Ramen O-San, Haymarket

It was bound to happen eventually. A ramen joint at Dixon House Food Court! With Ramen O-San opening in early February, there is now a ramen joint at every food court in the Haymarket area (Gumshara at Eating World, Ramen Ikkyu at Sussex Centre and Hakata Maru at Market City). Plenty of choices for your Japanese noodle needs especially when winter is coming...soon. While the location did bring a slight uncertainty about its future given this food court's history with closing many of their shops pre-maturely (For Lease signs can still be spotted at many of their stalls), the international award-winning Ramen O-San might be a different story altogether.

O-San Ramen is owned by Chef Kazuteru, who also opened five ramen shops in Japan and one in Cambodia. Ramen O-San specialises in Kyushu-style Tonkotsu ramen, which has won the 'Top 3 Ramen' award in Kyushu, Japan. The Sydney shop is actually the first that you would most likely to spot when you walk down the stairs from the main entrance into Dixon House Food Court. Since it's located inside a food court, don't expect any fancy setting especially when you find yourself accidentally sitting on a tray left on the chair. In terms of service, the staff seemed quite friendly and it didn't take long for the food to get ready after we made our order. 

Similar to Gumshara, the pork bone broth in the tonkotsu ramen is MSG-free. Although our ramen came with pork cha-siu, spring onions and mushroom (depending what ramen you order), we had to order egg and nori separately at $1.50 extra. We both learnt it the hard way when I forgot my nori while KT forgot the egg. Oops...

Tonkotsu Ramen ($9.80) with Nori Seaweed ($1.50)

The original Tonkotsu (pork base) soup had a slightly similar texture to Gumshara's ramen broth. The pork bones were simmered for more than 10 hours so it was no surprise that there was that thick, creamy, collagen-like richness as you dig into the broth. However, it didn't have the same intense richness as Gumshara's so it was easier to finish in comparison. Plus the noodles were relatively thinner. While I didn't try much of it, KT commented that it was one of the more delicious ramens he has tried in Sydney so far. 

Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen ($10.80) with Marinated Boiled Egg ($1.50)

The above could also be said for my black garlic Tonkotsu ramen. Was a bit bummed at my lack of nori so I got a piece from KT's bowl (seriously it's just not the same without the nori!). The broth was flavoursome though the garlic was not very strong compared to the Sumo Ramen that is also on the menu (yet to try at time of writing this review). Loved the thin and springy noodles and the thick slices of pork cha-siu in my bowl which worked well with the ramen broth. Gotta love that gooeyness from the egg yolk too.

There were many other dishes that we haven't tried at this joint including the intensely garlicky Sumo Ramen, Spicy Ramen, Chicken Soy Ramen and Seafood Tsuke-men so will certainly be making more visits in the near future. Compared to a few of the other ramen shops in the city, the prices were actually on the cheaper end even when you order the extra egg and nori. However if you can only handle light-broth ramen similar to Ippudo, this might not be the ideal place for you. Hopefully this joint will stay as long as possible to bring that much needed spark and even a bit of cheeky ramen competition back into Dixon House Food Court along with its old school charm.

DISCLAIMER: The Random Foodie dined as a guest of Ramen O-San, courtesy of SD Marketing and Washoku Lovers. Opinions are however, my own.

Ramen O-San
Shop B01, Dixon House Food Court
Cnr Dixon Street and Little Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000
Wed-Mon: 11:00am - 8:30pm
http://www.o-san.com/index.html

Japanese BBQ Yakiniku GYUZOU, Sydney CBD

Recently, I've been getting into the Japanese culture a lot more than before. Mostly because nearly everyone are going or planning to go to Japan this year. No idea why there's that sudden hype but now I've got the travel bug for this country. While sushi and ramen are probably the first things that pop into your head about Japanese cuisine, what about Japanese BBQ/Yakiniku (aka grilled meat)? This specialty is what the newly opened Gyuzou is known for.

What differs Japanese BBQ from Korean BBQ is that the meat isn't marinated/ and you cook it over a griddle so it has more of a grilled texture once it's cooked. While we were at Gyuzou really early on a Tuesday evening, it remained quiet by the time we left around 8pm. In fact I think we made a bit too much noise at the restaurant.

Like Wagaya and Mizuya, Gyuzou lets you order by touch screen so you can see what you have ordered and how much you have spent.

Lemon Lime Bitter Sake ($6.90)

While this drink tasted more like lemon lime bitter than sake, it was refreshing for me especially after eating all the meats. Wasn't strong at all which should be good if you prefer something more sweeter.

Complimentary Sauces: Chilli Oil, Salt, Yakiniku

Found these dips to be essential for that added taste to the meats after they've been cooked on the grill.

Assorted Wagyu ($25.50)

The food that has gotten me excited about Gyuzou has been the extensive wagyu menu. I can remember how rare it was to find a decent wagyu burger anywhere except for Rockpool Bar and Grill and Plan B by Becasse (RIP) when I just finished my uni studies. Now you can spot it at countless restaurants and bars around Sydney whether they are part of Japanese or Korean BBQ or a juicy burger at a bar or a casual dining joint.

Oyster Blade ($12.50)

Tri-Tip ($12.00)

Inside Skirt ($10.50)

Rib Finger with soy sauce ($8.80)

While the assorted wagyu platter doesn't include the highly rated and more expensive Short-Rib and the Chuck Tail wagyu beefs, I was still keen to try the platter in order to sample a variety of wagyu goodness. While each meaty delicacy was succulent, my faves would have to be Oyster Blade and the Tri-Tip for that rich, tender, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness. The marbling also adds to that wow factor. This platter also came with a side of assorted veggies including mushrooms, carrots and cabbage. Will definitely return to try the Short Rib and Chuck Tail after hearing all the raves from other people who have tried it previously.

Pork Belly ($7.00)

While there was so many yummy options on the menu, I just simply cannot resist the pork belly. While on this rare occasion, it may not be the star of the show compared to the wagyu meats but I still thought it was done well with that nice fatty and grilled texture especially after it was cooked. You get a choice of coating your meat with salt or soy sauce. I decided on the soy sauce for that added flavour.

Ox Tongue ($7.80)

The ox tongue is actually another fave of mine whenever I go to a Japanese or Korean restaurant. When its cooked, you forget that you are actually eating tongue since it was thinly sliced. Slightly chewy but well cooked especially with the grilled edges. Out of the non-wagyu red meat options, I would definitely recommend this to try (unless you really don't like the idea of eating tongue...).

Seared Wagyu Nigiri ($3.30)

You can also opt for wagyu sushi nigiri if you prefer sushi or are in the mood for a smaller bite. There's heaps of sushi nigiri options on the menu including scallops, salmon, egg omelette and prawn. The rice was nicely cooked and the wagyu was just as tender. Great to have while you wait for the food that takes longer to cook. 

Assorted Seafood ($14.50)

V had his eyes on the assorted seafood when I was spending a lot of time browsing the menu. It was something slightly different for that extra variety from all the red meats. It was all delicious (especially the mussels and scallops) however it did take a lot longer to cook and it was harder to tell if it was cooked or not at one point. Despite that, we both really enjoyed this platter.

Crumbed Crab ($5.50)

This was a surprise fave of mine from the non-red meat dishes. Loved the crunchy and crumbed coating along with the thinly shredded crab meat filling. 

Okonomiyaki ($5.50)

In keeping up with discovering more Japanese favourites, I opted for the okonomiyaki. This was coated with okonomiyaki sauce, bonito flakes and swirls of mayonnaise. Obviously by this point with all the other dishes we ordered, we were getting quite full (but still managed to get through most of this!). I'm not too familiar with this dish but I thought it was softer than I expected. Then again I have only tried the one at Ichiban Boshi a few years ago. Did like the outer crispness and the overall soft texture. 

Steamed Rice ($2.50)

Usually at most Asian BBQ restaurants, we ordered rice on the side. Looking back this actually wasn't needed because the meat and seafood held well on its own. Plus the rice was too soft for my personal preference. 

Berry Yogurt Parfait ($7.90)

I was too full by the end so my second stomach didn't make it to dessert but V decided to go for the berry yoghurt parfait. This consisted of ice cream, berry syrup, fresh whipped cream, ad fruit and wafer garnishes. At first I thought it would be too creamy for my liking but from the sample I've tasted, it was actually quite sweet in a good way. It did melt really fast so V had to hurry with finishing it up before it ends up like a puddle. I also enjoyed the wafer stick for the extra crunch.

If you are curious about exploring more about Japanese cuisine besides the usual ramen and sushi joints, Gyuzou offers that option especially if you love wagyu meats. While the prices were a bit more expensive, it is great to share with a larger group so you can try more and split the bill down. Looking forward to making another visit for that juicy short rib wagyu beef!

Disclaimer: The Random Foodie dined as a guest of Japanese BBQ Yakiniku Gyuzou, courtesy of SD Marketing. Opinions are however, my own.

Japanese BBQ Yakiniku Gyuzou
Shop 5, 339 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Shop Tel No: (02) 9268 0410
Booking No: 1800 924 292
Sun-Thurs: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Fri-Sat: 5:30pm - midnight 

Petaling Street Malaysian Hawker Food, Haymarket

Once the location of a Vietnamese restaurant, Petaling Street Malaysian Hawker Food has created a solid following since it opened in 2012. Centrally located in the Haymarket/Chinatown side of George Street, it has a wide range of traditional Malaysian dishes with generous servings and decent prices for the hungry masses. As of 2014, this restaurant has opened three additional branches including Kingsford, Bonnyrigg and a take-away sister restaurant 'Petaling Express' at Strathfield.

Ice Milo Dinosaur ($4.80)

While it looked small from the outside, there's actually two levels to this restaurant with more seating downstairs. The buzz was very social especially during peak hours. Mostly students and anyone looking for a cheap eat. Very casual vibe. We ordered a few drinks to start off. My pick was Petaling's version of the Milo Dinosaur. The taste was a bit more milky than the PappaRich version but it went down well smoothly. Loved how it was served in a good old fashioned milkshake glass.

Roti Canai with Beef Rendang ($11.80)

Although the roti canai with beef rendang was intended to be AC's main dish, we couldn't help getting a sample of the roti pastry. It wasn't as thin and silky like Mamak's but I still liked the crispy, flaky bite that this has. Tasted even better when dipped into the spicy beef curry. 

Quarter of Hainan Chicken ($7.80)

Didn't try much of this but it seemed to be well-cooked, tender and warm from what I could recall. Enjoyed dipping it with the sauces on the side. The other peeps seemed to really enjoy this. 

Petaling Street Claypot Short Rice Noodle ($11.80)

Been looking forward to trying the Petaling Street Claypot Short Rice Noodle after seeing its presence in a few blogs. The noodles were quite chewy and the dish itself was too greasy and oily for my personal liking. However, it was still a delicious dish especially with the amount of minced pork and mushrooms. The serving size was on the heavier end so I didn't manage to finish this but I could see this dish to be suitable to share between two people.

Marmite Pork Spare Ribs with Rice ($11.80)

The dish that we enjoyed the most was the Marmite pork spare ribs. It was crispy and sticky on the outside but so juicy on the inside. Quite sweet with lots of flavour to our liking. Definitely would try this again on a future visit.

Roti Kaya ($6.80) 

Roti Pisang ($6.80)

While the above two sweet roti plates looked very similar, they each have different fillings. We all ordered a Roti Kaya (coconut jam) and a Roti Pisang (banana bread) to share between the four of us. Both of these plates were served with condensed milk on the side. While both fillings were sweet, rich and buttery, my preference was the Roti Pisang because of the banana filling. 

With the generous serving sizes, cheap prices and quick service; I was satisfied by my experience trying more Malaysian hawker dishes. There was a wide range of dishes to pick here that I wouldn't spot at many other Malaysian restaurants. Will definitely make a further visit to try a few more of their specialty dishes including the Hawker style dry egg noodle with roast chicken or one of their laksa bowls. Would recommend this place to go with friends or even family looking for a cheap and cheerful joint without the fuss.   

Petaling Street Malaysian Hawker Food
760 George Street, Haymarket NSW 2000
(02) 9280 1006
Mon-Sun: 11am - late

StreetFest Sydney, Belmore Park

StreetFest Sydney
When: First Friday of every month from 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Address: Belmore Park, Eddy Avenue near Central Station
Website: http://foodtrucksunited.com.au/

Ever since the first food truck drove into the streets of Sydney in 2012, hoards of Sydneysiders flocked to them for a bite whether it's for a quick lunch or a late night snack. They have been incredibly popular at various special events - a great alternative to the generic hot chips, kebabs and hot dogs. It's no surprise that there is now a street festival dedicated to food trucks which began late last year when it was known as Food Trucks United. 

In its first event for 2014, it has now expanded to include an art festival and popular street festival food stalls like German hot dogs, Momo dumplings and, of course, Gozleme! 

Everywhere at the festival, you can see artists creating wonderful pieces of artwork of various styles on the spot. Very similar to the street artists you see at different cities around the world. There is also live entertainment including the Street Lounge area which is a ticketed area ($25 entry) where you can enjoy live DJs, dance, chill and enjoy the ambience. 

At this festival, you get to try all (or most depending on their schedule) of the food trucks at one spot. This month's event included Tsuru (Asian), Urban Pasta (Italian), Al Carbon (Mexican), Agape Organic (organic sustainable), Jafe Jaffles, Cantina Movil (more Mexican food), Street Sliders (sliders and chips) and Bar Coco (coffee). While most of Sydney's food trucks were at the festival, there were a few notable absences including Eat Art Truck, Let's Do Yum Cha, Bite Sized Delights, The Nighthawk Diner and Veggie Patch Van - all very delicious and catered to different markets. Hopefully they will be there next month. 

Thanks to the increasingly popularity of pork buns at various restaurants, it was no surprise that Tsuru Food Truck had a steady queue throughout the evening. At $7, the pork belly bun was pricier compared to the likes of Ippudo pork buns which were only $4. Still it was packed with mouth watering fillings including a slice of cucumber and a tender slab of pork belly which was coated with a caramelised sauce with a hint of spices. This was generously filled inside the soft and fluffy bun. You can also order other Asian treats including the bulgogi beef bun, rice (choice of pork belly or bulgogi beef), tsuru chips and curry dip and the pandan pancake for dessert.

Pork Belly Bun ($7.00)

Urban Pasta offers pasta (boh dried and hand-made) with a delicious range of sauces including Amatricana, Napolitana, Boscaiola and the famous Lamb Ragu. As part of StreetFest, Urban Pasta had the Saffro Tagliatelle with Lamb Ragu for $12 - certainly one dish I would love to order again. The staff said that each month, they are aiming to create a different special fresh pasta dish for a bit of variety on the menu. If pasta isn't your thing but you like desserts, they also offer chocolate mousse and vanilla panna cotta with raspberry coulis.

Been a huge fan of Al Carbon (aka La Lupita) since its early days thanks to its authentic street tacos (side note: is La Lupita still opened at The Basement? Prob should head down that way sometime later this week). While it still has those sneaky sauces and slow-roasted meat, there were a few changes. This included a larger tortilla and the white creamy sauce - it didn't taste like sour cream though. It was still very yummy and would easily go for a few more if I had the stomach. V had one as well and really enjoyed it since he's usually not much of a taco fan.

Slow-roasted Tacos - Choice of Lamb or Chicken ($6.00 - Regular, $9.00 - Mega)

The menu at Agape Organic Truck boasts a generous selection of organic and sustainable produce. This includes organic spelt bun chilli dog, organic spelt bun po' boy, organic nachos (with veg option) and organic wagyu chilli and rice (again with vego option)...to name a few! I've actually been curious on what a sloppy joe would be since spotting a few mentions in children's literature over the years. Of course the final product is exactly how the name describes - it really was sloppy and messy. This was packed with Wagyu Beef Chilli Con Carne, Cheddar, Coleslaw, Chimmicurri into a Spelt Bun. Would recommend eating this with a fork. 

Organic Chilli Sloppy Joe ($12.00)

Street Sliders Truck began and mainly operated in the Parramatta and Macquarie Park areas which is good for anyone working in Western Sydney. For those working in the city and wanting to try these sliders, they thankfully do visits to Sydney CBD for this festival. If you are getting way too full, the sliders are actually quite small - as small as it should be. There are three sliders available including the Prime (beef), the Brick (chicken) and Smoke (eggplant) for $5.50 each. We decided to get the beef slider which was well-cooked and juicy for our liking. The side of fries was quite crunchy with a fairly generous serving size. 

Duo Combo of Prime Beef Sliders plus Side of Fries ($13.00)

[Single slider - $5.50, Fries - $4.00]

If you are keen for a drink, there is a pop up bar near the ticketed DJ stage where you can get a range of beers, wines or ciders. I had a glass of Gaymers cider which was not too heavy compared to some ciders I've had in the past. If you are looking for something non-alcoholic and healthier then there is the tall grass cane juice stall. The drink had an organic, naturally sweet and refreshing taste which is lovely to have on a warm summer day.

Gaymers Cider (possibly pear flavour)

Traditional Plain Cane Juice ($5.00)

I'd recommend checking this event out especially if you don't have any plans on the night. It is loads of fun and heaps of food to try. And if your stomach cannot handle that much, it will be back again. The prices will not break your wallet and the food should be able to fill you up. Also a great place to catch up with friends after work on a Friday night without dealing with too much crowds and queues if you show up without a booking. Looking forward to coming back again next month to check out the other trucks, food stalls and the street artwork.

Disclaimer: The Random Foodie attended StreetFest Sydney in February as a guest. This post also covers a visit to StreetFest Sydney (aka Food Trucks United) in late 2013 in which The Random Foodie attended and paid for the food independently. Opinions remain personal.