My other recent favourite food adventure is Japanese cuisine. It isn't just food. It is a form of art where the dishes reflect the Japanese culture greatly and focuses on the concept of balance and delicacy. As so, Yayoi Garden embraces this essence.
Ratings out of 5
Food: 5. Yayoi is home-cooked Japanese dining. Each ingredient of a dish is appreciated and accentuated by one another. They compliments each other and the flavours of the dish aren’t overpowered.
Food: 5. Yayoi is home-cooked Japanese dining. Each ingredient of a dish is appreciated and accentuated by one another. They compliments each other and the flavours of the dish aren’t overpowered.
Our first dish was the beef tataki salad. The ponzu gelee brings a lightly sour yet refreshing taste that highlights the sweetness of the tender beef slices. The sesame dressing brings a nutty and smooth accent to the dish. I find the idea of having the sesame dressing on the side a great idea as the amount added into the salad can be controlled. My partner prefers a nuttier taste so he adds more into his salad portion. On the other hand, I like my salad more acidic so I add less dressing in.
The Wagyu Sukiyaki stands out the most and is my favourite dish! The soft-boiled egg was separate so we get to choose whether to use it as a dip or pour it into the pot.
I sometimes find the broth of the sukiyaki too sweet and overpower the ingredients. But not this sukiyaki! Each bite of this dish was perfect. The more I ate, the more it brought back memories of what I miss about Japan.
Why you may ask? Well, when my sister and I were in Japan, we ventured into Shinjuku on a very cold winter's night. We were exhausted and hungry after a long day of sightseeing and walking. We ordered a Wagyu beef Sukiyaki as it was fast to prepare. The first bite took away our tiredness and warmed us from within.
Yayoi's Sukiyaki made me feel nostalgic and I was in Japan again. It had the same warming effect for my partner and I as we went to the restaurant on a cold Spring night. The tofu and noodles were silky smooth. The beef and vegetables soaked up the broth nicely.
I sometimes find the broth of the sukiyaki too sweet and overpower the ingredients. But not this sukiyaki! Each bite of this dish was perfect. The more I ate, the more it brought back memories of what I miss about Japan.
Why you may ask? Well, when my sister and I were in Japan, we ventured into Shinjuku on a very cold winter's night. We were exhausted and hungry after a long day of sightseeing and walking. We ordered a Wagyu beef Sukiyaki as it was fast to prepare. The first bite took away our tiredness and warmed us from within.
Yayoi's Sukiyaki made me feel nostalgic and I was in Japan again. It had the same warming effect for my partner and I as we went to the restaurant on a cold Spring night. The tofu and noodles were silky smooth. The beef and vegetables soaked up the broth nicely.
The fragrance of the grilled cedarwood was the first thing I noticed when our waitress brought this dish to us. It was a smoky yet enticing scent with a slight hint of miso. The earthy presentation of the dish was matched the frangrance so I was pretty excited to unwrap the wood to see what's inside.
To my guess, the plating matches the scent. The miso cod was succulent with a hint of smokiness. I particularly like the mushroom as it absorbed the taste of the miso and cedarwood fragrance.
We had the option to add on miso soup and rice. The rice was soft, fluffy and slightly chewy. It was needed so I can soak up the Sukiyaki broth and enjoy the dish to its maximum potential.
Ambience: 5. Not only the food reminds me of Japan, the light wooden interior design and ceramics did so too. Yayoi stays true to the authenticity of Japanese dining and it gives a sense of being in a Japanese tea ceremony with its simple yet elegant decorations.
Service: 5. The Wait staffs are friendly and have the right level of attentiveness. They weren't overly intrusive and do come by from time to time to check if we are ok with the dishes and if we needed anything additional. When we seated at our table, our waitress asked if we have been to Yayoi before. I have but not my partner. She then explained the menu to us, the degustation pages, entrees, to share dishes and main dishes. The staff wasn’t pushy with dish recommendations and they added excitement to our dining by highlighting we are ordering from a new Spring season's menu. Yayoi's menu goes by the seasons so it's never boring. Location: 5. Yayoi Garden is located conveniently 5 minutes walk from the Circular Quay Train Station. Value: 4. The dishes are reasonable price with respect to the portions. 1 entree and 2 main dishes were enough for my partner and I. We were too full to order dessert. |
Pros: Consistent in food quality and great dish timing. My partner and I only needed to wait 3 minutes between the entree and main dishes.
Cons: I didn't get to use the iPad to select my dishes.
Comparison: Yayoi Garden is a refined and home-cooking version of Miso World in World Square as they both concentrate on bento box.
Cons: I didn't get to use the iPad to select my dishes.
Comparison: Yayoi Garden is a refined and home-cooking version of Miso World in World Square as they both concentrate on bento box.
If you really want a taste of Japan, I highly recommend to eat at Yayoi Garden. The dishes are delightfully pleasant and light. The essence of Japanese dining is shown in both the food and the interior design. I will definitely go back if I miss Japan.
Address
2/38-42 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000
2/38-42 Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000