Review Kuki Tanuki - Sydney

I haven’t been to Kuki in about two years and am so glad to see that the quality has remained the same. This place has such a fun menu. The fish is exceptionally fresh - the sashimi nachos are something I have daydreamed about regularly. The space is adorable, the service is stellar, there’s always a spare table for a walk-in, and it’s just a great spot for a date or for a hang with friends. Highly recommend just about everything on the menu!

This Japanese restaurant is a gem in the heart of Erskineville. The food is delicious. Great selection on the menu. The set menus are also an excellent choice with perfectly sized delectable portions. The ‘make your own’ sushi rolls - are exactly that so be prepared to eat with your hands. The booths at the back are romantic and a little more private. Will definitely be back.

Delicious, beautiful food. Poor service. On arrival, ignored by staff for over 20 minutes, while tables arriving after us got served. Food - banquet- is excellent and beautifully presented, but arrived pretty much at once.

Had the set menu #2. Tasty! Especially the dumplings

We had dinner on a Friday night, when the menu was limited to the banquets only and we had a reservation. When we first arrived multiple staff members walked by and didn't acknowledge us, this continued for three minutes. When we sat down we weren't offered water, but the food did start coming fairly quickly. The food was bland and the first three courses + rice were filling enough, the last three courses were tastier, but we were full from the earlier courses so we didn't finish the last few much larger dishes. We also had to request water while almost every other table around us were regularly being attended to. At the end of our dinner we were served a dish and told us it was the last course. The waitstaff came back in the next 2 minutes and abruptly took it away from us as we were going to eat, we were touching the food with used chopsticks as they took it away. They quickly put it on the correct table before we could tell them we'd touched the food and they shouldn't serve it. They came back and gave a hasty apology while we told them they couldn't serve it to someone else. Wasn't really happy to pay $88 for a dinner I could have gotten anywhere else in Sydney. The service was super disappointing, and I'm not one to complain. I've worked in hospo and I understand the challenges, but without so much as an apology from management I can't say much was enjoyable about our night. There isn't anything unique or distinguishable about the food or the experience, other than the serious disorganisation and inexperience of waitstaff. Props to the chef for pumping food out quickly. Won't return or recommend.

Visited as a group and had the $59banquet. The food was rolling in and it was so good! We certainly didn’t leave with empty stomachs. The sake was delicious! Their COVIDSafe plan was clear and easy to navigate. The service was a little slow on occasions however they were very lovely at all times.

I came at a good time on a Friday night and was directed to my table with some friendly service. Food was good, though not stellar. I think what got me was that I was presented with the drinks menu thinking it was all available, and then I had to change my order twice because they then realised they didn't have stock? I appreciated the manager explaining that to me, but I really was keen for some umeshu... not that they could help it at the time.

We love this place, have been coming for years. It’s consistently good, fresh and the staff are lovely. Great for a nice meal with the kids and also date night. Keep up the great work!

I went there with a friend of mine on a Thursday night. We sat down at 6:30pm and ordered an eggplant skewers, softshell crab buns and a deluxe bento with a bit of everything in it. My friend had a Japanese beer and I had a Choya plum wine. The eggplant skewers were crunchy on the outside and soft inside garnished with Japanese BBQ sauce. It went above and beyond my expectations. The softshell crab buns are also nicely presented. The softshell crab was crunchy and it was perfect. The deluxe bento had two nigiri sushi, some tempuras, salad and beef ribs. We were expecting the waiter to bring the tempura sauce but we had to ask him. Then, I grabbed a piece of sushi but realised that there were no soy sauce as well. There were only a few tables and the waiter was apparently unexperienced.<br/><br/>We were told to order extra if we want to as their kitchen closes at 8pm. Both of us were surprised how early they close. By 8pm, we were the last table remained and we felt like we should go even we wanted to stay a bit longer. <br/><br/>Overall, the food was amazing. It was reasonably priced. We paid $83 for everything. The service was below average. The atmosphere was excellent but I would expect this is a place where we can enjoy our meal with a drink until we want to go home.

Ordered the Deluxe Bento Box and Katsu Mini Burgers.<br/><br/>The Katsu mini burgers were excellent and I would recommend these. However, I found the Bento Box to be mediocre.

I just grabbed some snacks and, although the prices are pretty high, they were worth it. The katsu bao had great pork and flavours - the first of these trendy bao I've had in Sydney that was actually good quality and could justify the prices - and the gyoza were standard but filled and cooked well. Very worthwhile for upmarket Japanese fusion.

Came with high expectations and left a little underwhelmed with poorly executed orders. To their credit they did fix the orders but even then the food just didn’t give us anything above the standard expected at most Japanese establishments making us question the hype.

Five of us gathered to have a birthday dinner following their consistent rating of 4-5. However, I was thoroughly disappointed with my experience. The food was very approachable and played with flavours. However, the waitresses were not attentive and did not actively take care of the floor. Plates were left on the table and depended on the customer to move them aside before they placed new dishes down. Empty plates were not promptly taken away and the table wasn’t cleaned before or after the dessert. <br/><br/>I would not recommend this restaurant unless you were in the area. But if a wholesome service is not paramount, then they do provide delicious, hearty food!

Japanese fusion done excellent 🙌<br/>I absolutely love their menu and burst of delicate flavours. Great service. Awesome decor (too bad we couldn't sit on their plushy lounge sofas due to a fully booked evening). And most importantly, great food! 🍲<br/><br/>We ordered a set of gyoza, duck pancakes (yum!!), raw beef tataki (the ponzu sauce was definitely a winner ❤) and lots more. Couldn't remember - but the taste still lingers on my mouth after a few weeks have passed. What a place! I highly recommend 🤟

Sashimi was really tasty, the tuna was outstanding. Excellent range of Japanese beer (Asahi on tap, plus many others) and delicious cocktails. Highly recommended.

A hidden gem! This Japanese tapas place was phenomenal. The teriyaki chicken wings were to die for! Little niblets. The soft shell crab bao was good and the sushi was tasty. The menu was a little limited with not many main options. So I would say a good option if you’re looking for a light dinner around the area.

Very good food! Unique! Definitely going to come back for more. Good ambiance and music.. the sashimi was fresh and the dumplings were amazing

Cute little restaurant tucked within the heart of Erko. Taste was pretty good and staff are attentive. It is a bit on the pricey side with small portions so be prepared to spend a bit to get a good feed.

Easy to miss and relatively nondescript Japanese tapas tucked away in Erko. Quick and friendly service with a limited, yet really tasty menu. Ingredients super fresh and celebrated in traditional and quirky ways. Reasonably priced with an extensive Japanese beer list + excellent wine and cocktails. Will definitely throw this one into our casual dining mix.

Cute little restaurant with unique jap fusion dishes and drinks to choose from. Everything was relatively tasty except for the beef tataki which was quite bland and dry :(<br/>Staff were friendly and I really enjoyed the sake, would recommend checking out this hidden gem 💎

Enter the inner city hipster Japanese tapas bar, with its dark interior, boppy tunes and extra tasty cocktails, it is easy to get carried away in this place.<br/>The young and ultra trendy wait staff also add to the vibe of this place.<br/>The shared dishes are small and a bit of a hit and miss, but you'll never know unless you've tries it. <br/>For a party of two, we ordered their salt n pepa squid that was lightly battered and had a good crunch to it. Then there was the Yakitori chicken skewers that were ok, the chicken was a little over cooked. The wagyu beef was the beef was the biggest disappointment. The beef was really tough and chewy. For $26 a plate, I really did expect more. The best dishes there was the snapper cappacio and the Tasmanian roll. The snapper cappacio was really fresh and melted in your mouth. <br/>The over all experience was good but you'll end up walking out with a pretty penny lighter. <br/>

Came in waited 5 min to get acknowledged at the door, sit down waited another 5 min, no water not even anyone to take drink orders. Walk up to ask for service waited another few min table that had ordered was asked how there meal was and casually walked away. Waited few more min and walked out. 8pm, Thursday night not impressed.

Found this little gem near Erskineville station. The place is spacious enough so that we did not even need to wait to be seated on a Friday night. The best Japanese chicken wings with bonito flakes are devine with the blue cheese sauce. The other dishes are very yummy too. The meal ended with chocolate lava cake with very rich chocolate flavor, perfectly paired with vanilla ice cream and strawberry slices. Definitely going to revisit this tapas bar.

How amazing is this hidden gem in Erskineville?! Literally had the perfect atmosphere to catch up with your friends, the dining area was also really nicely decorated and trendy.<br/>We ordered the truffled snapper cappacio (which was honestly to die for!!!), beef tataki, fresh sashimi, teriyaki pork ribs and agedashi tofu. The flavours of all the dishes were so well balance and nicely presented - there's literally nothing we can fault.<br/>The waiting time was not long at all, and staffs were all very attentive which added to our enjoyable night. Thank you! <br/>Definitely recommend! <br/>

Food was not too bad but not exceptional. <br/><br/>I ordered the chicken wings, nanban chicken with tartar sauce and special prawn sushi. Like many other sushi bar, the sushi was not well compressed and ingredients disintegrate easily. The chicken pieces were processed, fried and cooked with sauces. The dishes were more flavourful than other Japanese restaurants but it was a pity they tasted pretty salty.

The sushi was not made nicely and not very authentic. The sashimi and salmon did not taste fresh either. I was very disappointed with my previous trip there.

Great place, good service. Must must try the prawn dumplings they were some of the best dumplings I've ever had and I love dumplings! The soft shell crab burgers also a fan. Delish!

Overall positive experience. Ordered the beef tataki, sashimi nachos. Great vibe and also the bar has a great selection of drinks. Would recommend for someone not looking for a big meal.

Seriously, this i place is an absolute MUST. THE FOOD IS UNREAL. If you consider price, it would have to be one of the best restaurants in Sydney. Outstanding. The chicken wings and the sashimi nachos are a must.

Best Japanese around hands down. the food is not your typical Japanese, clearly a more modern approach. The service is fantastic and the space is cool. Also they have a great Sake selection to explore. A regular and a favourite of mine.

This place is a "sans faute", every dish was yummy and nothing was wrong in these. As small eaters, we ordered the beef tataki (the seasoning and marinade are so yummy), goma ae (cold spinach in a sesame/garlic (?) Sauce, soooo good and refreshing), and the Tasmanian roll (super good!). The food was so refined! Such a shame that we couldn't ordered the cocktails (they were about to change the drinks menu) cause they sounded amazing. I can't wait to come back to try the other dishes!!!

Lovely food, especially the hipster sushi, absolutely love its freshness! Friendly staff and amazing serving! Will definitely come back next time!

Great little Japanese restaurant in Erskineville. Great interiors, friendly staff and most importantly, delicious food. Lots of seafood dishes which is ideal. Recommend the salmon sashimi nachos, the grilled scallops and the agedashi tofu. Has become a local regular for me.

If your looking for a child friendly Japanese then Kuki Tanuki is pretty good. We were able to sit outside on the street which kept us away from the main restaurant but still right in the atmosphere of Erskineville Road. The menu is really simple and they are quick to get early orders out to the kids. The even have a few special bowls for the kids to eat ice cream!<br/><br/>For the adults, the share plates and sushi is a cut above the average train and really well priced.

A couple of years ago, I would have raved about this place. I loved it. Inventive, tasty fusions of traditional and modern, in a funky concrete box of a location, with a sake menu to die for. But something seems to have slid downhill a little since then - it's still good, but just not as interesting as it was. And the sake menu seems particularly to have taken a hit. I'll be quite happy to edit this review if I go back in a little while and the game has been lifted again, but for now, I feel like they are resting on their laurels and relying on the good word of mouth of a time gone by.

Really tasty Japanese. Was recommended to go here by a friend. Have been recommending it to others ever since. Not super cheap, but not pricy either. $50-60 a couple.

Beautiful restaurant. Great place to eat. Wonderful food. Absolutely delicious and great atmospbere. If you want fresh dash I'm I and beautiful 5 hour brisket. This is the place to go.

I love discovering local gems and I think I've definitely found one in Kuki Tanuki. Located a hop or skip away from Erskineville station I've found myself coming to Kuki Tanuki again and again when I'm craving Japanese food (which is often). It is an izakaya so the focus is more so on drinks than food but the food is really what draws me in. The menu is split up into Nibbles, Small Bites, Sushi Kitchen, Salads, Hot Plates and Dessert. So while the menu isn't the widest, they regularly have specials and I've never had any trouble ordering a full dinner that didn't leave me bursting at the seams. Market fresh sashimi (6pc) $13 Can you go wrong with fresh sashimi? I think not! You'll get whatever is in season but salmon and tuna are pretty standard. The sashimi is cut pretty well and I like the cute wasabi leaf. Salt-n-pepa squid - deep fried juicy squid bites with fresh coriander, nanami spice powder and garlic mayo $8.50 Prawns are my go-to seafood but I also love well-cooked squid. Nothing is more horrible than rubbery squid but the squid bites here were lovely and juicy, perfect with the tangy garlic mayo. 5hr slow cooked brisket - 5hr slow cooked beef brisket in a rich teriyaki red wine sauce served with a side of homemade sweet potato chips $13 Brisket is one of those menu items that everyone is drawn to. It was a special at the time I visited but it seemed pretty popular on the night. The meat fell apart with the slightest poke of a fork and the sweet potato crisps were lighter than air. Spicy spider inside out roll - soft shell crab, cucumber and spicy miso (8pc) $14 I love a good inside out roll and while you may think they're a little expensive for just a sushi roll, it's usually more than enough to fill you up with other dishes. I love this soft shell crab roll, it's so delicious. Chicken nanban bites - free range succulent chicken thigh with a sweet and sour nanban sauce $18 Most Japanese establishments feature karaage chicken with kewpie mayonnaise which a

...Salt and Pepper Squid ($8.50) We ordered the Salt and Pepper Squid which was fresh and tasted lovely. It was quite a generous plate as well. Heaps of lettuce on top and served with a garlic mayo, which was delicious

As a tradition, we would go out to eat after completing examinations. Usually, the car trip to and from the venue has been more memorable than the actual dining experience. Kuki Tanuki is a Japanese sake and tapas bar which stands proud in the very cool Erskineville village. To start, we had the Nasu Dengaku which was deep fried eggplant with a miso paste. It was very delicious, with crispy outsides and a lovely flavour. The Market Fresh Sashimi was next. This was fairly good, comparable to your standard sashimi. This was followed by the Agedashi Tofu, one of my favourite Japanese dishes. The broth had a very nice taste, where the saltiness was on point. There were no bonito flakes like a normal agedashi tofu, but that didn't compromise on taste. Our next dish was the Tasmanian Roll, which was flame grilled salmon with avocado, cucumber, mayo and a sweet soy reduction. This was by far my favourite dish of the evening. The crispy topping, the melt in your mouth salmon and the sweet soy reduction created a very memorable taste. The Pork Gyoza Dumplings were as a good as they could be. There were perhaps better options to choose from than these but it was nonetheless tasty. The Wakame Salad was tasty. Kev complimented the dressing while I found the silken tofu to be the hero of the dish. The Caterpillar Roll was a vegetarian sushi which had tempura pumpkin and avocado. I was surprised when I took my first bite into the crunchy tempura pumpkin, and overall, the dish was fairly yummy. We then had the Chicken Nanban bites, one of my favourite dishes of the night. Biting into them, you are hit with a saltiness which is replaced with sweetness and finally, sourness. It was karage chicken taken to a whole new level! Finally, we had the Tender Buta Pork Ribs. This was a taste familiar to all of us. The pork was very tender and worked well with the sweetness and saltiness of the teriyaki sauce. Tasmanian Roll Chicken Nanban In all, a very pleas

It’s the Tanuki (or Tanooki) form of Mario, a special form of Mario in Super Smash Bros 3. But what  is a Tanuki exactly? As it turns out, it’s a dog that looks kind of like a dog, but also maybe a badger/weasel? Image Source As for Kuki, it apparently refers to some type of plant, but I believe the owners of Kuki Tanuki meant for it to refer to a synonym of “crazy”. In a good way, of course. And that introduces Kuki Tanuki – a Japanese restaurant in Erskineville with a unique personality and flair. Unique? You bet. I  suppose if you don’t live in or near Erskineville, one major issue that immediately rears its ugly head is the fact that it’s in Erskineville. It’s not easy to get to – you can drive yes, but if you’re relying on public transport…well…not many trains and/or buses stop there, be

The prawns were so fresh they popped as you bit in, and it was all-round just a perfect sushi roll.

I liked that the sake list had a lot of information in it, including suggested food pairings. I ordered 3 x 30ml serves to test if the pairings were spot on. We had a couple of kushiyaki skewers : yakitori chicken and pork negima , both with shio (salt). I paired these with the Fuku Shogun ($2), a delicious sake served hot that was meant to go well with grilled dishes. The skewers and this sake were among my favourite items of the night. Yakitori chicken with shio ($8) Pork negima with shio ($8) The salt-n-pepa squid (deep-fried juicy squid bites with fresh coriander, nanami spice powder and garlic mayo) was tender and perfectly crunchy thanks to the the gluten-free (rice flour?) coating. The mayo was sweet, thick, creamy, and addictive. We ended up ordering a second serve of squid in lieu of dessert. I paired this dish with the Edoichi sake ($3), served hot, which was meant to go well with oily dishes. I wasn’t a big fan of the sake or the pairing. Salt-n-pepa squid ($8.5) The Wagyu beef tataki was a winner. Granted, it was a smallish serve but can’t complain about its quality. I didn’t get a sake to pair with beef, so just sipped along from random cups. Bad style, I know. Wagyu beef tataki ($16) The seafood salad (freshly sliced, tuna, kingfish and salmon, green salad, avocado and baby tomato) was perhaps the most predictable dish of the bunch. Much fresher than your regular CBD eatery salad, and with a pleasant dressing, made gluten-free for us. I paired this with a cold sake, the Gin ($2.5), suggested for fresh sashimi. Nice pairing. Seafood salad ($13.5) Kuku Tanuki 61 Erskineville Road Erskineville, NSW 2043 www.kuki

Kuki Tanuki Japanese bar in Erskineville is cool and has a young vibe with a broad take on Japanese bar food. It’s great to see some Japanese small bars springing up out of nowhere, as Sydney has been slow on the Japanese bar uptake.

Incredible all round experience. Food is phenomenal esp the BBq chicken and dumplings. Very interesting and educational menu on sake (as sake novices). Great leisurely meal and the staff are ideal. So informative and friendly. Can't believe we waited 9 months to come here.

Why are you not open for lunch? We are in the area and want to eat here

Pricey but delicious. So glad to have found this little gem. Delicious Japanese tapas and drinks (try the fried chicken bites), and great ambiance. It is pricey for the servings, but im happy to pay good money for good food. Will be back.

Friendly relaxed service, delicious food but dessert needs improvement. <br/><br/>Cocktails were delicious - if not a little over priced. Service was friendly but could possibly be a little more attentive as a couple of times we had to ask for things (water, dessert menus, bill) twice. <br/><br/>Food was delicious! Tasmanian Salmon roll was extraordinarily tasty. Chicken bites were delicious. Perhaps could have had a touch more chicken. <br/><br/>We shared 2 entrees, 2 sushi rolls and one main between 3 and that was sufficient. <br/><br/>Dessert was a real disappointment. We ordered one of each dessert. The green tea ice cream sandwich sounded appetising on the page but in reality was two Arnotts chocolate biscuits around some very bland ice cream that could have been vanilla with green food dye. The mud cake my friend had looked mass produced and she wasn't very impressed. <br/><br/>A shame as the main meal was delish! <br/><br/>Will be back. Cute find with tasty savoury dishes, just avoid dessert.

Expensive. We've been here a couple of times and both times left feeling poorer and slightly hungry. The food is good but nothing overly amazing. The decor is really cool and the staff are friendly, just think it's charging a bit much for what you get.

Fun place!. I love the decor! it is so nice compared to mos hipster restaurants. this one was playful with the seats and the colours and the background music...it all blended very nice. <br/><br/>the food was certainly not the best but it was definitely not bad. you can enjoy a decent meal here because it is made well, their pork belly is delicious...love the salads and a great place to casually kick back with a beer...i liked it compared to most other japanese restaurants. <br/><br/>the service was not bad either as they were extremely friendly and welcoming which contributed to the warm and relaxed atmosphere....i would come back with some friends or a casual night out with a significant other.

Love it!. This place offers a great new take on Japanese food with a great range of sake. The flavours are fresh and imaginative, the interior is sophisticated and comfortable, and the service is attentive. A great night out.

Disappointed!. This Restaurant is decidedly average. It's quite cool and will appeal to the trendy crowd, but for me eating is all about the food and is this respect it was very inconsistent. The gyoza and cooked dishes were good but the measure of a Japanese restaurant is how fresh it's sashimi is. In this case it fell very short of the mark. It was also cut very thick which is fine if the fish is ultra fresh, but in this case it just made the problem worse. A shame. I really wanted to like this place, and probably could have forgiven it if it was 20% cheaper!

Great service, delicious fresh food. Dined here after seeing good reviews on urbanspoon. Service was exceptional, and the food arrived promptly and was very fresh and tasty. The owner also personally had a chat with us and gave us complimentary samples of sake. I recommend the salmon and tuna tataki. Would definitely visit again!

Fantastic service, great izakaya. We were out for a Sunday walk, happened by Kuki Tanuki and decided to stop in for dinner. The first thing that brought us a smile was the attentive service. Having never dined there before, they did a great job of taking us through the menu, food styles and helped us with our sake pairing (also well documented in the menu.) The food came quickly and everything was terrific. We had the 5hr brisket, yakatori and sashimi. The brisket was tender and melted apart as you'd hope. The sashimi was exceptionally fresh. Throughout our dining, we felt well looked after by the staff. We'll definitely be coming back. Terrific izayaka!

Ok. Can I just say I was really expecting something great given the reviews but now I'm starting to think that maybe they write their own reviews on here? I went here last Sunday with a group of 4 and had a less than average experience. Got told the place was full although I know there were a few small tables in the back they just didn't want to open it! Sorry but you can't turn down customers just because you don't have enough bloody staff to accommodate us. You can't turn people away when you clearly have tables free! I work in hospitality and for a 'restaurant' to have one waiter to a whole restaurant on a Sunday is a joke. So that's number one. Number two, food was less than what I expected in terms of quality, and it came out before our sake even did? Beef brisket was quite good but Agadeshi tofu (which I thought was vegetarian but apparently it has fish stock - thanks for not writing that on the menus, I had to ask the waitress??!!!) left a lot to be desired. I will say though the sushi is not bad. Unfortunately the whole experience was sort of ruined from the beginning when we got turned away then had to come back. This place always looks fairly busy to me so they need to start catching up to the demand - not that I understand WHY there is a demand as there are plenty better eating options in newtown for far less $$$. Guess this is the next newtown craze that will quickly dip again like most do. Till then I'll keep going back to my reliable regular, thank you very much!

Went for dinner here a couple of weekends ago and wasn't too impressed. disappointing as it had a few good reviews. this is not authentic japanese - if you're looking for that, go to wagayas or nakashima. also the seats in the bar were uncomfortable and it looked like the cushions hadn't been washed in years. gross. the food is average, gyoza came out crusty (not the way it's meant to be), sushi was good but not spectacular, so i just can't justify the prices you pay here. service was ok but had to wait a while probably because they only had 2 waiters on from what i could see and the place was jam packed. if it takes more than 10 minutes to take my order, sorry but unless you put more staff on, i will not come back. would go here to have sake only as they had good selection

Soggy old lotus chips that tasted like oil. As above. dropped in for possible dinner and drinks. Full so sat us out the back in a garagey space. Which is fine if a bit sad looking. Beers (imported) $13 --> 9. Charging $13 for an imported beer.. Ordered a side of lotus chips with the beers. $6.50 - a lot of soggy old ones and some (few) crispy ones (like 2 different batches) and tasted like old cooking oil. Had much better elsewhere : wagays tapas on kingst does great ones - crispy and clean tasting+eating. Can't eat here based on that. Left. So we paid abotu $28.50+ for 2 beers and some soggy small serve of lotus chips. - yes, we went to wagays. Had a great meal there.

Top notch service with a smile. Can i simply state that the staff here are amazing. i dined there last night and apart from having fresh, delicious sashimi and seaweed salad, the level of service was outstanding. it is really rare to have someone ask why a meal was not eaten eaten in its entirety. we were quite full and did not finish a delicious third dish ordered. the waiter kindly asked with concern whether anything was wrong with the meal and was everything fine in general. well done guys on fabulous attention to making customers feel valued. your meals are well priced, fresh and delicious. a good and simple selection of wine, beer, sake etc. cosy, casual atmosphere.. ill be back for sure

Casual Dinner. My partner loves Japanese cuisine. This being the case, I organised a reservation online for Kuki Tanuki. A lovely experience all round: service / food / sake. Go have fun and enjoy the Sake!

Sydney dining at its Best. Kuki Tanuki - Kuki means happy forever, Tanuki is a Japanese raccoon that loves food and alcohol. This is what our friendly waitress told us when we asked what the name meant. We laughed, they laughed, what a great name for a great little place.<br/><br/>The food was terrific. We had the brisket and sweet potato chips, the tanuki burgers, a salad and a side of the freshest sashimi with a glass of warm sake. Everything was immaculate and also warming in these nippy months.<br/><br/>The service was friendly, warm and personal. The atmosphere with its amazing Tokyo street vibe really just adds to our love of this tucked away joint in Erskineville. This is by far our favourite place at the moment and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Buzzy but relaxed and playful. ...with the best name for a restaurant. Kukitanuki, WhackyKanacki... love it.<br/><br/>Try Robot Beer then a cocktail. The eggplant dish was terrific. a really creative menu. My fav syd restaurant at the moment.

Trendy Japanese on point!. Ate here tonight for the third time. Food is consistently delicious, especially the sushi! Dessert wasn't so great but you don't really come here for that. Favourites are the Tasmanian Roll and Sashimi Plate. Sake is delicious and there is an extensive wine list. Service wasn't bad but not overly great either. I love the atmosphere and amazing decor. Def a great night out.

Bloody Fantastic. Goodness. a couple of $5 Asahi's and my world is good. Pair it up with some juicy chicken bites, Gyoza dumlings and a bloody delicious Japanese burger and I am in ecstasy. How can this place not be a winner? My new favourite place for a good feed and a drink!

This place still needs a lot of work, been 3 or 4 times and each one was not without disappointment. Biggest mistake is not concentrating on getting at least on thing "nailed", atmosphere, menu and service seem to be in discord with each other.

Tasty, Great Atmosphere and Fun. For those that haven't been, you must go. This is such a great little place that punches way above its weight class. <br/><br/>Hidden away in Erskineville, this lovely little place has a funky and comfortable atmosphere. It really sits well in the village. Its got some great and fun food like their Tanuki Burgers which my partner thinks are great. The sashimi was fresh and nice. Especially the seared tuna and salmon we got, yum. The staff are also a bit raucous, good natured and fun. The owner even sat down with us and went through some of the sakes with us. What a great experience guys!<br/><br/>Keep up the good work, next time I'll bring some friends, then the family, then the in-laws and then maybe my boss ;). Thanks again!

Some improvements needed. I visited Kuki Tanuki for the first time on Friday after a friend recommended them to me quite some time ago now. From the outside the venue looked cosy and interesting. Upon entering we were greeted by a friendly hostess who appointed us a table in what seemed to be the bar area - The tables were positioned right in front of the bar and kitchen and were a lot lower and less formal than the tables in the other area of the restaurant, we also sat on Sake crates which was quite fun! We ordered some beers, edamame, chicken karage, some sashimi and sushi - chicken karage came almost immediately after the edamame! which was very weird, plus the chicken was enormous in portion size! I knew immediately that we'd ordered too much! sashimi came out relatively fast, but the sushi seemed to take 45mins and the presentation was sloppy - lucky I wasn't in a hurry! All-in-all the service was good, ambiance great, but there was something missing in the kitchen. I asked the cashier how long the venue had been open "just over a year now" I was told - You'd think the order of the food would be more polished by now. I will return, but maybe not immediately.

Pork ribs!. The sticky pork ribs fell off the bone and were doused in a sweet soy sauce, which could have been further reduced but was tasty nonetheless ($27). The agedashi tofu lacked flavour although it was a large serving and the salmon salad was pricey ($17) for only a few slices of salmon and lots of leaves. The Tasmanian Roll was also pricey ($16) for 8 pieces of hard to eat pieces. All up, the prices were steep for the serving sizes and quality of the food and below average service.

A quirky addition to the neighbourhood. Pretty pricey for small serves, so don't expect too much - particularly for dinner. The food is tasty, but the prices may prevent this place from taking off. Particularly given the abundance of decent and reasonably priced Japanese restaurants merely a stone's throw away at Newtown. Love their play list & their beers, so might be better as a pre-dinner option...

Best Japanese Experience in town. We first went to KT because a friend highly recommended it. We were looking for a different option for breakfast and we were very impressed. This small bar has really good drinks, good food, fun staff, and no bar could be anymore funky. I would say this is the best Japanese in Sydney at the moment.<br/><br/>Was blown away by the flavours in the breakfast bento box, great value. We then went back for dinner and was wowed by the drink selection, be sure to choose the Gin Silly and Plum wine special. The menu is also packed with yummy food.<br/><br/>I'll be back guys, me and my partner love everything you offer :) .

Good service. Food was also good but overpriced...

What is not to like about Kuki Tanuki?. We stopped by early on a Saturday night and sadly, all the dining tables were already reserved, even at Grandma hour. Although offered a table in the back courtyard (which I imagine is lovely on a sunny day, but less so when the winter chill is attempting to set in), we took a seat in the front bar area, and we were happily sated with a very decent beer selection (Yebisu - hurrah, my favourite! and the award-winning, but strangely soft-drink-can-looking Yona Yona Ale) and plenty of bar snacks (the usual edamame and goyza, but also tempura green olives, chicken yakitori and a stand-out pork mini-burger, which I 'gracefully' permitted Mr GG to finish). Back-to-front, we finished with some excellent sashimi and, what else for a beer lover, but the 'beerlini' cocktail. Kanpai!

Great food. Get the tuna and salmOn sashimi. Best agadashi tofu I've eaten. Nice night. Well worth the venture.

Delicious but not cheap!. OK I love this place, it has a funky ambiance and the food and drinks is overall delicious! My fav dishes for night was the king fish carpaccio, soft shell crab tempura and the pork belly (bar menu). Expect to spend on avg $50 pp for drinks and meal so its not cheap which is a shame because I would def come more often if it was more affordable! Thumbs up for me!

Overpriced!?. I can't believe no one here has said anything highly critical of their prices.... even relative to the surrounding Erskineville/Newtown area. My boyfriend popped in to have a drink on our way out for the night. We decided to share a 'carafe' of the house sake for $13 - which is a little more expensive than we are used to paying, but we figured what the hey .... but it arrived half full. Took it back to the bar thinking this must be a mistake and the bartender poured into a plastic measuring cup, and confirmed that X ml is indeed a 'carafe'. So we paid $13 for ~100 ml of sake (~3 little sake glasses) We also ordered a calamari dish with 6 rings, which was ordinary but saved by wasabi mayonaise that you could probably pick up at Woolies. <br/><br/>I'm from the area and am used to overpriced 'trendy' food, but Kuki Tanuki takes this to a new level. We didn't eat in the service area, but I would never want to because I don't want to receive half of a portion of food that I could get elsewhere in the area....and on principle because advertising something to be a 'carafe' when you are really serving 'half-a-carafe' is deceptive and I don't want to give such an establishment my business.<br/><br/>The sucky thing is that this place will stay in business because it's new and trendy, and people are willing to pay ridiculous prices to fit in with the 'trendy' crowd.

Could Be So Good!. What a great concept, a Japanese Sake Bar in Erskineville! Pretty much everything I love with a Japanese eatery is on the menu. Great precision picked drink selection by someone with passion and knowledge complemented with food items like a best of. But this is where it ends. <br/>Food arrives very fast - too fast. There is no way that our Yakitory has been charcoal grilled and neither does it taste like it has. It is not juicy and has not any resemblance to real Japanese Yakitory apart from its ingredients. The same with the scallops and the pork belly. There in the flesh but not in the spirit. The Agedashi Tofu is not silken and the dashi broth is weak. The onion filled Miso soup a watery disgrace. We also had the chef selection of Sushi. The fish was good but what happened to the rice and the Wasabi? The Wasabi was not the real thing and the rice was most likely missing both the vinegar and the sugar? So if I had a guess... these meals are not cooked by anyone that has been to Japan or has an understanding of what makes Japanese cooking unique. <br/><br/>Bring in a charcoal grill and throw out the microwave and get some real Wasabi and we will be back for another meal. <br/><br/>Until then it will be drinks only!

Very enjoyable. The food was delicious, not ordinary Japanese food, very yummy. The staff were attentive, friendly and helpful, an impressive range of imported beers, cocktails and bar drinks. I was impressed. As for pricing, my partner thought it a little expensive for a local restaurant but i didnt agree given the quality of the good. I will definitely be back.

Great Find! Little Tokyo Bar in Sydney -. This place is special. What a fantastic small bar, we stumbled upon it last night and went in for a few drinks. The drinks list is huge. Between the group of 5 we sampled some cocktails, sake and beer. I had a Yona Ale, my partner had a rosemary lemon drop and the rest had some wines - all by the glass, we then shared some hot and cold sake suggested by a very passionate bartender. We also grabbed some bar snacks of sashimi, gyoza and edamame. The sashimi was melt in your mouth decadent and gyoza and sauce is probably what you will find in some wicked place in Tokyo. Perfect food washed down with a good drop. What a good saturday night should be. <br/><br/>Next time we will be heading into the bistro. Only one criticism or thing to take note of though is. The place is a bit hard to see even if you are walking past; as they haven't got a big sign and is not really lit up at night. A friend who lives near the area, found it a bit hard to find. She was a happy camper though when we got the third round of drinks into her. Right mel?

Great fitout in the main bar but the bistro feels a bit cold and unwelcoming. Food was a bit hit and miss, enjoyed the gyoza and chicken nanban but the vegetable tempura and duck were not so great. Tempura was over battered and duck didn't offer much more taste than a vietnamese spring roll. Food was generally very expensive for the portion sizes. The duck alone is $29 for what can be considered an entree size dish. Great sake and Japanese beer range but once again a little on the pricey side. Service was ok except our waitress didn't seem to be updated as to what was unavailable on the menu until after we had ordered it. I'll probably give dinner at kuki tanuki a miss in the future unless the prices come down or the meals become a little bit more substantial.

Living just around the corner I was so excited when this place opened but I was SO let down. The red flag should have gone up when i went in to book a table for 10 the week before. All of the staff ignored me and when they did finally ask what i wanted I was told rudely "dont you know we aren't a restaurant we are a bar - we dont take bookings". Still keen to try it ,I took my workmates with me. There were only two choices of two red wines $7 or $17 a glass, then they forgot our order and (after an hour and a half of asking and waiting where our order was) we were they had misplaced our order and that two bowls of edamame beans we were give "free of charge" to help us get through the waiting time for our mains was more than enough to compensate for the wait. The worst $540 I have EVERY spent. We will never be back and if you want value for money and good service stay away. You have been warned!!!

The service was warm but they mixed up our orders along the shared table seating. Food was fresh and tasty but a little on the pricey side. Good cocktails though

Ok but nothing special....but expensive for what you get....but good variety for the area

Not bad. A little overpriced. Service was ok to good. I liked the "BYO iPhone app" the waitress was using. A decent addition to Erskineville.. 7.1 out of 11.9

Good start, few suggestions for improvement.. It's great to have a new place to eat in Erskineville. The food was good - The sashimi was fresh, and the spider roll was great. The service was friendly but some still with L plates on. Some suggestions - (as locals we want to visit frequently); 1) the wine list needs a serious overhaul - this is not an pub or club so get some wines that match the investment made in the fit out and 2) the lights over the tables near the skylight are too bright/white. <br/><br/>All the best and best wishes to the crew @ Kuki Tanuki.

Great local izakaya bar!. We were delighted to see that Kuki Tanuki has now opened in Erskineville - the vibe and menu attracted us in the door the first night we walked past. There is a great bar area at the front with Japanese bar snacks and a lovely dining space at the back which is pram and kid friendly. We love japanese food and had just been saying how Erskineville shops needed an izakaya bar. <br/><br/>For our first visit, we ordered gyoza, spinach with sesame dressing, tempura, salmon salad and yakitori skewers and all of the dishes were delicious. The service was attentive and friendly. The space is well thought out and designed and there is something for everyone including lovers of Japanese desserts! We will definitely be going back again and again and we can't wait to try the Panko fried black sesame ice cream.<br/><br/>Highly recommended!

Great service!. My partner and I have been waiting for this restaurant to open ever since we saw there was a Japanese restaurant opening. We walked past the other night and were so excited to see it opened. We haven't been in to eat yet but I wanted to say- we were greeted with such a friendly, informative and welcoming front of house, when we peered in, that I can't wait to get back! Looks funky, and what a fabulous interior, and artwork on walls! We will be there in a few days when we find a babysitter- and I'm very excited! Full score for customer service!

Something New to do in Erko. We popped in to Kuki on the third night it was open. We sat in the bistro area. Our food was delicious, esp the soft shell crab. The wait staff were still finding their feet but friendly. I did find it a bit odd that in the bistro section my drink came in a can with a straw, no glass? I agree with Kiwi, if I sat in the front section I would not know it was bar service only, I would be expecting table service, best to somehow communicate that as people arrive. I will try Kuki again. Good luck.

Funky local. We went here on a busy night and were told the restaurant was full so we stayed for a drink and some bar snacks. we would totally recommend this place for a great place for a drink and we were impressed by the delicious fresh japanese food.<br/>Obviously this place has just opened, so service was not 100% slick, but they are making an effort, and we will definitely be back for dinner another time.<br/>The whole venue is really well decorated and I appreciate the attention to detail with genuine japanese ceramics, bamboo skewers, crates and imported wines that you can't get anywhere else. I have travelled to Japan regularly and this is the only place in Sydney that captured the spirit of Tokyo in Sydney.<br/>Good work!

Great Idea. A Local Japanese Sake Bar. Never been to a Japanese Sake Bar before. What a great idea! Great selection of Japanese sake and wine! For a Japanese sake bar, it also had great food that compliment the sake. Love the duck shared dish on the menu! We gobbled it up quickly. Very yummy to say the least. I will be back.

Went there for dinner on a Thursday night. The place is very new... really only open for four days, and it is reflected in the confidence of the waiting staff. But I'm sure that will improve over the next few weeks :-) We sampled a number of things off the menu, including the skewers and a couple of mains. Very happy with the quality of the food and speed of delivery. A couple of things (most notably the cocktails) werent available (?yet). Keen to return in a week or two to see how this place develops. The food is certainly good and the ambience very funky.

Service, please.... My wife and I decided to try out Kuki Tanuki a couple of days after they opened. <br/><br/>'Twas a friday afternoon, and we were keen to support a fledgling business.<br/><br/>We walked in, at about 5pm, to a completely empty bar. I thought this would be a good thing, as I was hoping to ask a few questions of the staff as to their recommendations. <br/><br/>We were ignored. We sat down, grabbed a couple of menus, and waited for at least some eye contact. Nothing. We waited. I started timing. One young girl looked nervous, but didn't approach. Others stood in a knot chatting. After three minutes, including putting down the menus to indicate that we had at least decided on a drink, we waited another full minute, with nothing. As such, we walked out.<br/><br/>I'll give them another shot, but unless they sort their act out soon I can't see them staying in business. I hope I'm wrong, and that they up their game. A place with a point of difference would be nice in the area.