TL;DR: Time has been kind to Hanaichi.
One name that has always been a good sign to me around so many food courts in the city and suburbs has to be none other than "Hanaichi". In among so many fast food chains and substandard looking kebab bars, Hanaichi is always a breath of fresh air for a number of reasons. Comparing it to the aforementioned fast food chains, it is a lot healthier than many of them, they serve the food quite quickly, it is often hot and fresh from the kitchen behind, and while it is ultimately pretty simple in execution this demonstrates one of the best tenants about Japanese cuisine - I don't think I know of a cuisine that aims to be so high quality through speciliasation and focusing well on a specific aspect of their cuisine for an eatery. Also, the other way it can be put is that it is reliable for either lunch or an afternoon bite and you know more or less what you are going to get.
That was precisely the way that I got to this location. Jumping between the work commitments and night class, it was a matter of walking around the city to find that something that fit the needed bill. Like it was said, the food was quick, it was budget friendly and it managed to get a couple of aspects which I prefer with my snacks - that it was pipping hot, and preferably with a bit of grease put into the mix. After a bit of a lap of town, Wintergarden still had a few places that were open and this was the decided one.
It could well be here that ground zero had started, and it was all a passion project from the most awarded Japanese chef in the state. Most people tended to think about sushi when Japanese cuisine was mentioned, and he wanted to show them that there was much, much more to it than that. Fast forwarding it so many years, it is apparent that there are numerous imitators - some not too shabby either - but this is the O.G. granddaddy of that - and respect the grandaddies. Getting back on board, it included many of the staples that are now associated with Japanese cuisine and that turned into a success really quickly leading to more and more outlets.
Again, as it was a entry within the food court there is little in the way to talk about either the decor or the service. They are fine as it is, and you know what you are in for with a food court. Still though, you could make a case that how the food court looks and its vibe can help contribute - this has got to be one of the cleanest, one of the (temperature-wise) coolest, and coziest food courts that is around town. Compared to some others nearby, it is comparatively tucked away, and has a bit of a barrier to prevent the traffic noise from polluting anything. The seating is comfortable, and customers can knock in at any time as pleased.
With the service, the best part of it is that everything is being cooked to order. I guess the counter-lady was pretty good and working as hard as possible when the amount of clientele was dying down, plus the delivery was efficient and everything. After getting the food, the condiments, chopsticks and everything is right on the counter to the far left to retrieve as needed. Essentially, this is streamlined.
Now onto the food they offer. It is really a range of donburi that they have, and a few noodle soups as well to appease everyone. Here and there is a more Australian-influenced meal, since the meals are cooked a bit like a casserole, all with an Asian flavour in mind. Right next door is a sushi bar, and that is about it.
I would say after looking around for a while ... but it was pretty quick that I knew trying out their two meal special was going to be the go for me. What was left though was how to tackle it, and if there was any kind of snacks on the side - that latter one did not appear to be quite so. I ended up getting some pork katsu curry and a Kay's chicken.
The Kay's chicken is a specialty of theirs. This is where they have the battered chicken karage, which is served with a mixed salad and a combination of a sweet and sour sauce, and tar-tar sauce, that is mixed up and then served on top of rice. As with the katsu curry, that sucker does not need any introduction - you know what it is, I know what it is, and the word for it is delicious. The crumb on the fillet, the soft and moreish meat inside, plus that spicy and distinctive gravy - all of it makes for one of the simplest, but ultimately most effective meals if we are talking about pound-for-pound. Kay's chicken was also good, with the unusual flavour and creamy texture of the sauce. These two made for a good match, and that deal is one that would do wonders in many other places.
So overall, not a whole lot that really has to be discussed. None of it was to give any negative reputations, or to dismiss anything that is done right by it in any way. Sometimes the cigar has to be named as what it ultimately is - a cigar. That being said, I am not sure how long it had been since I had visited an outlet of Hanaichi but I definitely remember them being as good as this, and it was a great touch that they gave out a double meal for value to customers among a number of other things. Like with a lot of these other chain, there is a real reason that they have managed to expand so well and that comes down to the reputation of their food - going with the speed of fast food but not any of the unhealthy stigmata that surrounds them.
It is also one other additional aspect that surrounds the Japanese cuisine, and that is in all facets a good attention to detail makes for a lot of difference, and it is important that the customers manages to have a decent and filling meal that is of the best quality possible. In fact, even if some are better than others, I can't recall one Japanese meal which I would deem to be bad which is a further testament to the cuisine, but the case here is with Hanaichi. It is simple in concept and in execution, the food manages to be substantial and is cooked fresh to order and is fully enjoyable. Not something to go to if you really feel like Japanese, but definitely will deserve a better standing than "it'll do" - let's just put it in that nebulous area.
I'll give it a 4.0.
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