chicken crackling, the miso eggplant and the chicken heart (it's smothered in a tasty herby sauce). The rice ball w/ cod was beautiful too. Favourite drinks included the yuzu wine and the hibiki 17yo whiskey. Our new favourite neighbourhood spot! EDIT: Newer dishes that are worth a try include the wagyu beef jerky and the asparagus with miso butter - ohmygod!

Su Lwin

Chaco Bar is one restaurant that I’d been meaning to eat at for some time, but only ended up coming to by chance over Mardi Gras weekend. My friend and I came in around 9:30pm on Mardi Gras night, and though the restaurant was filled with diners, luckily for us, there were still a few empty seats.

Bonbon

$15 for corkage....why!!!!! Ramen was good. Unnecessary corkage fee unnecessary corkage fee unnecessary corkage fee unnecessary corkage fee

@eatingupwiththehannashians

Small place but it's still very cool. We loved the food although we were still hungry when we left and we had pretty much ordered everything on the menu.

Sarah Cruz

One of the better bowls of ramen I have had in Sydney, the flavour was simple and the noodles were of a good texture which allowed you to appreciate the ramen without over complications masking the quality. The place is quaint, simply designed and cosy.

Lavin.D

vwet bad experience, been told for 1hour can have set and come back after 45 min , waiter give the set for someone else , with out trying the food but for service ,absolutely negative point .

Thefoodantiblog

Overall pretty good. Most of the dishes were tasty. The standouts for us were the pork belly Nagasaki slider, alfonsino (similar to Nazimi's toothfish or Sepia's miso cod - at the end of the day it's...white fish and miso) and momo yakitori.

Tomo Murakami

If you like want to have kushiyaki, this is the place to go in Sydney. Have some beers with it and enjoy the time with your friend. Don't bring too many friends as the place is too small and packed. I like going there with my wife once in a while.

Monica

Chaco Ramen is served at lunch time from Wed - Sun - limited number of bowls of course. The Fat Soy ramen is my favourite in Sydney so far. Bouncy noodles, rich broth topped with charsiu, beansprouts, egg, nori and shallots. I always add the black fungus and bamboo shoot. You can also control the back fat - less or more as you wish.

Andy Quan

Thanks to my savvy pal, Andrew, we stumbled into Chako Bar for dinner, a tiny hole in the wall in Darlinghurst, a similar size to Nom, only a block away, but with a much hipper, groovier feel. With mostly one shared table in the middle, and a few small tables off to the side, it’s intimate and tiny. It feels very much like a little izakaya bar in Japan; and the view of the kitchen through a window fashioned perfectly on a wall that evokes the outside of a house, is really, absolutely charming.

Pallius

Amazing decor, food, atmosphere and service! I doubt you can go wrong with this place. Its not your usual yakitori bar found in the streets of Japan but I don't think that matters!

!RKY

Neatly tucked away on Crown St, you could almost miss it. The vibe is friendly and welcoming and they allowed bookings the day before - highly recommended given how small it is. The five of us sat on the long, shared table in the middle with an elevated middle bench to really let the good shine. We were disappointed that some of the popular, best known food items were unavailable. Food was a bit exxy for Izakaya but was very delicious. Highlights were wagyu tongue, Tsukuba meat ball with 62 degree egg and the truffle sashimi on the daily specials menu.

Kelie Jane

Such good Ramen and other options too. Gyozas and edamame were awesome - tiny Restautant but great food and service. Preferred fat pork as favourite flavour

MVN

Finally had the Chaco-men. The fish ramen was awesome. Something different that I've never tried before. The broth was light and had a lovely 'fishy' flavour. Also tried the Fat Soy with normal amount of fat. Not as thick as Gumshara but there were specks of fat floating on top of the broth. It was a bit salty but had wonderful flavour that wasn't too heavy. The noodles were nice and the cha shu was meaty and soft. Would come back if it wasn't so out of the way.

Vivian - Vxdollface

Izakaya bars in Sydney are scarce so I was real glad when Chaco Bar opened up on Crown St. A cosy bar that seats about 20 people and with lines out the door, it’s best to book ahead of time to secure a seat.

Ellalizzle

First yakitori experience and I loved it. I love how the place is small but still had a good vibe. The service was impeccable. Everything that came out was delicious but favourite were the meatballs!

Missklicious

Chaco Bar is a little Japanese yakitori dining place in Darlinghurst. More recently, Chaco Bar have also been opening during lunch times, with the promise of delicious bowls of ramen. The menu is kept simple, with two choices of ramen; extra topping options, and a handful of side dishes. It's a cash only affair for lunch.Â

James Fridley

Was not planning on eating out, let alone going to a yakitori bar for ramen, but as I was in the area.. For starters, the guy making it is from Fukuoka, also known as hakatta, where pork bone soup is Da Bomb! The ramen I ordered was the stock standard (with kata-men of course), which was served with half an egg and a couple of thick and juicy slices of chashu. And so it began.. The first mouthful had the delicious balance of pork fat and something light and fresh. Kind of like a leek soup mixed up with the best filling from a 551 butaman (Tokyo ppl may need to research this). It was delicious. The ramen was the perfect thickness and cooked very well. And as I devoured it all, the @very last swig from the bowl, the fresh taste of black pepper (though not an ordinary one) left me almost needing to order another one. If you like ramen as much as I do, pony up the $13, and get yourself here for lunch. It was well worth it. 😆🍲👍

Leo P

dinner was going pretty well until i had asked for a small cake (literally the size of a cupcake) that i had brought for date's birthday. (i had given it to the staff at the beginning of the night and had told them it was her birthday). i had obviously assumed that if its someone's birthday you bring out the cake on a plate with a candle however when the waitress came out with the cake it was still in its box. thought this was strange. the manager saw me open the box and immediately stopped me and warned me that there was a cakeage fee which i was more than happy to pay - to which he acted surprised. with his hand open, he then proceeded to ask me for 6 dollars on the spot. considering i hadn't even paid the bill - this was strange and rude. wouldn't it have made more sense just to add it to the bill instead of causing a scene? i understand that cakeage fees exist so that the restaurant doesn't lose money on customers not buying their desserts and i was very much happy to pay it but the manner in which it was approached was pretty rude. otherwise food was alright - nothing amazingly special. interior design is great and makes you feel like you're in shinjuku! however due to the rude attitude about a bloody cupcake, i'm definitely not going back here!

Next Stop: Food

The first one that came out was chicken thighs which was succulent and delicious with the spices on top. The pork belly like the ones in the bao, melted in my mouth and gotta love chicken wings!

I'm Still Hungry

the fat soy has, by far and away, the best shoyu ramen broth I’ve tried. Ryo’s comes close, but Chaco Bar has Ryo’s beat. In fact, this broth surpasses most tonkotsu, and I’m a tonkotsu person! It has the most depth of flavour I’ve ever tasted in a shoyu – the pungency of the soy is evident, and it’s got a nice thickness thanks to the amount of added fat. I believe that fat is the secret to Chaco Bar’s superior broth. Fat is flavour, as they say, and I have a feeling that had I opted for no fat, there would be less flavour and less of that delectable mouthfeel I get with each mouthful. I believe it is an essential part of the experience.

Ramen Raff

I really enjoyed their fish salt ramen and would definitely return to try their cha shu rice ball ($5) and onigiri ($5). Chaco Bar has won my ramen lovin' heart! So check them out!

Rona

Granita Ice Cream. It is a very interesting flavour!

Review Chaco Ramen - Sydney