Wasabi Bistro, Surry Hills

Recently, I just got this dinner voucher for Wasabi Bistro from my best girlfriend who know that I really love eating out and I've never been to this restaurant before which is a big plus..  Hence, I then straight away made a booking for one Saturday night.  Apparently, on Saturday for this set courses meal seems likely available at 7.30pm, but again I'm not too sure with any other day.

The restaurant has a quite large space... huge I'd say and the seat setting is so plain black and white colour dominant..  Very unlike any other Japanese restaurant, perhaps this is more influenced with the Western touch.  Once we seated, they showed us with the food list for tonight and basically it consists of 5 sharing dishes and one main meal for each of us and desserts.  We also get an option of either sake or wine.  Sake will do us as it will fit perfectly for Japanese cuisine, isn't it right?


Warm Sake



Sharing dishes (clockwise from top left): Agedashi Tofu, Fried Gyoza, Prawn Tempura, Spicy Sashimi Salad - for salad, they have few options to choose from

Agedashi tofu taste just like any others that we ever tried before, however with this, for me personally is a little bit too salty.  For those spicy salad, it was fresh and delicious with piquant chilli dressing. We also love that prawn tempura, 3 big pieces of them perfectly coated with light and crispy tempura batter.

Assorted Nigiri (6 pieces)

 

Main: Pork Katsu



Main: Salmon Teriyaki



Black Sesame Ice Cream and Green Tea Ice Cream

Well what can I say about the food!!!!!  It was far too average comparing to so many Japanese restaurants I ever experienced in Sydney.  For the flavourwise, ehmmm...  they were just alright, some were quite tasty and fresh though but nothing outstanding.  In fact, I'm quite a diner who is pretty easy to please and not too fussy when comes to food and trying new restaurant but their dish decorations and the very boring taste of the food got nothing to wow or surprise me.  Not only that, the way they set up the table was nothing but lack of imagination and push me to the edge of boredom and disappointment !!!

Honestly speaking when it says 'value of $160.60' is actually NOT ...  Because 5 of the dishes are for sharing and the main is generally smaller than the normal size but if you look at the actual cost from groupon or living social voucher, we only need to pay around $59 for 2 people... Yeah why not for some casual dining...  But anyway, I doubt whether to return here again.

Wasabi Bistro

Shop 6B-8, 417-431 Bourke Street

Surry Hills NSW 2010

Tel. 02 9357 2076

Zenya Noodle Bar, Eastwood

This is one of the most authentic and also my favourite Japanese restaurant in Sydney besides the Kura restaurant in the city  (I'm really looking forward to blog this place "Kura" so just bare with me a bit longer guys!).  By saying the word "authentic", I mean it's a truly Japanese restaurant with Japanese chef and most of the waiters are Japanese as well.  You know what I mean rite !!!!  Sometimes when they said Japanese restaurant, it could be run by Korean.  No offend  ... , but not for this particular restaurant.

Japanese Green Tea

 

Beef Tataki

Well seared paper thin slices of beef so the inside still pink and juicy served with sliced spring onion, shallot and hint of citrus from the Ponzu dressing.  One of my favorite dish here to start off.

Gyoza



Spicy Miso Ramen (Pork Soup) $12.80 or Set $15.80

The brilliant thing with their ramen, I'd noticed is actually comes from the broth, its amazingly thick, full of flavour and so addictive, also their roast pork is tender to the max and merely melt in my mouth.  A good ramen would not be completed without a-must-have elements to accompany the already-yummy soup, and they are bean sprout, dried mushroom, nori sheet and spring onions as they just perfectly complimented the dish.

For any full size ramen ordered, you can add $3 for 3 pieces of gyoza or takoyaki.  What a great deal indeed !!

Dragon Roll $9.50

Extremely fresh made-to-order sushi roll with a BIG chunk of eel, avocado, and cucumber blanketed with the nori sheet and rice.
  

Ton Katsu Curry $14.80

Seriously, we are a true fan of this dish and Zenya never ever fail me on this !!  The curry dish was enormous, with huge pieces of pork katsu served on the bed of Japanese steamed rice then the mild and flavoursome curry sauce generously flooded on top.  The cutlet coated with breadcrumbs then deep fried to perfect golden brown to ensure its crispy yet tender in the inside.  I always like the Japanese rice, they are fluffy and not too dry.  Its well paired together with the fried stuff.  You just simply can't separate them.

Kogashi Ninniku Ramen $11.80, extra chilli 50c ( According to me, this is by far the best ramen in town)

I LOVE spicy food especially on hot ramen soup like this and in here I can actually add as much chilli as I please  (50 cents per pot though).  This bowl of ramen was extremely huge and those slightly burnt granulated garlic not only give them more aromatic and fragrant smell, but they also makes everything tastier.

If you are type of person who like to try few different things in a meal, I suggest that you go for the mini set menu.  Choices between mini Donburi and mini Ramen or mini Donburi with mini Curry plus you will get a scoop of ice cream and soft drink.  Conversely if you are a big eater and can handle the outsized meal, no worries there is option available to satisfy you, which is a set of bento box with varieties of main meal selections to choose from and comes with miso soup and rice, adding only $5 and you will get the mini ramen as well.  So which one is suit for you????

Zenya Noodle Bar, Eastwood

217 Rowe Street

Eastwood NSW 2122

Ph: (02) 9874 2122

Opening Hours:

CLOSED MONDAY

LUNCH  : 11:30am - 3pm
DINNER : Sun-Thu   5:30pm - 9pm
                      Fri & Sat 5:30pm - 9:30pm