Zushi is giving you another delicious reason to head into Surry Hills with the launch of their new Omakase experience.
Surry Hills hot spot Zushi has been a popular mainstay of the suburb for good reason. Now, there’s even more reason to love the bustling Japanese-inspired eatery as they launch their brand-new Omakase experience.
For those yet to experience the art of Omakase, it’s a very special and intimate dining experience where you sit countertop and allow the chef to make your food in front of you. The ordering is also left up to the chef which means each round of diners has a unique experience. Zushi’s Omakase takes you through roughly 20 courses of fresh Australian produce and specialties from Japan.
The interiors of Zushi in the Surry Hills outpost have changed slightly to accommodate the new experience. The 6-seater countertop is to the right of where you enter and is exclusively for Omakase diners. Chef Jeon is yours for the night and will initially guide you through a preview of what to expect on the plate. You can also choose to pair the Omakase with matched wines or sake which is the famous Japanese rice wine. Once you’ve got your first drink, the theatrics begin!
A skillful display of the chef’s preparations is your view for the night, and it is such a delight! Chef Jeon is delicate, precise, and informative on each course. The menu started with Pacific Jumbo Oysters featuring salmon roe and yuzu ponzu. Then we tried the Zushi Hassun with soft toro taku, Snapper sashimi, braised octopus, and semi-dried persimmon. The flavours start to get wonderfully foreign and you feel as though you’ve been transported to Osaka or Tokyo (without the need for a boarding pass).
The next course included Lobster Sashimi with ikura, Osetra caviar, and wasabi which was light and refreshing, followed by the delicate Chawanmushi with prawn, scallop, okra, and baby corn. From there, we had the Abalone Tempura which was slow-cooked and served with rich liver sauce and karasumi. The last course before the Nigiri selection rolled out was the special Shiro Kin Wagyu Steak MBS9+ which was prepared on the hibachi grill and was delicately plated within a dome of smoke. Once it arrives in front of you, the dome is lifted and you’re immersed in the flavours of what lies beneath. This was a standout course!
After a palate cleanser of Yuzu Mandarin Sorbet, you’d think the experience would be coming to a close (but you’d be wrong). You are guided through 11 pieces of Nigiri, skilfully plated up for each diner. And don’t worry, you’re given plenty of time throughout the experience to eat at your own pace. Chef Jeon will explain where the seafood has come from and how he has prepared it.
To end the evening, you are treated to a tasty Lobster Miso Soup which is warming and delightful, and Jelly Cake with seasonal fruit and Genmai cha.
We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Zushi in Surry Hills. This Omakase may not be as traditional as some, but it certainly stands on its own! Expect the bright and energetic Zushi experience we all know and love, yet with a more refined touch.
The new Omakase experience is $190pp for 20 courses. Bookings are available from Tuesday to Saturday for a 2-hour seating from 6:30pm! Find out more here.
