Espresso Warriors - Parramatta, NSW

We are in such a blessed time to be living in Parramatta. I almost feel like every single day, I find the area thriving, expanding and become more and more like its eastern counterpart. There have been so many new openings that I've barely been able to keep up but I think out of everything that has recently opened, the Mrs is probably the most excited about Espresso Warriors and for one reason: eggettes. These little bubbly waffles from my hometown have seemingly overtaken the foodie world...with every rendition getting more and more pretty and extravagant. Whilst I personally am not a fan of paying exorbitant amounts of money for things I used to be able to get on the streets of Hong Kong for mere dollars, I do understand the attraction the Mrs (and everyone else) has to these items and as a result, we find ourselves at Espresso Warriors right on the week they opened, having brunch and trying out their delectable food items.

Despite having only just opened, Espresso Warriors seems to be getting a pretty steady flow of traffic and to be honest, they are situated in the MOST optimal position being right next to EVENT cinemas and the escalators from all the other food options this side of Church Street. We were very anxious about finding a table since there's been a bit of 'gram hype about this place so we got there early and quickly parked our car and power walked over just in case it would be packed out. We were fortunate to get there earlier and we got a table straight away! Score!

The fitout is a mix of stripped out industrial with green overlaid in the form of hanging pot plants and a greenery covered ceiling which gives a very serene feeling...a separation or a form of escape from the crowded shopping mall outside. One thing that stands out the most from start to finish is how attentive and how impeccable their service is. You really do feel very well taken care of and they make sure to check in with you very frequently so kudos to them! The menu is extensive and I was very interested in the lunch options but they didn't have the lunch availability times on the menu so I wasn't sure if we could order it. I ordered the Golden Eggs Benedict whilst the Mrs ordered the Morning Hash.

The Morning Hash consists of a rustic potato rosti topped with broccolini, rocket, bacon, poached eggs and salsa verde. A very moreish and delicious package altogether though initially, the poached eggs did come out somewhat overdone but they were more than happy to provide us with two replacements which was fantastic!

In my opinion, my Golden Eggs Benedict was way more delicious though as the eggs were done perfectly: a crispy layer of fried panko enveloping a perfectly poached egg with a gooey, golden centre. I normally don't like kale but I really, really enjoyed it in this dish...a very nice, nutty flavour from the slight sauteed they gave it. I also paired mine with smoked salmon which is always delightful to have over a nice piece of toasted brioche.

We would not have left today without trying the eggettes of course! But which to choose? Since we live so close, we heeded the advice of the staff and started with the Tokyo Waffle so we can come back later anytime and try the LA waffles. The Mrs was watching them prepare the dish with a very keen eye and spent the whole waiting period mumbling to herself about what she would have done when making the eggettes. The Tokyo Waffle is a green-tea flavoured eggette housing mochi, coconut, taro ice cream with taro sauce and as a whole, the dessert was very pretty and the flavours worked rather well together. The only point of improvement though would be the eggette...it sort of came a little deflated so it would have been better if the bubbles maintained their shape and crispiness. It was also hard to pick up the cone and take a photo so I made the suggestion of serving it on a ice cream cone holder instead of a plate (but I'm sure they've considered that as well).

Overall, we had a wonderful time at Espresso Warriors and hopefully, we'll be able to grab a table as easily as we did this time to try their other lunch and brunch options. I doubt it'll be as easy next time though since I definitely anticipate that their customer-base will expand exponentially in the days to come!

Mikazuki - Parramatta, NSW

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm the dictionary-definition of overcommitment. I mean that in terms of my work life and my home life. At work, things have been a bit hectic so obviously, I end up coming home tired. What little time I've had to myself, I've devoted to other hobbies (preparing to cosplay at Supanova/SMASH), Overwatch and Gym. With all that I've got on, I've barely had the motivation to jump on and write any posts...which isn't to say I have been busy eating out, I just haven't had the time to put my words onto the web.

Today, I made the commitment to jump back on and try to blog about all the places that we've been to, starting with Mikazuki. Boy, the ramen game in Parramatta has changed. Before, the best you could probably get was the poor excuse for ramen from any of the Korean run Japanese restaurants but finally, someone saw the massive gold mine that is Parramatta and decided to capitalise on the ramen boom early! Situated right underneath the new Western Sydney University building on Smith Street, the place is a PERFECT stop for hungry post-lecture feeds and afterwork sushi.

I'll compile all my recent visits into one post as I feel like I can only give the place an appropriate review if I base my opinions on the many items I've sampled thus far. Our first visit came shortly after I was made aware of the place via Instagram (as is the case with most places I visit). The Mrs and I headed over for dinner one night shortly after they'd opened for business but unfortunately, they ran out of ramen stock due to a busy lunch service. We settled on having the donburi and sushi that night instead.

First, I'll elaborate on the part that needs the most improvement: their donburi selection though wide, is not particularly executed well. This is in no means to say that they're bad or not delicious, it's more like...for the price you pay, there's not much special about it. Maybe it was the food we had that night but the rice was barely warm on my Spicy Karaage Don and the karaage wasn't crispy. The spicy mayo and runny egg went well with it but when the other components don't match up, it really brings down the overall quality of the dish. Same goes for the Katsu Curry, the Katsu was really nice (crispy, juicy and meaty) but the curry wasn't hot (temperature) and the rice was barely warm which didn't sit well with me...rice should always be piping hot and should always leave a warm feeling in your stomach.

Now, to the bit that was very impressive: the sushi. I can vouch for Mikazuki and say that they probably have one of (if not the most) highest quality sushi in Parramatta at the very moment. Highest quality in terms of authenticity and freshness. Each piece looked and felt as if it was expertly cut and formed by someone who had the highest degree of training and experience. The rice, in this regard, was the perfect temperature and seasoned well. In terms of value, you're not really going to be able to buy quantity (unless you splurge on a platter for yourself) but for what you are paying for, you're definitely getting some high quality offerings.

On our second and third visit, ramen was available! Of course, since these were what we'd been waiting for, we wasted no time in deciding our orders and quickly got to chowing down. I ordered the Spicy Miso ramen whilst the Mrs order the Black Garlic Tonkotsu. In both cases, the noodles were the weakest link as they are softer than what you usually get but the stock is spot on! The thickness and richness in fat and flavour is exactly what ramen should at the very least be like! My spicy miso had the typical nutty, fermented saltiness that you get from Miso Ramen but with some added spiciness that really accentuates the whole bowl. If I had to liken it to any ramen that's currently available in Sydney, I'd say it would be closest to Manmaruya only with much better chashu. To be honest, whilst it's definitely not on the same level as Ryo's or Gumshara, this is a really big development for Parramatta and I'm just glad we at least have the option close by.

On our third visit, we also opted to try the Wagyu Beef Tataki as well. When I have Beef Tataki, I always compare it to one of the best I've had (the Wagyu Tataki at Sushi Tei in Martin Place) and whilst not as rich or as tender, the beef does has a really nice texture and the sauce is very light and refreshing.

As I said above, I'm committing to blogging on a more frequent basis over the next fortnight. Parramatta is evolving at a rapid pace and I want to make sure that I document all the newly opened places as soon as I can. Please look forward to all my upcoming posts!