My favourite Japanese picks!

Best karaage chicken - Ton Ton Takeaway Japanese

I crave this chicken weekly...sometimes more than once a week...the chicken is AMAZING and affordable! Served with a salad, rice and most importantly, Japanese mayonnaise, I highly recommend the karaage chicken don. Located in the Regent Place complex below the Lumiere apartments, this fast food establishment has become a favourite of mine since it opened several years ago. Owned by Kimitaka Azuma of Azuma fame (Chifley Square and more recently Regent Place also), this takeaway joint serves up everything from edamame to spicy miso ramen with most dishes under $12.

Karaage Chicken Don - $10.00


Ton Ton Takeaway Japanese - Regent
Ground Floor
501 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
(02) 9267 1313
www.tontontakeaway.com.au


Best Japanese Desserts - Azuma Patisserie and Cafe

I have come a long way from my first ever Japanese tea ceremony where I held no appreciation for Japanese sweets whatsoever. Since then, I have developed more than an acquired taste to Japanese desserts. Only until recently have the likes of tai-yaki, mochi, Japanese crepes and green tea creme brulees graced the Sydney foodie scene and I rate Azuma Patisserie one of the best I have come across outside of Japan. Be sure to try their green tea soft serve yoghurt, fluffy chiffon cakes (plain, green tea, chai, chocolate - the list goes on!) and their beautifully decorated Monburan (Mont Blanc - chestnut cakes).

Assortment of Japanese cakes and desserts from $5

Azuma Patisserie and Cafe - Regent

Ground Floor
501 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
(02) 9267 7701
www.azuma.com.au/cafe


Best Japanese Hamburg

No that is not a typo - there is a difference in Japan between hamburg (hanbaagu) and hamburger (hanbagaa ) - the first refers to the hamburger patty and the latter to the hamburger you would find at the likes of McDonalds and MOS Burger (oh MOS burger how I miss thee).

Poporo, a cheap and cheerful Japanese restaurant located in Market City Chinatown, serve up some tasty meals, including their Hambaagu donburi. Be sure to also try one of their green tea ice-cream floats, complete with Hawaiian umbrella!

Teri Mayo Hamburg Don ($12.90)

Green Tea Float ($6.90)

Poporo Japanese Restaurant
Market City
Top Floor, Shop 301, 9-13 Hay St Haymarket NSW 2000 Australia(02) 9211 2777 Best Ramen Noodles - Ramen KanAlso located in the Haymarket end of Sydney, up the dodgy elevator, sits a cosy polished cafe style restaurant that serves some of the best ramen in Sydney. My all time favourite is the Chicken Nanban hiyashi ramen (chilled ramen noodles with fried chicken and tartare sauce) - a summer specialty but appreciated by my stomach all year round.

Chicken Nanban Hiyashi Ramen ($11.90)

Ramen Kan1/90 Hay Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
(02) 9211 6677
Daily 11:30am - 11pm