IPPUDO Sydney

If you dream of pork buns and ramen noodles then there’s a restaurant in Sydney city that you need to try out.

Ippudo which has restaurants in New York, Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Shanghai is now my new go-to Japanese restaurant when I’ve got a hankering for pork buns and noodles (which is often).

Walking into Ippudo you’re greeted with friendly service and a large architecturally inspired room from Ippudo’s hometown of Fukoka. I’ve never been to Japan but I could imagine sitting in Ippudo is what it would feel like to be dining in Fukoka.

We looked at the menu which is quite broad but we knew exactly what we were heading for: ramen and pork buns. The pork buns came out quickly and were gone just as fast. The bun was soft and sweet which paired perfectly with the pork which has a spicy hit to it. Topped with crunchy lettuce and a special Ippudo sauce and I was in serious pork bun heaven.

We were then served the karaage chicken which was described to us by the waiter as Japanese KFC and she wasn’t wrong! However these chicken tenderloins were much lighter and crunchier, served on salad leaves with a deliciously smooth mayo and some lemon.

Not too long after came our ramen noodles and after tasting the pork buns and karaage chicken I was salivating at the thought of how good these noodles were going to taste. You have a choice of how hard you’d like your noodles but it’s recommended you order them hard in true Japanese style.

I opted for the shiromaru motoaji with Ippudo original tonkotsu broth served with thin noodles, pork loin, bean sprouts, black mushroom & shallots. The serving size was ample which is always a good sign. The broth was thick but not overly so, the noodles thin as string and plentiful. The pork was soft and salty and I added corn to mine which gave it a sweet kick as well. 

My partner went for the Akamaru special with simmered pork belly, roasted seaweed, and flavoured bamboo shoots which was equally as tasty.

If you’re after reasonably priced and tasty Japanese food, then definitely check out Ippudo. I hear Sarah Jessica Parker goes to Ippudo in New York so you’ll be dining like a celeb!

* A second IPPUDO store will be opening in Chippendale in the middle of September so keep an eye out!

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