finally! I got to try a sushi & sashimi combo with a willing friend last week - it's getting increasingly popular here, but thankfully everytime I've come I've still managed to sit a table inside, except once . . . so for ~$46, we were served a delightful array of oysters, sashimi (raw fish) , sushi roll slices (my favorite on this platter had the lightly seared salmon (?) on top, every tidbit a tasty mouthful of flavour~! I found out too late that they have a loyalty card - get a free takoyaki (fried octopus ball), on your 5th visit, then a free soft shell crab salad on your 10th visit for free. Everytime I've been here I've never gone wrong!

to celebrate 3 months of staying with my new housemate, i shouted him dinner at this place just closeby - have been interested to try it sometime, although i was a bit suspicious of the name - it sounded more Korean than Japanese ... but he was keen to try here too, and we weren't disappointed at all!! they set the Japanese atmosphere with the decor, as well as the staff cheerfully greeting us upon entry "IRRASHAIMASE!!" - very Japanese! ;) I checked out the menu & specials before booking, looked pretty good! upon sitting down inspecting their pictorial menu with fuller descriptions, i knew i'd be back to try more of the menu in future before i'd even placed my order! ;) we ordered the moim special (7 pieces of delectable baked salmon, spicy tuna, crab meat, cucumber & avocado with salad and fish roe) - an excellent starter @ $13.80 [!] .. not exactly top value for money, but the quality & presentation were superb! I ordered the spicy chicken bento @ $14.80 - a winner, my housemate ordered the Teri Salmon bento @17.80, both our stomachs were delightfully happy!! to cap of a great meal, we both dug into some sesame ice-creams - which we were told by our friendly waiter, John, were made onsite daily by the owner, Clay, which i thought was pretty impressive! we found all the staff a delight, attentive, friendly & helpful. the place really got buzzing around 6 on a Wednesday night, I even checked out the function room further inside which was just as packed with customers as the main eating area! a rare thing for other restaurants in the area - onsite toilets here! will definitely be back & look forward to working my way through the menu, trying out the season specials, as well as getting to know more of the staff too! Japanese food lovers, unite! even though they're Korean [i'm not sure about the chef, but at least the staff are Korean] they replicate the quality of taste & awesome presentation you'd come to expect of Japanese food.

Approximate cost: $11+