Niigata City

One of my favourite spots for lunch in the Chinatown/Town Hall area.
They have a large menu with some very authentic Japanese food (I know because I lived in Japan for 5 years).  What I love the most is the "half dish" section on the menu where you can order half servings of one-bowl rice dishes (donburi) if you're not hungry enough to eat a whole serving.  My recommendation is the spicy kaisen (seafood) don.  Order a side of deep-fried salmon skin.  You probably won't be able to finish it but it's only $4.50 and makes a very nice little side dish.
If I had to describe them in one sentence it would be:  Yummy, affordable and lots to choose on the menu so you won't get bored (but you might just end up going back to the same dishes because they are so good!)  No complaints about customer service either.

Last time when I visited this place, it's still named Takeru. It used to be one of my fav place for Japanese. No sure if they changed chef. Omelettes rice was ok, but I think as not good as it used to be. Chatsu rice was good. Will go back, hope it'd be as great as before then.

Fast, friendly service in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Food is delicious! Try the pork tonkatsu udon. You will love it. The bento boxes are wonderful too.

Awesome Japanese restaurant hidden away in the CBD! Very reasonably priced with quick and friendly service. I particularly recommend the unagi Niigata bento and the mentai pasta! Excellent value for money.

Been here many times and will return for many more. Food is well priced and filling. There is few restaurants I can have my fill for less than $30. Even fewer with food this tasty!

One thing that never changes since it was called Takeru is the Hiyashi Ramen Omelette Chicken Namban and have been my favourite to eat here. Over the years while they try to maintain the price, the portion get a little bit smaller than it used to be.

Takeru is quite possibly the best western-Japanese fusion restaurant that I've ever been to. The traditional Japanese dishes are well prepared and taste really authentic. Meanwhile the western fusion dishes aren't too over flavoured. I highly recommend the salmon pasta! Otherwise, green tea ice cream for dessert! :)

Takeru Restaurant is for value, tasty, fusion Japanese food that I have enjoyed for a decade or so. It's great for a casual dining experience in the city. The city restaurant is quite small and the furniture is small so don't come here with any 'bigger boned' friends. It's not known for it's fresh sushi or sashimi but for cooked dishes, I quite like it. You have the option of ordering full sized dishes or you can also opt for the half size dishes so you can try of a variety of food! The must have to order dish has to be the Kaisen Don ($12.50ish) which is a bed of rice with a layer of salmon, tuna, spring onion, mayo and wasabi. Pour a dash of soy sauce and mix up all the ingredients, be careful with the wasabi and enjoy a delightful mouthful of flavours. It's a simple dish but it's just enjoyable to eat. Takeru Restaurant also has a number of pasta dishes which aren't quite conventional. The half sized Salmon Pasta was a generous portion ($7.50ish) is served with broccoli. It's worth trying one pasta dish. The sauce can be a bit rich but that's what you would normally expect from a white sauce. Another best seller is the omelette with noodles ($12.50). The egg omelette holds in the noodles in the middle. It's a dish you should order every now and then as it's very filling with all the noodles and it can really add even more richness in your meal. It's delicious! My other must have dish is the chicken and flour dumpling pizza. Served on thin lebanese bread, the pizza is best served with a dab of tabasco sauce which perfect contrasts with the cheese, mayo and chicken/dumplings. It's just a rare combination of things put together that I absolutely love. I have not seen this dish on any other Japanese menu ($10ish). Pictured below, the photo just doesn't do this justice. Prices: $20-$25 per person. If you are not hungry then you can probably get away with having half of that Location: Town Hall is the closest train station and it's about a 10 minute walk to 339 Sussex St, Sydney. I suggest you walk down to Hungry Jacks on George st then head down Sussex St as the closest intersection is Liverpool St and Sussex St.