Toastface Grillah

"Escape to the simple way of life"

I would have never stumbled upon this little gem had I not browsed through the "talk of the town" section in Urbanspoon. I'm a simple person who loves simple things like toasties, If I could, I'd have a toastie everyday with loads of oozy cheese, but life's unfair, one has to keep a balance and one has to eat vegies,  fruits and blah blah.. 

Toastface Grillah is nestled in Grand lane, an alleyway off barrack st, pretty much opposite takas and before Wellington street. There are no signs directing patrons to the joint, so I pretty much followed google maps. The BF and I went together and as soon as I located the supposed alleyway that we were meant to turn into, the BF asked for my hand and we walked in hand in hand, thats how dodgy the alleyway seemed. As we walked further down the pee smelling graffitti alleyway, I spotted the Toastface Grillah sign graffitted on a wall, behind the wall there it was, a tiny cafe with a cute hipster vibe. J was very impressed with what we found in such an alleyway. I loved the recycled items, such as the tyre planter, toaster pot plant, cracker tin pot plant and the fact that they made the most of a hole in the wall with a cute toy, every where I turn there's something creative to admire.

Toaster pot plant

I love tAUSt face

J was happy to have a seat and just soak in the vibe, but I just wanted to order, so I dragged him into the cafe and I ordered the toastie with bacon, onion, cheese and pear. J had the turkey, brie and cranberry toastie. I also ordered the strawberry and lemon juice, J had the orange juice. Altogether the bill came down to $26, Yes, a little bit pricey for toasties and juice, especially since it's easily made at home, but I've already been jaded by Perth prices so MEH.

Toasties :)

Both of us LOVED our toasties, I already knew we would enjoy it, you can't go wrong with toasties really. The bread was golden brown and buttery crunchy. It tasted like they used garlic butter, but don't quote me on that. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite taste the pear in my toastie, but it still tasted delicious. J loved his turkey, brie and cranberry toastie more than mines, he actually found mines abit salty compared to his, which I agreed after having one of his as a comparision. 

Strawberry and lemon juice $5; Orange juice $5

My strawberry and lemon juice tasted more like lemon juice, couldn't really taste the strawberry. Nonetheless, refreshingly enjoyable but would have been spot on if there were more strawberries. J loves his orange juice so there ain't no complaining happening there.

Just being a creepy paparazzi

A simple cafe, offering simple food with a very simple way of life attitude, it just makes you forgive everything about it, the dusty window seal is totally forgiven as it adds character, the very old kitchen also adds character, the lady passed our drinks through the bars of the window since we were sitting just outside her kitchen, totally cool! they could probably get away without dusting the place because it just all adds to the vibe. It's good to have a place where people can really just calm the F*#&! down and chill. I'll definetly be back, I'm already craving for a toastie.

Pepper Lunch

"Healthy fast food"

I love it when something new opens in Perth, restaurants in particular. Pepper lunch is one of the new kids on the block and judging from the hype and positive feedback, I think it has been accepted into the cool kids club.

Pepper Lunch offers fast, Japanese, healthy food and has already boomed globally with the 200 outlets in Japan and another 100 outlets dispersed in Singapore, China, Taipei, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and now Australia. Pepper Lunch works on the concept of having customers grill their own meals in heated iron dish. Their menu offers items from flavours of japan pepper rice to sizzle it your own way fine steak and if you're lost with what to do, there are videos demonstrating step by step methods with each different dish and the friendly staff will also explain the processes.

I ordered the Shimofuri pepper steak and bf had the Cut Steak with Kimchi and Cheese. I was very surprised to find such cheap prices with the steaks offered, waygu in particular, it is definitely worth the money. When my dish arrived, I was told to smear the butter on the meat and grill to my preference, then mix with the sauces provided of my choice, these being soy sauce, garlic sauce and a sweet sauce. It doesn't take long for the steak to cook, so if you like it rare and don't want it to cook further, place it on the vegies.

Shimofuri pepper steak

I enjoyed my meal, it's simple and quick and my steak was tender * I would like to think it's because of my pro grilling skills XD*, the down side would be that it had a lingering force defrosted taste to it (not sure how to explain it), it was very faint that it didn't bother me too much and hey what do you expect with such prices. I had a taste of the cheese kimchi fried rice and it tastes like what you'd find in a Korean restaurant but with corner kernels and cheaper.

Cut Steak with Kimchi and Cheese

Overall, I think Pepper Lunch is here to stay judging from the numerous customers it receives. Though the food is very simple and nothing to rave about, it offers another option of fast food that is healthy rather than the usual kfc, maccas and hungry jacks and I reckon the novelty will keep it going.

Nao Ramen

"Ramen NAO please"

http://www.naojapaneserestaurant.com.au/en/noodle/

Picture taken from Sunday Times

To me..ramen is very simple and it's not hard to have a good ramen, it's just a classier name for maggie mee. So I believe a good ramen place has to stand out and not just be noodles in a broth. "Nao" definitely is different from the rest. It has been voted one of the best ramen places in Perth..why is that? because they make their own noodles of three different flavours: chilli, egg and spinach and with that you have a choice of four different broths: miso, shio, spicy and shoyu.

Like many popular joints, Nao is usually packed with customers so I won't suggest going in big groups unless you want to wait for ever. It is situated along Murray st, if you walk towards Royal Perth Hospital from CBD, it's on your right. Keep your eyes peeled as it's not exactly screaming "you're here NAO" hehe..look for a black sign with the name and a coil fish.

I've dined in Nao 5 times and I seem to always order the chasu (roast pork) ramen with miso soup and spinach noodles. The chasu is good soft fatty goodness ^^ and the noodles taste home made not like those you'd find in a maggie mee packet. My friend is a chilli lover and always orders the chilli noodles and sprinkling more chilli flakes. I've tasted the chilli noodles and it isn't spicy, this is coming from someone who can't really eat spicy food so it's all clear to those who are chilli intolerant. 

To accompany the ramen I've always order takoyaki, it's beautifully presented with fish scale shavings, seaweed and a drizzle of japanese mayo. YUM!

Chilli chasu ramen and spinach chasu ramen with miso soup base.

There will be more visits in the future for me and I've decided to try the corn butter flavoured ramen in my next visit, it will be hard to part the chasu but I've heard good things about the corn butter. I also would like to try the other broths.

So if you're ever craving ramen..you know where to go NAO, I've tasted the rice dishes and they were pretty standard. So it's RAMEN all the way NAO! Hert hert..*pls excuse the lame NAO jokes* =-=

iku sushi

"Coz that's how they roll"

I've walked past Iku sushi everyday on the way to work but have never tried it as it just looked like an average Japanese sushi joint....UNTIL my workmate brought in a piece of their famous CHEESE BURGER SUSHI she bought the day before for me to try..it was delicious! despite being almost a day old and with the cheese dip!! that just made it so much more special.

I went to Iku sushi eager to try the Cheese burger sushi at its best...freshly prepared! I like the little creative touches to the place. They have such cute mottos like "that's how we roll" and "get ready to be NINJA'd" and the joint has cute tables settings and a little ramen corner.

Cute table decors

How cute is this! should've tucked it in my shirt to look like a tie

I ordered the 4 pack chicken cheese burger sushi $5.50 to share with my friends. The sushi came out in a cute little box with much to say. The warm cheese burger sushi was lightly battered on the outside with a cube of molten cheese surrounding by chicken meat. First bite was a CRUnch followed by a long string of cheeeseey goodness...it was delicious! and it went perfectly with the spicy mayonnaise.

Chicken cheese burger sushi with spicy mayonnaise

The box with much to say

Yep~ you heard the box..tidy up after yourself

I think everyone should try this specialty...but iku sushi isn't just all about the cheese burger sushi..they also allow you to make your own sushi which makes it unique out of all the other Japanese joints.

Tip 1: There is 30% off the refrigerated merchandise during iku's hungry hour ^^

Weekday: After 5:30pm

Weekend: After 4:00pm

Tip 2: 4 cheese burger sushis is probably enough for one person. It can get abit too oily.

Tip 3: Best way to get to iku sushi from train station...exit city train station to wellington street up the escalator turn left and iku sushi is at the corner next to nando's.

Opening hours:

MON - THURS: 7:30am to 7pm

FRI: 7:30am to 9pm

SAT: 11am to 5:30pm

SUN: 11am to 5:30pm

Seoul BBQ Cafe

"Tasty, cheap, fast korean food"

I've eaten in Seoul BBQ cafe numerous times from back in the days when I was a poor student and STILL dining here today..when I'm..well...still poor but not AS poor haha! Not only is it wallet friendly but it's also delicious and quick which is why I keep coming back. Perfect pit stop when doing a massive shopping spree in the city and when that extra cash on food could go to another nice top XD

Seoul BBQ Cafe is located on top of forrest chase next to Crazy Clarks and the Australian Immigration centre. It's not fancy..more like a take away chain with seatings spread all around the little store. Prices of meals avg $9.50 and with each meal includes the standard side dishes of beansprouts, salad and miso soup.

I always order the Crispy Chicken..it's like korean KFC! sooo good! and generous serving of chicken with a dipping sauce which I love! makes the biggest difference. I've also tasted the marinated beef which is also good stuff!

The last time I visited Seoul BBQ cafe, I ordered..*surprise surprise* Crispy chicken hahah! but this time sharing two dishes with another friend for variation. We ordered spicy squid and that was delicious! tenderly cooked squids with a nice dollop of fresh chilli..It was soo tasty..BUT sooo hot!! we were eating the dish with red faces and sweats running down our faces hahah.ok maybe exaggerating abit there but it was HOT STUFF! good enough that all that pain is worth it.

Sharing dishes with me buddy

Crispy Chicken

Chilli Squid

The bf ordered the Bimbimbap which I have tasted the last times I've visited. Tasty marinated meat of your choice with rice, egg, kimchi, beansprouts and bimbimbap sauce. To eat it..you mix it all up like crazy THEN...you eat it like a pig ^^ Very filling and taste like the bimbimbap you'd get from higher ended korean restaurants.. I mean you can't really stuff up a bimbimbap...I guess it all comes down to the marination of the meat and this place has good marination.

Bimbimbap

I would recommend this place to those who are looking for a very casual quick tasty korean meal and I'd suggest sharing meals with friends as it can be quite repetitive eating the same dish with rice over and over again. It can get very busy and there's only limited seatings so you'd be lucky to get a seat on the weekends. The burgers seem rather appetising..I might try that one day...or...just order the CRISPY CHICKEN again haha.

Seoul BBQ Cafe

(08) 9221 1862

Shop 2/166 Murray Street

Perth