Izakaya Shogun — Restaurant in Sydney

(3.5 stars) With a leafy green outlook, the minimalist glass box that is Izakaya Shogun, takes good advantage of its off-street location in Camperdown’s City Quarter precinct to create a tranquil setting. It’s marred slightly by the unending procession of take-away orders, speaking to the way that—despite opening during a global pandemic—the restaurant has cemented its place for the development’s inhabitants. Despite the obvious wealth on display, Shogun’s prices are quite moderate with BYO welcomed even on a Friday night.

Beef tataki ($14) gives a uniform row of thinly sliced beef, their edges gently kissed with a blow-torch. Sashimi ($30/16 pieces) gives four fishes—tuna, salmon, snapper and kingfish—with freshly grated wasabi ($1) a worthwhile add-on. Before we’ve eaten a piece, our Korean deep-fried chicken ($18) arrives with a pot of pickles, turned pink with beetroot juice. The kitchen was kind enough to let us mix snow cheese and sweet chilli even in a half-serve. They’re boneless and tasty, without rivalling any of Sydney’s K.F.C. greats. It’s followed by snapper jalapeño ($14) which seemed an odd sequence until I realised the green chillis were pickled and packed a hefty vinegar bite that aided digestion (even if the dish lacked the balance of contemporary Japanese renditions I’ve liked).

A mound of kimchi pork ($16) with rice is a well-balanced combination thin slivers of grilled pork, cabbage and spicy Korean chilli sauce (gochujang). The crisp vegetable accompaniments in this, and garnished on all our dishes, are a nice way to eat your required greens. Nigiri sushi, purchased by the pair, is let down by a crumbly shari (sushi rice). Unagi ($4.50) with sticky-sweet barbequed eel eats best, followed by spicy prawn($4). Raw squid ($3) lacked the tiny cuts that make it tender to eat. Tamago ($3)—a super-sweet egg omelette—is a good stand-in...

We recently visited Izakaya Shogun in Camperdown for their Japanese high tea, and it was a delightful experience. The presentation was beautiful, featuring a selection of savory bites and sweet treats that showcased a variety of flavors and textures. The salmon cheese ship was a standout, offering a unique and tasty combination.

The ambiance of the restaurant is cozy and inviting, making it a perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon. The staff were attentive and friendly, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our visit. The high tea is priced at $59 per person and includes a pot of tea, which we found to be a reasonable value for the quality and variety offered.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Izakaya Shogun and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique high tea experience with a Japanese twist. Just remember to book in advance, as high tea is available by reservation only.

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Came here for their high tea set and I loved every bit of it though the price was a tad steep for its portion. The cute presentation and deliciousness of the food was still worth the money.

We got to choose genmaicha, sencha and hojitcha for our tea and I loved all of them, especially hojitcha. The tea flavor was strong and tasted authentic.

The high tea set came in savory sushi rolls and small bites which left me craving for more after finishing them. All of them tasted fresh and well prepared, though I had no idea what their names were if I would come back again to have them.

As for the desserts they all looked very pretty and were nicely presented, though most of them were creamy, especially the matchamisu. I got pretty full in the end and was satisfied with everything.

Overall I enjoyed my dining experience here as the food was served quick and the servers were polite and attentive to us. Would love to come back again to try...