Salty Plum Japanese Gourmet — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

Usually this place is 5 stars, but last night they earned only 2 stars. So what went wrong? I called at 6.30 and was told all noodles were sold out, I don’t think this was accurate. I suspect it was because there was just the one dude running the shop and cooking, so it was an attempt to manage demand and optimise time spent cooking. I ended up ordering dinner chicken karage bento meal, three sushi rolls and one katsu chicken rice bowl with avocado (but no salad). I was told it would be ready in 20-25 minutes. I arrive at the counter 23 minutes later and I’m told it will be ready 20-25 from when I placed the call, weird I thought given I was there 23 minutes after I placed the order as requested. Ok fair enough… so I’m thinking I wait another couple of minutes and I’ll be on my way. 25 minutes later my meal is finally ready (for a grand total of 48 minute wait time from order to meal ready). The dude was clearly overwhelmed and couldn’t keep a track of things. Unfortunately his manners fell by the wayside and no apology or acknowledgment was offered. What I ordered and what I got were two different things. I got no avocado with my rice bowl and I got karage instead of katsu. The spring rolls in my bento were soggy and crushed. Sushi rolls were rushed and so they looked rushly made but tasted fine. The quality was below average unfortunately, again I think due to the understaffing issue.

I’m not going to write them off because of one bad experience, but it may be a while before I go back again. To be fair, they’ve been 5 stars up until this point. My advice, have back up staff to run the counter, one dude doing it all will not cut it...

The location does not kustify the gourmet shop title, but the food does. I found myself in Robina needing lunch. This place came up on a search on my route. It's blocked in between a laundy and a Merlo coffee shop, with a view over the 7 eleven servo. So the atmosphere is lacking. There are plenty of tables, though, and had a steady lunchtime crowd. I chose a chicken Katsu Bento with a can of Cola, which came to $13:50. The meal was served quickly. The chicken Katsu was homemade. It was freshly cooked, thick, and juicey with a crinchy golden crumb. There was a basic cabbage and red onion slaw. The rice was sticky and tastey, and they had dressed it with sesame seeds for extra flavour and crunch. It came with thick teriaki sauce and kewpi mayou on the side. All it lacked was a few japanese pickles on the side to ne 5 star. It was so good I was tempted to buy another to take out for dinner later. Worth a try the next time you're in Robina and prefer proper...

Salty Plum is an absolute hidden gem in Robina! The food here is delicious and incredibly affordable. Their $10 lunch specials are a rare find these days, making it a fantastic spot for a budget-friendly meal. The place is always buzzing during lunchtime, which speaks to its popularity.

They offer a great variety of dishes, including teriyaki chicken, katsu curry, and vegetable tempura. My favorite entrée is the agedashi tofu—it has the perfect crispy exterior with soft tofu inside, paired with just the right amount of sauce. For mains, I highly recommend the teriyaki salmon and vegetable tempura. The salmon is cooked to perfection, and the teriyaki sauce complements it beautifully without being overpowering. The vegetable tempura is lightly battered, crispy, and pairs perfectly with the accompanying sauce.

Tucked away next to a petrol station, Salty Plum is a true hidden gem worth discovering. Definitely recommend...