Tell us about your bar:
Tokyo Bird is a Japanese-inspired small bar in Surry Hills, with a focus on Japanese whiskies and beers, cocktails, saké and yakitori (grilled chicken parts on skewers). We aim to combine the best of Tokyo’s yakitori-ya with the classic Japanese-style cocktail, mixing up styles in the setting of an intimate Sydney small bar. We’ve been open in Belmore Lane since December 2014.
What’s on the menu?
Yakitori, as well as other proteins like wagyu beef, pork belly and scallops as well as vegetables like miso eggplant and shiitake mushrooms. We also have a range of snacks like lotus root chips, katsu chicken nuggets and gyoza, all of which are crowd favourites, perfect for sharing over a drink or two.
Care for a drink?
We have Asahi Super Dry and Asahi Dry Black on tap. Kaku highballs are very popular – they’re Suntory Kakubin whisky, soda and lemon. On the cocktail front, the Black Star Martini – gin, Aperol, lime, watermelon, rose and strawberry foam, pistachio crumble – is a current favourite, while the Japanese Hunter – whisky, cherry brandy, applewood smoke – has become a Tokyo Bird signature. That said, whisky enthusiasts usually can’t go past a whisky from the extensive back bar, served neat or on a crystal clear ball of ice.
Sounds?
We play a lot of classic hip hop – stuff we enjoyed listening to growing up – with a mix of classic motown, alternative and modern jazz. After hours, it’s usually ’80s power ballads: they help the mood when cleaning.
Highlights:
Tokyo Bird has a great vibe and intimate atmosphere, whether it’s a chilled Monday night or a pumping Friday night. We get the best customers: people are just relaxed and keen to learn about what we have to offer, whether that’s yakitori or cocktails or a whisky. It also helps that we have super friendly service. We have more than 80 Japanese whiskies on the back bar, making our selection one of the largest ranges in Australia.
On top of that, I think people appreciate the flexibility of what we do: you can just come in for a beer or a cocktail at the bar, or do a whisky tasting, or bring a group of mates in for dinner and drinks. It’s all good times!
The bill comes to:
Start with a Kaku highball and lotus root chips – the chilli mayo is addictive – and then maybe some katsu nuggets, before getting into yakitori, negima (chicken thigh and shallot), arabiki (cheese sausage) and the wagyu beef. All up, it’s approximately $70 for two, with the food to share.
Belmore Lane, Shop 2, 226-228 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills
Phone number: (02) 8880 0788
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 5pm – midnight
