Goryon-San

The Verdict

It’s all about the skewers at Surry Hills modern Japanese joint Goryon-San. Hakata yakitori to be exact. The delicacy hails from the Fukuoka prefecture in Japan and making it entails skewering and marinating veggies, seafoods and meats in delicious sauces and then grilling them over charcoal. For the full experience Goryon-San has two set menus to choose from; Hakata Omakase and Robata Omakase. The Robata Omakase menu is perfect for big appetites. For $129 per person you can chow down on everything from duck foie gras terrine and yuzu miso marinated toothfish to grilled baby calamari with konbu butter and super thick tonkotsu ramen with pork gyoza. The Hakata Omakase is $89 per person and is a petite version of the Robata including a selection of five succulent skewers chosen by the chef. If you can’t get enough of the Goryon-San flavours you can add on a lobster tail cooked in butter and citrus pepper or a jumbo king prawn cooked in yuzu miso and butter. Both menus include a choice between matcha tiramisu and yuzu matcha roll cake for dessert—best enjoyed with some Japanese tropical fruit sake of course.

If you’re not in the mood for a food coma, Goryon-San is also the perfect place to pop in for a few relaxed drinks and skewers with your buddies after work Tuesday to Thursday. The drinks menu is pages long and features loads of Japanese beers, as well as tonnes of shochu, umeshu (plum wine), sake and whisky. The cocktails definitely deserve your attention, with a special shout out to The Umeshu Hot Tea and the Yuzu Citrus Mojito. And not to worry if you’re taking a break from the booze, there are mocktails, Japanese teas and yuzu sodas to keep your thirst quenched.

For those that can’t get out of the house, Goryon-San can sort you out with their takeaway kits which allow you to experience their scrumptious yakitori at home. Including an eco-friendly bamboo charcoal disposable grill, there are various kits to choose from, packed with omakase skewers and condiments. And you can even make their tasty ramen and gyoza soups at home too. Call or text to order, or check what’s available on Uber Eats. 

Image source: Instagram.