TenTo

Surry Hills is not shy of Japanese restaurants—but if you're looking for a casual lunch spot that serves up killer ramen, TenTo is it.

Tucked away in a Surry Hills backstreet, the courtyard cafe is casual and no-frills. But don’t let that fool you—this place is constantly packed.

For one, TenTo has an incredibly personal feel to it. Chef Ryoto Kumasaka is also a clay artist, so every cup of coffee comes in a handmade clay mug. Vibey music blares across the courtyard, too, removing any sense of stiffness. Plus, the staff are some of the chirpiest we've come across in a long while.

Secondly, the coffee here is excellent. It serves Seven Miles coffee and uses Shenkin milk blends to create that perfectly balanced cup of joe. If you're a straight-up kinda coffee drinker (read: black) then you can choose either the seasonal single origin, a cold brew, or a filter coffee. Those who’ve skipped the coffee addiction can opt for hot drinks like black sesame lattes, sticky chai, teas, and matcha.

Finally, the food. Lunchtime bites like the chicken karaage sando with Japanese yuzu pepper mayo and the roasted cauliflower salad are a must. Alternatively, those looking for a traditional meal can go for TenTo’s speciality: the salmon ochazuke topped with ikura, nimono mushrooms, and fresh salmon sashimi. And if it's a particularly cold day and you're craving a steaming hot bowl of noodles, then you can your ramen fix here, too. Think salmon or snapper ramen made with in-house Gyokai tonkotsu base as well as a 100% vegan ramen.

Image credit: TenTo