I'm pretty sure I'd seen this restaurant a couple of times before while driving up the road, but I never bothered to go in until my friend told me that there was a good Korean restaurant over on Payneham Road and I realized this was it. Being called Sushi Gallery, I originally thought this might be some small Japanese sushi restaurant, however upon further inspection it became clear that it was not... well not exactly.
Now, they do serve sushi (though you have to pre-order in order for them to make it apparently) and they do have some Japanese dishes such as Tonkatsu and Okonomiyaki. However, past that, their primary mains are Korean dishes and from the way design their menu to include Korean words to how they traditionally serve Kimchi and other side dishes along with the mains, I am certain that what this place is primarily a Korean restaurant that happens to serve Japanese food as well.
Either way, I'm not too fussed with the details. I like both Korean and Japanese food, so for me I get the best of both worlds. When I was there last, we ordered a Chicken Katsu, a Dolsot Bibimbap and theses Okonomiyaki balls (which were called something else in Korean but I forget the name). The meat for the chicken katsu was abit dry, but the other two korean dishes were excellent as were the sides that accompanied them. I get the feeling that Korean dishes are probably more up the chef's alley.
It's not a very big shop, so during dinner time it can get full very quickly. The time I went was just before the crowd arrived so we were extremely lucky that day to get a seat. There was only one person in the front of house who was taking orders, serving and accepting payments. I get the feeling that this may be a family run operation but right now I'm just full of assumptions.
The decor inside is simple but elegant and gives the place that classic oriental feel so you know that you're in either a Korean or Japanese restaurant. I'll be heading back there to scope out more of their dishes. I almost feel reluctant to write this review as I know that once people catch wind of this place, they are going to want to go to it, and once they do they will keep coming back and I may not have anywhere to sit any more because it becomes so popular.
Ok, maybe I'm OCD-ing a little bit about the potential of the place, but for me, this is going to be my go to Korean restaurant from now on, and as such I'd be more than happy to keep it my little secret. read more