What's as rare as a mermaid in Mermaid Beach? A restaurant that surprises you with tasty, affordable fare that threads the needle when it comes to fresh and fabulous. On a recent jaunt to an Asian grocery store in Mermaid Beach, and inhaling all of the aromatic items on offer, it was impossible not to have the appetite whetted with its wonders. We walked out looking for a small cafe serving its lunchtime tucker and almost gave up, got in the car and drove away, before setting ours sights on Tokiya which was on the same street. Now, this little restaurant, owned and operated by a delightful Japanese couple (the husband is the chef), can confuse the easily confused because it states French food on its exterior signage. However, French food is not the find on weekends at lunch time because they plate some seriously delicious Japanese food that had the tables full of either Japanese residents or tourists, which is always a great sign of popularity. So, we studied the limited menu, most items are around $10, and found a table for two inside. We both ordered the curry with rice, one pork, one chicken and expected it to be plated and served in seconds Ala food court style. Not so. The chicken and pork were prepared fresh and deep fried to perfection with crispy skin before being sat atop a generous serving of rice and surrounded by a delicious curry gravy that didn't taste like it was made from a packet. It was simply delicious and such value! Now, the story goes that the name Tokiya is the name of the chef's brother and at night the French side of his culinary flare is on full display. The dinner menu did have some unusual and distinctively French dishes, albeit with a limited number of choices, but it's the lunch time tucker that made our day. The place is BYO, clean and the service fast and friendly. Our next visit we're going to try the soups which seemed to be the more popular choice on the day. Bon appetit! read more
