jazushi

another place ticked off in the to-do list. a combination of fusion japanese with a live jazz band created a unique atmosphere in this surry hills spot. the food was tasty if not spectacular - the seared scallops and eggplant was my favourite. the salmon and kingfish caparccio was okay.

great food and imppecable taste. however the white room ceiling is way too low and sounds from other diners echoes and feels claustrophobic.

it has been quite some many years since i have been back here and the food is just as amazing as it was. the set menu is a great choice if you would like to try all the favourites. we were seated upstairs which gave it a nice intimate setting as opposed to the large group tables downstairs in the main section. the service was attentive and the food came out at a good pace. the standout dishes were the salmon/kingfish carparccio, pork belly & wagyu - having said that all the other dishes had their own distinct flavour & textures which was also good. as the downstairs section area became more available we were asked if we would like to head down to watch a bit of the live jazz & to have our dessert there as well which was great so that we can listen and be amongst the lively atmosphere. overall it was a great dining experience & would come back.

live jazz and modern japanese food.... what more could you want. good music - golden oldies...
sushi, sashimi, soft shelled crab... sake, japanese beer, plum wine....

jazushi is one of my favorite places to have high quality japanese food. having live jazz music is definitely a plus! the salmon and kingfish carpaccio is definitely a winner at jazushi. the quality of the produce used at jazushi is obvious. i have tried both the camembert and avocado tempura and they are a must try.

jazushi has all the hallmarks of surry hills. small, hip, ambient and with a jazz band to compliment modern japanese/asian fusion, it's hard for any hipster to bypass. the main dining room is small but there is another room located at the back with is more quiet and misses out on the live music. we were seated at the back because we were a walk in and didn't book tonight. that was perfectly understandable and it was quite pleasant and quiet in that room. the service did not falter either and staff came in often.

the tasting menu is divided into normal and vegetarian but well priced and offer a good selection of their signature dishes. however, several other dishes appealed to us so we chose a la carte on this evening.

salmon and kingfish caparccio - sea salt and basil oil. didn't wow me as much as it did for others. the basil oil/pesto really overpowered the natural flavours of the kingfish and salmon 

seared scallops & eggplant - scallops were seared well and the soy ginger dressing was well balanced. 

crispy soft shell crab - very ordinary. batter wasn't crispy enough, the trademark burst of crab juices was missing perhaps as it was served luke warm and the miso tomato sauce was simply too sweet.

tempura prawns - one of the better and proper tempura batters i have had lately but the prawns lacked the texture as the size wasn't sufficient to accentuate the prawn but the bonito sauce was top notch. the dish didn't really need the green tea and curry flavoured salts.

duck terriyaki - duck flesh was cooked perfectly pink but the skin could have been crispy and the fat rendered off more in the process the terriyaki sauce worked very well with the truffle oil and was a fusion that succeeded. the only criticizm would be the size which was a bit small for a main.

some good dishes but really no overwhelming wow factor for me that would draw me back. the presentation on some dishes lacked finesse and it's didn't live up to the expectation the scores suggested. the service was efficient and friendly.

a mellow, laid back japanese restaurant that has live jazz music every night. their portions are quite small especially when you're sharing with a large group you'd have to order double the amount. and the price isn't cheap but the other than that the food is great and service is friendly.

i am no jazz aficionado but i appreciate good sushi so 1 out of 2 ain't bad. the small restaurant is home to a live band every night and this can be deafening for those sitting beside the speakers, but does add a charm and experience which is quite unique. certainly not a place to be having serious work, or deep and meaningful talks.

food is refined and the menu has been well thought out. salmon and kingfish carpaccio was fresh and fragrant with a light tangy dressing. tofu and seaweed salad was quite generous but the grilled nasu (eggplant) was two pieces of mushy eggplant topped with cheese and tomato. unsure if we had been mistakenly given a set menu portion as staff kept asking if we had received the dish but never re-approached the topic after checking with the kitchen.

there were two dishes i went in wanting to try and grilled cod was one of them. sadly they only had barramundi on the day and texturally the flesh is vastly different, which meant the dish just didn't quite deliver. kurobata pork belly was very tender and had a thin layer of fat that melted into the sauce. added mustard on the side complimented the pork and had me licking my lips in satisfaction. the duck special was essentially pieces of duck breast on a bed of noodles. it wasn't heavy on sauces and ultimately lacked in flavour.

the second dish i was looking forward to was the hitsumabushi - grilled anago conga eel with caramel rice and dashi broth. the rice itself had plenty of seasoning and the caramelised eel was delightfully fatty. i chose to have the dashi together with the rice but felt the broth lacked distinct flavour which sadly watered down the dish as a whole. rainbow roll provided a sample of the fresh sashimi available. even for a raw fish avoider like myself, the dish was thoroughly enjoyed.

i love the hand painted walls and attempts at converting what is an old, rundown bathroom into a japanese haven, with small touches like folding the first sheet of toilet rolls and placing pebbles in the sink. incredible effort by staff who obviously care for the comfort of their patrons.

doesn't look like much from the outside but this shouldn't stop you from trying them out because you will be in for a treat!

had the set menu and this was a great introduction to jazushi with fantastic dishes and a very full satisfied belly by the end. very satisfying both quantity and quality wise.

absolutely amazing standouts were the salmon and kingfish carpaccio, camembert tempura (my favourite), and creme brulee dessert. honorable mentions for the green tea noodle salad and wagyu steak. but really each and every one of the dishes were a treat, except for the sushi which was the only let down.

loved the music playing, but i think this only happens after 7 because i was almost disappointed no one was playing that night as we were there from 6pm. would recommend this place, it was highly enjoyable, and although the set menu is an easy and fantastic choice to make, even getting some recommendations from the staff and going about it that way would also be a great option (as there were so many other dishes which sounded amazing that were not a part of the set).

i expected too much. sadly sashimi wasn't fresh and actually scallop smelled bad so i had to spilled it out. if you are thinking whether pork belly or roasted beef to order, pick one not both, because they taste similar. i don't think i would come back here just because i cannot stop doubting quality after the sashimi i had.

jazushi is better than most of japanese restaurant operating in sydney, by offering some really good quality foods. the kurobuta pork belly is fantastic, probably the best i've ever had. the beef tartaki has very generous potion and the beef is so succulent and yummy. the fried mushroom and eel rice were also good surprises. however some dishes were disappointing, the sashimi is quite below average, the soft shell crab is bad, also the burramundi is upsetting, despite good effort in cooking it. this is the type of restaurant that you need to order the right food to enjoy it thoroughly.

came here for a friends birthday and had the set menu. pretty happy with the quality of the food and the service of the staff. nice atmosphere with live jazz music playing in the background. as always a pleasing experience, will definitely be back!

held my birthday here in one of the private rooms, the service was absolutely amazing. love the tasting menu and its so cheap, must have the
cheese tempura , absolutely fave!!

fantastic japanese restaurant and live jazz venue. sydney is definitely missing this kind of restaurants these days.
the jazz duo was fantastic, the food overall was great; my favorite dishes were scallop carpaccio - flavor was just spot on. oyster wasn't the freshest but the sauce it came was great. green tea noodle salad was simple but made really well. i was disappointed with sashimi and spicy tuna rolls. sashimi cut was sub-standard and freshness wasn't up there either. spicy tuna roll was pretty boring also, the tuna bit was chewy and the flavor wasn't so great.
i still enjoyed my dinner here, service was fantastic and love the fact that they have few different options available for glass of reds.

jazz music and sushi? genius! the venue is quite cosy and great for groups. the food is quite unique too with it's own twist to traditional japanese dishes - the tempura cheese is definitely a highlight!!