Kushiyaki Azuma, Sydney

It was a lunch catch up with Sushi Girl, but I made Cheesecake Boy come and have a big meal as he had been working late that week and needed a big feed to keep him going for the rest of the working day to night.  We had all been super busy that week and needed a huge fix, so that's how we ended up at Kushiyaki Azuma for their very generous obento lunch sets.  Unfortunately, hungry stomachs means impatient and hurried photos, but what can you do when you stomach is growling.  Sometimes you just have to give in.

 

Sushi Girl and I both chose the sushi and teriyaki chicken set, whereas Cheesecake Boy went for the sushi and udon set.  Now, all the lunch sets receive the same set standards of a miso soup, a box set of sushi and rice with seasonal tempura and seared tuna.  On top of all of the set standards then you get your extra in Sushi Girl and my case it was the teriyaki chicken and in Cheesecake Boy's case a bowl of udon.  We were initially provided with salts for our tempura, consisting of green tea, plain and curry flavoured salt.  In all honesty I prefer the usual tentsuyu dipping sauce with grated radish, but it's good to try something different at times.

Tempura salts: green tea, plain and curry flavour

We were all served a bowl of steaming hot miso soup, which was just what we needed as it was freezing that day.   It was a good standard miso soup and that's all you need sometimes, no surprises can be a good thing.

Miso soup (set standard)

We all also received a sushi box set with our meal.  The menu says five pieces, but they seem to be quite generous that day and an extra two pieces were tucked in.  They were nice and simple, all of Cheesecake Boy's favourites were here.  My only gripe was that the sushi rice was a bit colder than I would of liked, but it wasn't an issue as I was sipping on my miso.

Sushi set (set standard)

The last set standard we are all presented with was our rice with seasonal tempura and seared tuna.  The tempura was nice and light and I have a thing for sweet Japanese pickles.  Unfortunately, the seared tuna was buzzing with a watery citrus taste.

Rice with seasonal tempura and seared tuna (set standard)

Now you're probably looking at the set standards and feeling full and so were we, but there was more.  Cheesecake Boy's set included a lovely bowl of silky udon noodles with some crispy tempura bits for some texture, as well as some seaweed and a sprinkling of shallots.  It was very simple, but I really adore udon cooked like this, as you really get to appreciate the basic flavours of the noodles and soup.

Sushi & udon set: 5 pieces sushi & udon, $24

Sushi Girl and I were really stuffed by now, but we really like the teriyaki chicken here.   It's one of the better teriyaki chicken dishes that I have had.  The teriyaki chicken was tender and beautifully sweet.  However, Sushi Girl and I are both defeated by each of our huge serving, and have to leave more than half of ours untouched.  Otherwise, we really would of had to roll back to work.

Sushi & chicken set: 5 pieces of sushi & teriyaki chicken, $29

From previous visits I remembered that the lunch sets at Kushiyaki Azuma were big, but not this big.  All of us more than struggled to finish our lunches that day.  However, if you're ever feeling super hungry around lunch time, the obento lunch sets are more than just satisfying here.  Plus, the beauty of Kushiyaki Azuma being tucked in a corner of Regent Place is that it's hidden, and the serene zen-like surroundings are always a good alternative, if you don't want to get swamped during the lunch time rush.

Munching away, Dumpling Girl.


Kushiyaki Azuma

Ground Floor, Regent Place Shopping
501 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000 

Ph: (02) 9267 7775

http://www.azuma.com.au/kushiyaki/home.php