COYA Sydney

If I could give this place 4.5 stars I would, but I've rounded up to 5.

We had the 6 course taster menu which was great value and enjoyable overall. We founded that the first 3 courses were fantastic, but the second half just didn't hit the spot regarding flavour.

The prawn starter dish was genuinely incredible - I could have eaten like three plates of it! The fish main was delicious and so was the tomato starter.

The 'slow cooked' lamb was quite dry and the lemon chicken didn't have a lot of flavour. The most disappointing dish was the dessert. I was expecting the bread pudding but got the chocolate torte, which was fine but nothing special.

The oddest bit was the small, branded bar of chocolate that you get with the menu. It was incredibly cheap chocolate and kind of spoiled the ending of our meal.

Small restaurant, but in a cosy way, and the staff were super friendly. They also catered well for gluten free.

I would absolutely recommend though, despite the few minor details

I can’t believe how underrated this restaurant is. Every single course was delicious, balanced, and textural. The food here is better than some of the most famous fine dining restaurants in Sydney.

My group got the 6 course vegan menu (I am not vegan) and I was blown away by how rich the flavors were. Vegan fine dining often falls flat on flavor, balance or technique, but not at Coya. I love umami flavors and I found it impressive that each dish featured some sort of umami component.

The dinner started with a refreshing tomato dish that somehow still managed to deliver depth of flavor despite being so light. Topped with lime and pomegranate caviar, it was visually stunning! The natural umami from the tomato made this dish one of my personal favorites.

The grilled eggplant was crispy on the edges and silky smooth inside and the tamarind sauce next to the avocado emulsion next to the tahini was reminiscent of Japanese okonomiyaki.

The cauliflower was the best cauliflower I’ve ever had - not greasy, but still crispy on the edges and fork tender inside. The hummus was outstanding with it.

The potato mille feuille was what we had been looking forward to. It was technically perfect and the chili emulsion had a great kick that blended well with the sweetness of the tamarind sauce it was served upon.

The black rice and mushroom dish was akin to a risotto. Creamy, bold in flavor, garnished with pickled golden beetroot that cut through the richness with some much-needed acidity. Another standout for my group of 5.

My favorite dish was the dessert, which is an amazing feat as I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. After a rich dinner, the tartness of the rhubarb was exactly what I needed. The raspberry sorbet added just enough sugar to balance it out and the crunchy granola was so satisfying.

Overall, it was simply fantastic and I never once felt like I was missing out because my group ordered the vegan menu. I would come back in a heartbeat and am telling all my friends to check out this hidden gem.

Thank you chef! See you next time!

Get in while you can. This place is destined to be booked out months in advance. The degustation is amazing. Well designed, an interesting and exciting array of flavours and contrasts, with a few pleasant surprises. The chef Ash is a master of his craft and Kit oversees the dining experience with attentive yet relaxed service that makes you feel at home. A top tier dining experience. We look forward to coming back and will be telling all our friends.

This is a modern Australian restaurant that offers beautifully presented delicious dishes with a Middle Eastern twist and complex flavour profile. Highly recommended.

Please note that the restaurant is quite small and echoey inside, so it's easy for it to get a bit noisy.

Went with some friends for a quarterly wine dinner.

The greeting/welcome was incredibly warm.

The presentation of the food is quite stunning - so delicate and pretty.

The tastes are fresh and bursting with unusual flavours. Gentle use of spices.

Fabulous evening with our hosts Kit and chef Ashraf. Top class food presentation and service. A uniquely Aussie blend of middle eastern herbs and spices made for an exciting and delicious food experience. Highly recommended.

Chef Saleh has created an amazing experience for foodies that is truly world-class. The flavours and techniques are a fusion of East and West with a refinement that you'd usually only see in the world's best restaurants. Can't recommend this experience highly enough! Bravo to Chef, Kit and the whole team at Coya! Thanks for hosting us on this memorable food journey.

The food is really beautiful here. The fish croquettes are just amazing. Dish after dish was well executed and a delight for the senses.

We had a unique experience tasting a traditional middle eastern barbecue feast presented in very contemporary fashion. The food was delicious. We especially enjoyed the dessert, which was a fusion of cheesecake and homemade baklava served with Turkish delight ice cream on the side.

Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented with nicely balanced flavours and combination of textures. Flavourful and creative options for vegetarians. The staff were attentive and pleasant. Entrance and reception area very understated. We weren’t sure we’d arrived at the correct place. Will definitely return.

Amazing degustation menu, great wines, super friendly staff. Highly recommend it for a gorgeous dinner!

I really enjoyed my night out here with my wife recently. The quality of the food was great and for the price it is really good value. We will definately be going back to this hidden little gem on the beaches . My only suggestion would be to include an option for matching wines with the degustation menu.

Delicious food, great service, a great local gem of a restaurant.

My friend and I enjoyed the 3 course degustation menu last Friday - great taste combinations, beautifully presented food, good wine list, cozy, comfortable and stylish decor and personalised service

Highly recommend, we had the 6 course vegan degustation menu. Brilliant.

Food was superb. Attention to detail, good value. A special night.
Try the prawns , you'll return just for those alone.
New premises are more intimate and pleasant. Cromer was closer, but we will make the trip to St Leonards willingly for food of this quality.

Incredibly high quality and tasty menu served in an intimate setting, conveniently located in St Leonards. We thoroughly enjoyed a tasting menu in a small group. Stunning presentation for all dishes, the favourite was the scallop and coconut dish, sensational flavour. Also, if you're the type who doesn't normally have dessert, definitely make an exception and order dessert at Coya, you won't be disappointed!

We had an amazing night at Coya and Kit was an awesome host. The detail put into the 9 course degustation was superb

Coya has fabulous and tasty food with a reasonable price for great portions. We ordered takeaway (due to COVID) and we couldn’t fault it. It’s beautifully presented and a feast for the eyes and stomach. Would highly recommend!! We are already plotting our return for a few sneaky dishes

Was a quiet Thursday evening, but the food was fantastic and will definitely be going again.