TOUKA 東家 Japanese Yakiniku Restaurant & Bar - Parramatta, NSW

The Mrs and I have been to Touka once before and during that first dinner, we were so impressed with the decor, the food and the concept that I named it one of the top 10 Japanese restaurants in Parramatta. Today, the Mrs and I were lucky enough to have been invited back to try their new lunch menu and boy, were we even more impressed! 

Before we jump straight into it, the Mrs and I were discussing this earlier today and it occurred to us that westies might not have an idea about what Yakiniku is and what's differentiates it from other table-top barbecue experiences (i.e. the more commonly found Korean BBQ and Chinese style skewer barbecue). Since more yakiniku restaurants are now open in the west, it should be about time that we spread awareness about why people should know about yakiniku and why it's so amazing.

What is yakiniku?

Yakiniku (焼肉) quite literally translates into "grilled meat" and is the Japanese form of table top barbecue. If my facts are correct, this method of eating was introduced to Japan as "Korean cuisine" and became wide-spread in Japan after the second world war. This will be why a number of cuts found in yakiniku have Japanese translated names of cuts you would regularly find in KBBQ (i.e Karubi). In Sydney, the practice was popularised by the chain of restaurants opened by I's Group (Rengaya, Suminoya and Koh-ya) and is quite common place in the city's CBD and northern suburbs. It's only within the last few years that I've seen yakiniku restaurants open up west-way (with the most recent addition being Yakiniku Kosu in Castle Towers).

How is it different from Korean BBQ?

You might say "isn't it exactly the same as Korean BBQ? You still grill meat on a table don't you?"...well, if this is your response I urge you to try Yakiniku once and tell me it's the same. Though the roots of yakiniku might well be Korean, the methodology and execution behind it is so, SO different. Like with everything the Japanese take in, they really put the effort into honing it, perfecting it and elevating something simple into something spectacular. Whereas with Korean BBQ, you have some decently good quality meat that's grilled tabletop, no different from how you would grill a steak at home...yakiniku serves the various cuts of meat in thin, bite size slices and from the moment you bite into any piece of yakiniku meat, you can already tell that the quality is so much higher.

I'm not saying Korean BBQ is low quality or that it's in any way, not good enough but do give yakiniku a try. Literally, the moment you do give it a try, you'll immediately be able to see the difference in the quality of the meat.

So now that we've established what yakiniku is and why you should try it, the next question might be "why isn't it as common or as well known as the Korean counterpart?"...well, the most obvious answer to that would be population spread and the relative price-point to entry. See, to my understanding, Sydney's Japanese population is largely in the CBD and the North, whereas the west is where the Korean community chose to settle (Strathfield, Burwood, Blacktown). Obviously, restaurants will first pop up to serve the local community who has a demand for it and then, people of other cultures will eventually venture out and try stuff if they're told it's good (I imagine, that's how most people learnt to appreciate Korean BBQ). 

In terms of price-point, most yakiniku restaurants operate an All-You-Can-Eat/Order for 90 minutes model for anywhere ranging from $35 - $85 p.p (bit expensive to ask everyone in your party to pay that much when in KBBQ, you can order a number of plates and split) and if they don't operate in that model (like Rengaya which has that option but focuses more on providing higher quality meats on an ala-carte basis) the number of pieces of meat you get for each dish you order might turn people away (like I said earlier, it's generally thinner, smaller slices and based on first glance alone, KBBQ might seem like a better value proposition)

If either of the above points has ever stopped you from trying yakiniku, this will be why you should try their special lunch! The Mrs and I left lunch today singing Touka's praises because we had such a great time and we truly, truly believe that what we got today was FANTASTIC value-for-money! So, for myself, I ordered the 4 choice BBQ Set where I chose the Ox Tongue, Beef Rib, Beef Inside Skirt and the Pork Belly. On the menu, this is costs $22.50 whereby you also get a bowl of rice, miso soup and a salad. On arrival, the each portion of meat had five slices available totalling a variety of 20 slices of decadent, delicious meat for one person. To help you put that into perspective about just how good that is, my parents went to Musou Yakiniku in the CBD (on Pitt Street) where they also had a similar special lunch menu....except they charge $29.90 per person, you only get to choose 3 meats and according to my parents, you get 3 slices of meat per selection. That's a difference of $7.40 and 11 pieces of meat...you can't that value. Not saying don't visit Musou Yakiniku (we've also been there and we loved it) but maybe, splurge and treat yourself to their BBQ buffet.

And it's not just value, the meat was genuinely, supremely delicious! I ate it in the order of Ox Tongue first (cause it cooks the quickest), Inside Skirt second (my favourite cut at Suminoya), Pork Belly Third (so fatty and savoury) and I saved the best for last and cooked the Beef Rib to finish. My GOD that Beef Rib was delicious...barely any chew at all and so much marbling that it coated the back of my throat in delicious sweet beef fat. Honestly, I whole-heartedly intend to eat at Touka a lot more now that I know that kind of deal is available and next time, I'm going to just treat myself and quadruple down on the beef rib. It's actually amazing that they've set up the menu where they don't explicitly restrict it to one order per meat type...at Suminoya, you can only order as many plates of Ox Tongue as you want IF you order the higher-end buffet...the standard buffer limits it to one order per diner!

*EDIT*: I've recently been informed that the menu didn't state it but there is a limit of one order of each type of meat for the special menu. Mental note: always get the Beef Rib.

Unfortunately, this is not that Beef Rib (just harami)...the Beef Rib was so delicious I ate it before I realised I hadn't taken a photo....

The Mrs opted to try their other lunch menu items and ordered a Karaage bento. This is another point where Touka shines in that for groups containing people who don't want to eat barbecue, you have a variety of other items (Bento Sets, Lunch Bowls etc) people can choose from. The Mrs and I have this one friend who is a notoriously picky eater (she refuses to eat anything with sauce and is very hard to convince to try anything new) and even then, we'd still take her there and be confident she'd find something to eat. The karaage was crispy and juicy with ample pieces to fill your belly as well as four slices of salmon and tuna sashimi to satiate any cravings for sashimi lovers. The Mrs was very, very satisfied after finishing that bento.

Just for kicks, the Mrs and I also ordered the Yukke which is a raw beef tartare that I always get at any yakiniku restaurant if it's on offer. For $13.90, it was a pretty decently sized portion with a very nice sweet soy tare (marinade) that made the dish heavenly. Even amongst all the Yukke I've had previously (I've been to a LOT of yakiniku), this actually stood out to me as one of the better ones as the flavour was very pronounced.

Overall, the Mrs and I can confidently say that we had an amazing time dining at Touka. I whole-heartednly wish that everyone goes to try out Touka's special lunch to make their own assessments but in my heart, they take the cake for best value. The restaurant is only a short walk from Parramatta station and did I mention it's situated in a historic house? Literally, the fit-out is beautiful, clean and elegant which makes the entire experience so much more enjoyable! The Mrs said she's gonna hit them up more during her school holidays but I intend to be back (by myself) much, much sooner. Thank you again to Lila and TOUKA 東家 Japanese Yakiniku Restaurant & Bar for inviting us to lunch!

The 10 Best Japanese Restaurants in Parramatta

My last post was September of last year and since then, nothing, zilch, nada...can I really call myself a blogger anymore? I mean, truth be told, there were underlying reasons as to why I went radio silence for months. Amongst all the stuff the Mrs and I had on, I just had no motivation to physically write anything, not when Instagram posts got me almost instant gratification and validation in much less time and effort. So what happened and what prompted me to come back? Well, for starters, I spent the last 6 or so months fully focused on completing another one of my aspirations: becoming a home-owner and happy to say that after much effort in house-hunting, mortgage shopping, liaising with lawyers, signing contracts and general difficult adult-ing...the Mrs and I have finally completed a big step in our lives and purchased a home for us and our eventual children.

So that's what's been happening and I hope it's understandable why I hadn't blogged at all (I just didn't have the energy) but what made me come back? Well, last week, @parramattafoodie posted a picture of her udon from Umaya Parramatta and feeling excitement for a fellow foodie liking one of our most loved local Japanese joints, I felt an excitement I hadn't felt in a while and commented on a list of all the local Japanese restaurants that I've had the pleasure of dining at. That then spurred an idea in my head....I've eaten at (daresay) all Japanese restaurants in Parramatta...which one is the best? No, that's not the right question. Which restaurants would I personally recommend and why?

So, with that thought brewing in my head for a week or so, I took the time to think about my responses and finally managed to find the motivation to sit back down and type up a post about something I am passionate about.

The following is my personal list of the top 10 Japanese restaurants in Parramatta. Note: personal meaning this is entirely of my own opinion and where I have an opinion, I will generally try to back it up with fact but you're also entitled to your own opinion so if you feel strongly about the ordering or if I missed out on your favourite, please leave a comment!

Disclaimer: the following list is in no particular order and isn't ranked at all. Each restaurant has a place in my heart as one of the top 10 and each has it's own speciality.

1. Umaya Parramatta (Shop 5/134-140 Marsden St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 9/10
Authenticity: 9/10
Value: 6/10
Ambience: 8/10

Arguably, one of the most authentic Japanese experiences available in Parramatta. They started off in the Teishoku (bento and set meal) area before deviating from that path and expanding their menu to include more Izakaya-like items whilst maintaining the availability of their Teishoku. I definitely reckon that they did the right move in doing so as their sushi is top-notch with meaty neta (sliced fish) and a balanced shari (sushi rice). Can be on the pricier side but make no mistake that you're buying quality when you dine at Umaya. Only downside is that parking can be a hassle in that it's on Marsden Street meaning your only parking options are Hunter Street or Macquarie Street and they fill up fast. Better to park at Westfield and walk over to be honest.

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Sep 9, 2017 at 8:26pm PDT

2. Mikazuki (169 Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 8/10
Authenticity: 7/10
Value: 6/10
Ambience: 7/10

I was immensely excited when I first learned that this place had opened because it is the first restaurant to offer authentic Japanese ramen (which, many of you know, is my obsession). Which makes it funny because you'd think if that were the case, I'd be here every second day but I'm not because I work in the CBD and if I were to provide you with an honest ramen-head's opinion: it's great for those who want a taste of what real ramen is like and don't want to travel or can't travel out of the west but if you really care for a good bowl of ramen, make the effort and go out to the CBD. They're other selection is also pretty good and their sushi is also fresh, delicious and authentic but is pricier and daintier than the other places on this list.

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on May 4, 2017 at 7:00pm PDT

3. Kanzo (6/55 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150 *original store*, new store closer to 111 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 8/10
Authenticity: 6/10
Value: 10/10
Ambience: 7/10

I really don't need to introduce this place because if you live anywhere near Parramatta and want sushi, you would have at least heard of or gone to this place once. Kanzo has a real cult following in that they're unmatched, unrivalled value-for-money. Where else can you get a MASSIVE Avocado and Fresh Salmon Sushi Roll that's more salmon than rice for $10? Ten dollars! That's insane! To give you an idea of how popular they are, 2 years ago when I moved in and first learned of Kanzo, they had a small shop on George St at the almost derelict Parra-mall and they'd be the only reason there'd be people lining up till the late night. Within my 2 years here, they've now expanded to a much larger shop down the road and have kept they're smaller shop for "take-away only". Trust me: 1 x Large Salmon Avocado Roll and their Grilled Salmon Roll (Aburi Salmon on top of a roll made of Avocado and Tempura Prawn with heaps of sauce) will set you back $26 and make you unbelievably full.

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Jan 3, 2018 at 12:12am PST

4. Alpha Sushi (Shop 6/27 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 8/10
Authenticity: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Ambience: 8/10

One of the newer kids on the block but have quickly established themselves as a local favourite for fresh sushi. The menu is quite similar to Kanzo but where you'll receive a massive roll, you might get a thinner, daintier roll for the same price. But this is not where Alpha Sushi shines....if you compare the nigiri between Kanzo and Alpha, Kanzo's will be a thin, finger sized piece of nigiri...you won't be satisfied having the large nigiri. This is not true for Alpha Sushi in that their nigiri is way more substantial with meatier fish and more rice. If I wanted nigiri, I'd most definitely go to Alpha Sushi instead of Kanzo.

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Jul 4, 2017 at 4:28am PDT

5. Asadal (Shop 1/76 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 7/10
Authenticity: 7/10
Value: 5/10
Ambience: 7/10

Another one of the O.G places in Parramatta...they've been around since before I moved into the suburb but I rarely if ever travel in that direction. I had a friend come over and visit and he brough a platter from Asadal. He really vouched for Asadal as the master there actually ages the maguro to give it a deeper and more robust taste. Last year, I finally managed to have a sit down meal there and whilst I did most definitely enjoy my meal, where I feel they dropped was their value in that it's not cheap...and it shouldn't be, but where I can get a massive roll for $10 down the road, it's harder to justify spending an equal amount for sushi that won't get you as full. If they had kept their $60 all-you-can-eat option, I would have most definitely eaten there more...the prospect of endlessly plugging my mouth with sushi is well worth the $60 I would have paid.

☹️ *Soz, no photo...forgot to take one*

6. Touka Yakiniku (Shop 2 Horwood Pl, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 9/10
Authenticity: 8/10
Value: 6/10
Ambience: 9/10

Definitely the newest kid on the block and currently, the most unique in that they offer something that no other restaurant in Parramatta offers...yakiniku. Yakiniku would be the Japanese variant of table-top barbecue where everything is more delicate and refined. For every bit of meat that you purchase, you can taste all the care and dedication that's gone into cutting the meat, marinading it and plating it before bringing it to your table. They also have a very wide selection of Japanese food items however, everything is priced on the higher-end side. Once you sit down at the table though, the cost sorta makes sense in that the restaurant is elegantly outfitted in a historic building and the entrance feels almost like you're going to a small Japanese cottage somewhere in the Japanese suburbs of Tokyo or Osaka.

I really, really enjoyed my recent meal there thoroughly and I definitely hope that they gain more popularity as it is a very unique offering in Parra but I am fearful that their normal (they're currently holding a grand-opening promotion) price-point will drive a lot of potential diners away, especially when you can get all-you-can-eat yakiniku a little further out west in Canley Heights. I personally think that their road to success would be to limit their menu a little more and focus more on their unique point which is their high quality meat and barbecue offering. Potentially, if they manage to source cheaper ingredients, they may even think about following the 'Suminoya' path and offering a 90 minute all-you-can-eat with touchpad ordering. I would most definitely justify returning for a full-priced meal for that.

7. Sushi Ichi Bar (5e/8 Cowper St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 7/10
Authenticity: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Ambience: 6/10

Technically a part of Harris Park but they're so close to Parramatta station that I'mma include them anyway. I visited them within our first year of living in Parra and that was mostly because I saw this massive $40 boat of sushi when @sweetandyummie ate there and their sushi was surprisingly good. I still haven't had the opportunity to have that $40 boat (it might not even be on offer anymore) but I did recently have their sushi via Ubereats when we were packing to move and it was still as impressive as ever. The only down point (I thought) was that it was in a street hidden away from the bustle of Parramatta prime and the shop was pretty bare (how I remembered it, it might look different now)

8. Ginza Izakaya (330 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 7.5/10
Authenticity: 7/10
Value: 5/10
Ambience: 6/10

This is a bit of a lesser known option as it's tucked away in the back of the new Meriton tower's dining district. A bit of a smaller store with some generic Japanese offerings which is done well, but nothing extraordinary stands out (though, their Miso Eggplant was delectable). Prime position with an overview of the beautiful Parramatta riverside but the ambience of the restaurant can be a bit dark. Hopefully though, with the opening of their neighbours (Meat & Wine Co, Holy Basil and Alex & Co), it's introduced a higher foot traffic and made them bustle.

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Aug 19, 2017 at 2:22am PDT

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Aug 19, 2017 at 2:46am PDT

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Aug 19, 2017 at 3:57am PDT

9. Sushi Bay (Westfield Parramatta, 2183 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 5/10
Authenticity: 5/10
Value: 5/10
Ambience: 5/10

Fives all around not to mean that they're bad or anything but they're currently (Sushi Hotaru of The Galeries Victoria fame is *rumoured* to be opening soon on Macquarie Street) the only conveyor belt sushi option available and they do have a cult following with their Cheeto roll (6 piece small inside-out roll with avocado(?), chicken katsu and three different coloured sauces drizzled on top). Easy option if you don't want food-court sushi but also don't want to walk away from Westfield Parramatta.

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Dec 11, 2016 at 11:40pm PST

10. Fresh Run (67/55 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150)

Taste: 7/10
Authenticity: 5/10
Value: 6.5/10
Ambience: 6/10

A post shared by Frankie Au (@mrandmrschopsticks) on Nov 3, 2017 at 6:38pm PDT

If we're talking about their Japanese offerings, they're about as good as Kanzo is but if I go, I really wouldn't be ordering Japanese food because they're a Japanese AND Korean restaurant. They also suffer a bit because a. Kanzo is literally just outside b. diners have to walk into above-mentioned almost derelict Parra-Mall before they see Fresh Run which doesn't help their cause.

So, there you have it. These will be MY personal rankings and recommendations on where to find Japanese food in Parramatta. No doubt, more and more places will continue to open and I look forward to one day seeing Parramatta (hopefully) rival Neutral Bay in it's authentic Japanese offerings and population of Japanese people living here.

Manmaruya BBQ - Beverly Hills, NSW

The family and I used to go out quite frequently on Thursdays (because that used to be dad's day off) and we'd almost always make it a point to go out and eat well. Times have changed and as we get older, our schedules busier...I find that the times we get to go out are getting rarer and rarer. To my surprise, the sister had made a booking at a local yakiniku restaurant that we hadn't yet tried which made me heaps excited (and hungry). And so, we got ready and headed out to enjoy a nice night out at a local BBQ restaurant.

Located close to pancakes on the rocks, Manmaruya BBQ is the yakiniku/Japanese BBQ branch of the Manmaruya chain of ramen restaurants. Comparative to it's closest sibling, the feel and atmosphere is definitely more upscale and the prices definitely do reflect this. Still, this didn't hamper our excitement as we ordered some of our favourite meats and some sushi to share. We started our meal with a standard avocado and salmon salad. I'll be honest, there really wasn't anything particularly special about it but the tangy sesame sauce did help pique our appetites and prepare us for the glorious barbeque to come.

First to arrive was our combination platter, which consisted of ox tongue and pork neck slices. The moment you put these items on the grill, the sizzle of the meat and the smoke carries an irresistible aroma straight to your nose. As you wait (impatiently) for the meat to finish cooking, you watch as the colors slowly change and the sides get slightly charred. As a preference, we like my ox tongue a little under so just as they gained a little bit of colour, we grabbed it off the grill and I had mine with the sweet soy based tare and rice. The quality and freshness of the meat at Manmaruya BBQ is actually pretty good. The ox tongue is soft, fatty and tender all at the same time.

The pork neck took a bit longer to cook (common sense says we need to cook pork all the way through) but the end result was well worth it. Melt in your mouth from the first bite, You know to expect great things just looking at the fattiness and the smell generated when meat hits metal really ups the anticipation but it really doesn't prepare you for how good it really is. If I could realistically have just a whole plate of that, I would most definitely be happy and satisfied. 

Aside from ordering meats, we also ordered some seafood in the form of sushi and grilled mackerel. Within the  Hurstville area, the Manmaruya restaurants are probably one the restaurants who do the most decent sushi service. For the Hurstville ramen store, the sushi quality used to be a whole lot better prior to their installation of the conveyor belt. As with any establishment where speed and supply of the product is the selling point, attention to detail and quality normally drops as a direct result. Manmaruya BBQ brings back that quality by slowing things down and making the sushi ala-carte. Still, being the traditionalist that I am, I would have preferred to order simpler sushi however the salmon avocado nigiri we ordered really wasn't that bad at all.

From the moment I saw grilled mackerel on the menu, I knew I had to order it. I have a thing for Japanese grilled mackerel, being one of the only ways of preparing fish where I'd actually willingly eat it. It's the simplicity of the dish is it's defining trait as nothing more is necessary other than just this fish and some rice. I still would have preferred the skin to be crispier and I would have loved to have the standard condiments of grated daikon and ginger but the sauce it came with was still pretty refreshing and complimented the fish well. The belly portion of the mackerel is the most delightful piece to finish the dish with as the fattiness just explodes in your mouth as you eat it, leaving just the memory and taste lingering in your mouth as you sit there in satisfaction.

The final dish to come for the night was our second platter which consisted of galbi (short-rib) and harami (skirt). By this point, the three of us were starting to get slightly full but this didn't deter us from putting the meat on the barbie and watching it sizzle. I personally have a preference for the harami (the piece that's super marbled) because it's typically more tender and renders better on the grill but the short rib was also pretty nice in that it was beefier and held more flavour. I'd recommend this platter for any beef aficionado as it lets you devour the best of both worlds. Also, if at any point you're still feeling a bit peckish, Manmaruya BBQ lets you order a mini bowl of bibimbap for $5 when you've ordered any of their meat platters. That's exactly what we ordered which came at a great time because nothing goes better with grilled meat than carbs.

Overall, I'd say our time at Manmaruya BBQ was worth it. For the area, it might seem a bit upscale in terms of pricing but you definitely get good quality for what you pay for. If you're like me and seek comfort in abundance, I'd suggest visiting Koh-ya or Suminoya but for a local yakiniku establishment, Manmaruya BBQ does really well in bringing the allure and charm of Japanese barbeque to the suburbs.