The story of how my group of friends and I finally ended up at Chin Chin is so hilarious! It involves a similar restaurant with a very similar name *cough*Chim Chim*cough* and one of us who actually made a booking there 😂😂😂

So it's with pleasure I'm finally getting to write about the REAL Chin Chin in it's Sydney location. This post comes really late but I don't think the girls will mind so here we go and if they call me out... better late than never!!


Chin Chin is a popular restaurant from Melbourne that aims to present a "quintessentially Australian take on Asian food". Okay before you think it, just know that I know. The last part of the line is enough to make any Asian person slightly cringe on the inside the same way that I almost feel like I need to eye roll each time I hear that something is 'Asian fusion'. But hey, there are so many glowing reviews about the food here that we should look past that and be down to give it a try.


The inside of Chin Chin is HUGE and I believe the dining area seats around 160 people. Our group is seated in a nice cosy corner table with nice views of the streets of Surry Hills.

I really liked the industrial look with the glow of the pink neon lights which became more prominent as the evening got darker outside. A soft and pretty pink glow on everything? Yes please!

















We had 11 people in our group and for this course we only received two sets of each dish. I feel like this was a little flawed as dessert is a lot harder to divide. Although I do note the portion of these desserts seemed larger than average.

Actually me upon hearing about this location: An actually aesthetic brunch cafe in Bankstown? WHERE?! 

Bankstown has a good number of local gems but a new brunch cafe in the area always perks my interest! This was a while ago but when I spotted @thefatcouple head down to Bankstown for an aesthetic and delicious looking brunch and just generally being surprised that I didn't hear or see it sooner myself, I knewwww this is where I was dragging the b-f on the weekend.


Just around the corner from House of Thai and Chocolates Del Mondo on what is actually a busy road yet with low foot traffic, we find a small line just after noon waiting for a table at Glacage. What a hidden place for a cafe, I love it!


I really wanted a seat in the main and front area where there's more flowers, green plant walls, warmth, and bright indirect lighting (perfect for photos) but instead we could only get a table down at the back for the amount of time we were willing to wait*

* - the amount of time PATRICK was willing to wait 🙊



The back of the cafe is more 'garden shed'-like with its tin roofing, wooden buckets and slightly clattered look. It has it's own charm such as the quirky lights and mix of green and dried plants. But it's definitely so much darker and less prettier and aesthetic than the front of the cafe.

My minor disappointment was also with the heat lamps which cast a very red/pink lighting over my photos. But this doesn't really affect the food in the cafe or your experience, so it's just my qualm when I took photos - don't anyone worry!




The service was not that great and I found them a little bit abrupt. We were given menus and asked to make our orders at the front counter. It was after noon so things appeared to be winding down but then at the counter they made me feel really rushed as if I was trying to put in an order when the kitchen was already closed. Not a vibe I want to feel on the weekend at all.

I'm not sure if I'm just speaking for myself but "daijobu (大丈夫)" is one of the first Japanese phrases I picked up from watching so much anime over time. Depending on the context and pairing of how it's used, it can translate to "It's okay" or "Are you okay".

A pretty cool name for this little yakiniku place in Ashfield I must say. Daijobu Yakiniku is located just outside in between the main street and Ashfield Mall. From the outside, the soft glow of the lighting against the black Japanese-style windows is really eye catching and makes you curious as to whats inside.

After a long day at work, my sister and I usually TRY not to eat out but on this particular night we are both hungry and curious so in we venture.




We're greeted by the friendliest and sweetest service which is constant through our time here. 10/10 for how welcome they made us feel right away and not awkward for ordering as well.

Despite the flashy decor with the comical reds, yellows, blacks and whites the vibe of the place is very chill. There's only a few other diners in on this night but it never feels too quiet.



The table seating is comfortable and very sleek and clean. There's a choice to go for a la carte menu or the AYCE buffet and we choose the latter so we can try a little bit of everything. The prices for individual items seem pretty reasonable but at $34.90 per person for the buffet and our eyes that are usually bigger than our stomachs, this seems like the best option. The price might have changed now because I remember it was a promotional price.

Also to note, the buffet is by order to the table for 90 minutes only and you are limited to the choices they have listed but it's got a decent variety.



















In the end, I really wanted to love and rave about Daijobu Yakiniku but it just wasn't too impressive to me. It was... daijobu... it was just okay. So what seems like a cool name, really feels ill-fated at this point. The food is okay but the meat was on the disappointing side and I can think of a few other bbq buffets where you can get better eats for more or less of the price here. I do really love the service though and the individual a-la-carte menu is well-priced so stopping in for a quick lunch or dinner might be more worthwhile instead of the bbq.

Would be curious to hear if anyone has had a similar of different experience. Drop your comments down below if so.