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Cities/Sydney/Izakaya/Gaku Robata Grill
Sydney · Izakaya · a la carte

Gaku Robata Grill

JapaneseRobatayakiCharcoal GrillWagyuOne HatJapanese-French

Gaku Robata Grill is a one-hatted Darlinghurst restaurant opened in 2018 by Japanese chef-owners Haru Inukai (from Nagano, trained at Tsuji Cooking School and Robuchon Tokyo) and Shimon Hanakura (culinary school-trained in Fukuoka). The robata grill drives a menu of Australian and Japanese wagyu, seasonal produce, and tapas-style portions designed to be shared over sake.

Price
¥¥¥
Area
Darlinghurst
Since
2018
Chef
Haru Inukai
Owner
Haru Inukai & Shimon Hanakura
Gaku Robata Grill — authentic japanese restaurant in Sydney, Darlinghurst
Plate № 16
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About
The word 'gaku' means enjoyment in Japanese, and it captures exactly what chef-owners Haru Inukai and Shimon Hanakura set out to build: a restaurant that makes both customers and kitchen team feel genuinely alive. Both chefs carry serious classical French credentials — Inukai trained under Chef Maurice Guillouet at Sydney's Nikko Hotel and spent time at Robuchon Tokyo; Hanakura earned his stripes at Altitude in the Shangri-La and Aria Brisbane — and that training shapes their robata work in ways that elevate it beyond the expected. Dry-aged Australian beef, domestic Wagyu, and imported Japanese Wagyu are the signatures, served in 100-gram portions tapas-style to allow methodical exploration. The Australia's Good Food Guide One Hat recognised the kitchen's discipline within a year of opening. A second venue, Izakaya Gaku at Five Dock, has since expanded the group.
Neighborhood & visiting

Gaku Robata Grill sits in Darlinghurst, one of Sydney's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused izakaya counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional izakaya restaurants often close between service periods.

Why it's on Washoku Guide
  • Haru Inukai trained at Tsuji Cooking School Osaka and Robuchon Tokyo before opening Gaku — a pedigree that permeates every charcoal-grilled course.
  • Australia's Good Food Guide One Hat awarded within the first year of opening, confirming the kitchen's calibre at the national level.
  • Tapas-format 100g wagyu portions allow deep exploration of Australian domestic and imported Japanese wagyu varieties at a single sitting.
  • The Japanese-French culinary fusion — both chefs are trained in classical French technique applied to Japanese robata — produces a flavour profile unique in Sydney.

A second venue, Izakaya Gaku, opened at Five Dock (Instagram: @izakaya_gaku_five_dock). The Darlinghurst original remains the flagship.

Links
Reserve →Website →Map →Tripadvisor →Instagram →

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Frequently asked

About Gaku Robata Grill

Is Gaku Robata Grill an authentic japanese restaurant in Sydney?
Yes — Gaku Robata Grill is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese in Sydney: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya format.
Where is Gaku Robata Grill located?
Gaku Robata Grill is located at 2/132 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Sydney, Australia in the Darlinghurst neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation at Gaku Robata Grill?
Gaku Robata Grill accepts reservations online. For an authentic izakaya experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
What is the price range at Gaku Robata Grill?
Gaku Robata Grill sits in the ¥¥¥ price range — typical for japanese of this format in Sydney.
Keep exploring
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