Nonbei Sake Bar & BBQ is far more than appearances suggest. Located on Ann Street, just around the corner from Chinatown, you'd be forgiven that it was a cheap themed japanese restaurant that was more flash than substance with its built in BBQ tables and vinal bench seating.
Let me be the first to apologise and recommend that you dig beneath the surface and try this place out.
For our first visit we ordered from the menu as we didn't have time to linger over our meal. The quality, texture and flavour of the food was sensational. My poached eggplant with homemade miso was divine with hints of green tea and something equally creamy and almost buttery without being overly salty. A mouth winner for sure.
Our other choices included karage, aburi salmon, pork gyoza and edamame beans. The pork gyoza were perhaps the dissappointment of the night, but only because they were so plain when compared with the amazing flavours and textures of the other dishes. Even the condiments of homemade sesame chilli sambal and a beautiful soy blend were something we were prepared to beg the chef for the recipe to attempt to recreate at home.
The amazing thing is that with a bottle of sake and 5 dishes we walked away with a bill of $50 for two. An absolute winner and we'll definately be back and perhaps next time to try out the BBQ option. read more