Jap's Table, Darlington

My ramen confusion continues with the opening of Jap's Table in Darlington last year.  I've been told by my colleague, Lady Ruth (who has traveled and lived in Japan for years) that the food at Jap's Table is pretty authentic.  Lady Ruth thinks this is as Japanese as you're going to get outside of Japan.

My Japan-o-phile friends from Street Food nod their heads in agreement when I share Lady Ruth's declaration to them.  And it's so close to my work that it would be criminal not to head there and try their  ramen...often.

Mr Jap's Table loves cooking his Yakitori on a charcoal grill out on the sidewalk (let's see how long the council let him get away with this).

The first ramen I try at Jap's Table is the Yokohama Ramen ($9.50), a pork based stock that is much less thick than the Tonkotsu Ramen (pork bone broth) that I've tried at other places. I like this a lot as it's flavoursome but not too rich.  I often find the flavour of Tonkotsu broth a bit too porky (yes, there is such a thing) and too thick with collagen from pork bones used to make the broths.  This ramen is quite "thin" and the addition of a perfect soft yolked egg and thick, fatty pieces of pork belly add a touch of decadence.  I also grab an Ocean Trout + Avocado Roll ($2.80) which is freshly made and absolutely perfect.

On my next visit I try the Su Udon ($9.50) made with Bonito Stock.  The menu says this is a vegetarian dish but just in case you don't know - Bonito is a fish, and a fish is not a vegetable...no matter the cuisine. My vego friend Tara was recently told that seafood eating "vegetarians" are "fish-o-crites". Take note Jap's Table! This is a wonderful soup either way - light, simple and it feels like a healthy dish to eat on a day when you want to eater on the lighter side. Not a dish for Meat Free Monday however.

I'm b-a-c-k! I'm starting to feel a bit like a Jap's Table stalker but when you're on to a good thing just go with it. This time try the raw salmon don ($9.50) and it is another fresh and healthy tasting dish.  There's not much to this really - just sushi rice topped with stripes of raw salmon, sesame seeds and sliced shallots. I add a bit of soy sauce to the bowl to give the rice a bit of moisture.

Of course we've all had a salmon + avocado roll ($2.80) before but Mackerel Sushi ($4 for 3 pieces) is something I've never seen on offer in Australia (or anywhere else for that matter). The fish is less oily and less "strong" in flavour than I had though, overall a nice mild flavoured fish. 

After so many visits it seems about time to try Mr Jap's Table yakatori skewers. I can never pass up chicken skin when I see it on a menu - this is a bit less crunchy (and also more fatty) than the chicken skin I've had at Japanese restaurants, but it's still delicious.  I also try the salmon yakatori and the beef skewer - both are tender and have that beautiful charred flavour of being cooked over charcoal. Lovely.

Jap's Table is a great little place. The food is delicious, simple and flavoursome (and reasonably priced too). I'm glad I have this so close to my work - a little bit of Jap's Table helps break up the dreary work week in the cubicle farm.

Jap's Table is at Shop 6/ 245-249 Abercrombie Street, Darlington.