What to pair it withA small bowl of nuts, rice crisps and roasted wasabi peas comes with every drink, but you’ll want to order more. Should you wish to keep it light, opt for edamame soybeans, a plate of vibrant pickles or a humble grilled rice ball wrapped in a crisp nori seaweed sheet. You can just as easily make a meal out of what’s on the handwritten menu, replete with adorable childlike illustrations. The highlights? A saucy rice bowl packed with kimchi and teriyaki beef with a raw egg yolk stirred through, or sizzling party sausages served in a scalding cast-iron pan.
Regular’s tipThe venue’s co-owners, Chris Wu, Tin Jung Shea and Mitomo Somehara, are also behind some of the most cracking Japanese concepts in the city. For a schooling in the fine art of charcoal-grilled meat on sticks, check out Yakitori Yurippi, just around the corner. Nakano Darling, meanwhile, brings the laid-back pub vibe of Japan’s izakayas to Darling Square, kitted out with box lights and tatami rooms lined with mats. And if you’re looking to get intimately acquainted with sake, head to the newly opened Nomidokoro Indigo in Darlinghurst, which seats just 12 people at the counter, with room for a few more walk-ins.
