Tokyo Bird

Such a great Izakaya with great food and drink options. Couldn’t eat it all so will just have to come back. The salmon tostadas were a great experience with the crispy tempura nori to scoop the salmon up. All the Yakitori and Kushiyaki were on point. The cocktails were incredible. Service was great as staff super attentive and checking in frequently and everything came out quickly.

Tokyo Bird is an absolute gem! The atmosphere is intimate yet lively, making it the perfect spot for a night out. Their cocktails are next level, beautifully crafted and balanced, and you can really taste the thought that goes into every detail. The whisky are worth the money! Love it! The staff were not only attentive but also genuinely warm, which made the whole experience feel extra special. You can tell they take pride in what they do. I left already thinking about when I can come back! Highly recommend Tokyo Bird if you’re looking for authentic flavors, amazing drinks, and an unforgettable vibe.

Like the other reviews, the place itself seems hard to notice but it’s actually quite a decent sized venue inside. We made a mistake and didn’t make a reservation (so I recommend doing so) but they were able to make arrangements to fit three of us in. The food and drinks here are on the pricier end of things but I would say the quality of each dish is present and it does warrant a try at least once. Think of this place as high end izakaya.

The perfect spot if you’ve got the post-Japan blues and wanna feel like you’re back at the local yakitori bar! A great atmosphere and fantastic service from the wonderful staff. Truly a great find!

Wow what a great hidden spot in Surry hills! Their yakitori are well priced and portions match it. Everything was so tasty and cooked to perfection, well seasoned with delicious sauces. Loved the cabbage salad, salmon yakitori, Wagyu and chicken thigh yakitori. Cute moody and intimate spot! Great service from the lads who are super attentive and always replaced our water etc

A fantastic venue for dinner tucked away at Tokyo Bird. The food is spot-on – simple, flavourful yakitori and izakaya dishes that paired perfectly with their creative cocktails and whisky selection. What really stood out, though, was the staff. Every person we dealt with was kind, knowledgeable, and incredibly accommodating. From guiding us through the menu to checking in on how we were enjoying our meal, they struck the perfect balance between attentive and relaxed. It felt like they genuinely wanted us to have a great evening, and we absolutely did. Cozy atmosphere, fantastic service, and a team who really know their craft – we’ll definitely be back.

Cozy and hidden in the middle of surry hills. The entryway tucked away in an alley, making it feel like some secret back-alley restaurant hahah. The food is great, but feels a bit pricey as it IS skewers. Love the vibe and the cute Ghibli movies playing in the main dining area. Theres another dining area on the other side where you have better view of the kitchen as well. depending on the atmosphere you’re going for, both sides provide different dining experiences. We were sat in the back area the first time, which was a bit quiet— making us feel like we were eating in a deserted restaurant. The second time we were sat in the main area with the rest of the customers and the atmosphere fit our vibe a bit more. The food i feel was inconsistent with some tasting really good and flavourful, and some lacking that flavour. Favourite dishes were the salmon skewers and the corn ribs!!! Omg the corn ribs are so good! All in all, we returned a few times cause the food was yummy and the drinks were unique (and also taste really good!!)

A little spot tucked away hidden in Surrey Hills. Didn't try the food but it did look great. Slightly pricey (had a whiskey flight for $50 and the servings were quite small). Nice atmosphere though and worth a quick trip.

I tried this spot a couple of years ago, and decided to take my family here since I enjoyed my last visit. We made reservations on OpenTable, and showed up right on time. Because we had our two kids with us, they put us in a separate dining area that allowed minors. The space is dark, but makes it great for a late night and cozy atmosphere. The place buzzed with chatted, just like I remember when I last visited. We ended up trying the following: - Lotus Root Chips: Very good. A nice easy snacking bowl of crispy chips with a chilli mayo that gives a good kick. - Salmon Tostadas: Very good. I actually didn't think about ordering them, but my daughter wanted them, and to my surprise, was one of my favourite dishes of the night. - Crispy Cauliflower: Good. Nicely fried. Great lime miso sauce. - Sasami Yakitori: OK. I didn't realize it would be breast meat, so it ends up drier that I like. - Wagyu Kushiyaki: Very good. Wagyu done simple is the best way. Tender and delicious. - Yaki Ton Kushiyaki: OK. For pork belly, I found it strangely tough. - Nasu Yakiyasai: Good. Eggplant done right. Service was more attentive that I normally get in Sydney, so very good. Overall, a good meal. Just as good as I remembered it last time, and was probably one of my wife's favourite meals of the trip.

It's a swanky Japanese fusion place. In this sort of restaurant, there are absolutely no point of questioning the authenticity here. The decor was nice and upscale for my taste. It can be a good place for casual date to break the ice. Can't say anything for food because I only had drinks. My friend's wife had a sake and it came in a little sumo wrestler shaped container! I love this sort of playfulness. I had whiskey soda aka "Highball". I tried scotch, Japanese shochu and Australian whiskey. But man, Australian was the best. What a surprise! Not sure when the next time will be, but I'm sure that I want to come back here for their food.

Extremely overrated food. I think this place just gets higher rankings for the bar in the atmosphere but food wise the yakitori is very dry there's no unique flavors to it it's the same plain teriyaki sauce they put on everything It was very underwhelming and disappointing

Bartender seemed confused that I wanted a drink, and just a drink. Is that not what you sit at the bar around 5:30 for? Bit early for food... Japanese Hunter was served intricately. Made, poured into a big jug with ice, poured into my glass in front of me (with ice), only to be served a lukewarm drink. It tasted like whisky with a bit of apple. I like the decor and they have old cartoons playing on the wall (old black and white old, not original spongebob old).

Can not say enough great things about Tokyo bird. We came in looking for Japanese whiskey and they have the best selection I have ever seen. What made this visit extra special was that EVERY single employee took the time to talk to us and ask how we were enjoying Sydney. They even gave us suggestions on other good places to go to. They really made it feel like everyone that came in was friends and family. If I could give more stars I would. By far the best service we had in all of Sydney. The drinks were also fantastic.

Really delicious small bites and a huge range of Japanese whiskey. Not heaps of vegetarian options, but what is there is tasty and satisfying. Shiitake mushroom skewers were juicy with plenty of flavour and a mild chilli kick. The absolute standout (enough that we ordered a second serve) are the rice cakes; crispy, chewy, with garlic and a really pleasing charring. You may struggle for space, and the prices for drinks are a little high, but otherwise a delightful and energetic haunt.

Great atmosphere, truly captures the authentic izakaya feeling. Most of our skewers could have been perfect, but consistently over cooked. They have everything else right though.

This little place was very busy when we visited last Friday night. So we waited for about 30 minutes for a table. Well this is a great bar and restaurant serving superb (possibly the best in Sydney) yakitori and small dishes. Their beer, sake and whiskey menu is extensive and top notch with actual made in Japan suntory malt, yebesu. Cold sake and a suntory whiskey or two. The lighting is perfect. Great atmosphere and the prices are quite reasonable. Friendly and attentive staff as well. Will more than likely become regulars here.

Sydney's 2nd best Whiskey bar. Really good Whiskey selection, very friendly service, but a little bit overpriced.

Tokyo Bird has to be one of my favourite cocktail bars in Sydney. It's a Japanese whisky bar, but to be honest, so much more than that. I don't doubt that their whisky collection is extensive (just take a look at the bottles around the bar!) but as a simpleton, my needs are simple. Good atmosphere? Yes, great for dates and also small intimate groups e.g. when I need a place to catch up with a girlfriend over a drink. My favourite place to sit is at the bar where you can either watch the staff skillfully make cocktails or skillfully grill some skewers. Good food? Phenomenal. You might have to order a fair bit to get full if this is dinner for you, but I love snacking on bar food. Try the scallops. In fact,try all of the yakitori skewer dishes. And try the eggplant. Good drinks? Great. Aside from whisky, there are cocktails, sake, and beer. I don't usually like cocktails with cream or milk, but my pick at Tokyo Bird that I have fallen in love with is the Matcha Milk Punch.

Celebrating Tuesday is something I've enjoyed doing for well over a decade. It breaks up the week at a time when the lull at its worst. And my Tuesday night at the new Japanese small bar in Surry Hills was amazing (making my Wednesday morning not-so-amazing). The super knowledgable bar keep walked me through the counter full of Japanese whisky bottles (after I had downed some Asahi Black) and suggested drams based on my comments and preferences. The food was good - although nothing outstanding - a limited selection of yakitori & other skewers, as well as a few salad and side options (edamame, lotus chips). Each dish runs between $5 and $7, and I sampled most during my visit, with the lotus chips being the fave. Service was friendly and personable and the decor (minus the unfinished bathroom) makes Tokyo Bird a great place to unwind and celebrate Tuesday - or any other day, really.

They decided to close early. We got there at 10:45 and kitchen was already closed. Wish they had posted it or update their Yelp. We Uber there and they didn't want to seat us. Now we have to Uber to somewhere else.

Some of the best Japanese food I have ever had and some of the best in Sydney. The crumbled mushrooms were amazing and the katsu nuggets really really good.

Tokyo bird is an amazing restaurant and bar. The atmosphere is great, the food delicious and the whiskey worth to be tried. I am looking forward to visiting this place again.

Went there on a weeknight. Great atmosphere. Service was friendly, and its an ultra-cool place to go for drinks. Has a great selection of Whiskey. Would recommend this.

i cant believe this was my first time coming here! what an awsome place. ambience , service and the experience . loved it! xx

10/10. This humble bar down a backstreet in Surry Hills is perfect for a drink/yakitori after work. We dropped in last night for an early dinner and were really impressed by the food, drinks, staff and venue. Thanks again guys, we'll be back soon to try the rest of the menu!