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Hours
Sun
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tue
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thu
12:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri
12:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 10:30 pm
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Details
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PRICE RANGE
$40.00 – $99.00
CUISINES
Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, Asian, Contemporary
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
meals, features
Is this a sushi restaurant?
Details
About
The RK San, it's where modern Japanese cuisine meets celebration. Executive Chef Rk Tamang looks to create an inspired dining experience in a surry hills As an opening Chef in hat restaurant One & Only Reethi Rah Maldives, Sokyo the star Sydney, Head sushi at flying fish Restauran, executive chef at some of Sydney's finest institutions - Sake restaurant, Geisha Haus and Sabu parramatta - Tamang brings his passion for fine dining with a meticulously crafted menu.
PRICE RANGE
$40.00 – $99.00
CUISINES
Japanese, Seafood, Sushi, Asian, Contemporary
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Mastercard, Visa, Digital Payments, Cash Only, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, BYOB, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
72 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
10
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
0
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.
Love_Life_Sydney
2442 contributions
July 2020 • none
It looked like any suburban Japanese restaurant from the outside and the inside fared only slightly better.
The food scored well above average. I have been twice and tried about half the menu and there has not been a disappointment. I really liked the King Brown (it was spelled Brawn on their menu) mushrooms, the eggplant Nasu Dengaku, the generous portion of the miso butter salmon and the signature cigar with a shot of sake.
I recommend the spicy endamame with flaky bonito wavering on top.
All had different flavours and bursting with umami.
The staff were lovely and I would not hesitate to return.
Written 9 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lexyabroad
26 contributions
May 2023 • couples
This place is an absolute gem! We stumbled across it accidentally and were blown away by the careful detail, gorgeous flavours and innovation in each dish. The chef served us personally and even brought out a little amuse bouche of a fried rice square with fresh salmon which was an incredible flavour bomb. His signature dish of 'cigars' in 'ash' with tuna was so delicious and fun to eat. Every dish was on point and the service was genuine and kind. I dreamt about the wagyu, the flavours were so delicate and intense. We will be back.
Written 31 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Readytogo77
Sydney77 contributions
July 2024 • couples
We went to this restaurant for a long overdue date and found the food to be very fresh, tasty and was served with friendly smile. We highly recommend our dishes which were the miso soup, kingfish and salmon nigiri and, miso butter salmon. We dined in a relaxed and hip atmosphere and can highly recommend if you wish to have a nice discussion over dinner as it is not too noisy like some other places. Will definitely return when next in the area.
Written 24 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erny H
Sydney81 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
We had dinner at RK San for celebration of my hubby birthday. We had 10 course dinner with sparkling water as both of us not drinking alcohol.
Spicy edamame: combine texture of sichimi , bonito flakes and soy sauce. It has strong flavour of chili. Normally, depend on people preference but i prefer normal edamame tastes.
Sashimi platter: sashimi of the fish is Tuna, salmon and not remembered for the other fish but similar like mackarel. I love of freshness of sashimi with fresh wasabi.
Cigar with salmon is really intrested in this restaurant as the ash exactly simular cigar ash. The cigars is combination of dice salmon sashimi in a pastry shell combined with spicy mayo, nori with malto ash and accompanied with sake.
Maguro hana is 4 pieces of floral shaped tuna with spicy mayo and micro sisho with accompanied with sushi rice for bottom layer. The taste is crispy from rice is seems not too tasty just feeling crispy.
Tuna ceviche is combined of tiradito with diced tuna and crispy chips on tops. All flavoured well combined and this is one of my favorite dishes in this restaurant.
Squid robata is grilled squid combined with dashi misho and cripsy enoki. The flavor was not good enough as seasoning is not combined together so the taste too salty.
King brawn mushroom robata is bettef than squid as tasts more well combined and good flavour as combining between truffle soy dressing and grilled mushroom and chilli thread on top.
Seared salmon roll where seared salmon and cucumber combined with creamy ponzu , crisp shallot and micro herbs. This is too much rice for this salmon roll instead of inside ingredients.
Braised pork belly was not my style of food. This food is 36 hour sous vide pork belly with carrots pure, dashi ginger glaze, pooped pork skin and cumin crumbs. As per mentioned smelly of pork too strong plus additional cumin make taste was not well combined and have strong smell.
Yuki is one of dessert with flavour of yuzu parfait, pistachio ice cream with and yogurt foam. Yuzu has sour taste and pistachio has sweet flavour so when both combined into one will better taste with not too sweet or too sour. Good floavour of desert taste.
Overall, we enjoyed our dinner but there is something restaurant can improve for the quality of the foods.
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Killara
3 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
We booked a few days ahead and asked for a best table available on that day but when we arrived we got the worst table. The food was OK but a small bottle of sake cost $32 which is a rip off. Also, the restaurant is just too noisy and we could not make any conversation due to the noise but maybe that is beyond their control I guess. But since their website and review looked good, we really got disappointed when we actually got seated.
Written 17 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garrett F
Aguas Calientes1 contribution
May 2021 • none
Booked a table on Saturday 22nd for 2 at 5:30. Arrived and were one of only 2 tables there. Ordered and everything was fine until they started to get busy around 6 with a birthday party. Tables were filling fast and after spending over $160 we were told at 6:30 that we had ten minutes to finish because a couple arrived with a baby and they needed our table. No mention beforehand that we needed to finish at a certain time. Very disappointed.
Next time have the courtesy to let your customer know that a 5.30 pm booking will have to be cleared by 6:30 pm.
Extremely poor service and management. We will not return.
Written 25 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrevorKeough
Porirua93 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
Absolutely delicious. Flavor and textures were amazing the tuna cigars OMG. This place is a definite must do in Sydney the only place I have ever considered to return and eat through the entire menu
Service was fantastic and I cannot the chefs enough for working well past 9 to prepare our order. 5 stars here is too low
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
impartialspectator
Sydney683 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
I wrote a review more than two years ago with the same title.
Since I wrote that review I have been there many many times. And never have I been disappointed, or for that matter any of my friends and/or colleagues.
The food quality is extraordinary. The seared scallop salad, the snapper ceviche, the sashimi "platter", the cigars, the squid tempura are among our favorites.
The waitstaff is good and unobtrusive.
They are byo ($6 pp).
One of the top Japanese places in Surry Hills - Darlinghurst, there should be no doubt.
You can't go wrong with them although it is probably a good idea to avoid peak times.
Written 31 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
impartialspectator
Sydney683 contributions
July 2024 • friends
I wrote a review a few years ago with the same title. Since I wrote that review I have been there many many times. And never have I been disappointed, or for that matter any of my friends and/or colleagues. The food quality is extraordinary.
The seared scallop salad, the snapper or tuna ceviche, the sashimi "platter", the cigars, the kingfish collars, and the squid tempura are among our favorites.
The waitstaff is good and unobtrusive. They are byo (currently $7 pp if I recall correctly) but they also have some reasonably priced wines on offer.
One of the top Japanese places in Surry Hills - Darlinghurst, there should be no doubt. Right up there with Ito (which is not byo), Mikazuki (in the old Masuya Suisan digs on Pitt, also not byo), and somewhat better than Suisan on Fitzroy although we like that place, too. Suisan is also byo.
You can't go wrong with RK San although it is probably a good idea to avoid peak times. They are now open in the afternoon and even have an happy-hour menu starting at 3 if I recall correctly. Oh, and they moved a few months ago to new digs at the corner of Bourke and Cleveland, into an old corner pub/eatery.
Strongly recommend.
Written 31 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bernard W
1 contribution
Feb 2021 • none
We were excited to go to RK San as it has good reviews and friends agreed. We found it average. Average service, average food and no value for money. And please turn the music down or don't play dance music. The kitchen may like to bop around but I appreciate a conversation over dinner. Average.
Written 27 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stefano
Rome79 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
Varied menu offers Japanese cuisine of all kinds, I could also make changes to the dishes to make them more pleasant according to my taste. The staff is friendly the service is fast and punctual! All exceptional really recommended!!!
Automatically translated
Written 3 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa K
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • friends
We enjoyed a midweek dinner here, lots of unusual options on the menu, everything was fresh and delicious, good cocktails too.
Friendly staff and great service. Outside sitting is ideal when weather allows. We will be back!
Written 3 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Алексей Карасев
Arsenyev170 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
This is not a pompous restaurant, but the food is excellent! The chef and his assistant are working. THOSE. two people. The kitchen is open. All dishes are wonderful. Delicious! Beautiful original presentation! This includes sashimi and rolls and tempura! It was nice and tasty to receive a compliment - a fish head! Soon they will move to a new place, but in the same location. Definitely 5+
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob R
10 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
What an awesome place to find. Been there for some years but my first visit was a Friday lunch. I Without a doubt the best endamame I have ever had anywhere - including Japan! Great and selection available of traditional fare and meals with a twist. Awesoem selection of well priced beers, wine and sake. A huge congrats to RK on his application to Japanese cuisine. The “cigar” offerings are innovative and stunning. Won’t be long until I’m back!
Written 10 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anisja H
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • couples
Beautiful food. Every dish was delicious & super fresh. The tuna masago was a highlight as well as fresh nigiri
Would recommend 😊
Written 6 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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