Yoyogi used to be my favourite Japanese restaurant back in my Uni days. For some reason, we stopped going for the past 3-4 years and boy was it great to revisit this place again.
It was really fresh and generous. The “colourful hair chef” made them on request.
Deep fried potato cakes.
The crust was panko-delicious.
Ramen was boiling hot and it came thoughtfully with seaweed and perfectly deep fried chicken karaage in a separate plate.
If you haven’t noticed, our favorite crusine is Japanese. I thought I’d like to share with you some of our best picks around Melbourne and in return hopefully you’d recommend us some of your favourites as well.
For the Budget conscious:
- Yoyogi (Swanston St) – Food’s only good when the store is busy.
- Obento Sushi (Highpoint) – Serves the most generous salmon mix ever but this only apply if you go to the one in Highpoint. The one in Melbourne Centre is a total different story. Easily, the best sushi rolls around and is relatively well priced.
- Sushi Sushi – They are reliable, taste exactly the same in every store and I have never eaten a bad sushi here ever before. I like them because you can order massive platters online and pick them up. Efficient and have a quite a huge variety.
For the in betweem:
- Kenzan (GPO) – Offers perhaps a new concept to Melbourne. DIY roll your sushi rolls with separately packaged fresh crisp seaweed. At the, the price would usually double your average sushi rolls. They also offer unique stuffings like soft shell crab (yum), lobster, etc. Their lunch menu are good quality Japanese food which are all below $20 I think. Great spot to relax and chill for a shopping break around town.
For the Grill Lovers:
- Takumi – I drag everyone I know here. Great customer service, online reservation option, none wallet breaking prices, good variety to choose from and they serve the best wagyu beef. Everything is good here from entree to dessert and that is of course if you know what to order. Hint: Wagyu ribs (that is not on the menu), Goma pudding!
- Shoya – If you like japanese grill/bbq, you’ll like Shoya because of its ambience and that’s exactly what Japanese Iron Chef did throughout his entire trip in Melbourne, he went to Shoya for lunch and dinner almost everyday. Their grill are delish and comes in set menu so you don’t have worry about what to choose.
For Good Quality Japanese Fare:
- Shoya – I pick Shoya again only because they serve the best sashimi in town in an ice igloo (try it once in your life). Their set lunch menu is one of my favourite and dinner menu is all of good quality food. They serve sea urchin cheesecake, lobster sashimi, tofu chocolate mousse, crab and cheese miso soup among many exotic and unique dishes. Beware, this place comes with a price tag but one I am only too willing to pay.
For Best Tempura in Melboure:
- Tempura Hajime – I was skeptical with a meal consist of everything deep fried but boy was I blown away with the none-oiliness of everything. This place doesn’t come with a restaurant sign and that adds mysterious to the restaurant that only serves 12-14 people per night. In addition, there’s no menu in this restaurant.
For Sake Drinking Izakaya:
- Maedaya - Best izakaya in Melbourne in my opinion. They serve a huge variety of skewers including pork belly and chicken skin! How awesome is that? The menu itself will make you go crazy because there’s so many to choose from and they come with complimentary dipping sauce tester to pick your favourite sauce before they bring you a huge pot of it.
- Ichi Ni – Good view (by St Kilda beach), good ambience but the food is slightly overprice and the menu is limited as it is targeted to the white drinking crowd in St Kilda.
You’ll notice I have left out some other famous Japanese restaurants in Melbourne because some of them are fusions (not my cup of tea) *ahem* Nobu, Kobe Jones and Shira Nui (I have yet to try because it is so far away!!).
Feel free to drop me a comment with your favourite Japanese restaurant as we are more than happy to try.
What they are famous for:
Active Moisture Boost Serum
Intense Refining Skin Complex
Restructuring Anti-Wrinkle Lip Contour
Watch out for:
Ultra Correction Nanolotion
Protective UV Care Anti-Pollution
Anti-Fatigue Gel Mask
My picks:
Intensive Whitening Treatment Definitely one of the best whitening product out there
Lip Cure Exfoliates, softens and firms the lip
Skin Illuminating Program If you’re not a big fan of whitening this radiant boosting kit is your best call.
Worth your money bits:
- You get 2 products for the value of a double pen.
- Pick from Black Liquid Eyeliner + Coral Cream Brush OR Black Mascara + Concealer/Highlighter
- Personally I love the Black Liquid Eyeliner + Coral Cream Blush (contains Vit A, C, E & Jojoba Oil) combo more because the liquid eyeliner is of one of the best I have ever tried, so easy to use and is super long lasting even for my inward lids; it doesn’t transfer or smudge. You can double the coral cream blush for cheeks/lips. How convenient?
- The Black Mascara + Concealer/Highlighter is equally a standout and perfect to touch up throughout the day.
- Love, love, love the idea of double pens and the good value for money
Prefer it to: N/A
Great for: Make up on the go, traveling, stuffing into the tiniest handbag/makeup bag.
We’ve always seen lipstick + gloss in a pen, eye pencil + shader in a pen but never have we seen a liquid eye liner + blush in one or a mascara + highlighter in one and what a genius idea at that.
Available on counters: 1st March 2010
You may have heard me raving about how awesome some of these serums are but no seriously, they deliver what they promise which is why I can’t stop raving about them. All of these serum equally delivers long term results you can visibly notice the difference to your skin and they all come highly recommended by yours truly.
While they are all on the slightly expensive end, at least you know they are all guaranteed results. I’d say that’s a sound investment right there.
Christian Dior – One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum
Perfect for plumping skin, even out skin tone and anti aging care.
Clinique – Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewal
Exfoliates, refines pores and skin tone and brightens the face.
What are some of your holy grail serums?
Please share!
This is one of the product from Lancome’s O My Rose! collection that intrigued me. O My Rose collection is a celebration of beauty in the sixties and naturally this #Coral 01 (the only colour available thus far) lip toy stole my attention.
Worth your money bits:
- You can also smudge a little on the cheeks and lids
- When applied dry, it delivers a sensual bitten lip effect
- When applied wet, you’ll get a potent sexy coral pout
- The colour is medium sheer and buildable.
Prefer it to: Come with caps so it is a bit more durable/hygiene and easier to store.
Great for: Anyone who loves a lip toy! How can you resist?
Worth your money bits:
- Works to replenish, repair and hydrates the skin
- Non spilling pump bottle packaging
- This lotion felt like La Mer fluid lotion. Both just as hydrating.
- Texture is surprisingly lightweight, more so than La Mer’s fluid lotion.
- I use this as my emergency rescue product because not only is it expensive (gotta use sparingly), it also transform red-patchy-bumpy-skin to all smooth, glowly and back to normal good skin days.
- Suitable for day/night use.
Prefer it to: Less expensive.
Great for: Skin that requires serious hydration and good protection and repair from environmental damage. I think dry, normal and combination skin can definitely use this.
