An authentic Japanese izakaya experience in the heart of Narrabeen
There’s a peaceful atmosphere, dimmed lights and calm chatter filling Sushi Izakaya Nara as I step inside from busy Pittwater Road, with staff kindly greeting us before we settle into a booth, ready for the meal ahead.
Run by Tomo, the restaurant is a traditional Japanese izakaya, meaning it serves a variety of Japanese snacks and dishes instead of focusing on a specific, singular cuisine.
Tomo, the chef and owner of Sushi Izakaya Nara
Tomo opened Izakaya Nara – named for the oak (nara) trees he liked in the area as well as for the play on words with Narrabeen – in 2017, after he noticed a lack of izakayas beyond Dee Why and into the Pittwater area.
“I used to work in one in Manly, named Waka. That izakaya restaurant was getting busier,” Tomo explained. “We live on the Northern Beaches, and we wanted to do something for the people living here. At that time, there were not many izakayas, so we decided to open one more.”
Prior to opening Izakaya Nara, Tomo had 15 years of experience working at Japanese restaurants, so all the dishes are made with care and mastery.
We start with a simple and delicious miso soup, followed by the kingfish carpaccio with yuzu sauce. The carpaccio is a perfect blend of seafood and citrus with a bite of spice, the roe adding some extra bursts of texture and flavour.
The scallops are some of the best I’ve ever tasted, marinated in miso butter sauce and cooked to perfect softness. Then there’s the triple citrus salmon nigiri – flavourful enough that no extra sauce is needed.
Away from the seafood, the wagyu beef roll’s tender meat wrapped around green onions let the juices seep into the meat for extra tastiness, adding a note of sweetness to the dish.
For a more traditional ‘main’ style dish, the miso marinated grilled salmon comes with similarly prepared vegetables and a side of rice to enjoy, and is perfect for something more complete and filling while still being a good size to share.
Tomo also has his personal favourite dish to recommend – the wagyu udon noodle.
We finish our meal feeling very taken care of by the attentive staff and look forward to returning for another fresh, delicious meal.
Sushi Izakaya Nara 1338 Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen sushiizakayanara.com
