Ainoya

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Easily one of the best restaurants I have visited.

It's a small place and parking isn't easy, but once your there your greeted by friendly smiling staff who are attentive for your entire stay.

We ordered a small sashimi plate which left us licking our fingers, thinking we must have picked the best dish first. Then out came the Soft shell Karaage, which was so tasty we couldn't believe our luck!

Time for the main, Wagyu beef sukiyaki hot pot. I read reviews of this main and thought, I had to try it. There was so much flavor that I drank the soup. The beef was tender and the vegetables were crunchy.

I cannot recall a place where the service, food, and value were 10 out of 10. Cannot recommend this place highly enough.

Nov 25, 2011 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

Terrible service! Service was so slow when the place was not that busy. The waitresses ignored our requests for water and forgot our orders. The food was cold and just ordinary. We totally lost our appetite by the end. It was very embarrassing for us when we purposely brought our interstate guests to this restaurant based on the review. We will not come back again.

Oct 28, 2011 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

Having visited Ainoya for the 2nd time within a week, my partner and I have both concurred that this place delivers the best quality of food, decent value for money and excellent service. We ordered seared home made gyoza, seafood ceviche, slow cooked pork belly and diced wagyu steak during on our first trip. The gyoza seemed home-made, and was expertly wrapped in a thin egg pastry. It was lightly seared at the bottom and silky smooth on top, it was a prelude to even more enticing dishes to come.

The seafood ceviche was tossed with an abundance of fresh sashimi that in the end, we finished the salad before the fish! However, it was slightly a little too tangy and could do with less lemon juice. The highlights of the night would have to be their carnivorous selection of diced sizzling wagyu steak and pork belly. The pork belly in particular was so soft and tender that it literally melted in your mouth, lending further evidence that it was 'slow cooked'.

Our second trip was for lunch and had us completely sold and compelled us to put in a few good words for this hidden gem of a restaurant! For $45, we each had fresh sashimi (salmon, tuna and kingfish), prawn and veg tempura, expertly grilled salmon (it had that Japanese fishy aroma that was reminiscent of my previous travels over there), teriyaki chicken, gyoza, miso soup, and sake.

Wait ... they even were generous enough to let us sample their new menu, the mouth watering tuna tataki! The tataki was just incredible, from the lightly seared skin to the succulent fresh tuna flesh and amazing accompanying sauce. To top it off, the presentation was immaculate, fine dining at a bargain I say!

Would definitely be coming back (and as frequently as practicable) to this unpretentious, warm and authentic Japanese ryoutei soon!

Aug 13, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

I feel happy with most of dishes in ainoya. The inside of restaurant is very comfortable and waitpersons are so kind. The salad refresh me enough to order more food and the tataki illusion me I'm lion in africa chewing fresh cow after hunting. Don`t forget to enjoy a walk under bridge after meal.

Apr 21, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Presentation of the food is very good and service was excellent. I like the fact that it is not too noisy and you can sit Japanese style or Western style, whichever you prefer. A great place to catch up with family and friends. They stock a good range of authentic sake too that can be consumed hot or at room temperature. Very enjoyable meal.

Apr 05, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Came here on a busy friday evening without a booking and got seated right away.

Food: We ordered, Entrees: Edamame, Gyoza (was best I ever had eaten very fresh). Mains: Salmon slice with skin on served on a bed of soy sauce and greens and funghi mushrooms, Wagyu Beef (very tender) served with asparagus, broccoli and carrots, steamed rice on the sides and some tea.

The food was exceptionally fresh especially the salmon and presentation was to the T but thats what the japanese are known for.

Price: Yes on the pricey side, two entrees and two mains with tea and steamed rice for 2 people came to a total of $85, however, I will be returning due to the fact that it was fresh and cooked to perfection.

Oct 04, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  9      Value  9     

We often go here before a play at the nearby Ensemble Theatre. Very authentic delicious Japanese food. There are 3 traditional Japanese seating areas that add to the dining experience. I recommend you ask for one of them when you book (you'll need to be able to take your shoes off though, wear your best socks).

Jul 05, 2010 

3 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  2     

We are locals and eat Japanese food regularly. We visited Ainoya with friends that dine at Ainoya often and recommended the restaurant. We were very disappointed with the experience. Our friends that dine there often were also extremely disappointed and embarrassed as they had suggested the restaurant as being excellent.

We all had the mixed entree which was good, but not excellent. The sashimi was limited and not the best we have had. Our main concern was the main. We all had the wagyu fillet steak. First the meal arrived and when tasting the steak it was stone cold. We called the waitress and she took it away. There was quite a waiting time before we got our mains back. She mentioned that the dish was being remade so we understood.

When the beef was served again, the rice that had been left at the table was stone cold and no offer was given to replace it. The meat of the second serving was very rare we requested medium rare) but worse of all it was tough. Now Wagyu beef from all our experience has always been very tender. We all left half of our serves. Our meal was $170.00 which included $14.00 for corkage.

Needless to say it was a very mediocre meal, for a high price. As well as writing this review we intend calling the restaurant to let them know our views.

May 28, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  10     

As a local, I frequently eat at Ainoya. Its a great restaurant, my favourite in the area. And my 2nd favourite Japanese restaurant in Sydney (Favourite is Toko in Surry Hills). The food is always fresh, the service is very good. Plus BYO is a bonus. Favourite dishes, cannot go past the simple but very fresh salmon avocado maki. Also love the miso eggplant, the chicken karrage is not a healthy option but its the best I've had.

Fish is always fresh, the Salmon Teriyaki a great option, or a hot pot to share. They could, perhaps, change the specials from time to time (they have been the same for 18 months) so its not exactly seasonal, but everything is very delicious. Definitely recommend this one for either a couple or group of 4 - 8.

Jan 02, 2010 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

Great place, great food. Make sure you reserve a seat in the front area of the restaurant (japanese style seating area) as the back lacks atmosphere. Also, make sure you order the tofu salad as this is delicious, best in Sydney.

Dec 29, 2009