Menya Japanese Noodle Bar (Townhall, Sydney)

I will start off my first post with my favourite Japanese Restaurant. Menya has always been a favourite of mine. With my uni situated right near Chinatown, there were many places to eat and choose from. Yet Menya was one of the first Japanese Restaurants I ate at and fell in love with immediately. Great quality of good, quick service and excellent prices are the factors that have attracted me to this place. It has recently opened its second store at Townhall to cater for all the business women and men.

I was set to try the new Menya Restaurant to see how it compared against the one in Haymarket. Situated across from the Allianz building, is the new Menya, which may be a bit hard to find as it is not in street view. We arrive right at 6pm opening and it is fairly quiet for a Tuesday night dinner.

As you arrive, staff chorus a greeting before you sit down. Your order is taken at the counter first (cash only) before a table number is given and you find yourself a seat sit at one of the tables. Stylish, modern and sleek are the words that describe the interior. Within minutes, giant bowls of noodles and box sets are delivered.

I order the Tori kara-age ramen (deep fried chicken, $9.90) dish with a Shoyu (soy sauce) soup base as the one I normally order at Chinatown with the Tonkotsu (pork bone) soup isn't available. I actually like the taste of the shoyu soup. It tastes light and corresponds well with the excellently chewy and al dente noodles. The kara-age chicken is freshly fried to a crispy, golden batter with the chicken pieces juicy and plump.


My two friends both opt for the Tori-katsu curry (chicken cutlet, $9.90) with the curry sauce on the side. Having tasted it before, its a great dish for winter with the warm curry sauce and crispy chicken. They both find it a satisfying meal but don't finish the overload of curry sauce given. A side dish of Takoyaki balls fills our stomach to the max, hot and filled with octopus bits.

Delicious meal and a bargain considering the minimal price tag. There are many other dishes on offer from various kinds of noodles to rice dishes.

Level Ground, Shop 2, 1 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.menya.com.au/city/index.html
Monday to Saturday Lunch:12:00am - 3:00pm / Dinner:6:00pm - 10:00pm