A quietly confident neighbourhood dining room where nostalgia meets technique.
Tucked along Campbell Street, Toei is the kind of Surry Hills restaurant you almost miss, until you don’t. Opened in early 2024, the 30-seat space has quickly built a reputation for its tightly edited menu of snacks that sit somewhere between memory and reinvention, shaped by modern Australian sensibilities and Asian culinary influence.
At the helm is chef-owner Kevin Jeon, whose decade-long career across Sydney’s most respected kitchens informs every plate. Having worked at the likes of Tetsuya’s, Bentley, Kid Kyoto, Ms G’s and Ezra as well as within the Kolture dining group, Jeon brings a rare fluency across fine dining, modern Asian, and European techniques.
The result is a menu built around refined “snack” style dishes that favour depth over excess. Think scallop tartlets that arrive delicately composed, ankimo parfait rich with umami, spanner crab crumpets that lean into nostalgia, and dry-aged duck that anchors the experience with considered weight. It’s a style of dining that feels both familiar and elevated, a modern Asian lens applied with fine-dining discipline, but without the formality.
The space itself reflects that philosophy. Minimalist and intimate, the 30-seat dining room is designed for closeness rather than spectacle.
Quick Bites
- What to Eat: Scallop tart, ankimo parfait, spanner crab crumpet, small plates, big intent
- What to Drink: Yuzu daiquiris, ume-infused cocktails or a crisp Adelaide Hills white
- When to Go: Early dinner midweek when Surry Hills hums but hasn’t peaked
- Cost: Snacks and small plates designed for sharing; broadly mid-range dining
- Where to Play After: Wander down Crown Street for a nightcap or slip into a nearby wine bar tucked off the main drag
- Vibe Check: Minimalist neighbourhood dining with fine-dining pedigree
- Book It: Reservations can be made here
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