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Restaurant

Taruhachi Bento

5/83 Mount St, North Sydney NSW 2060, Australia

Recommended by 47 people

Updated

Find Taruhachi Bento

5/83 Mount St, North Sydney NSW 2060, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 2 8057 9219
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 1:45 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 1:45 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 1:45 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 1:45 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 1:45 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Taruhachi Bento

Tucked down a North Sydney alleyway, Taruhachi Bento packs the transportive spirit of a Tokyo izakaya into an intimate, 24-seat room. Retro collectibles line the walls—from Godzilla figurines to vintage pop-culture toys—setting a relaxed, nostalgic mood for counter dining and casual dinner dates. Patrons head here for comforting teishoku staples, ladling chicken karaage curry over fluffy rice or tucking into bowls of chewy udon noodles and crisp crab cream croquettes. Behind the counter, a serious back-bar quietly takes center stage, stocked with rare Japanese whiskies, warm carafes of sake, and classic mixed drinks. On weekend evenings, low ambient lighting and live jazz settle over the dining room.

  • Japanese Whisky & Sake Bar: A curated back-bar featuring a wide selection of rare Japanese whiskies, premium sake carafes, and balanced cocktails.
  • Traditional Comfort Cooking: Comforting classics from crispy chicken karaage curry rice and udon noodles to fresh sashimi sets and crab cream croquettes.
  • Retro Alleyway Charm: A compact 24-seat dining room adorned with retro figurines, featuring live jazz sets on weekend evenings.
RestaurantJapaneseRestaurant

What's On at Taruhachi Bento

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Distinctive Advantages

Why diners choose Taruhachi Bento in North Sydney

  • Authentic Comfort Food & Specialty Udon

    The kitchen serves authentic Japanese comfort dishes, including karaage curry udon with chewy hand-pulled noodles and katsu curry.

    serves up delicious authentic Japanese food

    Eva Rossi

  • Deep Japanese Whisky & Curated Sake Collection

    Patrons can explore a comprehensive spirits back-bar featuring curated Japanese whisky, specialty sake, and balanced house cocktails.

    The drink menu is impressive – from a wide selection of Japanese whisky and sake to expertly made cocktails.

    Arisa S

  • Transportive Nostalgia Straight to Japan

    Tucked into an alleyway, the intimate ~24-seat space feels like an immediate escape from Sydney into an authentic Japanese side street.

    The food is truly authentic, and the small but uniquely charming feel of this place transports me back home with every visit!

    yum nakano

  • Welcoming Family-Run Hospitality

    Warm, attentive family hospitality welcomes guests into a cozy sanctuary where staff share knowledgeable dish and drink recommendations.

    You’re greeted by a family who runs the restaurant and gives warm vibes.

    krishiv suresh

  • Intimate Setting for Dates & Catch-Ups

    The compact room and conversational knick-knacks provide an engaging setting for memorable date nights or intimate catch-ups.

    very cute place to catch up with friends or for a date night.

    gaogeous

  • Weekend Live Jazz in a Cozy Room

    On weekend evenings, live jazz performances elevate the atmospheric dining experience within the small-capacity room.

    Great to have live jazz, as an accompaniment to the great food.

    Andrew Walker

Authentic Japanese comfort bowls and curries favored by regular diners

  • Karaage Curry Udon

    I'm a huge fan of their karaage curry udon which has the most delicious chicken, curry sauce, and hand pulled noodles that are mildly chewy.

    Rhys Kelly

  • Chicken Katsu Curry

    We ordered a real spread including edamame, crab, okonomiyaki, chicken katsu curry and a wagyu beef soba and every single dish was sensational.

    Michael D

  • Chirashi Bowl

    I ordered the chirashi bowl and was genuinely surprised how huge and fresh the sashimi was.

    YJ Wong

  • Menchi Curry

    The Menchi curry is a must-order!

    Vân Phạm

Other favorites

Appetizers, curated sake, and sweet finishes to round out your izakaya visit

  • Fried Crab Cream Croquettes

    We chose to share some sensational fried crab cream croquettes ($12)

    Andrew Walker

  • Uonuma Sake

    a delicious, hot, 300ml bottle of Uonuma Sake ($37)

    Andrew Walker

  • Matcha Ice Cream

    Matcha ice cream is a must try.

    krishiv suresh

  • Zen Hot Cocktail

    We also love their Zen hot cocktail, the matcha was sooo good

    Hermione Le

Beyond the menu

Memorable details and thoughtful touches that elevate dining at Taruhachi Bento

  • Live Weekend Jazz

    Weekend evenings feature live jazz accompaniment, bringing an unexpected acoustic layer to dining inside the compact room.

  • Nostalgic Pop-Culture Decor

    The walls and counters are decorated with retro pop-culture collectibles and figures like Godzilla, Astroboy, and Star Wars, offering nostalgic conversation starters.

  • Tailored Whisky & Sake Curation

    The owner and team offer personalized guidance through their extensive Japanese whisky collection and provide curated bottle recommendations for sake pairings.

  • Directly Sourced Regional Ingredients

    Key ingredients like specialty noodles are imported straight from Japan to replicate genuine regional textures and flavours.

Before you head over

Practical tips on reservations, peak timing, and drink selections for your visit.

  • Book in advance for dinner

    With only about 24 seats, evening tables fill up very quickly and walk-ins risk finding no availability or strict time limits; secure a reservation in advance, especially on weekends.

  • Arrive early for lunch

    Popular lunch sets draw substantial crowds as soon as service starts at 12pm, so arrive right when doors open to guarantee a counter or dining table without a wait.

  • Explore the curated sake and whisky list

    Beyond the comforting food menu, the venue operates an extensive Japanese whisky and sake back-bar with knowledgeable recommendations from staff.

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