[Review] Zakura Sushi & Noodles, Wexford Street, Dublin 2

I can't keep up with the current pace of restaurant openings in Dublin! I've never really struggled for material for this blog, but lately I feel swamped. There are cool things happening on every corner with cool concepts and too-cool-for-school kids. Thankfully, one of the new openings comes from an old friend, and brings a nice relaxed pace.

Nearly two years (tempus fugit) I reviewed Musashi Sushi & Noodles on the Northside's Capel Street. I was impressed with its simple organic wooden decor, clean sushi and good value.  And now Zakura on Wexford Street. brings a similar, clean approach to the Southside with its wooden paneled walls and seats. Simple and quick to fit out, yet it perfectly suits the clean, organic nature of Japanese cuisine. 

A cute kimmi doll adorns the cover of the menu, which inside bears more than a striking resemblance to the menu from a particular restaurant chain. There's a good mix of sushi, small plates, teppan, rice and noodle dishes to choose from as you sip your little cup of green tea. Special value €8 lunch dishes and €9 Bento boxes are sure to bring the local office workers looking for a tasty, cost-effective meal. 

The cutey-pie menu complete with Kimmi Doll

Good value lunch time specials

I ordered a yaki bibimbap, a Korean dish of rice, fresh and pickled vegetables, seasoned meat and a fried egg served in a nuclear hot stone bowl. To eat, all the ingredients are mixed vigorously together before getting stuck in. It's a tasty and filling dish, a great choice for a cold winter's day. 

Himself also went with a rice option, cooking the cha han (€7.99), a classic Japanese dish of fried rice, vegetables and meat. Here the cha han came piled high, packed with crunchy green beans and rich fungus. Both dishes came with little bowls of miso soup, while the cha han also had a little bowl of addictively delicious pickles. A small portion of spicy tuna roll gained its spiciness from a dollop of sriracha-like sauce. Simple, just like sushi should be. 

Yaki Bibimbap

Cha Han

Spicy tuna roll

Zakura hits the nail spot on the proverbial head. There's enough variety on the menu to keep you coming back, plus it's cracking value for the lunchtime crowd, or an attractive option for an early evening dinner. It operates a BYOB policy for a mere €4, (hopefully this won't attract the usual drunken Wexford Street crowd). Sometimes you don't need to be the hottest, latest venue. Sometimes a calm, internal confidence is all that's required. 

Zakura Sushi, 13 Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 555 8000
URL: www.facebook.com/ZakuraDublin

[Review] Tani Sushi, Terenure Road North, Dublin 6W

Watching a skilled sushi chef at work is a real pleasure. The careful cutting of fish into precise sashimi slices, the ritual assembly of maki and nigiri along with the smooth practised motion of dipping the knife into water before letting the drops run down the blade. It's a peaceful, nearly spiritual experience. Dublin has several really good sushi restaurants, but you can always do with another venue, particularly when it is close to home and not in the heart of town.

Tani Sushi is a newly-opened Japanese restaurant in the heart of Terenure Village. It used to be occupied by Spoon Cafe, but has now been stripped out and redone with Japanese touches. The interior is simple with light wooden floors and tables, with Japanese wall hangings and a little bamboo screen. It's possibly too sparse as the room feels slightly bleak. Each table is simply set with glazed dipping bowls (mine was a vibrant azure blue), chopsticks and adorable egg-shaped toothpick holders that rock back and forth at the slightest touch. 

The menu lists starters, sushi in many varieties, along with cooked dishes such as cha han and teppan noodles. Everything is very keenly priced and I find myself dithering over different dishes, which is a good sign. We are visiting at Saturday lunchtime, but the restaurant is strangely empty with only a handful of people dining. Perhaps it was due to the bank holiday weekend exodus from Dublin. 

The cutest toothpick holder

The interior at Tani Sushi

My dengaku starter consisted of pieces of silky tofu, aubergine and mushroom, all coated in the lightest, flakiest batter and topped with a delicious homemade miso glaze. Seaweed salad was bright, nearly luminescent, green, with a slightly gelatinous texture, coated in a sesame dressing and served with mixed leaves. 

Dengaku (Miso glazed tofu, aubergine & mushroom)

Seaweed salad

His tuna set plate consisted of nigiri, thick sashimi slices, maki and fat ura maki rolls. With sushi, the devil is always in the details, and I loved the little leaf-shaped lump of wasabi paste, complete with vein-pattern. I am a fan of the American approach to sushi rolls and I had to order the Kani roll, a mix of soft shell crab, avocado, roe and crab meat. It came rolled extra wide, with crab legs  protruding from the final piece. If you haven't tried soft shell crabs before now, then you really should. The gentle crispiness is a lovely contrast to the smooth firm rice in sushi.

Tuna plate of sashimi, nigiri, maki and ura maki

The loveliest portion of wasabi ever

Kani roll - soft shell crab, avocado & crab

Overall, we really really liked Tani Sushi. Our server was lovely, even going back to the chef with a question from me about the dengaku. Ultimately, it's all about the fish, and we could not fault the sushi. There are lunch specials, including bento boxes, on offer during the week, but the regular pricing is good value where sushi is concerned.

Tani Sushi's internet presence is non-existent, but they do offer take-out on Just-Eat, and for the first time ever, I find myself tempted by home delivery sushi. Hopefully, the sparse interior will not deter punters, as this is a welcome addition to dining in Dublin 6W.

Tani Sushi, 93 Terenure Road North, Dublin 6W
URL: Tani Sushi on Just Eat

[Review] Musashi Noodles & Sushi Bar, Capel Street, Dublin 1

Mushashi is a newly opened Japanese noodle and sushi bar on Capel Street. It caught my eye a few weeks ago on a rainy and dismal night. As I walked past, the warm glow from the wooden interior made me long to be inside, warm and feasting on sushi. Regretfully, I had to walk on that night, but Mushashi had remained in the back of my head since then.

Roll on another Friday night on Capel Street, and we had just left the newly opened Black Sheep Pub, an establishment dedicated to craft beers on tap and from bottle. A sister pub to Against the Grain on Wexford St, the Black Sheep is still in the early stages, but it's absolutely brilliant to see new pubs opening, offering something different. After a few drinks, some food is always a good idea, and thus it was that we found ourselves opening the little door into Musashi.

The interior is simply and sleekly decorated with dark wooden floors, lighter wooden panelling and bamboo screens. There are loads of tables for two, which I think is great.  This means that the restaurant can easily cater for couples, or for bigger groups by pulling tables together. Little wooden stools, with an intriguing shoe shelf provide the seating, all topped with bright red cushions. There has been a lot of thought put into the interior of Musashi, which makes you actually feel like you might be in Japan (Disclaimer: this is imagination on my part, as I've never been to Japan. But now I know what it might feel like.)

The stylish interior of Musashi

Neat little stools

After being seated, we were presented with two cups of green tea (free) to sip on while we chose our food. We started with two sushi platters - Ume (sashimi or slices of raw fish) and Sakura (nigiri which is raw and cooked fish served on rice). They cost €12.00 and €7.00 respectively and were served on lovely bamboo boards with the usual pickled ginger and wasabi. Simplicity and precision really is the definition of good sushi, where the freshness of the fish and the sharpness of the chef's knife is put front and centre. There is nothing for bad sushi to hide behind. But sushi at Musashi has nothing to hide from. It was fresh and perfect. Special mention has to go the pickled ginger and wasabi which were above average.

Sashimi and nigiri sushi at Musashi

Himself decided to order two starters instead of a single main. A House Mix Tempura selection (€8.50) came served on a beautiful bamboo platter with the most perfectly cooked squid rings and crispy battered vegetables. The bamboo platter looked like a raft afloat on the table. A plate of Ebi Gyoza, or pork & chive fried dumplings (€5.95) were tasty and juicy, served with dipping sauce. 

Mixed tempura at Musashi

I had chosen Teppan tuna teriyaki, which was served on a wonderful, heavy, earthenware plate. The organic nature of Japanese decor has always struck me as a beautiful contrast to their technology infatuated lives. The massive portion of tuna was seared to rare, as requested, and served atop a mix of stir-fried vegetables with rice on the side (€14.95). I would have liked more punch from the teriyaki sauce, as it was a touch bland, but to be honest, this is the worst criticism I have from this meal.

Teppan tuna teriyaki

Mushashi didn't have any beer available on the night that we visited, but we were able to pop out to the local supermarket to purchase our own bottles. An opening charge of €3.00 was applied to cover the corkage on our alcohol. Service was efficient and lovely throughout, with the waitresses zipping about on the wooden floors with silent feet. The total bill came to €52.40 which I thought was pretty decent value. If you don't have a fetish for raw fish, you can leave the more expensive sushi out, resulting in an even more cost effective meal.

We didn't get to sample any noodles on this visit, but this omission serves to give us another reason to call again. In short, Musashi feels like the real deal. Things are definitely starting to get a lot cooler on the North side of the city.

Musashi Noodles & Sushi Bar, 15 Capel St, Dublin 1
Tel: +353 (0)1 532 8068
Musashi on Facebook

[Review] Kimchi Restaurant at the Hophouse, Dublin 1

I studied Taekwon Do (the Korean martial art) for several years, so I got pretty good at shouting instructions such as Spinning back kick and X-shaped block in Korean. I also learned to count as well as learning a few small bits and pieces of Korean history. However, Taekwon Do classes didn't prepare me to order Korean food. All the punching and striking instructions in the world don't really count for much when faced with the menu in Kimchi restaurant, part of the Hophouse bar on Parnell St (unless you want to intimidate the waiter into bringing you food).

Primarily based on rice, vegetables and meats, there is a strong Japanese flavour to Korean food (due to it's proximity with Japan, and indeed the Japanese invasion of Korea). Kimchi restaurant is named after one of the staples of Korean cuisine, namely a dish made from different types of pickled vegetables. I've long been a fan of Korean restaurants (having enjoyed my first meal in Dusseldorf in 2000) and have tried the entire range in Dublin with mixed results.

Kimchi is a simple restaurant with a varied menu. We considered sushi for a starter, but instead chose two sushi type dishes. He had carpaccio of sea bream served with a zig zag of wasabi sauce (€8.00). A tiny cracked pink peppercorn was perfectly positioned on each slice, along with a small serving of oriental dressed salad. My choice was seared peppered tuna, rolled in sesame seeds and served with an avocado mousse, salad and a sweet dressing (€9.50). There was plenty of the tasty tuna, but the avocado mousse was underwhelming and could have benefited from a wasabi kick. 

Sea bream carpaccio

Peppered tuna with avocado mousse

For a main course, he chose the unfamiliar tuna dubap which turned out to consist of a bowl of sushi rice, topped with fragrant marinated tuna, dried seaweed, cress and onion, topped with all the sushi elements of ginger, wasabi and soy sauce (€12.00). It was a dish with particularly elegant flavors and was very light and refreshing.

Tuna dubap

I had opted for a spicy selection, the sogogi kimchi jeongol, or spicy kimchi and beef stew with tofu and vegetables served in a traditional Korean burner (€14.80). A massive shallow bowl arrived at the table atop a burner, whose intensity could be controlled via a sliding cap. After watching heated bubbles rising from the lava depths, I decided to close the shutter contraption with some nudges from my chopsticks, and keep the boil under control. The broth wasn't too spicy in the end and was well flavored from the kimchi. Thin slices of beef and silken tofu were good at soaking up the spicy flavour.

Spicy kimchi & beef stew

It's worth mentioning that Korean chopsticks tend to be thinner than those from China or Japan, and are frequently made from metal. This means (to me at least) that they are a little harder to manipulate. Total cost for our meal, including two Korean beers at €4.50 each, came to €52.30. This was really good Korean food and the best part about the meal was how healthy, light and flavoursome the food was. I should also give a shout out to one of our male waiters, whose blow-dried super-shiny, super-styled hair, was really quite impressive. He clearly thought so too, because he could frequently be seen looking in the mirror, making minute adjustments, between service. 

I think that Kimchi could be the best Korean restaurant in the city. Personally, I love the Hilan on Capel Street, but that isn't exclusively Korean cuisine. The last thought that crosses through my head is that I must resist the temptation to title this review something along the lines of "Seoul-food" or the likes.

Kimchi Restaurant, Hophouse, 160-161 Parnell St, Dublin 1.
Tel: +353 (0)1 872 8318 / 872 8536
URL: www.hophouse.ie

Michie Sushi

Michie Sushi has been around for quite a while now, quietly tucked away on a little Ranelagh laneway. It's not a big spot, probably seating a maximum of 20 people in close quarters. Based on that fact alone, it's probably fair to say that it's authentically Japanese. The addition of a kimono-clad waitress and some top-notch food are only garnishing the experience.

We visited late on a Saturday afternoon, but despite this, there were enough customers present to make the place feel busy. You enter through a sliding door which you could easily pass by. Inside, the walls are painted a fresh shade of green with lightweight tables and chairs. We were given cups of  a light green tea to drink while reading our menus, which featured covered lunch, sushi, hot food and specials. No shortage of choice here folks. 

Plate setting at Michie Sushi

As I'm currently eating low-carb, my options were a tiny bit limited and I did cheat a little with my main course. We chose a plate of tuna & salmon sashimi (€9.95) to start which quickly arrived at the table with 5 slices of each fish along with some seaweed and a dollop of the fiery goodness that is wasabi. As you'd expect from a good sushi restaurant, the fish was impeccably fresh, with that sweet taste of really excellent sashimi.

Tuna and salmon sashimi

I chose a special of Tonkatsu (€8.51) for my main. I was cheating somewhat on my low-carb eating as this featured sliced pork loin in crispy Panko breadcrumbs served with a sweet homemade tonkatsu sauce. However, I did justify it somewhat by declining to order a side dish of rice to accompany it. The pork was fine on its own, but came to life when dipped into the excellent sauce or smeared with a little of the hot Japanese mustard that lurked behind the shredded cabbage. Despite all my years eating in Japanese restaurants, this was my first time experiencing Japanese mustard and I can now tell you that it a condiment that deserves respect. There's a reason that you're only served a small amount.

Tonkatsu with homemade tonkatsu sauce

He chose a salmon bento box (€10.95) for his main course. It featured a tasty miso soup, piece of delicately cooked salmon with courgette, rice, a lightly dressed salad and 2 large pieces of sushi roll. The main components of salmon & sushi were excellent and the salad was tastily dressed. A great example of healthy, balanced eating.

Salmon bento box

Our total bill for lunch came to €31.21, including one small bottle of sparkling water and unlimited free green tea. It's an absolute pleasure to eat lunch somewere like Michie Sushi. There are no pretensions and no fuss. Instead you get clean, exact food with the balance and delicacy that is so typical of Japanese food. This is truly food for body and mind.

Michie Sushi, 11 Chelmsford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
Tel: +353 (0)1 497 6438
Web: www.michiesushi.com
Twitter: @MichieSushi