I was never a fan of Hello Kitty growing up (it was too pink and girly for me) but decided to check out the hype around the Hello Kitty Cafe, recently opened at the Chatswood Interchange. I was intrigued to see what would be on the menu, especially as I had heard the burgers were created by the team at Chur Burger. To my surprise, it wasn't overly 'cute' and pink and the theme was quite understated. The restaurant is quite small with a selection of booths and seats at the counter.
The food was very much what you expect at an American diner: waffles, fries and milkshakes amongst the menu items, but with an Asian twist (e.g. Kimchi slaw and miso mayo).
I don't see any connection between lamb ribs and Hello Kitty but ... it doesn't really matter as these were amazing! The ribs were melt in your mouth tender and generously laced with a sweet sticky soy sauce and jalapeños. The dash of lime just topped it off.
The sweet potato fries were not as crunchy as I would have liked but the miso mayo was quite addictive - a delicious mix of savoury and sweet.
We agonized over which burger to pick and eventually settled for the Maple Burger which came on a delicious brioche bun. Overall it was a good burger without being phenomenal. I did like the inclusion of a thick slice of maple glazed bacon in between the pulled pork and slaw.
The theme was a bit lacking for a novelty restaurant but I will definitely be back for another serve of the lamb ribs and to try one of their interesting milkshake concoctions.
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After my delicious meal at Sokyo at The Star, I was keen to try out head chef Chase Kojima's Sokyo Ramen pop-up. With a neon sign and posters of Japanese culture covering up the wall, it was hard to miss.
There are four styles of ramen on offer, including a cold version for the hot summer weather. We opted to start with the Umami tonkotsu 2.0 Ramen. I liked the use of the pork cheek chashu rather than the pork belly commonly found in other bowls of ramen. The cheek was very tender and juicy, and the soft boiled egg added an extra creaminess to the dish.
The Yuzu Shio Ramen was unlike any bowls of ramen I had eaten before. It was incredibly light and refreshing - the broth was very easy to drink and had an element of zestiness that you don't usually find with ramen. It smelt wonderfully fragrant too!
We were here for the ramen but couldn't resist a serving of Fried Chicken. And a wise decision that was - the fried chicken were a crispy golden colour with just the right amount of crispy batter and tender meat. It was accompanied by a spicy mayo and a fresh salad with yuzu dressing - well worth the $9.
If you are a fan of ramen, get down to Sokyo Ramen before the pop up is no longer! As the hashtag on the seaweed says, #noramennolife.
All things green tea flavoured are celebrated at One Tea Lounge on York Street in the city. Owner David Yip is responsible for bringing the ramen burger to Sydney a couple of years ago and here, he has opened an Asian fusion restaurant with a hint of the theatrics.
My friend and I started with the Tea smoked octopus with avocado. It came to our table with a cloche over the top, surrounded by a mysterious white fog. Once it dissipated, we dug into the dish and it was one of my favourites of the night with a great intensity of flavours. The creaminess of the avocado went really well with the smokey, tender cubes of octopus.
The popcorn curry chicken had a good crispy coating and were the perfect snacks to go with our drinks. The curry powder was not spicy at all, more like a Japanese style which I enjoy.
The Salmon Tartare came in a glass served on a bed of dry ice which kept the dish very cool. The fish was very fresh and went well with the avocado, cucumber and tobiko.
With the sliders, we had the option to mix and match the bun and filling. We had the Ramen Burger with the wagyu beef - the patty was juicy and the ramen burger was crunchy enough. The Rice Burger lacked flavour and the use of Matcha Boager, whilst tasty, didn't really wow me. I still prefer a good quality brioche bun any day.
Onto baorgers of a different kind - Ice Cream Baogers! We opted for the Green Tea and Black Sesame varieties (sadly they were out of the lychee flavour). Both the ice creams had excellent rich flavours and the boagers reminded me of having a deep fried ice cream. Sadly, I was a little too full to fully appreciate it.
One Tea Lounge is definitely worth a visit. The way they incorporate matcha is quite creative and I love the theatre of some of the dishes as well. Be sure to try their cocktails too, which also heavily features green tea!
@ restaurant is one of several Japanese restaurants situated on the busy Pacific Highway in Crows Nest. The cosy eatery was full on the Saturday night we visited. We started with the Beef tataki which was beautifully seared. The sprinkling of the fried onion on top added a nice crunch and the ponzu dressing tied the dish together.
The agedashi tofu is a tried and tested favourite and @ Restaurant's version was no different- I especially loved the flavoursome bonito stock.
The sashimi mix included a selection of salmon, tuna, kingfish and snapper. The servings were quite generous and it was evident the fish was very fresh.
The Wagyu potato nest was definitely the highlight of the meal. Hidden underneath the best of thinly sliced potato chips were bite sized wagyu beef. The chips, seasoned generrously with salt and seaweed, were super crispy and highly addictive. The cubes of wagyu beef were very tender with just the right amount of marbling.
@ Restaurant has been added to my list of neighbourhood gems, offering quality Japanese cuisine at reasonable prices. Definitely one to come back to.
Chanoma is a Japanese cafe in Regent Place, also home to Aqua S, Chef's Gallery and Izakaya Yebisu. Its menu consist of a selection of Japanese hot dogs and all things green tea flavoured.
We ordered the special lunch offer available to Washoku Lovers members - it comprised of one Chanoma Dog (a Japanese Hot Dog), chicken nuggets and either a iced matcha/ grapefruit juice. The Japanese Hot Dog came with a Kransky sausage and a curry flavoured cabbage & salsa minced meat sauce. The meat on meat combo somehow works and the curried mince sauce was delicious but a tad salty. The Matcha Latte had a strong green tea flavour without being too overpowering or sweet. It went well with the hot dog and nuggets. I was also keen to try the grapefruit juice, which was served in the fruit itself. I learnt that the fruit is juiced inside its skin using a Cajyutta, a high tech fruit drill. The grapefruit juice was tangy and refreshing, great for a summer's day.
Chanoma Cafe is a great alternative to your standard fast food fare in the city. I'm keen to try out some of their other green tea flavoured desserts.
I have great memories of eating my way through the Japanese city of Osaka a few years back so was eager to dine at Osaka Bar, which is headed up by Chef Kazu, ex-head chef of Masuya. It is nestled on Llankelly Avenue in Potts Point, one of the new dining hubs in the city with indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is a mixture of Osaka specialties, other traditional Japanese dishes and more Western/ fusion offerings.
But first, drinks! Seeing all the sake bottles lined up in the restaurant, my bf and I decided some sake is in order. Not knowing too much about the many variants of sake, we left it up to the restaurant to select one for us to try. We were invited to pick our own sake cup which was a nice touch.
We started with the takoyaki balls, an Osaka street food specialty. The balls were plump with a gooey centre and I loved the fact I could see actal chunky pieces of octopus inside.
The Popcorn prawns were a great snack, crispy on the outside and was accompanied with two tasty sauces: a garlic mayo and a spicy tomato sauce.
Okonomiyaki is another specialty originating from Osaka so we were definitely eager to try it. We opted for the pork filling and mixed with the cabbage and egg, was utterly delicious. It came wrapped with prosctuitto which was a bonus.
The confit duck is Chef Kazu's signature dish and it's easy to see why. The slices of duck were cooked at 65 degrees, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. The miso and honey mustard melded with the blueberry sauce was a genius combination. The flavours worked really well together and this was one of our favourite dishes of the night.
Next was the Slow cooked beef tendon which had a lovely gelatinous texture. The flavour of the sweet miso broth was spot on and we could easily ate another couple of skewers.
The grilled wagyu was the chef's recommendation and again, he was right on the money. The wagyu rump, cooked medium rare was super succulent and it came with a delicious peppery steak sauce and creamy cod roe mashed potato.
Since it was a rather cold night, we ordered the Osaka-style oden, a Japanese style hot pot. It's a very homely dish with a soy and mirin based broth, containing fish cake, Konnyaku (yam cake), hard boiled egg and our favourite beef tendon.
If you love deep fried food, then this is the right place to visit as it serves a wide selection of Kushi Katsu skewers - which literally translates to deep fried skewers. Even better if you a member of Washoku Lovers (a promoter of authentic Japanese restaurants), as they offer you two complimentary skewers when you dine. We opted for the salmon belly and the eggplant varieties. The coating of bread crumbs results in them being super crunchy.
I love the tapas style menu which is perfect for sharing. The food is great value for money and it's great to see a restaurant showcasing the food of Osaka.
Sashimiso dined as a guest of Osaka Bar. All opinions are my own.
Toriciya is a restaurant I have been recommended to try by multiple friends and it most certainly did not disappoint. The restaurant was located in an unassuming, suburban street in Cammeray but once inside, it felt like we had dropped into an izakaya bar in bustling Tokyo. The narrow dining room had a certain warmth to it and I loved how the walls were adorned with different designs of sake bottles and cups.
We started with the Tasmanian sea urchin which is not something you can find in too many restaurants in Sydney. I love its creamy texture and served with the sea salt flakes, really brought out the fresh taste of the sea urchin.
The sashimi was incredibly fresh and the knifework was precise, and I loved the striking presentation.
The Wagyu beef tataki was amazingly tender, and the dressing had a nice zing to it, really waking up our tastebuds. The generous discs of truffles on the dish didn't hurt either!
The photo of the Savoy Cabbage doesn't do this dish justice. Whilst it looks like an ordinary plate of vegies, it was an amazingly complex dish and the aroma of the truffles was intoxicating. Heaped with saffron, the cabbage was soft but still had some crunch and the citrusy soy dressing was to die for.
The Wagyu beef steak was wonderfully tender and the miso paste was a nice accompaniment to the dish.
Yakitori skewers is one of their specialties and we opted for the Pork belly variety. Freshly grilled with a slightly charred flavour, the pork belly had just the right amount of fat and was very succulent.
The Saikyo miso Gem fish fillet was on the specials menu and it was sublime. It reminded me of the famed miso cod dish, with its melt in the mouth flaky flesh and filled with miso flavour.
For dessert, we tried the Green tea creme brulee with roasted green tea ice cream. I love this variant to the standard green ice cream, but with a more toasty flavour. The green tea brulee had a nice crisp topping and a rich flavour, a good way to end a truly delicious meal.
I read that Toriciya has been opened for 24 years, can't believe it took me so long to try it out! The food was exceptional throughout and service was friendly and attentive. I will definitely be back to experience the rest of the menu.
I was on the lookout for a new Japanese restaurant to try but being Monday night, the options were rather limited. A quick scour of the internet led me to Sakana-Ya in Crows Nest, nestled in the raft of restaurants along Pacific Highway. The interiors are simple and unassuming, and on the night we dined, we were the only non-Japanese customers which is always a good sign when looking for authentic fare. The menu was very quite large for a Japanese restaurant, with the specials alone being two pages long! The Beef tongue was thinly sliced and perfectly cooked, and just completely melts in the mouth. The Japanese style omelette with scallop was very smooth with a distinct sweetness. There were chunky pieces of scallops interspersed within it, making for an excellent, light dish. The Grilled black cod was one of the best that I've had, it was incredibly smooth and almost buttery. The flesh was flakey and had a lovely miso flavour that I just wanted more and more of. The Deep fried baby purple eggplants comes dressed with three kinds of miso sauce. There were white miso, red miso and one that I couldn't remember. They were tasty, but a little bit too salty for my liking. I did love the soft and gooey texture. I love salmon belly in sashimi form, and discovered they are just as tasty when simmered in a sweet soy and sake broth. The salmon was incredibly tender and the flavour of the broth was perfect. Sakana-Ya is definitely a neighbourhood gem. Some of the fresh seafood dishes seemed a bit on the pricey side but there were lots of well-priced dishes to choose from. The service was friendly and I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.
Tucked away inside The Star is the acclaimed Japanese restaurant, Sokyo, helmed by Chase Kojima. Unlike many fine dining restaurants, it does not offer a degustation...which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as we get to pick exactly what we would like to try tonight.
Our first course was the Scallop ceviche, topped with crispy potato, micro herbs and a tomato medley. The dish was super light and fresh, a perfect way to start the evening. The thinly sliced scallops went really well with the yuzu dressing, and the crispy potato adds some good texture and flavour to the dish.
Salmon belly is one of my favourite cuts of sashimi and I was not dissappointed. Not only did it look amazing on the plate, it was gloriously fatty and tastes ridiculously good. We could definitely have done with another plate of that!
The Short rib beef skewers grilled on a robata grill just utterly delicious and completely melts in the mouth. I love the eschallots wedged in between the wagyu which gave a dose of crunch and sweetness.
The Kurobuta Pork Belly skewers were just as mouth watering. The combination of the rich and tender pork belly and the juicy daikon is simply divine.
We rounded out the savoury dishes of the night with the Spicy tuna sushi roll. It was very tasty and the quality of the fish is undeniably good, but it didn't have the wow factor of the other dishes.
Onto dessert and Goma street is perfection on a plate. The waitress advised we should smash down the tower, so we can mix in all the textures and flavours together. It was almost too pretty to touch but we did smash it down and I loved all the elements. There were discs of dark chocolate layered with a sesame filling, topped with black sesame crumble. It paired really well with the velvelty smooth black sesame ice cream and caramelised white chocolate crumb. Definitely one of the best desserts I have had.
Our second dessert was the Tofu cheesecake with Thyme sugar and strawberry consomme. It reminded me of the tofu pudding (tofu-fa) you find at yumcha restaurants. The cheesecake was light and fluffy, though I did wish there was a little more strawberry consomme.
Sokyo is now one of my fave restaurants in Sydney, a sophisticated dining space, perfect to celebrate a special occasion. Whilst it is somewhat pricey, we left with very full stomachs, spending less than what you would normally for a degustation at a fine dining restaurant. I would love to go back and maybe nab a seat at the sushi bar to see the chefs in their element.
Hidden in the basement below The Bridge Room lies Tokonoma, an offshoot of Toko in Surry Hills. The interior showcase elements of the heritage building and has a lovely ambience, perfect for catching up with friends or a romantic date.
Our group of four started with the Nigirizushi omasake which includes a daily selection of seasonal fish. The sashimi glistened under the light, a sure sign it is super fresh.
Next was the Spicy tuna maki with sriracha mayo. The sushi roll had a crispy outside which added a nice textural element. The tuna was again very fresh and the mayo added just the right amount of heat. I just wished there were more pieces!
The Spicy fried tofu came with a dollop of avocado salsa. The texture and presentation were great, but it lacked some punchy flavours.
The Popcorn shrimp with shichimi mayonnaise was delicious. The batter was super crispy and the bite sized prawns went really well with the dipping sauce.
One of my all time favourite dishes is the Miso cod from Nobu, and Tokonoma's version is definitely up there. The Black cod has the most incredible texture and melts in our mouths immediately. The miso glaze has just the right amount of saltiness and sweetness and we savoured every bite.
Just as mouth watering was the Blackmore wagyu brisket with herb salt and wasabi mayo. The brisket was cooked amazingly well, so tender and flavoursome. The accompaniments of the salt and mayo definitely enhanced the dish.
My three dining companions and I initially thought we should order a few different desserts to try, but seeing the decadent chocolate fondant consumed at other tables, we settled for one chocolate fondant each! And it was one of the best chocolate fondant I have ever tasted! The fondant was gooey on the inside and had such intense chocolate flavours. The salted sesame ice cream was delicious and much needed to offset some of the richness of the fondant.
The dishes/ servings could have been a bit bigger given the price tag attached, but the quality of the food is top notch. Good to have another modern Japanese restaurant in the CBD!
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