British chef Rick Stein, who spends part of each year in Australia, has uncovered several favorite dining spots in Sydney. Among them is an understated Japanese restaurant he calls a true local gem.
Rick Stein described his top casual dining choice as a small, hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant named Tobikiri, quietly located behind Military Road in Neutral Bay.
"I love Tobikiri, a tiny husband-and-wife Japanese restaurant in Neutral Bay with about 10 tables. It's amazing what a husband and wife and one waiter can do," Rick told Broadsheet.
Tobikiri serves classic Japanese dishes and has earned glowing online reviews. One diner called it “a great little authentic restaurant.” The menu features sushi and sashimi specialties, including an assorted 10-piece sashimi platter for $25.80 and a six-piece sushi and baby roll plate for $28.80. Classic rolls like salmon and avocado or California rolls start from $6.50.
For Stein, Tobikiri represents the best of Sydney’s understated dining culture — intimate, authentic, and operated with skill and heart just streets from his favourite pub in Neutral Bay.
Author’s summary: British chef Rick Stein praises Tobikiri in Neutral Bay as his favourite Sydney dining spot, calling it a small, authentic Japanese gem run by a dedicated couple.