Nakano Darling is about people and the good times that we share. This idea embodies the spirit of the Hatena Group (Chris, Tin and Mitomo) who bring passion and dedication to the table in Sydney, where authentic stylings of izakaya (informal bars) are brought to life with the heart and soul of Japanese hospitality. Nakano is a space where moments with friends are excited alongside delicious, house-crafted Japanese bar food and punctuated by a vibrant selection of drinks to cater to every taste.
The founding trio are a dynamic team - just shy of 8 years of hospitality experience, they’re a force to be reckoned with. Tin and Mitomo, who’ve been friends since they were kids, are the culinary masterminds behind Nakano Darling, which stemmed from the creation of Yakitori Yurippi. From its humble beginnings as Tin’s market stall, to a compact, buzzing shop front in North Sydney, Yakitori Yurippi now boasts a recently-opened 64 seater restaurant, remaining true to the art of perfecting one dish - yakitori, or chargrilled skewers. Complemented by Japanese whiskies and beers on tap, the 2015 incarnation of Yurippi had garnered the attention of Chris Wu, former owner of Popfrenzy records and soon-to-be marketing whiz of the Hatena clan. An irrefutable lover of good food and plentiful booze, Chris’ regular dining at Yurippi brought the trio to friendly acquaintances, where Chris expressed a keen interest in future business ventures with the pair.
Tin and Mitomo forgot to call Nakano’s PR star when they later opened a small Tachinomiya (Japanese standing bar) close to Yurippi. Tachninomi YP, established in a 30sqm vacant lot nearby, became a viable success for Tin and Mitomo, mirroring the compact, bustling energy characteristic of Japanese drinking districts, where Tachinomiya and Izakaya are lined up in tireless grids, lending nights to being lost in bar-hopping; drinking and grazing on house specialties in a festive haze. Naturally, when Chris discovered the new watering hole, he was quick to reiterate: “I want to be involved in all of this, I thought I said so!”.
Although accustomed to standing on opposite sides of the bar, Tin, Mitomo and Chris share a mutual love for Japanese drinking culture. The former share a mindset in reflection of Japanese hospitality; keep things simple; do one dish well - whether it be tempura, sushi, karaage or ramen, perfect it and be sure to always look after your customers. Yurippi focuses on yakitori while Tachinomi YP held its merits in whiskey highballs and beers on tap.
When a prime location for eating and drinking arose within a stone’s throw of Haymarket, the duo knew exactly who to call, and such marked the beginning of Nakano Darling, named nostalgically in appreciation of good times spent by Chris, Tin and Mitomo in Tokyo’s suburb of the same name. The izakaya is decorated in a nod to Tin and Mitomo’s homeland, featuring a tatami seating area, private rooms with Horigotatsu (dug out tables) and low tables where you sit on crates - Tokyo style.
At Nakano Darling, the Hatena crew focus on two main dishes: karaage (fried chicken), and gyoza (dumplings). “These two are dishes which both Aussies and Japanese people always enjoy,” according to Mitomo and Tin, so both are made in-house, from scratch to the best quality standard - a time consuming but worthwhile process. The resulting taste of these two izakaya favorites sets Nakano apart from the rest; accolades from Broadsheet, Concrete Playground and Urban List can vouch.
Grounded in the soul and spirit of Japanese hospitality where returning customers form the backbone of Izakaya culture, Nakano Darling welcomes a diverse clientele from its locality and far beyond. Whether it’s the quality of the food, the speed of the drink service or the rapport the team builds with each and every customer, Nakano begs visitors to return again and again.