Meet Amuro sake bar, a new intimate and welcoming space to enjoy conversations over a glass of sake and authentic Japanese snacks and rice dishes.
Amuro Sake Bar, owned by Kei Tokiwa, is the latest addition to the drinking and dining scene in Darlinghurst, Sydney.
Tokiwa, who previously worked at Chaco Bar and consulted at other venues, has curated a selection of around 20 sakes imported from different prefectures in Japan including Yamaguchi, Hokkaido and Yamagata. There is a range of Japanese wines and whiskies on offer as well.
What makes Amuro more interesting is that there is no physical drink menu – Tokiwa prefers to guide his customers on a personal journey to discover their preferences.
Complementing the sakes is a range of rotating regional Japanese dishes, from the far north of Hokkaido to southern Okinawa. The snack menu includes tantalizing dishes such as grilled shishamo; Hokkaido scallop with ume and buckwheat; raw octopus served with a hit of wasabi or what is called “tako wasabi”; and mentaiko potato salad.
There are also heartier dishes like unagi rice and ochazuke (green tea poured over crusty charred rice and garnishes), and the adventurous can try the natto or fermented soybeans on rice.
Tokiwa’s grandmother, who was a rice farmer, inspires many of the dishes. His mother, who hails from Okinawa, is another source of inspiration, and he expects her regional cuisine to influence his future menu ideas.
Soo, we could also be tasting his own version of taco rice, a popular Okinawan dish made with taco-flavoured ground beef, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes served on a bed of rice. The dish was created in the 1980s by local Chef Matsuzo Gibo to appeal to the U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa and has since grown in popularity among the locals and tourists as well.
Tokiwa has taken great care in every detail of the restaurant, from the blackwood bar and Italian floor tiles to the chopstick rests and sake shelves. Each dish is served on a plate or bowl handpicked by Tokiwa himself.
Amuro is a new 20-seat boutique sake diner located at 2/255 Crown St. in Darlinghurst.
Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are by invitation only at the establishment’s discretion. Amuro is open from Wednesday to Sunday, starting at 4 pm.
“What a fabulous find. This is best Japanese cuisine I have had outside Japan. The staff were professional, friendly and extremely helpful.” – Sharman Palmer
“Very nice decor and relaxing atmosphere, great food and excellent service! Dinner there felt like sharing a quiet moment in the middle of bustling Tokyo!” – Clement Guo
“Ah love this place already. Beautiful food, carefully prepared, great selection of drinks, especially for my sake loving friends. The difference was the personal service of the owner, who was so attentive and happy to chat with people about the food, drinks, regions of sake etc.
Pretty location and lovely vibe. Great place if you’re also gluten or dairy sensitive: almost all the food options were suitable which was fantastic.” – k c
Published 3-April-2023
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