Sushi Bay, Belconnen, ACT (and Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku, Tokyo)

Squid, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

The Style: I thought the humble sushi train was something that had died out in the noughties until I went to Tokyo last year and found the sushi train concept alive and well. I think it is a kind of cool way to eat Japanese food with an element of kawaii (cute) and quirky. So thankfully I stumbled across Sushi Bay in Belconnen when I was having a horror of a day - the huge, gold flecked conveyer belt, bad eighties music and shouts of irasshaimse were enough to put a smile on my face!!

Salmon, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Grilled salmon, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

The taste: Sushi. Lots of it. Sashimi, nigiri, maki... All was delicious and it seemed to be getting gobbled up as fast as they put it out so it was nice and fresh. 

The service: Being a sushi train, it was pretty much fend for yourself but the chefs were happy to churn out alternative offerings when requested.

The price: From $3.50 up per plate. The pricings were clearly marked but the stack of plates builds up pretty quickly so keep an eye on it.

The location: Westfield Belconnen, ACT.

Useful links:
Sushi Bay Menu
Himawari Sushi

Fried prawn, Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Sushi Bay, Belconnen

Aaaaand just because I can, here was the sushi place in Shinjuku which I practically lived at for a week...here's to Himawari Sushi!! 

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku 

Himawari Sushi, Shinjuku

Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong, NSW

Chicken teriyaki set course, Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong

The style: Roppongi in Wollongong is on Japanese style overload - think red lanterns, sushi posters, fish place mats paper cranes hanging from the roof and a fish tank of koi. There is a tatami room which takes up half of the restaurant (remember to wear good socks if you are sitting here - no shoes). There are a few seats along the sushi bar where you can watch the chef slice and dice and also standard tables at the front of the restaurant.

Salmon sushi, Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong

The taste: I have been eating at Roppongi since my high school Japanese class went there for an excursion in 1993. I love it as much for the fact that the menu and prices have never changed as for the predictability of the food. The chicken teriyaki set course is a long-time favourite. It is on the salty side but comes with a variety of seaweed salad, Japanese coleslaw and rice which soak up the sauce. The shabu-shabu is tough to beat on a chilly winter night with it's hearty mix of meat and vegetables and the sashimi and sushi are always fresh and tasty. All the usual favourites such as agedashi tofu, edamame beans, spring rolls, tonkatsu, udon and many others are available and all are delicious.

Edamame beans, Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong

Fish teriyaki set course, Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong

The service: Like the menu, the service here never varies - polite, quiet and efficient. And the same staff seem to have been there forever. 

The location: Roppongi is located at 102, Market Street, Wollongong between office blocks and a tattoo parlour. It is only a short walk from Keira Street which is one of the main restaurant areas in Wollongong and not hard to find.

Miso soup, Roppongi Japanese Restaurant, Wollongong

Useful links:

Roppongi Japanese Restaurant website

Roppongi Menu

Zen X (Japanese) Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar, Wagga Wagga

Tempura prawn and avocado sushi, Zen X Japanese, Wagga Wagga

Chicken teriyaki, Zen X Japanese, Wagga Wagga

Red Lanterns. Check. Origami cranes. Check. Stone sculpture in pebbles. Check. All of the Japanese restaurant cliches are to be found at Zen X in Wagga Wagga! The fact that there is a Japanese restaurant in Wagga at all is one of those nice, unexpected things that country NSW throws at you every now and again.

Zen X offers up the standard Japanese menu with sushi, teriyaki chicken, yakitori and a few other faithful favourites jostling for position on the menu. Zen X provides a nice little touch with free wasabi peas and pickled vegetables on arrival. The standard of the food is reasonable - it is fresh and tasty but not a blow-your socks-off amazing experience. However, it is more than good enough to satisfy your cravings for all things Japanese while you are in Wagga Wagga. The real winner on the menu is the tempura prawn sushi and the miso soup is also above standard.

Zen X Japanese Wagga Wagga

The service at Zen X is all softly spoken politeness and the food comes out with accuracy and efficiency which is not always the case in country NSW where time seems to run at a generally slower and more peaceful pace.

Zen X is located at xx and also offers a teppanyaki experience and private tatami rooms if you are looking to celebrate.

Miso soup, Zen X Japanese, Wagga Wagga

Tatami rooms, Zen X Japanese, Wagga Wagga

Useful Links:

Zen X website

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The Style: Shogun Teppanyaki is decked out in all things Japanese - think of all the Japanese cliches you can, scale it back a bit and add a pinch of style - that should paint a picture in your mind of Shogun. The restaurant is actually quite a nice place to be - they seem to have pulled it off and in July while I was there, there was a great view of the outdoor ice skating rink which provided some additional entertainment (so long as you like watching people crash in a heap while you eat!).

Agedashi Tofu, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

Pork in ginger sauce, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The Taste: The food at Shogun Teppanyaki is not going to win a gold medal for the best Japanese food you have ever tasted but it is also far from the worst. The menu has a decent selection of dishes with all the Japanese favourites like sushi, sashimi and teriyaki making the list. I ordered a pork dish which had a nice but mildly bland flavour. The salad was a little odd, basically just lettuce leaves in a sweetish dressing. It didn't do a lot to add a fresh element to the dish because it too was a little bland. The sushi was fresh, tasty and looked fantastic. Overall, the food certainly wouldn't blow your socks off but it was mildly pleasant and nothing to complain about.

Salad, Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City

The crowd: There was a mix of couples and families at Shogun Teppanyaki - the families seemed to be enjoying the fun of catching food thrown by the teppanyaki chef - there were a few groups opting for this and all seemed to be really enjoying the show. 

The price: The meals here are reasonably priced with mains in the $15 - $25 bracket and the portions are generous. I guess Shogun Teppanyaki is a classic case of 'you get what you pay for.' If you want a pleasant but not spectacular meal that wont break the bank, this is the place. If you want a really delicate, fresh Japanese meal, try somewhere else.

The Location: Shogun Teppanyaki is located upstairs in the Garema Centre off Bunda Street (number 70), Canberra. 

Shogun Teppanyaki, Canberra City