M's Food Find #69

Good evening everyone. The weekend falls upon us once more. I hope everyone's had a good week. Otherwise. make up for it during the weekend! It looks to be sunny and nice for us here. Unfortunately, I dont have much plans for now. I am getting used to it. But I suppose the stars have been trying to teach me something for awhile now. I am probably just grasping it.

ANYWAY, enough rambling. Let's talk food. I have been craving for Japanese ramen for so long now but haven't really got round to satisfying it. So let's blog about it!



This crowded little place is tucked away on a nondescript street in the city of Perth. Slightly away from the shopping strip. Called NAO, lunchtime crowd during the weekdays can really get wayy busy and the wait can take a while. But let's see if it is worth it.



I went there with a friend during summer...so I managed to have the special ramen!


The dipping noodles were very good. So springy and flavourful. The toppings were just the right amount to the noodles. I really cannot say much about it except I would gladly queue for it. And thats saying alot. Its worth the wait. definitely one of the best ramen I have had and also in Perth.


Had to end the lunch with dessert - azuki beans stuffed fishcakes. The outerskin was thin and crispy and the azuki beans filling was generous and a hint of sweetness. Oh it sure brought me back to Tokyo...


Photos credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

The last photo is just one of their signature soup ramen dishes. Well, my lunch companion preferred Kai (another Japanese Ramen place which I had previously blogged about), but I think the noodles at Nao were more authentic. The chashu though thinly sliced had that smokey flavour which is so addictive, and so soft...

Sadly, the ramen egg was not featured. It would have made it to an 8 or 8.5/10 for me...but for now its 7.5/10 rating is good enough for me. Have you been? What do you think?

M's Food Find #71

YOU KNOW WHAT?! I could use a break and since I havent had any proper lunch nor brekkie today, let's celebrate... I meant that sarcastically of course.

Here's a little ramen shop in the heart of a Perth suburb called Kai.

Very little shop that only really sits about 20 and has about 6 tables.

Trading hours and phone number for you!

Located in Parry Avenue shops with a big cheesecake shop nearby.


Some photos of the menu so you know the variety they have. Pretty amazing and unique here.

Sashimi... yums!

bento sets, sushi, side dishes but when I headed there for the first time, I noticed the star of the restaurant is really their ramen.


Personally, I would go back to this place just for their green tea. Served in the cutest little pot but packs a real strong punch of flavour. I love it. The burnt rice is strong and you can just feel antioxidants and the healthiness of this tea in you.

That's their large sashimi order. Like I mentioned, I have yet to find the kind of sashimi I am accustomed to but I know I have been spoilt. So the grade of sashimi here in Kai is pretty decent for Perth and I can taste the hint of sweetness and freshness.

Ordered the tonkatsu ramen broth. Look at that absolutely stunning egg and molten yolk. well done Kai! The broth is very strong and flavorful and the noodles springy. So far the best Ive had in Perth for sure. But I have such high standards for Japanese cuisine that I really cannot bring myself to rave about everything so far (except the green tea, that I LOVE).

They have three different kinds of broth and several different accompaniments to the ramen. We have miso, soy and tonkatsu which I have tried. Sam who is a huge fan of this place loves their tonkatsu broth. My friend Shiyu tried the chicken karaage one (I didn't ask which broth she got because she went on a different occasion).

So far, so good. Worth a drive down!

And for me, another star of this little restaurant is their Special Bento Set Box. $21.50 for all that goodness.Trust me, its so worth it. There's assorted sashimi where the best one and the one that genuinely surprised me in a good way is the squid iku sashimi. So sweet and tender! WOW.

The grilled mackerel tasted amazing, just like the ones I had in my favourite restaurants in Singapore. So good, a little piece of home for me.

You see tempura, a good generous portion. Nothing to rave about here but its good. nothing bad.

Then that bottom right corner next to the mackerel, you get agedashi tofu and karagge chicken. I did tell you this is SO WORTH THE PRICE. And its all good. The tofu is so yummy! Karagge chicken is alittle too dark for my liking but the chicken is very tender inside. Topped with the yummy thinly sliced fish skin. So pretty.

The fan-shaped rice is really to finish and accompany the dishes. Not the other way round where you usually have dishes to accompany the rice. I like this way better. I didnt manage to finish the rice but polished off everything else.

Yes, I mentioned I was a pig...

Photos credits: mayydiaries.blogspot.com

And I leave you with their details once again... GO. NOW. Lunch, dinner whenever.

Till my next food find, Mayy x