Cheap Thrill

Walk through the grandiose chinese red door and there’s really nothing so posh about this place. This canteen-like restaurant serves buffet style all-you-can-eat/drink hotpot with just 20 dollars. With 5 dollars extra, you’re entitled to their peking duck. It’s good value for money because on top of the usual hotpot ingredients, there are also a variety of entrées, hot dishes and xiao long pau (shanghainese pork dumplings). The ‘mouth-watering chicken (Sichuan chicken in peanut chilli oil) was pretty impressive; I had two big serves of that. The hotpot soup was tasty, however, the basic ingredient for hotpot like mushrooms and beef balls were not available. Oh well, with 20 bucks for entrée, hot dishes, hotpot, side dishes, dessert and drinks (wide range of bottled drinks in the fridge), I shouldn’t expect too much.

Where Quality Meets Variety

I can’t decide whether the food or the drinks at Maedaya is the star of this izakaya (Japanese snack bar). With 60 types of sake on its drink list, this is heaven for sake lovers. As for beginners like myself, you gotta love sake master/owner Toshi’s recommendation. Tonight, we had a fruity one with a hint of strawberry flavour in it, it was absolutely sensational.

Food wise, it was affordable at its best. Serving Japanese tapas for sharing allows you to order many different dishes to taste. Trust me, you would want to order a lot because everything just looked and tasted so good. Food comes rather quickly so start with a few dishes and order more as you go. Hint: do not miss the okonomiyaki, wagyu steak and the bacon skewers.

Maedaya is by far the best izakaya style restaurant that I’ve been in Melbourne. I had such a great evening having a drink (many drinks actually) with friends over some very authentic Japanese fare. Get there early to hang out at the bar for sake tasting and learn a little more about sake from Toshi.

Let's get Skew'd!

I was spoiled for choices when I had finally found this little skewer joint tucked at the rear of Exchange Tower. Beef, lamb, chicken, prawns, mushrooms or tofu? With sweet chilli sauce, teriyaki sauce or satay sauce?

Unlike skewers that are soaked in oil at many other places, the skewers here aren't oily yet succulent. It was a guilt-free lunch although me and my posse had stuffed ourselves with about 20 skewers on top of rice/baguette and salad.

Oh man, thumbs up for their homemade sauces. Couldn't stop myself till the very last drop. I especially liked their satay and teriyaki sauce, went very well with the skewers and baguette. Looks like I'll have to get Skew'd again soon!