December 29th, 2017 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Favourites, Latest, Restaurants | 1 Comment »
Juan Bowl & Tea in Redfern is pretty upfront about what it does – this eatery has a hyper-focused interest in serving donburi (Japanese rice bowls) and well-brewed tea. So, no surprises right? What might catch you offguard is how popular it is – and how small the whole operation is. So, you could take […]
April 19th, 2017 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Favourites, Latest, Restaurants | 2 Comments »
You no longer need to make travel arrangements to end up in Japan – the most direct route involves just a few footsteps down a Surry Hills alley. Restaurant Sasaki feels exactly like a place you’d chance upon in a country that has a world-beating habit of hiding great eateries in modest locations. The more […]
January 6th, 2015 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Bars, Latest | 2 Comments »
Just opened: Tokyo Bird in Surry Hills. Having followed this yakitori bar on Instagram for nearly a year, it’s nice to see that it’s transformed from small-screen pixels and eatery-in-progress to an establishment you can step inside and happily sink a few hours. It’s still early days (it only opened on Boxing Day, after all), […]
November 4th, 2014 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Podcasts | Leave A Comment »
As a 15 year old, Kerby Craig was fascinated by the world of restaurants – seeing a chef breakdancing in the middle of service (!) confirmed for him that this was the industry that he wanted to work in. By accident, he ended up at the original Tetsuya’s as a teenage apprentice chef and, after […]
September 23rd, 2014 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Restaurants | 5 Comments »
My friend Marc Brandon hit Chaco Bar in Darlinghurst with the title of his “FAV JAP Joint in Syd” a month ago, and I’ve been badly wanting to check it out ever since. And if you thought that Marc’s just talking up this joint as a favour to his pal, chef Keita Abe – simply because […]
June 18th, 2014 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Latest, Restaurants | 6 Comments »
Cho Cho San in Potts Point opened last week to such mega-wattage interest – I’m surprised that a power surge and blackout didn’t immediately follow in the area. You could trace this highly-charged reception through the fast-breaking write-ups this new izakaya received – it was covered in SMH Good Food, Gourmet Traveller, Two Thousand, Broadsheet, […]
April 21st, 2014 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Cafes, Latest | 2 Comments »
In Japan, there’s a minor thrill in finding a ramen bar in unlikely corners – unassuming alley ways, busy railway stations, the turn of a street corner. Here in Sydney, you might reloop your footsteps once you walk by Rising Sun Workshop in Newtown and realise that this communal motorcycle garage does double-duty as a […]
September 17th, 2013 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Restaurants | 7 Comments »
Walk into a Japan restaurant, and you’ll instantly hear “Irasshaimase!” upon arrival. At the new Harajuku Gyoza in Potts Point, this greeting is ramped up to rock-star levels. The overloud cheers are quite something – the staff really amp it up and stretch out the catchcry, like it’s a break-out chorus at karaoke. It’s fun to […]
March 18th, 2012 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
If you feel battle-tested by the idea of eggs and sides (again!) for weekend breakfast, then you’ll be happy to know Kuku Tanuki in Erskineville is now offering a Japanese spin on brunch. This sake bar has been doing cool things, neighbourhood-wise, since it opened around new year. Having just relaunched, it scores extra grades […]
July 20th, 2011 | by Lee Tran Lam | published in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
The Chocolate Cake with Baked Quince and Condensed Milk Ice Cream ($11.50) is one of many good reasons to check out the new Izakaya Fujiyama. (And I say that as a choc-cake skeptic, given how people will over-praise a floury brick ‘cos it has some cheap cocoa thrill inside.) The choc in this cake is […]