Izakaya Chuji proudly pronounces that it’s been operating since 1989. It must be doing something right if it’s still going strong after 20 years, despite a rather dingy interior (and increasing in dinginess the further away from the window you are) and no-frills service.
At lunch time the 50s diner-like setup is full of office workers and Asian students chowing down on the bento box set. Basically it’s a tick-a-box option – you choose something from A, B, C and D and it all comes with rice and miso soup for $14.50.
I chose the beef sukiyaki, nigiri sushi, soba noodles and on C’s recommendation, gyoza. I’m normally a bit a-feared of solid, tasteless gyoza but these were lightly fried dumplings, with the juicy filling encased in a thin pastry. My shreds of beef was a bit dry and C’s plump pieces of teriyaki chicken looked much better. The soba noodle and sushi was nice, but non-descript.
I can’t say that each item on its own was spectacular, but in combination the bento box set at Izakaya Chuji was good value and worth the trip.
For other Japanese lunch sets in the city, try Yu-u or Shoya.
- Izakaya Chuji, 165 Lonsdale St, Melbourne +61 3 9663 8118
This place was a bit of a let-down for me actually, I came here for a dinner on a Friday with a friend thinking it’d be great because so many people had blogged about it but they took forever and food wasn’t anything different or special. We had reservations too and still had to wait for a table right in the dingy back!
Yeah, I had almost exactly the same experience. It was OK, but just OK, and the service was pretty terrible. With so many great newer, funkier Izakaya places popping up nearby, it all seemed very dated.
Twitter: rbbrown
| April 10, 2010, 2:00 am
I like Izakaya Chuji and I think the dinner is a lot better than the lunch, I enjoy the dinginess and the traditional izakaya offers like beef ‘tartare’ and raw octopus with wasabi.
Hi JenTran
Is the dinner menu a set choice as well or a la carte?
Jetsetting Joyce
I actually love this place! They are a tad slow sometimes, but I’ve never had any problems.. but it’s more of a uni student hang out chill out restaurant.. that’s how I started coming here anyway =)
.-= msihua´s last blog ..An Interesting Night in Bangkok =-.
Twitter: msihua
| April 10, 2010, 12:53 pm
Hi Msihua
Yes you’re right – it totally has a uni student vibe to it. So perhaps we should be less critical of the slapdash service and not-so-refined food?
Jetsetting Joyce