Edited 1/12/2014: Note that Kashin Japanese Restaurant is now under new management, with a different menu. Sadly you will no longer find the delicious chilli-infused food here. Kashin is now a boring, stock-standard Japanese diner.
If you take stroll along the row of shops in Gordon you’ll probably miss this understated restaurant, but what it lacks in presence it makes up for in flavour.
Kashin‘s kitchen is run by a master sushi chef whose only interaction with us is a booming “irasshaimase!” from behind his counter, and his delightful smiling wife, who potters out to greet us with a bow. Their daughter takes over and seats at a table near the window – she is friendly and chatty, and enthusiastically nods with all our menu choices. All of three of them are the most gracious hosts, and kindly offer a taste of their favourite sake on the house, as well as an appetiser to whet our taste buds.
A slice of lotus root marinated in sweet soy – firm and sticky between my teeth – starts us off. A potentially overbearing delicacy by itself, but served with a refreshing, pickled vegetable roll it balances out perfectly. A simple side of shredded potato and carrot goes down equally well with a sip of our Sayuri sake, a summery, blossom-flavoured rice wine clouded by a very fine, pearl-coloured sediment.
A variety of sake is also available to buy and take home – we were tempted but still have plenty of bottles leftover from Japan. At least we know where to go to restock when we run out!
Established over a decade ago, Kashin has become entrenched in the North Shore, the family forming solid friendships with the locals (the daughter even moving in with one of their regular customers, a new best friend) and a good reputation that is shared only by word of mouth. More recently, they have updated their menu – noticing that chilli is a popular culinary trend, they’ve spiced up their dishes for a deliciously adventurous twist on traditional Japanese cuisine, much to our delight!
The edamame have been tossed through chilli flakes, and are served warm with a sweet and minty sauce; each bean pops with a tiny explosion of carefully concocted flavours.
The nasu miso dissolves in my mouth, the flesh of the eggplant disintegrating into the salty broth. Again, the dish dazzles us with it’s sweet undertones and a scattering of chopped chilli. (I swear I’ve never had the same nasu miso at two restaurants – each seems to have their own take on the dish, which in turn has become a game to me, “collecting nasu miso“!)
If there’s pork on the menu, there is no doubt my husband will order it. Even I was tempted by these spare ribs – the meat falls off the bone effortlessly, leaving nothing for a doggy bag. Sweet and chilli seems to be a reoccurring theme, reminding me of my mum’s famous Sambal Oelic chicken wings.
The prawn and vegetable tempura was lightly battered and perfectly cooked, much like the squid. Not too heavy or gluggy, both were accompanied by a light, sweet dressing. The vegetables were juicy and remarkably fresh despite the deep-fried exterior. The squid also came with a side dish of onion in a ginger and sweet-soy broth. From an Indian persective, where most of our cuisine is based on strong spices and heavy carbs, this Japanese feast was a palate-altering experience. So many delicate, balanced flavours made just as big a statement as any Indian curry, but in a completely different way!
Finally, with what tiny space is left in our stuffed bellies, we enjoy a Wakame salad – a textural journey of lightly fried tofu, fresh seaweed, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato and cucumber, drizzled with my favourite Japanese dressing.
Needless to say, we licked our plates clean.
We couldn’t help but thank our hosts, gouchisosame!!
The only disappointment of the evening was that they didn’t offer the traditional favourite, red bean ice-cream on the dessert menu, but when asked, they said it hadn’t sold as well as the green tea or taro flavours. Given that most of their clientele are elderly caucasian Australians I was willing to let it go. 🙂
We opted for the black sesame ice-cream instead. A creamy, nutty confection that we will most definitely be returning for. We wont be as foolish next time though – it’ll be one each, not one to share!
You can find Kashin on the Pacific Highway in Gordon. Use the map below as a reference (although neither the Westpac nor the Optometrist are still there!).
| Ambience: | 8/10 (typical Japanese decor – to a true Japanese standard, not the Western stereotype) |
| Food: | 10/10 |
| Service: | 10/10 |
| Value: | 9/10 (at around $50pp, perfect for a date night) |
