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Yu-U, Melbourne CBD

October 26, 2011
Asian, ★★, Eating Out, Japanese, Lunch, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
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137 Flinders Ln Map
Melbourne, VIC 3000
03 9639 7073

Yu-U is a bit tricky to find as many previously have noted. They don’t have any noticeable signage outside, closest thing to a signage would be the small frame hung on the wall right outside thier door.

The restaurant has a sleek modern japanese style with a large bar type table in the middle. The place is quiet and relaxed. Me and TT went for thier Lunch Set $18

I had the Grilled Beef Set $12, whilst TT had the Salmon Set $18 + Sashimi (2nd main) $12 and both with seasoned rice $2 (each).

Sashimi (chef’s selection) $12

Grilled Beef Patty Set w/ Seasoned Rice $20

TT really liked the Sashimi and commented on its freshness. Both of us prefer the Grilled Beef Patty over the Salmon Curry.

The Beef Patty was tasty and went well with the garlic soy sauce. The Salmon Curry however was very mediocre, the curry lacked ‘pow’ and tasted quite flat. Portion was also rather small.

Curry Salmon Set w/ Seasoned Rice $20

The seasoned rice was yummy, moist and cooked with bits of mushroom and veg.

However, we found a strand of hair in with the rice.  We notified the staff and she apologized and removed the bowl promptly. She did return with a new bowl of rice but it was quite a long while later.

Overall, food is pretty good and it’s a nice hidden lunch spot in the city.


Rating:

★★         good, recommended

$$           $15-25 per main


Yu-U on Urbanspoon

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe, Melbourne CBD

August 19, 2011
★, Eating Out, Japanese, Lunch, Melbourne CBD
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620 Collins St Map
Melbourne, VIC 3000
03 9620 9548

Went for lunch, this place gets pretty busy when the working crowd comes during lunch hour.

We had the Kakuni Pork $9.50 and Chicken Curry Soba $9.50.

Kakuni Pork

Chicken Curry Soba

The Kakuni Pork was good, with succulent pork belly. Would’ve preferred if there was more of the red sauce (tasted kind of like gochujang) that came with it.

The Curry Soba on the other hand was a disappointment, pretty flat on taste and kinda watered down curry. Didnt enjoy that.

Overall, one of the convenient places to grab a quick lunch, but will skipping the curry next time.

 

Rating: 

★             relatively good, still worth a try

$              under $15 per main

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe on Urbanspoon

Peko Peko, Collingwood

June 4, 2011
½, Collingwood, Dinner, Eating Out, Japanese
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199 Smith St Map 
Collingwood, VIC 3065
03 9415 9609
After enjoying the food at the Taiwanese-inspired Peko Peko at South Bank , the Japanese Peko Peko at Collingwood was next on my wishlist.

We had the Agedashi Tofu $10, Veg Gyoza $8, Okonomiyaki $11, Teriyaki Don $16, Lemongrass Yakitoridon $16.

This Okonomiyaki dish was the standout for the night. It was so yummy, soft on the inside and well complimented by the mayo.

The other dishes didn’t fare so well. The Teriyaki Don was very mediocre. The Lemongrass Yakitoridon was lacking in lemongrass flavour. Same goes for the Agedashi and Gyoza  which was pretty average, I have had better elsewhere.

Overall, pretty average and also slighty pricey for the offerings. Have had better japanese food elsewhere and at a cheaper price too.

Vegetarian Dishes Available

Rating:

½                  mediocre, nothing special

$ to $$    under $15 mostly per main

Peko Peko on Urbanspoon

 

 

Yamato Japanese, Melbourne CBD

May 21, 2011
☹, Japanese, Melbourne CBD
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Overall28 Corrs Ln Map 
Melbourne, VIC 3000
03 9663 1706
 

I noticed Yamato Japanese during one of my many visits to Dainty Sichuan. Tucked inside Corrs Lane, it looks rather shabby from the outside.

Went there for dinner, inside is nicely decorated with Japanese ornaments and paintings albeit being really small.

It was busy when we arrived and service was rather slow.

We had the Shabu Shabu for two ($15.80 per person).

However, what we got was basically a hotpot with some vegetables and tofu in plain boiling water, a plate of sliced beef, and a rather unappetizing version of Ponzu dipping sauce. No kombu broth or enoki ):

The shabu-shabu really lacked in taste, basically eating boiled beef.

Rice was also to be ordered separately, and came in a really small portion.

We left the place feeling pretty much unsatisfied in terms of taste and fullness, and we headed off to Camy‘s which is nearby for some cheap and good dumplings.

Overall, it does come down to the food and Yamato Japanese lacked on those terms. Therefore, unfortunately, we will not be returning.

Rating:

☹             many problems, bad experience  

$$           $15-25 per main
Yamato Japanese on Urbanspoon

Momotaro Rahmen, Richmond

May 8, 2011
☹, Dinner, Eating Out, Japanese, Richmond
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392 Bridge Rd Map
Richmond, VIC 3121
03 9421 1661
 

Went there for dinner on a Sat night. As it was full when we arrived, we placed our order first and proceeded to wait for a table.

Service here is quite bad, staff is quite blur and very inefficient. When we finally got a table, the staff  just stood around behind the counter although the 4 of us were standing there waiting at the dirty table. It was also difficult to get their attention.

Food wise, we had the Teriyaki Chicken Rice, Teriyaki Beef Rice, Eel on Rice and the Negi-Miso Rahmen.

Teriyaki Chicken Rice, Teriyaki Beef Rice

Eel on Rice , Negi-Miso Rahmen

As there’s only one chef cooking,  it was quite a long wait for our food.

The most disappointing this is, when it finally arrived, some parts of the food were actually not heated up properly – the chef was probably just rushing to get dishes out. There was a clump of jellified-sauce which was very unappetizing  (as shown in the below photo).

Gelatinized Brocolli & Sauce

After experiencing the very slow service and having to wait so long, we couldn’t even be bothered to complain.

With the other dishes,  Beef  Teriyaki was abit tough and didn’t taste good. Portions are rather generous except for the Rahmen, which was mainly filled with beansprouts. The Rahmen also came with just one measly piece of meat.

Overall, slow service, food lacked quality control and tastewise was just okay. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning.

Rating:

☹                    many problems, bad experience

$                    under $15 per main


Momotaro Rahmen on Urbanspoon

Yoyogi, Melbourne CBD

April 26, 2011
Asian, ☹, Dinner, Eating Out, Japanese, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
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211-213 Swanston St Map
Melbourne, 3000
(03) 9663 7266

Decided to try this place out for dinner. Well, firstly it is a far cry from authentic japanese food.

Service here is terrible, the staff is unattentive and unhelpful. The waitress directly ignored us when we tried to call her.

Food wise, it’s o-kay. We had the Salmon Sashimi, Miso Soup and Agedashi Tofu. The Miso Soup was very diluted. The tofu looked and tasted like those fried tofu you can buy from your local asian grocer and it was soaked in

Agedashi Tofu

Miso Soup

Sashimi

Overall, definitely wont be returning, there are so many better options even just along Swanston St.

Rating:

☹                    many problems, bad experience

$                    under $15 per main


Yoyogi on Urbanspoon

BrimCC Organic Soup and Japanese cafe, Melbourne CBD

April 26, 2011
Asian, ★★, Eating Out, Japanese, Lunch, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
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601 Little Collins StMap
Melbourne, 3000
(03) 9614 5316
www.brimcc.com.au

Near the Southern Cross Station, BrimCC is a small place with only a few seating serving wholesome Japanese food. Open only on weekdays for lunch and dinner ( went there for dinner once, and most options were sold out).

This time we went for lunch, we had the Half Curry & Soup Set $12.50 and the Gyu Don (Beef) $9.00.

Gyu-don $9.00

Half Curry & Soup Set $12.50

Taste wise, like the Curry and the Soup that day was the Pot au feu (French style sausage & veges) which I really enjoyed. The Gyu Don was pretty good although it was on the drier side.  Portions are reasonable as well.

Staff is friendly but one thing thou, the amount of wasabi they give is ridiculously little ( about the size of an elongated pea), even when we tried to ask for more they gave us another pea-sized amount of wasabi. I dont understand why ):

Overall, a good lunch spot, worth a try.

Rating:

★★         good, recommended

$              under $15 per main

BrimCC Organic Soup and Japanese cafe on Urbanspoon

Izakaya Den, Melbourne CBD

March 1, 2011
½, Dinner, Eating Out, Japanese, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
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114 Russell StMap
Melbourne, 3000

Went to Izakaya Den for dinner for a friends birthday.

The place had a good ambiance, service was pretty good, our wait staff was helpful and attentive.

However, don’t think its worth all the hype. Food wise, taste was not bad but portions are small and was more on the pricey end.

Unfortunately, doubt we will be returning.

Actually prefer Izakaya Hachibeh over Izakaya Den – especially with their ox tongue dish.

Overall, it’s quite mediocre, not worth the hype.

Rating:

½            mediocre, nothing special

$$           $15-25 per main
Izakaya Den on Urbanspoon

Izakaya Hachibeh, Melbourne CBD

February 24, 2011
Asian, ★, Dinner, Eating Out, Japanese, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
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143-145 Bourke St Map
Melbourne, 3000
(03) 9078 9909
 
Went for dinner, service is quite slow.

We had the Gyutan Misoyaki (Grilled Ox Tongue) $8.60, Tempura Udon $12.50 and Niku Soba $12.50.

Tempura Udon $12.50

Niku Soba $12.50

The Grilled Ox Tongue is a must try – yummy with a texture that melts in your mouth. However, the Noodle dishes are just mediocre, not much to comment on.
Price wise, its more on the pricey side as portions are quite small.

Rating:

★            relatively good, still worth a try

$              under $15 per main

Izakaya Hachibeh on Urbanspoon

Horoki Casual Dining Bar, Melbourne CBD

February 13, 2011
Asian, ½, Dinner, Eating Out, Japanese, Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
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19 Liverpool StMap
Melbourne, 3000

Was looking for some cheapeats and came across Horoki Casual Dining Bar via Urbanspoon. Read lots of good reviews about this place on Urbanspoon, and decided to head there for dinner with rumbling tummies.

The place itself  is small but with a nice atmosphere.

Verdict: Definately not cheapeats! according to Urbanspoon it’s $ but I think it deserves a $$ instead because the portions are also small for the price, appetizer sizes for main, more of a tapas style.

Horoki Braised Hamburg

Teriyaki Chicken Pizza

Garlic Prawns

Tastewise, the food is alright, did like the hamburg. However, we left sadly feeling unsatisfied and bought some dumplings at the nearest asian grocer for supper!

Rating:

½            mediocre, nothing special

$$           $15-25 per main

Horoki Casual Dining Bar on Urbanspoon

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