Gyusha, Chippendale
Stuffed behind the Central Park buildng in the heart of Chippendale, you would never know to look for Gyusha unless you’d been there before. While it initially seems to be a small takeaway joint, Gyusha is only revealed to be a cook-it-yourself restaurant when the smell of sizzling, marbled meat wafts up your nose as you enter.
Gyusha’s pride and joy is its wagyu – which comes in a variety of cuts. Choose between Chuck Roll (thin slices), Tri Tip (thicker slices), Chuck Rib, Beef Belly, rib fingers and many more. The thinner slices are my choice, as they cook in only a couple of minutes and melt in your mouth. If beef’s not your thing then there’s a range of chicken, pork and seafood options. The sashimi at Gyusha is particularly noteworthy, for its freshness and vibrancy – it’s just as good as many of the high-end Japanese restaurants in Sydney
The best thing about Gyusha is its range of options. While they do their meat well, there are options for virtually every dietary requirement, plus a huge range of options for everyone else. The meat selection is as vast as the veggies; and you can pick from capsicum, asparagus, onion, zucchini, shitake mushrooms, cabbage and many more. While Japanese is the dominating cuisine, the menu also features Korean additions like bibimbap and kimchi, plus ‘asian’ staples like gyoza and croquettes. Whether you want to barbeque your meat, chopstick your udon or slurp down an oyster, you’ll find there’s something for you – and it all goes down well with a Gyusha original beer in hand.
Everyone who likes to get involved with their meal will love the Gyusha experience, as it manages to hit the sweet spot between interactive, authentic and accessible. The service is fast, the bronze extractor fans are on full pelt, and the portable air-cons keep you cool (something that many bbq restaurants struggle to achieve). The food is on the milder side, so for those who like food that packs a punch, you’ll need sauces to build the flavours, but this only widens the breadth of people who can and love to dine at Gyusha. The best way to finish your meal is with a scoop of refreshing gelato, to take the heat out of your mouth, and while you can’t go wrong the lychee sorbet is a winner.
So, next time you’re in need of a dependable and tasty dining experience head on over to Gyusha and immerse yourself in this tiny pocket of Japan, right in the heart of Sydney.
