Shira Nui

247 Springvale Rd

Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

I count myself exceptionally lucky to have a Japanese restaurant as stellar as Shira Nui in my neighbourhood. Instead of being grandiose or tacky, Shira Nui has opted for a clean and restrained approach – in true Japanese style. And though I count the omakase option to be the one of the best meals I’ve ever had, I’ve decided to give the a la carte menu a go instead, partially because Chris isn’t the hugest fan of sushi, and partially because I’m convinced that it’ll be just as breathtaking of a meal. 

Whilst we perused the short and traditional menu, we were served the familiar appetiser of pickled onions and fried fish, the sweet and tangy flavours waking up the palate. 

Shira Nui Nigiri ($45)

Just because we weren’t doing the omakase, it didn’t mean that I’m passing up the opportunity to have sushi at Shira Nui. The Shira Nui Nigiri ($45) consisted over 9 perfect specimens of seafood, draped lavishly over little balls of rice.

The Ark Shell is one I remember very well from the omakase, not for its taste, but for the slick, crunchy texture carrying just a whiff of the ocean.

I’m not usually a fan of Tuna, but when the thick, ruby coloured piece of fish is so beautifully tender, melting gently on the tongue, it’s hard to resist.

I had expected Shira Nui’s Salmon nigiri to be the best I’ve ever had, and it breezed past my expectations effortlessly. Taken from the belly and streaked with fat, it hits the tongue with a wave of buttery richness that trumps anything I’ve had, salmon or otherwise. 

Shira Nui Nigiri ($45)

After the decadence of the salmon nigiri, the Kingfish, light and firm, was a refreshing change.

The Mackerel was one I haven’t had before. On the fishiness scale (see what I did there) of sushi fish, mackerel is very much up there. I wouldn’t go out of my way to have it again as I found the fishiness was quite overwhelming, but I appreciated the thin slice of sweet seaweed holding the sprinkle of spice mix to the fish, and I won’t deny that the flavour combination is superb. 

Shira Nui Nigiri ($45)

The Seared Ocean Trout was another selection from the omakase that I’ve been dreaming about. Quickly seared so that whilst the top side acquired a layer of smokiness to accompany the miso dressing, the underside remained plump and sweet.

The Eel nigiri was another miracle of blowtorching. The slab of eel, already fat and smoky, was heated just enough for the glaze to caramelise into a charred, toffee-like sweetness.

The final two pieces of sushi provided the perfect opportunity to study the difference between Flying Fish Roe and Salmon Roe. Whereas the tiny flying fish roe crunched its way into a mouthful of brininess, the salmon roe popped generously under slight pressure  for a milder, sweeter experience 

Nasi Dengaku ($15)

I was curious to see what Shira Nui could do with a dish as a humble as Nasi Dengaku ($15), and they didn’t disappoint. For starters, the eggplant was outstanding; it was cooked to a pulpy tenderness perfect for soaking up miso paste, but the exterior retained enough form to carry a hint of caramelisation from the pan. We were instructed to try the dark miso first, and the taste of it was strong and earthy, even slightly fermented. The light miso on the other hand retained the earthiness, but swapped the deeper tones for a sweet nuttiness. Never have I been so impressed with such a simple dish.  

Yose Nabe ($30)

In true Japanese style, we finished with a more filling dish of Yose Nabe ($30), a hot pot of seafood, chicken, beef, and vegetables cooked with udon in a light broth. 

Yose Nabe ($30)

If I were rich, this is what I would eat whenever I was under the weather. The seafood had been cooked until its flavours seeped into the stock, forming a deep, delicate umami that reflected back into the rare slices of marbled beef. The thick strands of udon were slippery and chewy, and tasted of ripened wheat.

What I like so much about Shira Nui comes down to just how good the produce is, and how much respect the chefs have for it. They only take the best of the best, and nothing is over-dressed and over-seasoned; instead, a backdrop is provided that allows the produce to shine. And for that reason, I think that the omakase is still the best way to experience what Shira Nui has to offer, though for the people who don’t eat sushi, the a la carte is still likely some of the best traditional Japanese food you’ll ever have.

Rating: 16/20 – best of the best.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Ricy Boat

183 Coleman Parade 

Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

It’s a small world. Ricy Boat is a new restaurant that’s opened up in our ‘hood that supposedly serves traditional Yunnan Cross Bridge Rice Noodles. With my dad being from Yunnan and my mum being born not too far from there, they were of course very excited, and rushed off to visit within weeks of opening. 15 minutes of conversation later, my parents found out that not only do they ship some of their ingredients (like the pickled vegetables) straight from Yunnan, but the owner used to live – get this – not just in the same city, but the same SUBURB as we did. Dad was ecstatic, and all but bundled me off to go and review them. And whilst I’m a little less sentimental about it all, there was definitely emotion there as the owner affectionately referred to me as ‘little lass’ in the local Yunnan dialect.

Cross Bridge Rice Noodles ($12)

Given how cold and blustery it’s been recently, the Cross Bridge Rice Noodles ($12) were a must. It’s almost like your very own hotpot, with the noodles and toppings served separately from the soup, which was carried out from the kitchen still boiling and emitting tufts of fragrant steam. 

Cross Bridge Rice Noodles ($12)

Cross Bridge Rice Noodles ($12)

10 slices of meat, 1 quail egg, and 7 dishes of condiments (peanuts pickled vegetables dried tofu white fungus roast beef coriander shallots) later, everything was perfect. The noodles were slippery and slurpable, swimming around in a chicken and pork-based broth that’s redolent with hours of slow simmering. It’s healthy, hearty, and satisfyingly warming. 

Clay Pot Rice Noodle Soup ($12)

Clay Pot Rice Noodle Soup ($12)

We had originally wanted the noodles with braised pork but they ran out early that day; thankfully the Clay Pot Rice Noodle Soup ($12) was a more than adequate substitute. Though somewhat similar to the cross bridge noodles, this one had a wonderfully delicate pork broth, and in it we found fish balls, beef slices, and whole prawns. It tasted of home.

Though quiet, the small restaurant is clean and bright, and the owners just about the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. I’m glad that an authentic restaurant for cross bridge rice noodles has opened up in my area, because up until this point, they were more cross-town rice noodles. And here’s a hint for before you visit: slurping isn’t just allowed – it’s encouraged.

Rating: 13/20 – cross-suburb rice noodles

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.

Taiwan Cafe

108 Kingsway 
Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

I’ve lived no more than one suburb away from Glen Waverley for almost half my life (#asian), and if I were to look through my blog archives, I would find confirmation that I have indeed eaten at over 80% of the restaurants along (and near) the Kingsway strip. And whilst it’s an area where turnover is fast and only the most popular survive, any change is a welcome change, and a new restaurant – such as Taiwan Cafe – is bound to have people bursting out the door, even if it’s just at the beginning, to suss out if it’s a worthy gem in the Kingsway crown.

Taiwan Cafe has actually been around for a while in the heart of the CBD, but due to its persistent popularity as well as the blog-unfriendly lighting, I never got around to visiting. But after eating take away from the Glen Waverley branch half a dozen times courtesy of my parents, it was about time I made the trip myself.

Taiwanese Style Popcorn Chicken ($7.5)

If there must be just one signature Taiwanese snack, it would be the fried chicken. They’re most often seen served up as giant schnitzels, but I prefer the Taiwanese Style Popcorn Chicken ($7.5) with its tantalising batter-to-meat ratio. After all, the telltale blend of Asian spices encasing the hot, juicy chicken is where the real attraction lies. 

Taiwanese Beef Brisket Noodle Soup ($9.8, extra $1 for soya egg)

Taiwanese Beef Brisket Noodle Soup ($9.8, extra $1 for soya egg) is the epitome of comfort food for me – hearty beef broth underscored with tangy pickled vegetables, soaking into thick hand-made noodles and a creamy soya egg. The soup isn’t as richly flavoursome, and the meat not as meltingly tender as what mum makes, but it’ll do on a cold night, especially one where we happened to be seated near the door. 

Black Pepper Pork Chop ($9.8)

I ordered the Black Pepper Pork Chop ($9.8) as the obligatory second main, not expecting much from it at all. My expectations seemed all but confirmed by the visuals, but the dish turned out to be quite a treat. Three tender pork cutlets were soaked in a snappy black pepper sauce, mellowed by the accompanying sweetness of onion. It wasn’t a groundbreaking meal, but it did put up a solid performance.

Taiwan Cafe is a welcome un-surprise to the Glen Waverley eating scene, providing reliably good, if a little predictable, Taiwanese classics and snacks to an area that’s devoid of both. I’m planning on coming back for more fried chicken, washed down with a tall glass of bubble tea.

Rating:  12.5/20 – welcome un-surprises.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.

Monga Izakaya

91 Kingsway 

Glen Waverley, VIC

You know what puts me in a blogging slump? Food poisoning. After eating salad from a place that shall remain un-named, I was afflicted with 3 whole days of gastric agony before I could put anything solid in my mouth again. Still, the show must go on, and on the first of those three days when the nausea wasn’t too bad, I dragged myself to Monga, a hidden away izakaya in Glen Waverley that I had been meaning to visit for a long time, albeit under better circumstances. 

If there’s one issue I take with restaurants (aside from the many other issues I may take with restaurants), it’s a restaurant that is as clearly inauthentic as the Italian restaurants I came across in Japan. So I was more than a little surprised when I headed up the narrow flight of stairs to find a bona fide izakaya, complete with chefs throwing back cups of sake behind the sushi bar.

Though I’m pretty sure Monga is a Cantonese/Chinese creation, the hospitality here is strictly in line with the Japanese. We were made to feel like honoured guests as we were ushered into a corner with leather chairs, the menus handed to us with a respectful bow. The restaurant was decorated with a tasteful clutter of Japanese knick-knacks, the utensils was ridiculously beautiful, and I have it on good authority that deeper within the restaurant was a traditional Japanese floor seating. 

Edamame ($4.8)

I’m not usually one to order Edamame ($4.8) at a restaurant, as I’m used to eating them at home steaming hot by the bucketful, instead of stone-cold in little dishes. But for some reason I was really craving the chewy, nutty little beans today, and Monga served up a generous plate of the pods, sprinkled lightly with salt, still hot to the touch. 

Soft Shell Crab ($10.8)

Our beautifully fried plate of Soft Shell Crab ($10.8) was a complete and utter steal. We were served up three whole crustaceans, dusted with green tea salt, and lightly battered tempura-style so as to not disturb the sweet, juicy flesh and crispy shell.

Ox Tongue Skewer($2.8)/Quail Egg Wrapped in Bacon Skewer ($3.6)

There’s a whole skewer section but the ones that caught our eyes the most were the Ox Tongue ($2.8), and the Quail Egg Wrapped in Bacon ($3.6). The ox tongue was cooked just like it should be – the slices of meat were chewy, juicy, and charred from the grill, though could’ve done with a little more marinade. The quail eggs lacked a little in the bacon department, but the smoky eggs burst into a mouthful of creaminess. 

Japanese Vegetable Korokke ($5.5)

We also ordered a plate of Japanese Vegetable Korokke ($5.5). The fried patties were crunchy outside and delicately smooth in the middle, pairing up perfectly with the dish of plum sauce. I had plenty of fun watching Chris trying to manoeuvre these fragile little snacks into his bowl with chopsticks. 

Salmon Sushi ($4.5, 2pcs)/Kingfish Sushi ($4.5, 2pcs)

I’ve had a lot of sushi in the last week but that didn’t stop me from a pair of Salmon Sushi ($4.5, 2pcs), and a pair of Kingfish Sushi ($4.5, 2pcs). The salmon sushi was beautiful, the buttery fish draped across a pillow of vinegared rice, but unfortunately the kingfish was past its prime, and it tasted its age.  

Ontama Udon ($8.2)

In true Japanese style, we washed down our bar snacks with a generous serve of carbs in the form of an Ontama Udon ($8.2). This was, for all intents and purposes, the Asian equivalent of chicken soup. The dashi stock was light and clear, the faint fishy umami of it a sigh of delight, slurped up with lengths of chewy udon.  

Snow Fungus, Lily Bulbs, Lotus Seeds and Palm Seed Sweet Soup ($7.2)

We had eaten quite a bit of food, but as our dishes had been served up over the span of an hour and a half, we still had room for dessert. Chris’ eyes alighted on the selection of puddings and cakes, whilst I had the more Asian offerings in mind. And whilst I would’ve loved to be adventurous, my ailing stomach begged for something warm and comforting, like the Snow Fungus, Lily Bulbs, Lotus Seeds and Palm Seed Sweet Soup ($7.2). Though comforting with crimped folds of crunchy snow fungus, I found the soup to be quite bland, lacking in the cooling herbal properties of a good Asian dessert soup. 

Genmai Milk Pudding ($7.2)

Chris’ Genmai Milk Pudding ($7.2) was unfortunately as commonplace as my dessert soup, though perhaps a touch more flavoursome. The smooth pudding was subtly sweet with a creaminess that built on the palate, topped with a scattering of toasted rice. We liked our dessert, but not enough to finish it all on an already-full stomach.

I was pleasantly surprised by Monga; it was exactly what I had hoped, but not dared to expect. The variety of food on offer was huge, and depending on what you order, you could rack up an extravagant bill with a dozen crab legs, or as we chose to do, have a laid-back, indulgent dinner without wringing out the dregs of our bank accounts. I may not be in a rush to return, but I will eventually, make no doubt of that.

Rating: 13.5/20 – huMONGAs menu.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Saigon Light

109 Kingsway 

Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

I’m not sure I like Christmas anymore. Now before you all call me a Grinch, hear me out. When I was younger, Christmas was the time of year where no more work was done at school, and the prospects of presents and endless weeks of holidays loomed on the horizon. But now, as a soon-to-be working young adult, Christmas has suddenly morphed into a stressful time of present-buying, gift-wrapping, dinner-planning, and money-depleting. But arguably worst of all is the unpredictable opening hours of restaurants, leaving food bloggers who like to plan their meals out in the cold.

Thankfully there is always Glen Waverley, serving up Asian food all year round, holidays notwithstanding. And whilst I’ve eaten at most of the restaurants on the Kingsway strip now, I’ve yet to try Saigon Light, a small Vietnamese restaurant with what seems to be a loyal following. The interior is simple with functional furniture, and the menu is full of funny engrish typos. There are plenty of food options to choose from beyond your stalwarts, as well as a variety of psychedelic drinks.  

Bun Bo Hue ($9.8)

Bun Bo Hue ($9.8)

Bun Bo Hue ($9.8) is the new pho, and this bowl was definitely one of the better I’ve had. Whilst lacking in the herbal tang of lemongrass, it had generous amounts of shrimp paste and all the trimmings, pig's blood included. It was a satisfyingly deep bowl of noodles with a soup that was complex and fragrant, and slippery noodles perfect for slurping. 

Salt and Pepper Pork Rib Rice ($9.8)

Salt and Pepper Pork Rib Rice ($9.8)

Forever less adventurous, Chris had the Salt and Pepper Pork Rib Rice ($9.8). The meaty ribs were tossed with stir-fried vegetables and served with a bowl of tomato rice. Whilst the seasoning for the ribs could use some work, it was a satisfying lunch overall.

Whilst there isn’t all that much to say about Saigon Light, it seems to be reliable and fairly authentic, and the portions are generous. It’s not my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in town, but as it is fairly close to where I live, it will certainly do.

Rating: 12.5/20 – 60 watts.

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit. 

Waya Japanese Restaurant

100 Kingsway 
Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

http://www.waya.com.au/

Glen Waverley is a pretty neat suburb to live near. There is a plethora of food to be easily had whenever a craving hits, and usually I can find something in Glen Waverley to hit that spot. However, one thing I’ve always complained of is the lack of good Japanese. Well I mean, that’s not entirely true, considering that it houses the famous Shira Nui, but who has $80 to shell out on premium sushi every Sunday night? 

So that’s why I considered it extremely belated when Waya Japanese Restaurant opened up on the ever-changing strip that is Kingsway. Clearly a lot of other people agree with me, because it’s doing a roaring trade of both dine-in and take-away. 

Being new, the interior of Waya could be expected to be nice, but this is a bit better than what I had expected. Whilst the seats at the front are a little cramped, there are some lovely booths at the back, and the overall atmosphere is very pleasant. The menu is expansive but not expensive, covering everything you could possibly expect to see at a cheap and cheerful Japanese restaurant, with a wide selection of drinks (alcoholic and not) to boot. 

Agedashi Tofu ($6)

I seem to be craving tofu all the time these days, and a bowl of Agedashi Tofu ($6) should hit the spot nicely. Unfortunately this one didn’t. As opposed to wobbly cubes fried in potato starch, these slabs of tofu were denser, dryer, and obviously pre-fried then reheated. It was also sitting in way too much sauce, and the result was more of a tofu in soup. 

Chicken Curry Don ($11.5)

So it was lucky that our Chicken Curry Don ($11.5) was delicious. Thick and hearty, the sauce was savoury, flavoursome, and just a little bit spicy. There was more than enough chicken to go around, and very tender too. 

Waya Maki ($12.5)

But the best part of the meal was the Waya Maki ($12.5), a long, thick roll filled with plump salmon, avocado, and cucumber. It’s topped with a generous layer of flying fish roe, and a spicy mayonnaise. It’s not traditional, not by a long shot, but the briny roe and sauce added a great wallop of flavour to the good quality sushi.

Waya is a bit of a mixed bag. According to other diners/bloggers, the food can be quite hit and miss. However I did enjoy our meal here, the disappointing agedashi tofu aside. The impression I got was that, whilst the food isn’t all that authentic, it’s generously portioned and quite tasty overall. At any rate, I’m just glad to have a place to get my Japanese fix close to home.

Rating: 13.5/20 – waya didn’t open sooner?

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.

Cafe Soho

113-115 Kingsway 
Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

While Ming’s busy studying for exams at time of writing, it falls to me, Chris, yet again to take the lead for another blog post. Enjoy!

You’d think that, living so close to Glen Waverley, Ming would have tried about every restaurant on offer on Kingsway. But in addition to the ever-increasing backlog of places to eat at, occasionally a new one crops up, such as Café Soho – replacing Café Moretti which previously stood in its place.

Not sure what to eat after a day of exam study, we ended up settling on Café Soho and rushed inside to get away from the winter chill. The interior is very much unchanged from our visit to Café Moretti, with the exception of various new Asian touches and the addition of TVs playing miscellaneous Asian dramas while you eat.

Garlic Bread ($4)

I wouldn’t normally be in any rush to order garlic bread at a restaurant, but ever since loving the Garlic Bread ($4) at Horoki, I’ve been eager to see if I can get my garlic bread fix anywhere else. I’m no garlic bread connoisseur, but the bread in this instance was dry and not particularly flavoursome. Not something I’d bother ordering again, though I suppose if you were dying for garlic bread this might get you by.

Spicy Minced Beef with Bean Curd on Rice ($9.8)

Spicy Minced Beef with Bean Curd on Rice ($9.8)

Ming ordered the Spicy Minced Beef with Bean Curd on Rice ($9.8), and out came a very generous serving indeed. However, it was bland, with barely enough spice for even me to notice – and I’m a spice lightweight compared to Ming. There may have been enough of it to fill most people up easily, but we were left unsatisfied by this dish.

Fried Rice Noodle with Beef ($9.8)

I ordered the Fried Rice Noodle with Beef ($9.8), and I daresay this fared better than Ming’s order. Another generous serving, I was thankfully hungry enough to polish this off without any problems. It can probably best be summed up as sufficient; each component of the dish tasted about as good as you might expect from such a restaurant, but absolutely nothing more.

Overall, Café Soho delivered a barely OK experience. None of the dishes stood out, and 2 of 3 were sub-par. I can’t say there were any major faults, but that’s about it – take from that what you will.

Rating: 11/20

This rating reflects my personal experience at the time of visit.