Sushi Hotaru Charcoal Bar — Restaurant in Sydney

The sushi was fresh and enjoyable however I was disappointed by the charcoal skewers. For a place that markets itself as a charcoal skewers bar, I expected a more authentic grilling experience, but it didn’t seem like they used charcoal at all. The skewers didn’t have that distinct smoky flavor or the traditional grilled texture, and there was no visible sign of charcoal grilling—more like they were cooked in a pan and finished with a torch, which didn’t quite live up to expectations.

I also regret ordering the oysters; they were definitely borderline in terms of freshness, which made them a poor choice for the price.

The service at Sushi Hotaru also left something to be desired. When I asked for more water, the staff handed it to me rather abruptly, literally tossing it down onto the table with little care. It was jarring and felt quite rude. The lack of attention to customer experience, especially with something as basic as water, really impacted the overall dining experience.

While the sushi was good, the skewers and oysters were underwhelming, and I left feeling...

I want to preface that I have no allergies at all. After ordering the summer uni dish, I ended up with itchy hives and swelling on my lips like a sudden allergic reaction. It was uncomfortable and honestly kind of scary. I’ve had this dish before and really enjoyed it, so I flagged it to the staff. The cashier said she’d check with the kitchen but continued working, and after 5–10 minutes, someone else came out. He looked at my lips and just said, “Maybe drink some water, it should be fine,” and gave me bottled water. I asked why this was happening when I’ve eaten it before, and got a vague response about the manufacturer and manufacturing process. I was genuinely shocked by how lightly it was taken. No real concern, no apology, and I was still charged full price. I even had to ask to take off an item I obviously couldn’t eat. The whole experience felt dismissive and left me really...

I have been a customer of sushi hotaru since the opening of the restaurant next to muji.

Went to a new place here, ( this time with 2 people, $180) and compare to the one next to muji, this area are wayyyyyy more bigger = more seats and the employees will walk around regular to see any customers needed any requests (wonderful!!!!)

Went here with a friend.

Here are some recommendations: Seared salmon N17 Crab with wasabi mayo N23 Salmon SH1 Fresh oysters SH8 (hotaru has one of the best oysters in Sydney!!!!! Must try!) Volcano A7 Spicy cold udon ( must try! The soup base if fresh, light, umami) Seared egg omelette ( not on the website menu, prob needs to update it)

Overall, compare to other Japanese sushi bars around Sydney, this place is a must try, you will find a dish you will loooooove!!!!!! (Ps. The price is...