Izakaya Ichi

Sitting pretty amongst laminex diners, Izakaya Ichi is as cute as a Ningyō Kabuki doll. With fairy lights winking and the dining wagon calling, there are lots of reasons to check out this little gem. Owned by Young Hun Cha, owner of the Sushi 1 chain, the bar opened in late 2015, the flagship (he […]

An interview with Adam Lane, Chef de Cuisine, Kiyomi

NOTE: Adam Lane is now Chef de Cuisine at Yamagen, QT Gold Coast. Don’t you love it when internationally acclaimed chefs decide to settle on the Gold Coast? We spoke with Kiyomi’s Chef de Cuisine Adam Lane (formerly of Tetsuya’s, David Thompson’s Nahm as well as Nobu in London, before holding the position of Head […]

Cha Cha Japanese

Cha Cha in Broadbeach is our other dining room. There’s a saying in our house, ‘Let’s eat at Jack’s tonight.’ We’re talking about Jack and Maiko Suzue’s restaurant ‘Cha Cha’. It’s our home away from home, not in the ‘dress up, let’s celebrate’ sort of way, more like the place we can rely on to […]

Misono Japanese Steakhouse

We’re having one of those D & M (deep and meaningful) discussions about why people keep coming back to their favourite restaurant –a signature dish, great service, comfort, price and proximity… “It’s not just about the food, of course, it’s about the show,” the Main Squeeze puts in his two cents worth. He means the […]

Hachi

Following seven years in Palm Beach, Nam Sukhyum has opened a second Hachi in Nobby Beach, adding variety to the already popular highway front strip. It’s an ambient space with its two-piece floating ceiling and smart bar, the open kitchen showing off the chefs hard at work. Effective use of stone and wood together with […]

Miami Marketta Street Food Market

UPDATE May 2015: The crowds have settled a little, but The Marketta Street Food Market is still a happening event. There’s been the welcome addition of a souvlaki stall and there’s a real family feel happening in this now twice-weekly event (Friday and Saturday nights). Our favourite dining time is still early enough to avoid […]

Wazen

You know how it is… you’ve tried to choose a healthy meal, only to find you’re half starving at the end of it. Perhaps you’d decided on a couple of share plates and drawn the shortest straw, or maybe that plate of sashimi cost $28 for five pieces of fish? Then you weren’t at Wazen. […]

Kiyomi

Are you a food tourist? Is dining out one of the agenda items on your travel itinerary? If you research dining possibilities at each destination, reading about great chefs, exciting signature dishes and cultural food experiences, then you’re one of us! We don’t always have to travel to indulge in food tourism. Sometimes we luck […]

Etsu Izakaya

“There was a time when people went out just to enjoy a really good meal. Restaurants’ reputations were built on the quality of their food. That’s all changed. Now, restaurants must provide the whole package. It’s not just about the food. We’re in the entertainment industry. We have to give someone a great experience. Bad […]

Hakataya Ramen

How can a restaurant survive with only six items on the menu? Yet Hakataya’s trade is the envy of many other local establishments. Open for 14 hours a day every day, Hakataya’s on every blogger’s list of ‘must do’ places, and highly recommended as the ultimate cheap and cheerful by travellers. Don’t expect somewhere grand, […]