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Restaurant

RK San Japanese Restaurant

648 Bourke St, Redfern NSW 2016, Australia

Recommended by 31 people

Updated

Find RK San Japanese Restaurant

648 Bourke St, Redfern NSW 2016, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 2 8960 3131
HoursMonday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About RK San Japanese Restaurant

Redfern’s raw-fish crowd heads here for playful Japanese plates packed with technique—and zero pretension. Tables fill up for the signature pastry cigars, rolled crisp and stuffed with sashimi-grade tuna or salmon tartare before getting dusted in house-made ash. The kitchen backs up the trompe-l'œil flair with serious knife work, plating delicate maguro hana and charred-garlic kingfish carpaccio alongside rich wagyu maki. Between rounds, the chef-owner often steps out from behind the pass to walk diners through the tasting menu or pour a clean glass of junmai sake.

  • Signature Tartare Cigars: Thin pastry rolled like cigars, stuffed with fresh tuna or salmon tartare and dusted with house-made sesame ash.
  • Tableside Chef Service: The chef-owner frequently visits tables to introduce courses and guide guests through multi-course tasting menus.
  • Raw Bar & Robata Classics: Chilled tuna blossoms, kingfish collar, and seared carpaccio dressed with charred garlic and chili.
RestaurantJapaneseRestaurant

What's On at RK San Japanese Restaurant

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Dining Advantages at RK San

Why diners choose RK San for contemporary Japanese dining in Redfern

  • Inventive Tartare Pastry Cigars

    Guests are served signature crispy pastry shells rolled in the form of cigars, stuffed with fresh sashimi-grade salmon or tuna tartare and finished with edible house-made ash.

    The standout dish was their signature cigar-shaped crispy pastry filled with sashimi-grade salmon tartare and house-made ash—such a unique concept, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious.

    Tricia Vermuyten

  • Contemporary Fusion in an Unpretentious Setting

    The kitchen balances contemporary innovation with refined execution across dishes like kingfish carpaccio, wagyu maki, and fresh sashimi plates.

    Delicious contemporary Japanese food, lovely presentation, and a really nice vibe. The staff were friendly and everything felt polished without being pretentious.

    Zandro & Deborah

  • Personal Chef-Owner Hospitality

    The chef and owner frequently serves tables directly, presenting multi-course creations and personally walking diners through each component of their meal.

    The owner is incredibly warm and welcoming, and took the time to walk us through his creations, which made the whole experience even more special

    Will Capri-Chandler

  • Warm and Welcoming Neighbourhood Feel

    Diners consistently encounter a welcoming neighbourhood sanctuary where genuine warmth and kitchen passion turn unfamiliar dishes into a delightful visit.

    The gentleman who served us, dressed in a chef’s uniform and clearly the owne, Tamang, was incredibly polite, attentive and helpful.

    John Heng

  • Intimate Tasting Menus for Date Nights

    Couples and date-night diners can share structured multi-course degustations complete with curated sake and drink pairings in an intimate dining room.

    The dishes were not only imaginative and exquisitely presented but also tasted amazing and over seven courses, we were very satisfied and full! The service was outstanding and the ambiance at the restaurant was intimate and lovely, we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

    Roland Arvidssen

  • Approachable Menus for Groups and Dietary Needs

    Structured set menus and accommodating floor service make the dining room a reliable option for introducing friends, families, or newcomers to Japanese dining.

    They catered so well to our dietary requirement and every bit of food was delicious and flavourful.

    Jess Matos

Signature contemporary Japanese creations and customer favourites

  • Salmon Cigar

    The standout dish was their signature cigar-shaped crispy pastry filled with sashimi-grade salmon tartare and house-made ash—such a unique concept, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious.

    Tricia Vermuyten

  • Tuna Cigar

    The tuna cigar was fantastic, liked this better than the salmon.

    Kristina Esteban

  • Wagyu Maki

    Tuna cigar and Wagyu maki were our favorite.

    Maycia Hong

  • Kingfish Carpaccio

    The Kingfish Carpaccio was another standout. The kingfish was fresh, with the charred garlic dressing, chilli and micro coriander giving it a nice balance without overpowering the fish.

    Effendy Chang

Other favorites

Complementary appetizers, snacks, and house drinks to accompany your meal

  • Red Blossom

    The Red Blossom was one of my favourite drinks of the night. It’s a refreshing house mocktail and a great option if you want something fruity and easy to drink.

    Effendy Chang

  • Edamame

    We start with the edamame... wonderful. The savory taste and comforting warmth make them some of the best I’ve ever had.

    patrizio mazzariello

  • Corn Ribs

    Next up: corn ribs. Maybe it’s because I’d never had them before, but they were a total delight; crunchy, lightly savory, with a clean and enveloping corn flavor.

    patrizio mazzariello

  • Popcorn Prawn Tempura

    The Popcorn Prawn Tempura, however, was a completely different story—really tasty, satisfying and absolutely worth every penny.

    Effendy Chang

Beyond the menu

Memorable hospitality details that elevate contemporary dining at RK San.

  • Personal Chef-Owner Tableside Engagement

    The owner and chef regularly steps out from the kitchen in uniform to greet guests, deliver dishes directly, and walk diners through the menu creations.

  • Celebratory Birthday Gestures

    The venue marks special milestones by offering thoughtful touches such as complimentary birthday dessert for celebrating diners.

  • Complimentary Welcome Touches

    Guests seated for tasting experiences are welcomed with thoughtful complimentary arrivals, including welcome entrees and arrival beverages.

  • Attentive Dietary Care During Tastings

    The kitchen attentive accommodates dietary needs throughout full tasting menus so Japanese cuisine newcomers and diverse diners can dine with ease.

Before you head over

Helpful advice for planning your meal and ordering at RK San.

  • Start with the Signature Cigar

    Order the signature pastry cigar filled with sashimi-grade tuna or salmon tartare and edible ash, widely noted across visits as an unmissable highlight.

  • Consider the Chef's Tasting Menu

    Choose the multi-course tasting or degustation menu if you want the chef to guide you through house creations and accommodate dietary needs seamlessly.

  • Reserve Ahead for Quiet Indoor Seating

    With limited indoor tables and street noise outside near Cleveland Street, reserve an indoor table or ask for the rear seating area in advance.

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