Walking down King Street in Newtown, one of Sydney's oldest suburbs, one's senses can become completely overwhelmed. Despite its colourful boutiques and a seemingly endless array of second-hand book stores, it's the tastebuds that really get the work-out with the strip's vast line of culinary delights. I've walked King Street many times and have counted over 140 pubs, restuarants and cafes along it.

These never stay static either. Constantly changing, upgrading, renaming and expanding one can always expect a new gastronomic adventure to greet them when visiting King Street.

Well, I'm determined to end that and achieve the near impossible: to feast from every restaurant/cafe/bar on King Street and live to tell the tale.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Ichioku Japanese Teppanyaki Restaurant

@ 267 King Street, Newtown

This is the only Teppanyaki restaurant on King Street (as far as I'm aware) and is organised as one big U shaped table. It's also my first time at Teppanyaki but from what I have heard, I should be afraid. On the menu, it explains that Teppanyaki is like Circus Sports. I'm really scared at this point. For this uncoordinated little girl, this is not looking good.

Thankfully the food comes first. Choosing a mixture of meats, vegetables and rice as well as the traditional miso soup, it takes a while for us to be served. I hear this is usual too, though my stomach doesn't enjoy the news. Our server says hi and welcomes us and proceeds to cook out meat. As he cooks he explains what he's doing and warning us of a fire burst or two. Adding in different sauces and wines before he scoops up the meal from the hot plate and delivers it onto our plates. One by one our plates fill up.






And then he asks us if we want to play a game. We say yes, it's all part of the experience right? He asks us how many games and we look at each other deciding. He decides for us. Three. The first is easy. Catch a raw egg in a cup. Done. The second is a little more complicated to the point where we fail. Throwing little bits of omelette our way we try our best to catch these in our mouths. Epic fail. The third. Bowl stacking. Throwing five bowls our way in succession we must catch each in each bowl, stacking to five. Sounds easy, but here's the rub. The last is filled with rice and vegies. Can we make it? Sadly no. But it was fun. He asks if we're alright (we're covered in rice and egg). We chuckle and nod and he hands us a roll of towels and our final dish. Fun, yeah? Definitely. And the food was pretty good too (try the chicken, it's sooo good!)


Times hit: 1

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