Izakaya Jiro
830 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
03 8899 6609
Japanese
$$$$
Food
- Appetisers
- Takoyaki
- Tempura
- Gyoza
- Korokke
- Wagyu All You Can Eat BBQ
- Wagyu Tritip
- Wagyu Karubi Plate
- Wagyu Beef Skirt
- Wagyu Rib Finger
- Wagyu Rump Cap
- Tiger Prawns
- Squid
- Salmon Fillets
- Cheese Sausage
- Pork Belly
- Matcha & Black Sesame Ice Cream
The Good
We were off to a brilliant start to our Japanese All-You-Can-Eat Feast with an assortment of starters. Starting off were the Tempura Prawns and Vegetables. The Tempura batter was very light and crispy, just like how it’s done in Japan. Within, the prawns were incredibly fresh and offered a juicy and almost crunchy sensation. Meanwhile, the veggies were soft and juicy, with the batter beautifully soaking up the light ponzu. Delightful.
Another favourite of ours were the Gyoza. The thin, delicate skin was pan fried to a nice crisp. The golden brown outer held together an inner mince that was flavoursome and juicy with just a hint of sweetness.
Not to be missed were the traditional Japanese classics like Takoyaki and Korokke. The gorgeous octopus balls were crisp yet pillowy soft, while the Korokke had an amazing crumbed outer that made way for a silky, comforting inner made with mashed potatoes.
Seafood lovers must of course sample the Sashimi Platter. The cuts of fish were exceptionally fresh, offering an unadulterated taste of superb quality without any hint of fishy sensation. The standouts were undoubtedly the salmon, as well as the kingfish.
The highlight of our meal was undoubtedly the barbecue itself. The menu offers a diverse choice of different proteins including Wagyu beef, chicken and pork, fresh seafood, as well as an abundance of veggies. This was all cooked at your table on a quaint little charcoal stove, giving off an amazing aroma and red hot flames that simply can’t be replicated by gas or electric.
We sampled a wide variety of their Wagyu such as the Tritip, Rump Cap, Karubi Plate, Beef Skirt and Rib Finger. The tastiest of the bunch proved to be the Beef Skirt. With an amazing flowery pattern of marbling, the blend of lean and fat created amazing flavours and an exceptionally juicy sensation with each tender bite. The Karubi Plate was simply sensational, with an amazing amount of fat that created a rather rich and creamy experience. Meanwhile, the Rib Finger offered a balance of fatty and lean, with a slight chewiness and plenty of flavour being close to the bone.
Of course, no BBQ can be completed without some Pork Belly. The thin slices of pork exhibited beautiful layers of fat and protein intertwined, and as the fattier bits caramelised and charred on the charcoal grill, created a crispy and aromatic sensation that paired well with the tender juicy pork.
We rounded off our BBQ with some seafood, including giant Tiger Prawns, Squid as well as Salmon. The Salmon steaks were incredibly thick cut. Searing them lightly on both sides on the charcoal made for a beautifully pink inner that was so soft and succulent. Meanwhile, the prawns offered a lovely charred aroma and a bold and forward seafood flavour to pair. The squid though, proved tough to nail on the grill without proper temperature control, and a tad of seasoning would’ve definitely brought out the flavours more.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Izakaya Jiro is a well-known Japanese eatery situated in Glenferrie that’s famous for their Izakaya menu and small dishes. Having recently expanded their offering to serve Japanese BBQ, it’s no surprise that you would receive a top notch, no-compromise experience that’s authentic and absolutely delicious.
With the top quality produce on offer coupled with a traditional charcoal grill, Izakaya Jiro’s new AYCE offer running nightly at $58 per person is genuine value for money, and seriously one of the best BBQ experience we’ve had in Melbourne.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Most definitely! As one of the best Japanese BBQ restaurants in Melbourne, Izakaya Jiro is a must try.
Penguineats would like to thank Jophie for inviting us to Izakaya Jiro.