SMASH Cosplay 2013

The SMASH 2013 is over, it was on yesterday at Sydney Convention Centre, Darling harbour.

I didn't really plan to go to the event since there were urgent things to do but didn't really want to miss this out either so went there to have a quick look and ended up taking some pictures. 

Could'n give any comment since I didn't enter the hall, just wanted to share some shots of amazing cosplayers..

Taro's

We went up to Brisbane last month and it was a short trip but we managed to get to one of the most famous ramen spots in Brisbane.

Taro's Ramen is on the ground floor of Boeing Building (363 Adelaide st, Brisbane). A down-to-earth place but we could see the authenticity of a Japanese ramen shop, order and pay at the bar, self serve free drinks and pickles and a service with smile. 

We picked fire tonkotsu and normal tonkotsu ramen, a regular portion comes in a quite big bowl but they might need to add more soup to make the bowl doesn't look half empty, also the broth won't be enough for a 'kaedama'. As the reviews you would find on the web, it's one of best ramen in Brisbane, couldn't disagree with this but my favorite ramen(s) in Sydney are more to my liking. 

(Tonkotsu ramen)

(Fire tonkotsu ramen)

Ryo Tei

The ramen battle in Jakarta goes on... over the past couple years ramen shops in Jakarta just popping up in almost every corner especially around Kelapa Gading area, from local ramen to famous franchisee like Ikkousha, Ikudo.. you name it. Call me a 'ramen snob', those franchisee shops don't fancy me at all except  Tsurukamedou which is still my favorite one in town.

This Ryo Tei  in Jakarta does catch my attention since the original Ryo's ramen indeed is my most favorite one in Sydney. Ryo Tei Jakarta just opened few weeks ago in Kelapa Gading, if you enter from the main boulevard, it's next to the sports club on your left. I made my visit yesterday, ordered  a spicy ramen (actually the taste is not spicy at all), number 3 from the menu which is my favorite in Sydney.

(spicy tonkotsu, menu no 3)

The noodle's chewiness is perfect, the cha siu is lovely but the boiled egg is a bit overcooked (I prefer half boiled one) and broth is very rich and thick, thicker than the one in Sydney's shop and it's very salty. They put a sign advising that you could request a less salty soup to the waitress though, which I would highly recommend, or maybe it's their strategy that the taste has been adjusted to the local taste, perhaps..

(a picture of the original Ryo's in Sydney)

Wassam

Wassam doesn't sound Japanese at all, agreed with my friend comment but it is an authentic Japanese restaurant in Gold Coast. 

We stumbled upon some good reviews on the web while looking for a Japanese dinner not far from our hotel as it was raining, then we decided to try this restaurant located on level 1 Chevron Renaisance Building in Surfers Paradise.

The atmosphere is standard and their service could be more attentive even though it wasn't a disappointment.

We tried their wagyu beef which is superb and the teriyaki salmon comes with tasty sauce and a small bowl of salad. The price is above average but it's worth a try if you are looking for a decent dinner around Surfers Paradise. 

(Salmon teriyaki)

(Wagyu beef)

(a picture of Wassamu station, a small town in Hokkaido)

If you find the above photo on the cashier's desk you'll understand what the word 'Wassam' originates from, the owner might be from this small town of Hokkaido I presume..

Yebisu Sydney

As I mentioned on my last two posts, there are three Japanese eateries on the renowned Regent Place on George street and Yebisu was the last one I visited last month. You call it 'Little Tokyo' or 'Little Japan', I reckoned everyone will agree, those three have made this little corner packed with Japanese food lovers. 

Yebisu is not just an izakaya even the concept may looks like it, the traditional details with neon signs will make you feel like wandering around Namba in Osaka or old Kyoto, blended with modern touch of their iPads on each table for ordering system, it's definitely a must try whether you are a Sydneysider or just a visitor looking for a great taste of Japanese food in Sydney.  

(lunch set menu)

(sashimi)

(salmon teriyaki set)

(grilled onigiri)

(aburi salmon sushi)

  

(chicken yakitori)

(okonomiyaki)

(seafood fried rice)

 

(salmon skin nigiri)

If you are there for lunch, teriyaki salmon set is my favourite, always love salmon ...

For dinner, I would recommend their yakitori, the wagyu beef yakitori is superb, love salmon too..? then you should try their aburi salmon and the crispy salmon skin nigiri. The grilled onigiri is quite unique and the fried rice topped with bountiful seafood is another favourite of mine. 

Booking is highly recommended but I think they take reservation only for 4 people or more.

Photo update on August 15th:

(cirashi sushi)

Chanoma Cafe Sydney

The Japanese Matcha Master .. Chanoma Cafe 

Agreed that they serve the best matcha in town, from beverage to sweets, all has the green tea touch, not the mention the matcha soft ice cream.

We dropped by to try their Matcha anmitsu, Matcha float and the Creamy shrimp croquette dog from their Japa-dog menu. I am not a fan of hotdog anyway, but the real taste of matcha with a smooth matcha ice cream is enough to prove their tag line. 

Located at Regent Place, on the ground floor just the opposite of Tenko Mori, in a place I would call 'Little Tokyo' with three Japanese eateries one next to each other, they are all packed with crowd during busy hours,  new favourites in town..

(Matcha Anmitsu, matcha ice cream served with jelly and red bean)

(hot matcha)

(Japa dog, hotdog with brutwurst sausage and cheese)

Updated on August 15th, 2013

Tenko Mori

I have been away for a while.. and now that I am back in Sydney, couldn't wait to get to this new ramen shop inside Regent Place down George street in the city. 

After Mappen, Oiden.. and now Tenko Mori, another popular Japanese resto from Menya group, during busy hours you will encounter a long queue.

 Same self-serve ordering system as Mappen and Oiden, pick your ramen and soup base, grab your toppings (you can choose from fried tofu, tempura, kakuni, seaweed, tamago or potato salad), go to the cashier, find the seat and start enjoy your ramen, also don't forget to return your empty tray. 

I love their pork kakuni, it melts on your tongue and the taste is just soo... yummy, the broth is considered light tonkotsu yet satisfies my craving for tonkotsu soup and I just enjoy the perfectly cooked noodle slurp by slurp...

(Pork Kakuni in tonkotsu soup)

(Vegetable ramen in tonkotsu soup)

Also, love their milk tea... just tastes like my favorite KIRIN milk tea..

 If you go there, you'd notice another Japanese restaurant and cafe on the other corners, it's just became one of my favourite spots for Japanese eateries.

Tokyo Banana

A best friend just came back from Japan and got this signature gift of Japan, a box of Tokyo Banana

Tokyo Banana is a kind of sponge cake stuffed with banana flavoured custard, sweet and soft texture. This sweet reminds me of Banana in pyjamas from  Bread Top in Sydney, which has a fresh banana filling instead of banana custard. 

Thanks to my best friend I finally taste this famous 'omiyage' from Tokyo.. 

Japan's Tasty Secrets

I just noticed that I got this draft post since three years ago, not even remember how I stumbled upon this web nor why I left this post as draft for more than three years..

If you are curious enough about Japanese food and local dishes loved by the nation, you can download the Japan's Tasty Secrets here, you will find local favorites from every region in Japan.

Fuku Ramen

It's not a fancy ramen shop, just a small local shop specializing in ramen, located next to Maccas in Setiabudi, Bandung. There are only five ramen on the list, all comes in the same soup, you only can choose the meat either beef, chicken or spicy one and plus some side dishes like chicken karage. All prices are affordable as you can see from the menu picture

Visited this Fuku ramen with a friend, we ordered ramen with beef and special ramen wich comprises, both chicken and beef chashu, spicy ground chicken, half boiled egg topped with spring onion, mushroom and nori.

The soup is mild and quite tasty even you can't compare this to a tonkotsu broth, sorry for always comparing any ramen with a tonkotsu base since it's my favourite broth. The meat is just okay but the boiled egg taste a bit different with a hint of mirin (I assume) which I like. The overall taste is worth a shot for ramen lover looking for a local ramen in Bandung. 

On another note, there are some franchise ramen shops in Bandung but none of them worth coming back.. at least that's just my opinion. 

(Fuku Beef chashu ramen)

(Fuku special ramen with separate spicy ground chicken)

(Chicken karaage with mayo)

(All pictures taken using iPhone)