Azuma, Chifley Plaza
To the sushi counter!
It’s been a while since I’ve met up with my favourite food buddy H. It was with H that I experienced 2 dinners in one night and an over-indulgent meal at Longrain, so to continue our theme, we decided to catch up over great food at Azuma.
As we arrived to Azuma. we were quickly directed to our seats in front of the sushi counter, where we were warmly greeted by our sushi chefs. To get things going, we ordered a couple of cocktails and some sake. Before I even had the chance to look at the menu, H asked the waitress for the grilled blue fin tuna gill, to which he was warned it was a very very big serving, therefore they’re happy to let us doggy bag it, if we couldn’t finish it. Whilst waiting for our tuna, we asked the sushi chef to serve us whatever he thinks is good.
By the way, if your interested in our other experiences at Azuma check out our post on the degustation and their new store on George St called Kushiyaki Azuma.
Sushi chef searing our Salmon belly
Since each piece of sashimi/nigiri I had was so beautifully fresh and succulent, there’s no point in me describing them individually. Hopefully the photos speaks for themselves.
Seared Kingfish belly $4.50
Seared Salmon belly $4.50
Sea-urchin Nigiri $5.50
Scallop Nigiri $3.50
Blue fin tuna Nigiri
Grilled eel wrapped in cucumber $5.50
By the time that we had finished our starter, we were still starving, so opted to order a couple more dishes. Once again, the waitress cautioned us that the tuna will be really big, so she doubted we’d be able to finish the following dishes that we were about to order. Despite her attempts, we went against her warning and ordered some duck and pork belly.
Grilled fresh duck breast seasoned w/ Pink Salt & served w/ Burdock root $29.50
The grilled pieces of duck were so soft and tender. Flavoured with a little sea salt, accompanied by some micro-leaves, I really doubt that we cannot finish this. Even if I were full, I’d somehow manage to finish it off.
Braised Pork Belly-kakuni $13.00
The only time that I’ve had beautiful braised pork belly in a light soy sauce like this was at Wasavie, however H thought that Azuma’s pork belly was even better. Super dooper rich, creamy and artery clogging, just the way I like it.
Blue fin tuna gill
Finally, our much anticipated tuna arrived. The waitress wasn’t exaggerating when she said the blue fin tuna gill was huge, all in all, it was the size of two round dinner plates. Accompanied by pickled radish, ginger and grated daikon, this is one of the best tuna dishes I’ve had in a while. The pieces of flesh that was picked out from the boney structures were covered by a gelatinous skin layer, dipped in the light soy sauce, easily possible to finish, or so I thought. After the 4th, or 5th or 6th bite, I was absolutely gone. I couldn’t breathe and was in soo much pain. Unfortunately, I had to part way with the tuna and hand the job of demolishing it over to H.
Champagne jelly with fruits
I know I know, how can I go on to eat dessert when I just complained about how full I was. Trust me, eating the dessert was a very difficult task. Never in my entire existence have I said no to dessert, however in this instance, the best I could do was pick at them. The Champagne Jelly with fresh strawberry and orange segments were very refreshing.
Green Tea Rolled Cake
What I love about the Japanese people are their ability to excel in everything they do, their cakes are no different. The sponge cake was extraordinarily soft, tightly rolled around green tea flavoured cream. The side serving of red bean was a nice touch, providing a different texture.
Red Bean Zenzai
All good things must come to an end, it seems our luck had ran out upon the serving of the red bean dessert. It resembled a dessert served at chinese restaurants after a banquet meal, however this version was quite bland.
Green tea creme brulee
The best dessert on the platter was the green tea creme brulee. A creamy and fragrant custard, topped with a thin layer of caramelised sugar. Possibly the best green tea flavoured creme brulee that I’ve ever had.
Since I’ve never been to Japan, I rely on the thoughts of people who have been. My dining companion, H, has been to Japan a couple of times, he assured me that the quality of sashimi and nigiri served in Azuma is one of the best in Sydney and is the closest to what he had in Japan. Azuma provides great food, fantastic service and complimentary parking in the heart of Sydney, what more could you ask for?
Azuma
Level 1, Chifley Plaza
2 Chifley Square (Cnr. of Phillip & Hunter Street)
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 2 9222 9960
Web: www.azuma.com.au
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By linda
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This article was written on 04 Sep 2009, and is filed under Dinner, Sydney, CBD.
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I’m amazed you can put away so much food, but I’d probably do the same.
.-= Irina@PastryPal´s last blog ..One Coconut Cookie, Three Personalities =-.
Oh! So much freshly prepared, tasty food! I like that you can place your eating at the hands of the chef – and that everything that came out was beautiful.
.-= shez´s last blog ..japaz =-.
Yum, everything looks so fresh and delicious, I’ve always wanted to go here. I don’t blame you for stopping on the tuna after several bites, I would have been defeated by that behemoth too! Mm green tea sponge cake….
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Almost Bourdain’s Malaysian & Dutch Feast =-.
green tea creme brulee… omg… i have an inkling ill be visiting them for that alone if nothing else
Food looks exquisite! Love a green tea creme brulee and fresh sashimi… how can you beat it?
.-= Helen (Grab Your Fork)´s last blog ..Harbourside Market, Wellington, New Zealand =-.
oh my god, I have my eyes on that Blue fin Tuna gill……at first I thought is a T-bone steak!
.-= billy@ATFT´s last blog ..Fridaylicious 101 – #11 Foodbloggers and Crazy Wigs =-.
There were only two of you?? Did you take home a doggy bag? That tuna gill looks so good though, I would never have known that such a dish existed, will definitely have to try!
.-= Moya´s last blog ..Pineapple Flavoured Twisties? You Bet! =-.
I totally agreed with H that Azuma’s nigiri is the best in town. I will defintely try the blue fin tuna gill on my next visit. Great photos as always!
.-= Ellie´s last blog ..Cantaloupe (Rockmelon) Sago Pudding =-.
I heart Azuma for their excellence in traditional Japanese dishes, as well as their cakes at regent!
.-= Yas´s last blog ..quick post: creeping my way up from flu hell. =-.
Wow that tuna fin is absolutely gigantic! The nigiri looks so clean and fresh, and the green tea brulee looks delicious as well
.-= Jacq´s last blog ..The Sydney Fish Markets, Pyrmont =-.
OOohh I must pay Azuma another visit! First time I thought it was pretty average but all these photos has me wanting for more! And I recently went kushiyaki and OMMMGGG that was sooooooooooooooo good XD
.-= FFichiban´s last blog ..Bird Cow Fish – Surry Hills, Sydney =-.
good to hear it’s still a good choice for quality japanese. chifley plaza has so many great food places including Bacco http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com/2009/08/bacco-wine-bar-italian-cheese-chifley.html
.-= Simon Food Favourites´s last blog ..Albee’s Kitchen: Malaysian and Chinese, Campsie (16 August 2009) =-.
i love pork belly despite it being fattening, i might have to go just for that!! the other items look good too
Despite all that food overload, that champagne jelly really looks wonderful and refreshing! Glad you didn’t say no to it!
@ Irina@PastryPal- LOL Yeah looking back at the photos, I can’t believe we managed to demolish all of it.
@ Shez- That’s what I love about sitting at sushi counters where you can actually see your food being made and prepared.
@ Steph- ooh you should definitely go to Azuma, sooo fresh and yummy.
@ abercrombie- LOL while you’re there, you must have the Nigiri sooo yummy, especially the Toro.
@ GrabYourFork- LOL You’re right Helen, nothing beats sashimi and green tea brulee. OMG I feel like sashimi again.
@ Billy@ATFT- That’s my first time having Blue fin tuna, and oh my.. it’s soo worth it.
@ Moya- LOL yeah we both finished it, lol no doggy bag. The waitress did joke that if need be, she has a trolley in the kitchen that my dining companion can push me to the car in haha
@ Ellie- Thanks Ellie, I’m looking forward to trying Koi, hopefully soon =D
@ Yas- Do you recommend any other japanese restaurant with great sashimi?
@ Jacq- I think everything that night was absolutely scrumptious.
@ FFichiban- I thought there Kushiyaki was ok. Probably would of been better if we had more people so that we can sample more food.
@ SimonFoodFavourites- I have to try bacco out soon, I love their range of desserts.
@ sydneyguyrojoe- once in a while is ok. LOL just remember to do a couple of hours jogging after.
@ Y- LOL I really do think I have a second stomach for desserts.
.-= linda´s last blog ..Universal Restaurant, Darlinghurst =-.
Mm, Azuma is still one of those places I’ve yet to visit but so want to! The food all looks so good and that pork chop looking gill looks delicious. Mm. Pork chop tuna.
.-= Forager´s last blog ..The Deadliest Catch of Alaskan Crab =-.
Fantastic photos and review. It was from reading Howard’s review of Azuma from last year that I then booked an Azuma degustation for my girlfriend’s birthday. I realized I never thanked him, so thanks eatshowandtell! And I agree, Azuma is still amazing for traditional Japanese!
.-= Lucas Ng´s last blog ..How Many Aussies Use Twitter? =-.