Sushi Ten

228 Flinders St 14-15port Phillip Arcade
Melbourne, VIC 3000

What was the longest time you’ve ever craved for something? Because I’ve been craving for a simple bowl of chirashi for the last two months. But being the food blogger I am, I couldn’t just get a bowl from reliable old Don Don, oh no, it had to be somewhere new. Even if it meant waiting night after lonely night for it; that’s how completely and utterly whipped by dedicated I am to this food blogging business

I’ve heard many good things about the Sashimi Don at Sushi Ten, but between uni placements, hectic exam study, and opening hours that go something like 12-4pm Monday to Friday, It ended up being 2 months lying awake at 1am thinking of sashimi and rice in a bowl before I actually got around to having it.  

Tucked away in Port Phillip Arcade amongst some surprisingly decent eateries, Sushi Ten is the quintessential family-run establishment. The restaurant is a bit daggy, but it’s clean and well cared for. You’ll see the chefs and waitresses oscillating between serving at a cash register that’s at least 40 years old, and cooking food in the small kitchen half-hidden by hanging curtains.

Katsu Don ($9)

I’ll admit I didn’t pay much attention to Chris’ Katsu Don ($9), not when my salmon don was sitting next to it, but more on that later. The katsu don wasn’t served the way I would’ve expected to – that’s to say, doused in curry sauce. Rather, it was an oyako don, except instead of chicken, it was a pork katsu culet that’s covered in the simmered egg and onion mixture. The flavours were nicely balanced though perhaps a tad too salty, and whilst the katsu was lean and tender, it wasn’t even remotely crispy.  All in all, it was a hot, filling and tasty dish, but not really one I would order again.

Salmon Don ($15)

I’m not sure why I love chirashi so much, but I’m pretty sure it being healthy yet decadent has something to do with it. I mean, there’s nothing like treating yourself to something that you KNOW is good for you. And boy did I get my daily omega-3 requirement with the Salmon Don ($15). I had originally wanted to get the mix don, which consisted of salmon and tuna on rice, but that seemed to have been taken off the menu. This salmon don may be on the expensive end of things but considering what was in it, it was definitely worth the price. Salmon sashimi, marinated salmon, teriyaki salmon, this bowl had it all. And having to shove large pieces of super fresh salmon into my mouth so I can get to the rice, instead of the other way around, definitely makes for a nice change.

Salmon Don ($15)

However, as delicious as this dish is, there were a couple of things that I wasn’t entirely sold on. Firstly, as nice as it is to have all the sashimi I could eat for a change, it would’ve been good to have a bit more not-salmon in the bowl, just to break things up between mouthfuls of fish.  Secondly, the rice was served piping hot and un-vinegared. One of the things I like the most about chirashi is how light it is, and serving hot rice seems to throw all of that off balance. But of course it’s all a matter of opinion, and if I’m served mountains of sashimi, the temperature of my rice is the last thing I’m going to worry about, though I still think a little vinegar would’ve done it worlds of good.

Sushi Ten is popular. Judging by the rate at which it filled up, you’ll be sharing a table by 12:30. And that’s if you’re lucky. I would recommend Sushi Ten to anyone after a satisfying amount of sushi and sashimi for lunch without breaking the bank... or getting food poisoning. Do yourself a favour and skip the sushi sushi.

Rating: 13.5/20 – get the sushi at sushi sushi sushi sushi sushi sushi sushi sushi sushi sushi instead