150 C St Georges Tce, Perth
Ph: (04) 0441 4375
www.shiroizakaya.com
New kid On The Block (Now Open!)
When I met Daniel Bahk I felt immediately infused by his enthusiasm and passion for Japanese food and innovative style. Simply talking to him made me want to visit his brand new restaurant Shiro.
Daniel has lived and breathed the restaurant business most of his life as his parents own the Midori Japanese Restaurant. He and his brother Lawrence started cleaning for them while at university, became kitchen hands and then went on to become waiters, bar staff and chefs.
Daniel is very excited about kicking off his new venture Shiro, with Lawrence and Rafael.
We had a look at the new venue which overlooks Central Park in the heart of Perth. It is ultra modern with glass walls and a soaring ceiling and has an exterior counter for takeaway meals.
We were also lucky enough to get a secret taste of some of the dishes.
The style of dining is called Izakya, which is the Japanese answer to tapas, and the idea is to serve different types of sake while experiencing many different dishes. You can sit and relax in booth seating and while away the evening, or take a succulent meal away to continue on with your busy work and lifestyle. What a great place to meet friends for a drink and a meal during or after work.
All the food will be delivered fresh and cooked to order on the day. The emphasis will be on quality, variety and originality. We tried some delightful dishes to be served at Shiro.
‘Sushi rolls with soft-shelled crab’ is an exotic variation on the usual nori rolls. Served with the rice on the outside and a delectable crab’s leg protruding from each one, I enjoyed biting into this delicacy, noting the gentle crush of the crab shell, the sweetness of the meat and the salty nori. Then there was the smoothness of avocado and a bite from the wasabi mayonnaise. Lots of filling and not too much rice I wanted more than my share!
‘Tataki. wagyu beef with asparagus’ was served as fine, rare slices on diagonal cuts of fresh steamed asparagus in a ponzu sauce. The meat was so juicy and tender and the vinegar, lemon juice and grated radish gave a delightful bitter/sweet tang. The crunch of the asparagus was a good contrast to the smoothness of the beef.
The three meats presented in a dish called ‘Yakitori’ had been marinating for twelve hours in a sauce of soy, garlic and other ingredients, then cooked on coals. All the meat was cubed on skewers, and the pork, crisp on the outside, was delightfully smoky and plump, while the beef was tender and tasty with sesame seeds coating it. The chicken had a delicate texture and a wonderful juicy smokiness.
There were also skewers of fresh vegetables including cherry tomatoes, yellow capsicum and Spanish onion which we had no room for!
We did not try the green tea ice cream, the black sesame ice cream or the red bean dessert, but they were all favourites of mine while in Japan.
Shiro, which means white, also means castle, and I’m sure Daniel and his partners will be kings of this castle, welcoming the people of Perth to indulge in their offerings with lots of flare.
Shiro will be opening in August as a fully licensed venue. Open Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch and Monday to Sunday for dinner. The breakfast will be a new experience, and you will be enticed by their new menu.