We Sydneysiders love Japanese izakaya food bars. But there aren’t many of the Hakata kushiyaki variety – and that’s where Goryon-San really shines.
Izakaya Goryon-San Sydney serves a special sort of grilled skewer: Hakata kushiyaki, a street food from Hakata in Fukuoka prefecture on Kyūshū Island in the south of Japan.
The protein-based skewers are distinguished by a punctilious sprinkling of salt (shi-o), of which Japan’s ‘salt bae’ and head chef Yuto Moriue is master.
Moriue tells Two Chat Food he’s committed to creating authentic Hakata food, whether that’s kushiyaki and yakitori (chicken skewers) or ramen and gyoza hotpot.
“I want guests to have a pure Japanese dining experience at Goryon-San,” he says. “To bring you to relax after [you’ve had] a whole day of hard work.”
He also makes skewers with cheese and jam toppings for a western palate. There’s one with berry mozzarella cheese wrapped in pork belly, another with Camembert cheese and one with Gorgonzola wrapped in tortilla honey.
But skewers aren’t the only items on the menu. Goryon-San has another master chef – Mori-San – who creates side dishes like the moreish soy sesame-dripped goma salmon carpaccio and tartare wagyu mille-feuille.
FOOD
Andrea: We start with truffle edamame – that’s edamame dusted with truffle salt, and, if that weren’t already a treat, they’re also dripped in truffle oil.
Rex: The wagyu tama toro croquette makes its way to our table – a half-boiled egg that’s stuffed with deep-fried wagyu and encased in a potato croquette. It’s finished with a red wine tomato sauce and Japanese tartar.
Andrea: Just as we finish savouring the croquettes, the goma salmon carpaccio arrives. It tastes just as it delights my eyes and gets its ‘oomph’ from finely ground spices, a sprinkle of seaweed and soy sesame dressing.
Rex: The scampi gets my attention. You can taste the smoke that comes from grilling them over coals, but it doesn’t overpower the sweet meat.
Andrea: Things really get going when the yasaimaki joins: salty shaves of meat encasing vegetables on skewers is what sets Goryon-San apart.
We start with tightly packed lettuce wrapped in ribbons of pork belly, grilled until tender.
We start with tightly packed lettuce wrapped in ribbons of pork belly that have been grilled until tender and juicy, and sprinkled with salt.
Rex: There’s no way we’re leaving tonight without ordering the ‘Extremely Tender Loin’ wagyu version, and it doesn’t disappoint. The sukiyaki-flavoured meat is balanced by the neutral-flavoured lettuce. This picture says enough really:
Andrea: We end our meal with the ice-cream baguette, which I probably wouldn’t have ordered if I had come on my own – I imagined it would quickly become a mess of soggy bread. But I am SO wrong.
Rex: Each element keeps its form, much like a cream-centred biscuit. It’s a catchy contrast between a fresh, crusty baguette and a solid chunk of decadent ice cream.
Andrea: I’m sold.
AMBIENCE
Rex: A kakurega is the sort of izakaya where you can relax over good food with family and friends in a cosy setting – kind of like a pub setting – and Goryon-San is true to this style.
Andrea: As we head into the depths of autumn, this warmly lit, bustling restaurant takes you in and leaves you to unwind with friends and family in your own little nook until you’re ready to head home.
SERVICE
Rex: Goryon-San, operated by the local wagyu yakiniku restaurant Rengaya, was developed by Basics Co. Ltd, which has already opened outlets in Tokyo, Shibuya and Roppongi.
In the Hakata/Fukuoka dialect, a Goryon-San means a woman who carries out household affairs – but while we’re well looked after tonight, there’s nothing gender specific about it.
Andrea: This kakurega has a wide range of beverages to choose from – from fruit juices, Japanese and craft beer to shochu, sake and whisky, to champagne, sparkling, white and red wines.
If you feel like somewhere to settle in for an evening, you can easily spend several hours here.
Rex: The restaurant is packed. Even still, they make time to help you select your banquet. But we recommend booking in advance, unless you’re happy to wait.
If you feel like somewhere to settle for an evening, especially as the week draws to an end, you can easily spend several hours here winding down and enjoying the fare.
You can follow Goryon-San on Instagram.
Goryon-San | $$
47 Reservoir St, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia
Tue-Fri: 12:00pm-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:00pm
Sat: 5:30pm-10:00pm
Sun: 5:30pm-9:00pm