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 a variety of seating options adds interest to the long narrow venue.
There are lots of izakaya (tapas) dishes to share, such as Vegetable or prawn tempura, Pork gyoza (not our favourite rendition of this dish), a deliciously generous Agedashi Tofu, Sashimi, Chicken yakitori, Salmon carpaccio with wasabi (the most expensive entrée at $15.50), and Nam’s Mother pancake. (Don’t let your imagination go too wild with the name. It’s actually a calamari and chive pancake with soy-flavoured dipping sauce – quite delicious!)
Salads and stir-fried vegetables with meat and rice are great value at $10 – $15, or order a main course such as Teriyaki chicken, Wasabi steak or salmon, or the Bella Donna, which combines steak with tempura vegetables served over soba or udon noodles. At $20 – $26 these meals are generous serves, the meals arrive promptly and the prices are reasonable.
Feeling hungry? Then why not splurge on a Hachi Gozen – $30.90 for a feast of eight dishes (Tempura, Salmon sashimi, Karaage, Gyoza, Salad, Rice, Miso soup and a choice of teriyaki chicken, beef or pork), or a Hachi Hotpot feast for two ($44 for two people).
Thankfully it’s not the inscrutable samurai who’s serving us tonight. He’s on the wall, looking down on us. The wait staff, by contrast, bring us obliging and cheerful service of the most genteel kind, our used chopsticks and plates whisked away unobtrusively as the wait staff glide past.
As expected, this licensed bar specialises in Japanese beverages: sake, shochu and umeshu (plum wine), whisky and beer, with Sapporo on tap. Hachi also allows BYO wine for $2 per glass/person, giving us the best of both worlds.
Hachi is casual, comfortable and stylish; a very pleasant place to meet up with friends or to enjoy a good value dinner for two.
2249 Gold Coast Highway, Nobby Beach; Open: Tues – Thurs 5pm – 10pm; Fri 5pm – late; Sat, Sun 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – late; Ph: 07 5572 6251