It’s tough times for restaurants again as restrictions continue for the next few weeks, but one good thing to come out of it is that we can now lunch all day long.
Sitting under the escalators off Gage Street is Musubi Hiro, decked out with a cool, street-style aesthetic inspired by the pubs and izakayas of Japan. Lunch ($148/person) here is a sweet deal. It includes three daily omakase dishes to start, a musubi main and a daily dessert. Free-flow wine, sake, beer and non-alcoholic drinks are also included, and I have to admit I don’t often see this being offered in Central!
To start, I ordered the sweet yet punchy Wasabi Sour – a refreshing complement to the food that followed.
The three omakase appetisers rotate, but we were served seared sesame-coated tuna in sesame dressing, sweet omelette (tamagoyaki) and grilled shishito peppers. I enjoyed the straightforward simplicity of these light bites.
The DIY musubi bowls are creative, not to mention generous in portion. Guests have a choice of Japanese char siu, beef cheek, karaage chicken or miso eggplant. I ordered the chicken and couldn’t finish most of it. I had fun creating my own musubi, though it did get a little messy during the process.
The dessert changes daily, but we were offered the perfect amount of apple crumble to end our meal. Tender, caramelised apples with a sugary crumble topping were served on a small plate sans cream or ice cream.
Verdict
For an unmatched lunch deal, Musubi Hiro should be at the top of your list. The food is served fast, and the portion sizes are extremely generous. Add-ons range from $28–35 if you’re feeling extra hungry, and the fact that free-flow is included is hard to beat, especially considering the price of the lunch set. It’s restaurants like Musubi Hiro that need the most support during these times of tough restrictions, so if you’re looking for a lunch spot in Central, this is a great place to check out.
37 Cochrane Street, Central, 5597 6911, book online
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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