Ora is the newest Japanese kid on the block, who opened their doors earlier this year. Set in a dimly lit and refined warehouse, you’ll find a few delicious similarities to the hatted Sushi E, as Ora is Sushi E’s executive chef Nobuyuki Ura’s modern project.
I dined here with a friend, and didn’t realise this was a boujee place when I made the reservation 😅. Our goal was to spend less than $100pp because this was supposed to be a casual Wednesday catch-up, and we succeeded, leaving just full for about $65 pp.
Apologies, pictures were taken hastily on my phone and no flash was used 😅
I dined here with a friend, and didn’t realise this was a boujee place when I made the reservation 😅. Our goal was to spend less than $100pp because this was supposed to be a casual Wednesday catch-up, and we succeeded, leaving just full for about $65 pp.
Apologies, pictures were taken hastily on my phone and no flash was used 😅
Food
IG reviews said we had to order the balmain bug san choi bao , a duplicate of the one at Sushi E. This pocket-sized bite was a succulent and sweet balmain bug tempura, placed on a refreshing lettuce leaf with avocado and earthy shiso leaves, and finished with a drizzle of spicy mayonnaise and tobiko (tiny, crunchy fish roe). It was a balanced mouthful of flavours and textures.
It was very delicious and well-executed but for $18 apiece, a few months will need to have passed for me to justify ordering this again. I think the portion of balmain bug and tobiko (the only items of value) were small for their price tag.
It was very delicious and well-executed but for $18 apiece, a few months will need to have passed for me to justify ordering this again. I think the portion of balmain bug and tobiko (the only items of value) were small for their price tag.
The next recommended dish was the kingfish sashimi for $29. These fresh and moderately-sized kingfish slices were caressed with hot garlic oil, ponzu sauce, ginger, chives, toasted sesame and crispy potato. I really enjoyed the dimensions of flavour in this one. The extra step of toasting the sesame and cooking the garlic in oil elevated the fish with an irresistible aroma. The sweet ponzu and ginger also turned up the umami in this bite.
I treated myself to a scampi nigiri for an additional $12. This was a creamy and delectable bite, with a nice grilled edge and a touch of wasabi. The sweetness of the crustacean shone through the pillowy rice bed. I really enjoyed it 🤤. By lightly torching the scampi, it gave it a tender fish-like texture rather than its usual raw jelly form that I know most people do not enjoy.
We shared the miso cod; a $49 Patagonian toothfish with sweet miso. This iconic method of marinating and grilling the tender white fish in a sweet miso glaze was first created by the famous Nobu and has since been recreated in many forms by other chefs.
The Ora edition was a 6cm by 6cm piece, with a sticky thick glazed coat and the softest flesh. It was heaven 😍. I thought it was a lot sweeter than the Nobu one. The only downside is the portion, which is slightly smaller than in other restaurants.
The Ora edition was a 6cm by 6cm piece, with a sticky thick glazed coat and the softest flesh. It was heaven 😍. I thought it was a lot sweeter than the Nobu one. The only downside is the portion, which is slightly smaller than in other restaurants.
Service
The service was great at the start however it felt like they slowed down a lot midway through our meal. The restaurant did start to fill up but they were not a full house that night. The tables were seated a tad too close to one another for my liking, considering it was such a large warehouse. There were a lot of empty spaces around the bar area.
Review
Overall a fancy spot for Japanese fusion dishes. Considering the price tag, heritage and quality ingredients, Ora is on par with the likes of Sokyo (LINK) and Saké (LINK).
I will probably not come back for a good year because there are a lot of places to try in Sydney but I’m glad I ticked this one off my list. I would recommend it to friends as a casual one-time or yearly spot (unless they’re rich then go whenever 😂).
Thanks for reading, happy eating!
I will probably not come back for a good year because there are a lot of places to try in Sydney but I’m glad I ticked this one off my list. I would recommend it to friends as a casual one-time or yearly spot (unless they’re rich then go whenever 😂).
Thanks for reading, happy eating!
