Kura Kura Japanese Dining — Restaurant in Sydney

I have loved coming to this restaurant for YEARS, it has been my favourite place in Sydney to eat for the longest time, I would make the two hour drive just for this delicious food and to celebrate any and every occasion (even Christmas)!

But tonight was completely different to all the great times I have had at this establishment. And honestly, it was enough to turn me off never going back. I don't know if there are new owners or something? But everything was completely different and this time it was not for the better.

First of all, we waited for the restaurant to open at 5:30. We made the trip down to Sydney literally just to get some food from this joint. While we were waiting for the doors to open, the chefs were just sitting on the front step smoking (not a good look at the very entrance of your establishment). And when the doors finally opened, a frazzled waiter came running down to open them and didn't even acknowledge us. Just ran back upstairs. We then went up and we were greeted with an extremely rude waitress who didn't even properly greet us and the first words out of her mouth were "there is a two hour limit here." Really rude vibe from the beginning. We started to feel put off, but proceeded to order drinks and some sushi rolls to see if it's at the standard it used to be. We were crammed at the entry of the restaurant with a few others tables when there was SO much more space. We eventually got our drinks after some time, and then the sushi rolls which were definitely not up to the standard they used to be. I took one bite out of mine and the chicken was so chewy and full of muscle fibres I couldn't even eat it. The rolls were so much smaller, and so expensive (We paid $33 for x2 4 piece rolls which were tiny and two drinks). At the point we just decided to leave, it wasn't worth it. Most of the fantastic items that used to be on the menu have been taken off and the dishes just weren't impressive at all. And when we went to pay the waitress was rude once again, didn't even acknowledge us and just gave us the eftpos machine. Didn't ask if everything was okay - which I would be asking if customers left after such a short time. The old workers here always made sure everything is okay and there were never any issues.

Never thought i'd be writing such a negative review for my favourite restaurant but here I am. I have also never left after just two entrees to go and eat elsewhere even though we were so excited to eat here. Very...

Me and my partner used to love eating here really much since 2019 when we first arrived in sydney. (Kura used to be in Dixon street chinatown area as well & there is one of our favourite spot to have dinner at least once a week)

Their katsu namban chicken is the best we have before. Since covid hit & their dixon outlet closing down we bit sad but that’s ok as we still going to the one in haymarket now :)

Everything remained the same. The service, the sauce taste everything well perfect.

To be honest in 2022 last year we felt there’s something different with their katsu itself. The texture just different (we guess it was about the flour they use? Idk as well) we changed to fish teriyaki instead.

Time goes by we usually just cant have any spot in here as it just 6-7 seating inside the restaurant and also it’s about the katsu texture that become more like chicken schnitzel. Soggy and just no crunchy texture anymore.

Today, we just randomly missing them & gave them another chance. We go upstairs instead which their “more luxury style” dining with of course higher price. We dont mind paid more as the place is more comfortable and service just pretty much better!

But to be honest, both me & partner really dissatisfied + disappointed. Just felt like the katsu texture getting worse. So plain. Udon itself just very normal. Takoyaki was good, i can tell it was fresh. Sashimi were very stingy. It like 1.5 piece that force to be cut in 3 😉

For meal that cost almost $29 I expected to be more flavourful and portion wise. I dont said it not tasty, but totally just felt so normal & not giving a memory in your mouth or experienced to ask you come back in next time.

We’re really sad about this. Overall very good service.

Thank you, Everything depends on everyone preference but this wouldn’t be our favourite anymore.

I left 3 stars as it used to be our favourite ❤️ hope you guys...

They didn't have any vegetarian sushi!

This was quite disappointing since they have a special menu for vegetarian items online and in store, implying that they are a good place for vegetarian food. When we tried to order from this menu, they said that both avocado and cucumber rolls were out of stock! There was avocado in the other elaborate fishy rolls we ordered, so I guess they were made in advance? We were ordering at 5:30pm so, it seems unlikely that they even made any vegetarian sushi for the evening. It's very odd that all the sushi would be made in advance though. It's usually made to order.

The wait staff just kept saying that each on that vegetarian menu was out of stock when we asked. Luckily, they still had miso soup and veggie gyozas, and the fish dishes were pretty good. If you were fully vegetarian or vegan this would not be the best place for you.

The wait staff were also notably beginnery/in training, which is okay, since you order on a tablet. Their role is somewhat minor in the scheme of things. You could tell that they made an effort anyway.

Finally, the bathrooms are a missed opportunity for this restaurant. They could be described as lacklustre. They were dingy and smelly, with soap spilt all over. They could use some attention to make the bathroom area less depressing and more inviting. Perhaps some music, some bright pictures/paintings from the op shop, a plant or two... these are all helpful options beyond keeping it...