Nikuya, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

April 25, 2017

Planning to go for catch up always mean it's going to be another food adventure filled with delicious food and walking out maybe abit too full than what we would hope for. Wanting to go down to James St area, I suggested Nikuya as I thought it would be a casual and a place where everything is nearby. Walk less than 200m and you'll find yourself at James Street markets or Pottery barn.

Sapporo Beer on Tap

Starting our meals with 'Buta Gyoza' (AUD$4), five pieces of pan-fried Japanese pork pot-stickers served with a quarter wedge of tomato and a soy based dipping sauce. A simple and easy dish to have and to share. A slight charring on the base of the gyoza, the moist and boiled upper part maintaining the juices inside. Dip it in the soy sauce if you would like a bit more of a salty taste but if not, you can just enjoy it on its own.

'Kurobuta Pork Katsu Curry' (AUD$17), panko-crumbed kurobuta pork with Japanese curry sauce. One of the main reasons why I chose it was the fact that it was Kurobuta pork, it may just be another pork for some but for others, you will be able to taste the juiciness, the fat that surrounds it and the lean meat within it. Plus, having crumbed pork using panko is always great compared to the typical bread crumbs.

The Kurobuta pork itself was well cooked, slightly coated with the thin layer of panko allowed every bite to have that crunch. The curry sauce was mild, not as acidic or as strong as the other curry you have had. Note that the curry is just the sauce and there are no vegetables at sight or even slight pieces here and there. So what you get may be simple but will leave you with a smile on your face.

'Chicken Katsu Curry' (AUD$15), panko-crumbed chicken fillet with Japanese curry sauce is similar to the previous with the only difference being the type of meat, chicken instead of pork. The chicken fillets were slightly smaller and thinner than the pork however the portion of the steamed rice and the curry sauce was the same.