Maedaya

398-400 Bridge Rd 

Richmond, VIC 3121

As the first izakaya I’ve ever been to, Maedaya will always hold a special place in my heart and stomach. And though I’m currently unemployed, Chris is a lovely person, and still takes me out for lovely dinners. What a sweetheart.

As a Melbourne favourite, not much has changed about this Japanese drinking hole. Sure, they’ve bought out the space next door and filled it with cosy booths, and sure, the enormous A2 menu has been transcribed over to an iPad ordering system. But the basics remain the same – a huge variety of Japanese drinking food accompanied by cheap cocktails and Asian liquors. 

Maedaya Tsukune Set ($11)

Though now a feature of at least one other izakaya around town, the grill is still one of Maedaya’s drawcards. The sizzling and flames are as good as a show, and we ordered the Maedaya Tsukune Set ($11) right off the hot coals. The five skewers of minced chicken balls, dipped in a sweet soy marinade, were savoury and flavoursome, and garnished with a variety of toppings. The spicy mayo was the unanimous favourite, though we were also fond of the ground black pepper. The rest (garlic, chilli, wasabi mayo) were less memorable, but were just as tasty and perfect with a drink.

Inari Kushi ($2.8)

And a lone Inari Kushi ($2.8). The sheets of tofu were rolled up and basted with soy and flakes of chilli, its vegetarian sweetness a contrast to the meaty chicken skewers. 

Takoyaki ($5.5, 6pcs)

When I went to Japan, I ate Takoyaki ($5.5, 6pcs) whenever I could get them, even if I’d just had a meal. And whilst I’ve yet to find some in Australia that are just as good, these certainly hit the spot. Crisp on the outside with a gooey, creamy centre and chewy octopus pieces, these are definitely some of the better takoyaki I’ve had outside of Japan. 

Yaki Buta ($8.5)

We soon found that ordering at Maedaya is a bit of an ordeal. There are so many dishes but so little stomach! The Yaki Buta ($8.5) however was a good decision, the thin slices of grilled pork belly falling apart even as we picked them up, before melting completely in the mouth with a burst of gingery soy and caramelised fatty edges. 

Salt and Pepper Squid Salad ($8.5, regular)

The Salt and Pepper Squid Salad ($8.5, regular) was a slightly healthier option after our last few dishes. Though nothing special, the quality of this dish was a treat. Doused in sweet chilli sauce, the pieces of calamari were fresh and springy, and the bed of garden salad was crunchy and sprightly, doused in a moreish sesame dressing. 

Agedashi Tofu ($6)

I am proud to say that I’ve more or less made a full convert of Chris when it comes to tofu, and his favourite rendition would be Agedashi Tofu ($6). The clean broth of this version lacked the strong umami that I like, but the tofu itself was silken and wobbly in its batter, and generally rather lovely. 

Yakibuta Rice ($5)

Having eyed it a couple times throughout our meal, we succumbed and got a plate of Yakibuta Rice ($5) and I have to say, it leaves fried rice for dead. The mound of rice was sticky and rich, having been infused with the cooking juices of the pork belly served on top. The slivers of ginger added lightness; this was essentially the perfect one-bowl meal. 

Ika Sansai ($3)

And I insisted on some Ika Sansai ($3) to go with the rice, even though we really didn’t need it. Still, what’s not to like about chewy pieces of octopus and veggies marinated in a sweet chilli paste?

We had over-ordered, leaving ourselves with no room for Maedaya’s signature cheesecake. The bottom line when it comes to Maedaya is simple yet tasty drinking food, served at knockdown prices – our meal only came to $50! Surely that’s more than enough reason as to why the wait time is an hour at 7pm on a Sunday night.

Rating: 14.5/20 – because it’s worth it.

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

Gyoza Douraku

147 Bourke St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000

http://www.gyozadouraku.com.au/

Hey all, it’s Chris here again, taking the reins for a blog post while Ming prepares for registration exams and is generally incredibly busy. Enjoy!

I’ve always known Melbourne’s CBD is wonderfully packed with great places to eat, but I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated this fact more than the night Ming and I tried Gyoza Douraku – our original plan was to go to Gangnam Pocha, only to find that they had closed down. Not fazed for even a second, Ming instead whisked us a mere 2 doors down the street to Gyoza Douraku.

Gyoza Douraku is a quaint little Japanese restaurant along Bourke St. You’d be hard-pressed to fit a large group of people through the cramped entrance, but thankfully the space opens up toward the back, showing off a cosy wooden interior.

Here you’ll find a tapas-style menu, with a wide variety of smaller dishes all available for the price of $6.50. Like any good tapas restaurant, they also have an extensive drinks list – including wines, sakes, $14 shochu cocktails and all sorts of other Japanese beverages

Tori no Karaage ($6.5)

We ordered a varied selection of their small tapas-style dishes, starting with their Tori No Karaage ($6.5). I’m not sure what makes this different from their popcorn chicken, but I couldn’t care less upon biting into one of these hot and crispy morsels. The juicy chicken was offset with a satisfying crunch from the batter, as well as the creamy mayo alongside it.

Salmon Sashimi ($6.5, 4pcs)

Contrasting with the rich fried chicken, the Salmon Sashimi ($6.5, 4pcs) that arrived next had an impressively fresh taste to it. These slices of salmon had a great firm texture to bite which gave to a softer, richer meat on the tongue.

Agedashi Tofu ($6.5)

Next up was our Agedashi Tofu ($6.5), which was plump and flavoursome in its sweet broth. Rather than some tofus which are a bit dry (and bland) or over-sauced (and soggy), this hit the sweet spot between the two.

Having taken a little longer to cook, our gyoza arrived as we were reaching the tail end of our other dishes. Provided alongside your gyoza is a DIY sauce kit, complete with Japanese Grain Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Chili Oil, Sesame Oil, Roasted Sesame Seeds, and Fresh Crushed Garlic. Unless you prefer your dumplings plain like me, chances are you’ll find something to suit you here. (It’d also be nice if the kit didn’t take up so much table space, but I doubt much can be done about that)

Pan-Fried Pork and Garlic Gyoza ($3.5, 6pcs)

The first gyoza we tried were the Pan-Fried Pork and Garlic Gyoza ($3.5, 6pcs). These tasted less of pork and more strongly of garlic than I expected, but they were nice and juicy whilst still holding together remarkably well.

Steamed Chef's Special ($6.5, 6pcs)

We also tried the steamed Chef’s Special Gyoza ($6.5, 6pcs), which were a much more balanced affair. The pork, prawn and vegetable blended in together until they were almost indistinguishable, and were rather mild when compared to the pork and garlic gyoza we had just had. However, that didn’t keep the familiar taste from being enjoyable.

Gyoza Douraku is a gem - their food set nary a foot wrong for us, and for a tapas-style menu the portions are nicely sized and very reasonably priced. We may not have tried the drinks, but we were certainly very tempted by the colourful concoctions being delivered to nearby tables. If that alongside a range of tasty $6.50 dishes appeals to you, be sure to check it out.

Rating: 13.5/20

This rating reflects my (Chris’) 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. 

Izakaya Jiro

830 Glenferrie Rd 
Hawthorn, VIC 3122

http://www.izakayajiro.com.au/

I’ve worked out the secret to the perfect izakaya experience – do it like the Japanese. Izakaya dining, though satisfying, can rack up quite the bill. So instead of filling up on nothing but nibbles, spend an hour or two snacking on sashimi and fried chicken and sipping on sake, before finishing up with a hearty rice or noodle dish. 

Chris giving me what I hope is an inadvertent evil eye

As far as I can work out, Izakaya Jiro is relatively new addition that appeared quietly amongst the strip or restaurants along Glenferrie Road, and seems like the real deal. The modestly-sized restaurant is a snug cross between the cluttered comfort of a Japanese izakaya, and the languid warmth of a tapas bar. Service is unobtrusive but in true Japanese fashion, endlessly attentive and welcoming. 

Hakutsuru Mini Glass ($10, 120mL)

Sake may be the classic Japanese tipple, but I am substantially more partial to umeshu, a liqueur made from steeping plums in alcohol and sugar. The Hakutsuru Mini Glass ($10, 120mL), served on the rocks, was delicately invigorating. The flaxen liquid was a harmonious balance of sweet and sour, with a dainty fruitiness.

Renkon Chips ($4)

Most people START their meal with Renkon Chips ($4), but I actually ordered it as the finale, when the sight of plate after plate of crispy lotus root slices coming out of the kitchen became too much. This was a horrible yet fantastic decision – whilst the crunchy chips made for a delicious snack, they were very substantial, nudging out any room in my stomach for dessert (well not quite; we did manage to fit in a kiddie-sized serving of cold rock afterwards). 

Takoyaki ($6, 5 pieces)

Of course I ordered the Takoyaki ($6, 5 pieces), how could I not? Whilst still not as good as Japan, these were the best I’ve had in Melbourne, hands down. They were crisp with a hot, smooth center, a large piece of octopus hidden in the middle, and garnished lightly with all the trimmings.

Agedashi Tofu ($6, 4 pieces)

Compared to the takoyaki, the Agedashi Tofu ($6, 4 pieces) could’ve been a lot crunchier. That aside though, the dashi broth the quivery cubes of tofu sat in was a subtle shade of umami, and was overall a reliable rendition of a classic. 

Butabara ($3.5ea)/Tsukune ($2.8ea)/Gyu Tongue ($3.8ea)

Like Maedaya, Izakaya Jiro has a dedicated charcoal grill, where skewers are made to order. We indulged in the Tsukune ($2.8ea), Gyu Tongue ($3.8ea), and Butabara ($3.5ea), which though diminutive, were jammed with flavour. The tsukune were little balls of chicken mince generously seasoned with ginger; the folds of beef tongue were immaculately chewy and smoky; and the small pieces of pork belly with its charred, fatty edges tasted even better than bacon. 

Beef Yakisoba ($12.8)

And in true Japanese fashion, we finished the meal with a plate of Beef Yakisoba ($12.8). Hot off the grill, the noodles were tossed in a mixture of tender beef slices and fresh vegetables, topped with swaying bonito flakes. They were a bit lack-lustre after the selection of snacks we had just consumed, but made for a generous filler to end the meal with.

I feel like a good izakaya is always more than the sum of its parts, and this is certainly the case here. Not to say that the food or service was mediocre, but when put together, it turned something good into something great. As we’ve only touched upon a small portion of the menu (and umeshus), I’m keen to come back. Izakaya Jiro has it going on.

Rating: 16/20 – jiro-sama

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

Akachochin

33 Dukes Walk

South Wharf, VIC 3006

http://www.akachochin.com.au/

Chris is pretty awesome. He knows me very well, so instead of buying me shiny things and fluffy toys for our anniversary, he offered to take me out for some lovely lovely meals. I’ve wanted to visit Akachochin since it opened, so that’s made for perfect perfection. 

Named for the distinctive red lanterns that hang from the eaves of izakayas, Akahochin is a part of the strip of new eateries that has recently sprung up on the once-barren South Wharf. It is a bit out of the way however, so whilst it’s gotten abundant blogger coverage in the few months it’s been around, the restaurant never got to half full the entire night. And it was a Saturday too! Maybe it was the unseasonable heat keeping punters from making the trek. 

Choya Umeshu ($8, 50mL)

Choya Umeshu ($8, 50mL)

Every since that ‘disaster’ at Izakaya Den where I had to drink a whole carafe of sake myself because Chris didn’t like it, I haven’t been game enough to order sake at a restaurant, knowing full well that I’ll have to drink it all. So to be on the safe side I ordered the Choya Umeshu ($8, 50mL) instead. It was a lovely little tipple – a sweet amber liquid that’s intensely plummy. Chris declared that it tasted like plum pudding, and gave it a big thumbs-up, deeming it to be the best straight-up alcoholic drink he’s ever had. 

Appetiser

To start things off, we were served a small appetizer of blanched vegetables. It wasn’t exactly appetising, tossed in a small amount of sesame oil and rather flavourless. To add insult to injury, I noticed that later in the night the appetiser had morphed into a miniscule quail leg instead. WHAT A BUMMER.

Hiramasa Namerou with Rice Crackers ($16)

Akachochin’s menu is rather expansive compared to most Japanese places, so I just sort of blundered around and jabbed at items on the menu that I liked the sound of. 10 minutes later, out came the Hiramasa Namerou with Rice Crackers ($16), aka kingfish tartar seasoned with miso, wasabi, and spring onion. The small mound of unassuming (and I’ll have to admit, slightly unappetizing looking) fish packed a huge wallop of flavour, the silken kingfish bound together by the umami of the miso and pungent wasabi. 

Hiramasa Namerou with Rice Crackers ($16)

What really sealed the deal though were the rice crackers. Translucent like crinkled tissue paper, the crispy shards held the hint of a crunch before dissolving on the tongue, leaving nothing but the tartar. However as tasty as this dish was, it was also extremely salty, especially given the small quantity of crackers. It was disappointing to see the sweetness of the delicate kingfish disappearing under the copious embellishment by other spices. 

Anago Nigiri Sushi ($8)

Next up was a pair of Anago Nigiri Sushi ($8). I have always wanted to try the fabled sea eel, having read that it was infinitely more buttery and delicious than the regular kind. I found that statement to be both true and not true – whilst the flesh was tender to the point of coming apart spontaneously in the mouth, the flavours were much too mild. It could have probably benefited from a few more seconds of caramelisation under the blowtorch, and a slightly thicker glaze of the sweet soy. It would’ve been even better had the rice not collapsed with the merest prodding by our chopsticks. It was a good pair of sushi but then again, I do have the meal at Shira Nui to compare it to. 

Chicken Wing Dumpling ($15 for 2)

When a chicken wing and a dumpling love each other very much, they get together and make a Chicken Wing Dumpling ($15 for 2). And it’s a beautiful, beautiful child they had created.  My senses got all confused when this landed on the table; my nose smelt fried chicken and dumplings, but my eyes saw nothing but really fat chicken arms. But my taste buds overruled them all, deeming that this was delicious and that is final. It was prime dumpling mince (heavy on the vegetables and liberal with ginger) stuffed into a prime deboned chicken wing, then fried. It shouldn’t work but it really, really does. Dumpling skins made of flour are so last year. 

Avocado Shake Roll ($11)

I didn’t really want sashimi but I felt like that wouldn’t be doing the long sushi bar we were sitting at justice, so I compromised with myself and ordered a Avocado Shake Roll ($11), a simple inside-out sushi of salmon and avocado, rolled in Texta-orange fish roe. It was a sushi roll done with delicacy and balance, neither the plump fish nor the lightly tangy rice overwhelming the other. 

Grilled Wagyu ($18)

I had mostly agreed to order this dish to appease Chris, who prefers chowing down on land animals to sea critters, but the Grilled Wagyu ($18) turned out to be the highlight of the evening. It isn’t all that remarkable when you first place it on the tongue but with each chew a little more of the decadent richness from the heavy-duty marbling is released, until your eyes are rolling back in our head as you marvel at how a simple piece of beef could taste so good. I loved how there was just a little bit of soy to give the beef an Asian twist, but it was really all about the juicy beef and slightly crisp edges. 

Butterfish Nitsuke with Kinpira Gobo ($16)

We wrapped up the savouries with Butterfish Nitsuke with Kinpira Gobo ($16), a large, rustic bowl holding two firm squares of butterfish, and a delicate selection of vegetables. The butterfish was a lot, well, more buttery than I had anticipated, but I wasn’t too keen on the slightly spongy and dry texture of the fish. It was humbly done up in a ginger soy that was comforting and flavoursome. 

Sweet Potato Brulee ($12)

Sweet Potato Brulee ($12)

You may have noticed by now that we’re a little bit cray-cray for crème brulee-ay. The Sweet Potato Brulee ($12) is a fascinating twist on the classic custard dessert. The sweet potato custard was impressively smooth and light for something starch-based, and slightly more savoury than you’d expect. The toffee on top, whilst thick, was chewy instead of crunchy. There was the danger of dragging the entire sheet of sugar off the dessert with every spoonful.

 I liked Akachochin, but I didn’t love Akachochin. The service and the restaurant were lovely, and the food was all somewhere between tasty and astounding. Given all the good reviews floating in cyberspace however, I expected Akachochin to be something phenomenal. It ended up being no more, and no less than a restaurant styled after a Japanese drinking house – a good place for drinks, nibbles, and companionship.

Rating: 15/20 – do the akachakachochin!

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