Izakaya Chuji

Izakaya Chuji is a tiny Japanese restaurant located on Lonsdale Street near the corner of Russell Street. Its a long narrow room with these strange woven lounge type chairs that you find in your doctors waiting room.

The service is generally very matter of fact from the few times I have been there. There's not much smiling from the waitresses but they get things done efficiently.

Along with the tea we always get, we had some sake this time as well. The warm house sake had a smooth texture that was very pleasant.

For entrees, it was the obligatory Yukke, raw beef. I love the flavours and texture of the raw beef, served with julienned cucumber and a light soy sauce mixture. As Kevin doesn't eat raw beef, there was more for Dennis and I.

The other entree was the Salt and Pepper Squid. Here I am eating the perfectly done squid, with my terrible chopsticks skill on full display and that strange raised index finger that I just can't put down when holding chopsticks.

Next we had the sushi and sashimi platter. The fish was fresh as usual with my favourite being the tuna. I like the firmer texture of the tuna more than salmon, which is usually everyone else's favourite.

After eating all those entrees, we were nearly full so got just a curry beef and beef noodle for mains. The curry beef had a lighter flavour than Indian curries.

The only thing that I didn't really like was the beef noodle. The sauce was a tomatoe based one but it also had this sweet flavour, sort of like plum sauce. The flavours didn't work together in my opinion.

Overall Rating: 13/20, Good food and servie. There isn't anything spectacular like other more high profile Japanese restaurants, but the food is good and value for money.


Scores: 1-9: Unacceptable, don't bother. 10-11: Just OK,some shortcomings. 12: Fair. 13: Getting there. 14: Recommended. 15: Good. 16: Really good. 17: Truly excellent. 18: An outstanding experience. 19-20: Approaching perfection, Victoria's best.