Warra Warra

Tivoli Arcade Shop 19 & 20

235-251 Bourke St Melbourne, VIC

http://warrawarrakitchen.com.au/

Warra Warra is a neat little Korean restaurant located in a small strip of eateries not many know about, tucked away in the pockets of the city. Enter Tivoli Arcade from Bourke St, go to the end, make a sharp right, and there you’ll find the laid-back little place, quietly bustling in its steady popularity.

Sunflower Seeds

Instead of the side dishes, a.k.a. banchan, you would normally expect to see at any Korean restaurant, we were treated to a dish of roasted and salted sunflower seeds upon sitting down.

Beef Topokki ($17.5)

I don’t always get enough to eat when I’m at work, and today was one of those days, so the starchy goodness of the Beef Topokki ($17.5) appealed massively. The tubes of sticky rice cake soaked up all the sweet and slightly spicy soy, and were tossed through with crunchy veggies, fish cakes, and sliced beef. It’s a flavoursome and fun dish to eat, generous in portion size, and as Chris put it, has a good deal of everything in it. It makes an easy one bowl meal on its own, but is equally good with rice and complimentary sides of kimchi and pickled onions.

Kimchi Stew ($14.7)

I noticed that we always end up ordering the same few dishes at Korean restaurants – a bulgogi-styled dish for Chris, and a spicy stew for me. So the Kimchi Stew ($14.7) should come as no surprise as it sputtered our way to our table with a side of rice.

Kimchi Stew ($14.7)

Though the pot appeared to be quite small, it was chock full with kimchi, tofu, and a satisfying amount of pork. The stew was hearty and spicy, and the ideal way to warm up from the inside out.

The mildness of Warra Warra makes for a relaxing change from the brusque bustle you’ll find at most Korean restaurants. And the smiling, helpful staff are definitely a step (or ten) up as well. Though I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly does it, Warra Warra gives off a faintly quirky vibe that sets it apart from the crowd. This is definitely one restaurant where there’s more to it than what meets the eye.

Rating: 14/20 – now hungry at 11:38pm.

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.

Hakata Gensuke Ramen

168 Russell St 

Melbourne, VIC 3000
http://www.gensuke.com.au/

Not that it’s anything to be proud of, but I would openly admit to not thinking very much of the restaurants along the main strip of Lonsdale and Russell Streets. To me, everything there screams pedestrian pedestrian, thriving only from its optimum location. But then Hakata Genuske Ramen turned up almost overnight, and being forever optimistic when it comes to ramen, I faced the jovial cries of ‘irrashaimase’ with high hopes. 

With a shiny downstairs and an upstairs section devoted to tsukemen – Japanese dipping noodles – to come, Hakata Gensuke dripped with potential, from the Japanese speaking staff to the menu devoted entirely to ramen. The noodles are fully customisable, from the toppings and quantity, right down to the texture of the noodles and the spice level. JUST LIKE JAPAN. On each table sat a buffet of house-made sauces, pickles, fresh garlic, and grind-your-own sesame seeds. JUST LIKE JAPAN. Even the ordering is done on nostalgic little tick sheets. JUST LIKE JAPAN!

Hakata Gyoza ($4.5, 5pcs)

Chris had passed his driving test earlier in the day, and then had proceeded to eat a celebratory cheese pie a couple hours before dinner. So we didn’t so much as order the Hakata Gyoza ($4.5, 5pcs) as we were coerced into it, but it didn’t turn out to be a bad idea. Bite-sized and wrapped in a delicately smooth skin, these pan-fried morsels were a dainty little appetiser that was twee in size, but yo ho ho in flavour. 

Signature Tonkotsu Ramen ($13)

The owner had my interest sniffing the air hopefully, when he said that his goal was to bring the real taste of Japanese ramen to Melbourne. And the Signature Tonkotsu Ramen ($13)? It was perfect. Thick and gelatinous, the soup clung to the noodle with a coat of porky, umami goodness. The slices of charshu were a little lean for Japanese, but the flavour of the soup absolutely blew me away, all the way back to Tokyo. 

Signature Tonkotsu Ramen ($13)

And though I prefer my noodles curly and bouncing all the way into my stomach, these Hakata-styled noodles were a gem, chewy and resilient with just the right amount of bite. 

Black Tonkotsu ($14)

The Black Tonkotsu ($14) is something a little different. Whilst it retained the similarly sticky pork broth, the soup is emulsified with a dark slick of ground black sesame and garlic oil, resulting in an intensely rich and nutty experience. Though less porky than the signature tonkotsu, it is nevertheless packed with flavour, albeit along a very different vein.

I was fortunate enough to be treated to a quick tour backstage after we slurped up the dregs of our ramen, and here’s where the whole production really shines. Not only did the Hakata Gensuke group originate in Japan, but they also imported their noodle making machine, noodle master, and head chef from Japan too. The prices may be a bit steep, and the portions may be a bit small, but there is nowhere else I would rather go. That is, if I can get in – when my work friend (hi Amelia!) tried to visit on opening night, she found the line long enough to rival Chin Chin’s; so much for getting in before the word gets out!

Rating: 16/20 – JUST LIKE JAPAN!

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

Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of Hakata Gensuke Ramen.

Curry Vault Indian Restaurant and Bar

20 Bank Pl 
Melbourne, VIC 3000

http://www.curryvault.com.au/

I’m all about the weird and wonderful. Usually when I go out to restaurants, I always pick the most unusual and unique dishes on the menu, hoping for a new way to tingle my tastebuds. But when I go to an Indian restaurant, I regress to a state similar to a family from a small country town, trying Mexican food for the first time. I try, I really do, but somehow I always end up choosing a curry with medium levels of spice and an inoffensive mix of sauteed tomatoes and onions. 

I do love Indian food though, and it makes a lot of sense. Though the flavour palate is entirely different to Southern Chinese food (aka what I grew up on), you get the similar concept of spices and more spices, and bold flavours that linger on for hours. Forsaking the cheap and cheerful, Ethan and I decided to have our dinner at Curry Vault, a slightly more upmarket Indian restaurant carved into the masonry on the broad and beautiful Bank Place. It really does feel a little bit like a vault, in the best way possible. 

Papadums/Raita

Just moments after we sat down, a cold pitcher of water was set on the table, along with a complimentary pair of airy Papadums for us to snack on, dipped into a cool and minty Raita. 

Aloo Gobi ($15.5)

Under the excuse of getting something with vegetables in it, I chose the Aloo Gobi ($15.5), a dry Punjabi-styled curry. Though filled with spices and the heat of ginger, this dish of fluffy potatoes and cauliflower was comforting and mild, and exactly what I had been looking for. 

Chicken Madras ($20.5)

The aloo gobi was good, but the Chicken Madras ($20.5) was better. Though I usually tend to avoid coconut-based curries, finding them either too sweet or too cloying, this one was heavenly. The chicken was slow-cooked tender, and the sauce rich, creamy, and flavoured with pungent mustard seeds and curry leaves. I knew I shouldn’t have, but I finished up my entire serve of Basmati Rice ($3.9pp) scooping up the dregs of the sauce.

Aloo Gobi ($15.5)/Chicken Madras ($20.5)

The food at Curry Vault was very pricy for what it was, coming to almost $25pp for a meal that was on the smaller side. But our meal was delicious, so I saw no reason to complain. I may not know all that much about curry, but I know a good one when I taste it.

Rating: 13.5/20 – vault 713

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

Sakura Kaiten Sushi

61 Little Collins St

Melbourne, VIC 3000

I eat a lot of sushi, and I’m not very picky. I’ll eat whatever is thrown my way as long as it has vinegared rice, seafood, and possibly a piece of nori holding it together. But then again, nothing much makes me happier than excellent sushi, even if I have to fork out a bundle o’ cash for it. And whilst Sakura Kaiten Sushi definitely isn’t economical like Sushi Hotaru, the promise of fresh seafood had me sold. Stop crying, credit card! 

Sakura Kaiten Sushi is a lot smaller than it appeared from the outside, the deceptively short room abruptly cut in half with a large mirror hung on the back wall. Though dainty, it’s surprisingly fashionable. Slick pop music played loudly in the background whilst Howl’s Moving Castle was projected onto the wall, right next to a traditional cherry blossom mural. The staff were relentlessly cheerful, shouting to each other in Japanese between broad smiles to each and every diner. 

But the real attraction lies in the 20 foot conveyer belt taking up most of the restaurant. Tasty little morsels glided past enticingly, making conversation rather difficult. There’s a $15pp minimum spend, but that’s not too hard. The best stuff is on the Red Plates ($6.8), and then we go down to the White Plates ($5.8) and Black Plates ($4.8), finally ending in the Pink Plates ($3.8), which mostly consisted of seaweed salad, edamame, and a horrific-looking ‘American sushi’ made from frankfurts and  tomato sauce, which I almost tried for its sheer wrongness.   

Seared Scallop Nigiri ($5.8)

The Seared Scallop Nigiri ($5.8) were a fantastic start, melting effortlessly in the mouth with a hint of sweet soy and mayonnaise.

We also picked up a plate of Takoyaki ($5.8) at this point, which were a little cold from spinning around on the train, and didn’t have enough octopus pieces. It was somewhat remedied by the generous amount of sauce and mayonnaise, but let down again by my forgetting to take a picture. Boo. 

Calamari and Sea Urchin Nigiri ($5.8)

The Calamari and Sea Urchin Nigiri ($5.8) caught me with its beautiful presentation, and the taste didn’t disappoint either. The sheet of calamari swathed over the rice was elegantly sleek, topped with a bright orange dollop of sea urchin that was delightfully salty and briny. 

Seaweed Salad ($3.8)

I love Seaweed Salad ($3.8), even if it has been spinning around for a while and the strands at the top had become a little dry. 

Chicken Soba ($5.8) 

Chris, who isn’t crazy about seafood, picked the Chicken Soba ($5.8) off the train. And it was surprisingly good aside from the dry chicken, the al-dente strands of noodles mixed through with a light yet richly nutty dressing. 

Potato and Corn Croquettas ($4.8)

After seeing these spin around a few times without a name attached to them, I took the plunge and found that they were indeed the Potato and Corn Croquettas ($4.8) that I had hoped they were. The centre was soft and fluffy, holding within it sweet kernels of corn.

Salmon Flower with Lobster ($6.8)

I had myself a little bit of a red plate spree at this point, starting with the Salmon Flower with Lobster ($6.8). It tasted every bit as delectable as it looked, the prime salmon sashimi wrapped lovingly around a sweet bud of minced lobster.

Salmon Belly Sashimi ($6.8)

What’s better than salmon sashimi? Salmon Belly Sashimi ($6.8). Though narrow, these strips of salmon were lusciously firm and plump, and absolutely seductive in their taste and texture. 

Scampi Nigiri ($6.8)

Possibly the most expensive item on the train, along with the tuna belly, was the single piece of Scampi Nigiri ($6.8). Crazily sweet and gelatinous with a pearly sheen, this was worth every cent, and then some. 

Tuna Sashimi ($6.8)

I’m not usually a fan of Tuna Sashimi ($6.8), preferring instead... any other option available, but these ruby-red bricks of fish seemed like a safe bet. And whilst its freshness and quality couldn’t be faulted, I’m pretty sure that I will be forever doomed to like this fish canned more than sliced raw.

Tempura Chicken ($5.8)

I had wanted another salmon flower, topped with fish roe this time, but we waited and waited and it never came. So we finished our meal with some Tempura Chicken ($5.8), which was surprisingly nice. The batter coating the fillet of chicken was crisp and light, an impressive feat given that I’ve seen it pass in front of us at least half a dozen times. 

Sakura Kaiten Sushi is definitely not cheap; 11 plates set us back about $65, and we were eating fairly lightly that day too. But thinking back to the quality of the scampi nigiri and salmon belly sashimi, this is a price I am more than happy to pay. If a decent feed is all you want, then Sushi Hotaru is the place to go – Sakura Kaiten Sushi is a place for people who treat their seafood a little more reverently.

Rating: 14.5/20 – scampi my love.

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

La Condesa

234 Johnston Street 

Fitzroy, VIC 3065

http://lacondesa.com.au/

I’m all about the Mexican food, and whilst a beer garden with a taco truck would be a smashing place to dine in summer, I’m not so sure about now, given the winter we’ve been having so far. Luckily, La Condesa has now expanded itself into a little Mexican cantina with a healthy dose of Fitzroy. And whilst it’s more of a bump-and-grind bar at the launch event, we were assured that on any other day, we’d enter the side door to find a sunny little spot for drinks and tacos. 

Tromba Palomas ($10)

Proudly named after a bohemian district in Mexico, La Condesa is pretty big on the tequila. Lining the bar was a row of pink drinks with salt-encrusted rims in the making, which we later found out were Tromba Palomas ($10), a refreshing blend of grapefruit, agave, lime, and of course, tequila. Lightly carbonated and pulled through a beer tap, this is a fun little party starter that won’t break the bank.   

 Tortilla Chips with Guacamole

Ceviche ($12)

 Alitas ($15, dozen; $8, half dozen) 

Elotes ($5)

Then the party food came out. We were served Tortilla Chips with Guacamole, the green dip tangy and just a little spicy. Small Ceviche ($12) rafts of delicate snapper and a citric combination of tomatoes and orange segments. Alitas ($15, dozen; $8, half dozen) – slightly too sweet but very flavoursome chicken wings marinated in chipotle and agave glaze. And finally, Elotes ($5), an inventive take on corn, the juicy kernels mixed with queso, sour cream, and a sprinkling of chipotle peppers.

Unfortunately it was a school night, so we couldn’t stay forever, but the nibbles we managed to try piqued our interest enough for a repeat visit in the near future. But of course, the promise of 3 tacos for $12 isn’t something I would turn down regardless.

Rating: to be continued...

Sweet and Sour Fork dined as a guest of La Condesa.