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Looking for something "cool" and insta-worthy? Burwood's newly opened Roji Monster might just be the place. With some Japanese influence this place's main attraction is their shaved ice ("monster ice cream" as they call it). It is a popular dessert in Asia, especially during the summer time. Roji is actually a chain from Taiwan, which we've tried before when travelling in Asia.



Currently there are four flavours available including milk, Uji matcha, French cocoa, and black sesame. The most impressive thing is there are 25 kinds of toppings to choose from. Besides shaved ice, Roji Monster also has things like waffles and mochi  just to name a few. 


How to order shaved ice?
The ordering system is kind of interesting, you first pick a card with the flavour you want, then pick two stamps with the toppings you want and stamp the card before handing it over to the staff.

Uji Matcha $14
It is no secret we are tea-lovers, and so we had to pick the Uji macha. For the two toppings we got the salted cherry jelly and the rice dumpling (a.k.a. mochi) w/ hojicha jelly. The shaved ice was relatively fine and you can taste the matcha. We didn't enjoy the two toppings as much, the cherry blossom jelly was firm and pretty much flavourless. The mochi was bland and the hojicha jelly wasn't anything better. 

Monster Waffle $14
We really liked the waffle, unlike an ordinary waffle, this one felt more like a pancake with a crispy outer shell and a soft cake-like centre. The sweetness for us was just perfect. The only drawback was the softserve being too sweet, otherwise the consistency was great.


Food: 5/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 6/10

Highlight:
  • Insta-worthy
  • Nice waffle
Lowlight:
  • The shaved ice was interesting, but not something we'd order again
Website: N/A
Roji Monster Ice Cream Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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Our experience with fine dining is that it almost always starts high and ends low. Entrees are usually good and innovative, mains are typically standard and boring, and desserts are hit-and-miss. It is for this reason we have been to Bennelong bar several times but never the restaurant. We had to tick this one off our list, and we are glad we did as Bennelong proved the exception where we enjoyed all dishes.

A 3-course menu is available for lunch & dinner at $145, a 2-course menu option is also available for lunch. We went with the 3-course. 

House Sourdough
Wild Kombucha by Ballsy $15
We are not big fans of the convenience store Kombucha variety, as it is usually made with black tea which we find too strong even for tea-lovers as we are. However, we have enjoyed several green tea/oolong Kombuchas at restaurants, which can be great options for non-drinkers. This one was clean and refreshing, almost like an exotic sparkling wine. 


Badu Gili - "Water Light" $16
Badu Gili, what a beautiful name for a beautiful mocktail. 

Moreton Bay Bug Dumpling
This dumpling was perfectly cooked with the bay bug tender and sweet, which was only bettered by the cabbage, which was so well seasoned and had fully absorbed the essence of the brown butter sauce.

Heirloom Summer Salad
Always a safe and vibrant entree for tomato lovers!

Sashimi of Coral Trout
An unusual combination and an excellent way to draw out the natural sweetness of the trout.


Red Prawn & Roasted Rice Congee
An interesting textural combination of gluey congee with crunchy roasted rice. We found this slightly too salty, which overpowered the sweetness of the coral prawn.

Slow Cooked Pork Belly
This pork belly is like a sponge soaked in umami and the smoked broth, completely rendering away in the mouth. I only wish it was bigger!

Blue-Eye Trevalla
Well executed pan fried fish with an interesting nutty sweet finish.

Steamed Local Pink Snapper
Compared to the trevalla this steamed snapper was a lighter dish, but not boring with a silky sauce and a touch of saltiness from the sea succulents. 

Roast Wagyu Rump Cap
This thinly sliced wagyu rump cap was cooked to a beautiful blush, perfectly showcasing the marbling meat. Whilst rump is a tough cut, this was super tender and juicy. The Yorkshire pudding was a star on its own, with a surprise centre as the sweet onions and mushroom puree elevated it to another level. The horseradish emulsion gives it that zing element, and balanced out the meatiness. 


Cherry Jam Lamington
This is the dish that we always look forward to the most when visiting Bennelong. We would have enjoyed it more if the coconut shavings were thinner/smaller, as they were on previous visits, to create that instant melt-in-the-mouth effect. We won't spoil it any further, this is something you have to try for yourself!

Green Mango Granita 
A light and refreshing alternative to the lamington. 

Creme Caramel vs Mille-Feuille
A decomposed creme caramel with salted caramel snaps. There is nothing to fault this dessert, but everyone's had creme caramel and this was not on par with the lamington in terms of impressiveness.

Petit Fours
Rather than the usual chocolate truffles, Bennelong's Petit Fours were a welcome conclusion to the meal. This moist spongy cake taste like brown sugar, which paired well with the coconut cream filling. This is something we'd happily order if it became a permanent addition to the menu.  

Comparing to its older sister Quay, we prefer Bennelong's younger and more modern twist. As far as fine dining goes, this is one of the best we've been to and hands down the best in Sydney.

Food: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Atmosphere: 8.5/10

Highlight:
  • Wagyu rump & the Hermes of Yorkshire pudding was a great combo
Lowlight:
  • Lamington not the same as before
Website: https://www.bennelong.com.au/
Bennelong Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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Reuben Hills has become a household name in Surry Hills. We decided to revisit for the namesake "(Not) Reuben" sandwich in our desperation to find a good Reuben in Sydney after the sad close down of Ruby & Rach, which in our opinion was the hands-down best Reuben joint at the time. Read til the end for the verdict...

The Not Reuben $21.50
The "Not Reuben" seriously has nothing to do with Reuben Sandwich, it is more appropriately a brisket sandwich or for meat-lovers like us really a veggie sandwich plus a thin slice of brisket on the side. Imagine a moist and juicy piece of brisket...well this was the complete opposite. Apart from the sweetness of the coleslaw we couldn't really taste anything else.


Fried Chicken Basket $19.50
We are glad we ordered this chicken and restored the rightful balance of protein in a weekend brunch. We came for the "Not Reuben" but found solace in the chicken. The seasoning was familiar and good in a way, with a hint of chilli kick to it. The chicken was perfectly cooked, the skin was thin and crispy with the meat tender and juicy.



Food: 5/10
Service: 8/10
Atmosphere: 6/10

Highlight:
  • The chicken is safe choice
Lowlight:
  • Pricey for what you get
Website: http://www.reubenhills.com.au/

Reuben Hills Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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Just when you think December can't get any hotter, think again...a new Japanese-style pub grub just landed in town with a menu centering on food on a stick. Kushiyaki simply means skewered food that is cooked over a grill. This type of street food is popular in Japan, and is considered a good way to relieve stress after a day of work. The atmosphere is generally casual and lively. It is the perfect place for friends to gather over a glass of cold beer accompanied with a selection of vegetables and meat skewers without finding yourself bankrupt the next day.




Sitting around the grill counter provides a perfect view of the chefs in action, which also means it can get a little smoky. 


Ordering is pretty straight forward, if you are unsure of what to get just turn to the skewer cabinets. There are plenty of poultry and non-poultry skewers to choose from, and honestly they all look ridiculously good. 


Scallop & Bacon $7.50; Shitake Mushrooms $6; Spinach,
Cheese & Bacon $6.50; Enoki Mushrooms & Pork Belly $6.50
Sukiyaki & Wagyu Beef $8.50
King Prawn & Pork Belly $7.50
Beef Hanging Tender & Capsicum $8
Cherry Tomato & Pork Belly $6; Wagyu Extreme Loin $10; Fresh Lettuce & Pork Belly $6.50
At Goryon-San instead of seasoning the skewers with sauce (Ta-re), they are simply seasoned with a little salt after grilling. Nevertheless, the skewers are still delicious and packed with flavours.

Our top picks were the sukiyaki & wagyu beef,  tomato & pork and lettuce & pork.

Hakata taki Karaka Gyoza (6pcs) $22
We have had plenty of gyoza before, but nothing like this one here. This Gyoza served in spicy tonkotsu broth is something that is worth trying, and we were impressed. Almost like having a wonton soup, the gyoza was plump and soft, the soup was nourishing and slightly spicy.


If you are looking for a place to chill-out, Goryon-San is the perfect place for it, with a great vibe and good food.

Food: 9/10
Service: 6/10
Atmosphere: 7/10

Highlight:
  • Great ambience 
  • Food was good overall
Lowlight:
  • Apart from the sukiyaki wagyu beef , the other beef skewers were just ok
  • At times, the smoke from the grill can a little intense
Website: https://goryon-san.com.au/
Goryon San Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a couple carrying something that looked really cute. Was that a cake? I asked myself and thought I'd better turn around and double check or risk regretting never seeing it again. 

                 
This cake from Chado is undoubtedly the cutest cake I've seen. It is elegant, somehow enchanting, and definitely insta-worthy. The pictures say it all!

Chado offers an array of cute cakes with custom flavours to choose from, we went for the "king of fruits" durian. For this particular cake the options were mango, durian, passion fruit, banana, peach, strawberry, matcha, yoghurt, cheese, and chocolate.

The outer shell is made with white chocolate, and the inside is filled with white chocolate mousse and pulps of durian. The cake itself was light and airy and not too sweet. The two bunnies are made with lychee mousse and lychee. The lychee bunnies were fragrant and sweet.

Not so pretty was the price, at $140 (including an extra $15 for durian flavour). But it's ok to splurge every now and then! This cake is perfect for any occasion and will surely melt the ladies' hearts.

Food: 9/10
Service: N/A
Atmosphere: N/A

Highlight:
  • Insta-worthy cakes that are actually delicious
Lowlight:
  • Pricey
  • Must preorder, typically at least 3-7 days in advance
  • Take away only, no seating
Website: https://www.chado.com.au/
Chado Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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About me


About me

We are passionate about food and travel and believe food is the best way to learn about different cultures. We wish to share with you our food adventures around Sydney and overseas in honest and in-depth reviews.

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