Tokkuri Sake Wine Bar, Cammeray

An izakaya is a Japanese drinking establishment that also serves food. While Tokkuri in Cammeray boasts an impressive drinks list, with over 40 sakes on their menu, their selection of food is just as notable. This local izakaya has been around for a few years now, and I love the sleek, dark interior which is dominated by the bar and open kitchen, with colourful patterned futon mattresses stacked on long benches for seating. One of my favourite dishes is the kingfish jalapeno, which really packs a chilli punch that is matched perfectly with the coolness of the kingfish and cirtus yuzu.

Kingfish Jalapeno – fresh kingfish with jalapeno, coriander and yuzu-soy

The sashimi platter arrives looking fresh and colourful. I only tried the tuna, which had a lovely smooth texture that almost melted in my mouth. From what the rest of my family said, the calamari was a bit chewy, but there were no complaints about any of the other  sashimi pieces.

Sashimi Large – 18 pieces of assorted sashimi with 8 types of fish, including tuna, salmon, kingfish, scallop and snapper

While not very traditional, I really enjoy trying different varieties of sushi rolls and there’s a great selection at Tokkuri. The spicy scallop roll is one that I’ve tried before and I’ve never been disappointed. The crisp tempura flakes, the perfectly seared scallops and the fiery mayonnaise make this roll a definite favourite.

Spicy Scallop Roll – avocado, crab mix, cucumber, tamago and spicy mayonnaise, topped with seared scallops, spicy mayonnaise and tempura flakes

The popcorn tempura prawn was simultaneously crispy, sweet and spicy, with the light, sticky batter encasing succulent chunks of prawns and the wasabi aioli adding a touch of heat.

Popcorn Tempura Prawns – tempura Crystal Bay prawns with wasabi aioli

The miso citrus mushrooms were served in a soup-like sauce that according to my sister, was “so delicious that she wished the sauce was a soup so that she could drink it all”. The intensely strong mushroom and miso flavours danced on your palate, with the hint of citrus drifting lazily through the richer elements.

Miso Citrus Mushrooms – 3 kinds of mushrooms sauteed with miso citrus butter

The first miso cod we received was not baked to perfection and did not have the silky, flaky texture that this fish is renowned for. As the dish was rather small for 8 people to share, we ended up ordering another and I’m glad we did, because the second piece of miso cod was flawless.

Miso Cod – fresh cod marinated in saikyo miso

True to its name, the crispy pork belly was indeed very crispy, and the meat was tender and not overly fatty.

Crispy Pork Belly – slow cooked pork belly seared with chilli bean sauce and a balsamic reduction

Still peckish at the end of our meal, we finished off with tasty scallops baked in a creamy sauce in their shells. Reminiscent of grilled cheese, the sauce was lightly browned on top and was so delicious that I scraped every last drop of it from the shell.

Scallop Dynamite – miso cream pan seared scallops with prawns and asparagus

TL;DR:

• A local Japanese favourite, with a large variety of seriously tasty food and sake. Definitely try the many different sushi rolls!

Tokkuri Sake Wine Bar
Shop 16, Stockland Cammeray
450 Miller Street
Cammeray NSW 2062
T: (02) 9922 2288
W: Tokkuri Sake Wine Bar