5 /5 michelle deng: Wow. I never write reviews but Ren Ishii impressed me so much that I just had to. The first time I came to eat here, it instantly became my favourite restaurant in Sydney. Every dish served was impeccable and so full of flavour, and not a single dish disappointed me. Ill do a breakdown of each dish.
We ordered the:
- Charred Kushiyaki Skewers ($10 each) – this was my favourite dish. Its a wagyu skewer, and the wagyu is so juicy and tender and it literally melts in your mouth. The sauce they use is amazing and pairs perfectly with the wagyu; we liked the sauce so much that we asked to keep the dish at the table just so we could use the leftover sauce for our next dishes.
- Tempura Soft Shell Crab Inside Out Roll ($20) – the best soft shell crab sushi Ive ever had!! The crab itself was still so crispy and flavourful inside the roll, which is something that Ive found to be a problem at other places where the crab is soggy inside. But this one was done perfectly with no faults.
- Betel Leaf Sashimi Tacos ($20) – I initially didnt realise the tacos would be betel leaf so I was expecting a crunchy shell, but I actually really enjoyed the betel leaf paired with the freshness of the sashmi and yuzu flavours.
- Karaage Popcorn Chicken ($20) – so crunchy and flavourful! Ive had soggy karaage popcorn at other places, but Ren Ishii just does it perfectly. Loved this dish so much and I honestly wanted to order another serving of this to take home.
- Tempura Eggplant – another amazing dish. The eggplant was still crunchy despite it sitting in a bowl of sauce.
The food was so good that we came back a second time to try different dishes. We ordered the:
- Charred Kushiyaki Skewers ($10 each) – ordered again because it was too good last time. Again, very juicy and tender. Would order again and again and again and again.
- Yellow Fin Tuna Inside Out Roll ($22) – wow, this mustve been my favourite tuna sushi Ive ever had. The tuna inside was so soft and fresh. The sauce pairing for this was also perfect.
- Salt & Pepper Quail ($38) – cooked so well and crispy. Though I will say, it was a little too salty for my liking.
- Tempura Soft Shell Crab ($36) – really crispy soft shell crab and so flavourful!
- Potatoes ($18) – wow, I really wasnt expecting potatoes to taste so good. These were multi-layered soft cubed potatoes and they were so so crunchy. I had to takeaway half of this because we were too full to finish eating, and when I popped them in the airfryer at home, they were still so crispy after! I was so surprised about that, but it definitely speaks to the quality of the ingredients and the chefs skills.
Not a single dish here was bad and the quality of their food is fantastic. Aside from the food, what impressed me even more was the service. The owner, Steph, is so friendly and accomodating. Both times we came in without a reservation and wasnt expecting a seat, but just showed up in case they could fit us in. Even though the restaurant was full (and overbooked the second time), she was able to accomodate us and we still received the same great service as everyone else. We really appreciated how hospitable she was, and she even remembered us the second time we came!
Steph and her team have really curated an incredible menu and a great atmosphere and experience at the restaurant. The service was so quick and there was minimal waiting time for your food from the moment you order. The staff came to check in once in the while, which is always appreciated.
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone – if you like Japanese food, you wont be disappointed. I cant wait to come back here and try more dishes, and I have no doubt that itll all be amazing again! :) And I cant wait to bring my family and all my friends here too (theyve already heard all about my wonderful experience and the delicious food Ive had here).
Apologies for the very long review – it was just THAT good, I couldnt help myself. I hope you all enjoy.
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