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Restaurant

Nom Japanese

166 Riley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia

Recommended by 71 people

Updated

Find Nom Japanese

166 Riley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 481 481 562
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 5:30 – 9:45 PM Thursday: 5:30 – 9:45 PM Friday: 5:30 – 9:45 PM Saturday: 5:30 – 9:45 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Nom Japanese

Nom Japanese brings back-alley Tokyo tavern dining straight to Darlinghurst. Run by an older couple with a single-cook kitchen, this pint-sized izakaya packs wall-to-wall intimacy across a handful of tables and three walk-in counter stools. Guests settle in for multi-round grazing—sharing plates of crisp kaki fry, fluffy tamago, and sizzling ox tongue alongside tender tempura eel and mentaiko potato salad. Staff guide diners through an extensive lineup of sake and shochu, letting guests pick their own ceramic cups for warm tokkuri carafes.

  • Intimate Family-Run Counter: Run by an older couple with a compact kitchen, serving just a handful of reserved tables and three counter stools.
  • Curated Sake Experience: Generous selections of sake and shochu served with guest-selected cups for warm carafes.
  • Traditional Sharing Plates: Classic grazing dishes including kaki fry, fluffy tamago, ox tongue, and fresh mackerel sashimi.
RestaurantJapaneseRestaurant

What's On at Nom Japanese

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Nom Japanese

Why guests choose this intimate Darlinghurst izakaya for authentic small plates and curated sake.

  • Homestyle Cooking by an Older Couple

    A husband-and-wife team prepares classic izakaya dishes from a compact open kitchen, delivering meticulous homestyle plates across an intimate room of only several tables.

    very cosy place that takes you back to Japan back streets, beautifully cooked Izakaya by an older couple/owner with great sake options

    H 06

  • Atmosphere Transporting You to Japanese Backstreets

    Decorated with authentic wall menus and cozy tavern touches, the room transports guests straight to a hidden backstreet izakaya in Japan.

    entering this little restaurant and instantly feeling like you’ve been transported back to the streets of Japan

    Kain Harris

  • Warm Sake with Hand-Selected Cups

    Guests ordering warm sake are invited to hand-pick their own individual drinking cups from a curated collection alongside an extensive sake and shochu list.

    We tried their warm sake and even got to choose our own little cups to drink from, which was such a nice touch.

    Janina Eyer

  • Communal Multi-Round Grazing Dishes

    The traditional menu is built for multi-round grazing and pairing, letting groups sample a wide variety of authentic small plates and drinks together.

    The menu is designed for sharing, just like a traditional izakaya in Japan, and it's a great place to enjoy a variety of small dishes alongside a few drinks.

    Arisa

  • Intimate Seating in a Homey Setting

    Operating with limited seating and counter spots, the snug venue feels like stepping into someone's warm home, making advance reservations essential.

    Recommend booking in advance as the space is intimate, seats only a few but feels like you are in someone’s home.

    Remy Hii

  • Tucked-Away Gem for Pre-Show or Arrival Dining

    Conveniently tucked into Darlinghurst near Oxford Street, it serves as an ideal cozy destination for an arrival dinner or casual pre-show dining.

    found randomly as my friend and i needed a quick bite before a show, and now I’m booking to come back asap with more friends.

    Nessa

Authentic sharing plates and house favorites

  • Sashimi

    sashimi was very fresh

    Cindy Nguyen

  • Chicken Karaage

    The chicken Karaage was juicy and tender with just the right amount of seasoning.

    Bonnie Huang

  • Onigiri

    We especially loved the agadashi tofu, kaki fry (oysters) and the onigiri.

    Karl Chong

  • Dried Squid

    But my absolute favorite was the dried squid, which was cooked to perfection and served with a delicious side of mayo and a touch of spice.

    Bonnie Huang

Other favorites

Izakaya sides and specialty drinks to complement your meal

  • Potato Salad

    potato salad was perfectly seasoned

    Cindy Nguyen

  • Warm Sake

    We tried their warm sake and even got to choose our own little cups to drink from, which was such a nice touch.

    Janina Eyer

  • Agadashi Tofu

    We especially loved the agadashi tofu

    Karl Chong

  • Plum Sake

    highly recommend the Plum Sake, I don't usually drink sake but the plum sake was amazing.

    Hugo Brown

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to make a reservation before visiting?

Reservations are highly recommended due to the intimate space and limited seating. Tables typically require booking in advance, while only three counter seats are usually available for walk-ins.

How does ordering and food portions work?

Dishes are designed as small, authentic izakaya sharing plates meant to be enjoyed alongside drinks. Guests typically order in several rounds throughout the meal rather than treating it as a standard single-course dinner.

What sake options and drink experiences are offered?

Nom features an extensive selection of sake and shochu, with staff happy to provide style recommendations. If you order warm sake, you can even select your own individual drinking cup from their collection.

Are vegetarian options available?

Yes, the restaurant offers dedicated vegetarian options, including a veggie menu alongside dishes like agedashi tofu, pickled vegetables, and potato salad.

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