Get a taste of Tayta Nikkei.
Get a taste of Tayta Nikkei.
Thanks to the GC’s status as a burgeoning foodie haven, it’s not often that we get the chance to bring you word of a totally new cuisine sauntering onto our local eats scene.
While it may be new to us, Nikkei cuisine has been having a moment of late – enjoying a rise in popularity internationally among heavy hitting culinary destinations such as Dubai, London and Miami #sohotrightnow.
There’s nothing like the prospect of discovering a brand new fave that has us forwarding that hot little link to the group chat quicker than you can say ‘whose keen?’.
With Nobby’s recently welcoming Tayta Nikkei and Pisco Bar, and with it, a whole new cuisine for us to delight in – that’s one convo we’re defs not about to be ghosting #we’resothere.
For the uninitiated, the intriguing combination of Japanese and Peruvian elements might seem a somewhat #unexpected new player in the world of fusion-style eats, though that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The culinary history behind this delicious hybrid has been formed over generations, with Nikkei the resulting cuisine of Japanese immigration to Peru some centuries ago.
Which quite frankly makes us feel like we’ve been missing out for far too long.
For owner Adriano Antonini, he could not sit idly by knowing full well the mouth-watering goodness we here on the GC were missing out on.
An impressive tenure in hospitality venues across the globe was what led Italian born Adriano to discover his love of the cuisine, after a stint working in a Nikkei hotspot in Coya, London.
Ultimately, the challenge of bringing something unique to the GC proved too irresistible, finally opening the doors to Tayta after a year long hunt for the perfect spot, adds Adriano ‘the location is great and we felt there was more need for casual fine dining options in Nobby’s’.
Heading the fit-out himself, Adriano has gone for a dark and moody vibe for the space.
Thoughtfully selected traditional Peruvian colours and patterns have informed the direction for the interiors, resulting in an elegant South American jungle aesthetic.
The 60-seat venue offers the kind of intimate ambience that invites you to settle in for a few rounds of Pisco Sours, and we oblige.
As for the food, we’re happy to report seafood lovers especially should be very keen to sea what Tayta has in store.
As a dish that originated in Peru, the menu prominently features an array of Ceviche style dishes where seafood takes centre stage.
While the likes of Tuna Chifa made with Chili Garlic, Sesame, Ponzu, Kombu, Wakame are where the obvious Japanese influences enter the chat.
We can never go past the Okonomiyaki (no matter how much we embarrass ourselves trying to pronounce it) – a Japanese Pancake with Slow cooked Pork, Charred Corn, Spicy Mayo, Tayta spiced mix.
While sushi lovers, and even the sushi ambivalent (an oxymoron, surely) will be tempted with some zesty takes on their usual go-to’s, with a boujee Tuna Roll made with Cucumber, Spicy Mayo, Truffle Ponzu, Roasted Sesame that will undoubtedly see us unable to return to it’s food court counterpart.
Also coming in September is Tayta’s Saturday brunch with bottomless Peruvian Chicha Morada cocktails.
Till then, we’ll make do with a few Hibiscus Pisco Sours – a delicious twist on the Peru’s national drink – the Classico Pisco Sour (and probably a couple of those, for good measure).
See you there, amigos!
Where: 2/2243 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
When: Tuesday-Saturday 5-10pm
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
There’s a grill-iant [alt: brill (or grill, as the case may be)] new option to get your Japanese fix (that thankfully doesn’t involve stalking the airline sales or remembering that mystery spot you stashed your passport for ‘safe keeping’). Arguably the Gold Coast’s fave dining precinct and all round place-to-be, Nobby Beach has just welcomed the aptly named Okawari House (Japanese for ‘second helping’, in case your Japanese is a little rusty). Here’s one more word you’ll be needing for your taste of Tokyo right here on the GC: ‘Oishii’, but plain old ‘yum’ works too – because these eats are ready to seriously wok your socks off.
When we say Okawari House is set to rice to the occasion amid some already fierce competition in the Nobby’s scene, we’ve got the receipts. Amassing adored GC haunts like Monopoly board hotels at family games night, Okawari House joins the Imlach Hospitality Group among Gold Coast dining royalty such as Bine Bar and Dining, Tank Bar and Dining, Hideaway and Night Jar.
The Gold Coast hospo king himself Scott Imlach, along with co-owner Simone Tunbridge set their sights on a brand new venture when the previous site of I Like Ramen became available within their beloved Nobby’s precinct. According to Scott, ‘it’s always been a bit of a dream to open a Japanese restaurant here on the coast because who doesn’t absolutely adore Japan’ (no one we know!) and after a whole lot of hard work, our tastebuds are the ultimate winners yet again.
If you weren’t already convinced you’d be walking out of Okawari House in a food coma, rounding out the dream team is head chef Takumi Nitta with a seriously impressive resume boasting some huge names among the Gold Coast dining scene: Ten, Sushi Room, Mr Hizola’s and Hideaway.
Though it’s not just your tastebuds that are set to be treated, because the interior has been designed to create an experience akin to stepping onto the streets of Tokyo without leaving Nobbys. Described as big, bright & alluring, it’s Japan meets GC with a pop art twist.
Now for the main event, bust out the chopsticks and prepare yourselves for a feast of epic proportions, with a menu that will leave you muttering ‘I can’t take my rice off of you’ (#awkward if you are on a date). On the flip side, the signature Okura Ume & Apple Yakitori & flaming wagyu mb8+ (marble beef score, if it’s been a while between wagyu’s) ishiyaki – aka stone grill, is one sure fire way to impress your date (or just anyone with tastebuds, tbh). And while you wait for the main event, nibble (or slurp) your way through crowd faves like edamame with chilli salt or miso soup.
We’re also going crackers for the raw selection – spicy salmon tartar rice cracker, wagyu tataki, kingfish ume shiso carpaccio, or just opt for the platter. If it’s crunch if you’re more in the mood for, don’t miss the agemono selections: prawn or vegetable tempura, chicken karaage or agedashi tofu. From the grill there’s some char-vellous delights to feast upon with options like bbq corn rib miso mayo, kamo duck red miso orange yuzu pepper and pork belly kimchi pickle.
Fold us up like a dumpling, because we are soy into everything Okawari House brings to the table. With a menu that’s serious fire, in an unbeatable location, one thing’s for certain, Okawari House won’t be gyoza-way anytime soon.
Where: 2251 Gold Coast Highway, Nobby Beach
When: Monday – Sunday 5pm – late
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Carly King.
Another week, another new coffee haunt. Awww, you shouldn’t have (srsly, you shouldn’t have, our raging caffeine addiction does not need any encouragement). And when it comes to new cafes, our self-control is nowhere to be found. Yes, the first half of that sentence was also entirely unnecessary #whereforeartthouselfcontrol.
And speaking of a total lack of self-control, we love any and every excuse to drop by Nobby’s, so the chance to sample a cute new coffee spot is reason enough for us. and we’ve been peachy-keen to check out newbies The Holliday Coffee ever since we heard whispers of their arrival on the scene.
Owners Marcus Wilkins and Olivia Ayres are two cool beans who know a whole latte about serving up our favourite nectar. Marcus co-owns Nook Espresso in Burleigh Heads, and Olivia has worked in the industry for 10 years. And when a certified GC hospo mastermind like Scott Imlach (behind names like Bine Bar and Dining, Tank Bar and Dining, Hideaway) offers up the opportunity to #sharesies some space backing onto his latest conquest, well, that’s an offer that’s pretty hard to refuse. Adjoining Nobby’s darling newcomer Okawari House, we get a twofer with The Holliday Coffee setting up a hole-in-the-wall coffee house round the corner/out the back – aaand would you look at that, we’re already lost.
Like little ferrets sniffing out our prize, we’ll just follow our noses and that unmistakable aroma wafting down the street from 5.30am daily. Delivering the morning glow in more ways than one, once you spot the trademark cheerful, peachy pops you’ll know you’re in the right spot.
Providing the perfect spot to catch the morning sun only sealed the deal for Marcus and Olivia, and finally, someone who gets the importance of soaking up some morning rays (after we get our coffee, that is #priorities)
Benny Young of Young Built designs helped them bring their small but mighty fit out to life, with a modern palette of white and dark timber finishes to let those warm pops of colour shine. If you’d prefer to linger a little longer, sidle up to one of the street tables under one of those cute af umbrellas that we’re definitely not trying to work out how to smuggle in to our beach bags.
But The Holliday is so much more than just a pretty face, coz they’re also dishing up light bites of happiness on a plate – think casual cafe fare like coffee (obvs), jaffles, croissants and crumpets. Imagine breaking open a crispy, lava-filled Spaghetti and cheese jaffle on a crisp winter’s morning… or perhaps a freshly buttered (macadamia & honeycomb butter – no less!), crumpet drizzled in honey aaand hello? Is anyone still here or are we all officially stampeding The Holliday to get a toast of that action?
… We’ll see you there, coz #same.
You can officially forward all our mail care of The Holliday Coffee, because like the rest of the GC we’ll be wanting a peach of that goodness daily, thank you very much.
(Don’t actually do that tho, jaffle grease on our important docs is never a good look)
Where: 2251 Gold Coast Highway (corner of Wave St), Nobby Beach
When: 5.30-1.30 weekdays, 5.30-12 weekends
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Belinda Symons.
