Juan Bowl & Tea — Restaurant in Sydney

Unfortunately, I did not have an enjoyable dining experience here due to the terrible service. The food was good, although not amazing. However, it was the appalling service today that left a sour taste in mouth. I won’t be returning to this restaurant.

The restaurant has a $30 dollar per person spend requirement ($60 for two people). I agreed to this when I stepped into the restaurant with my partner. When I went up to the counter to order, I ordered 2 bowls ($23 each = $46), plus 2 wagyu korokke ($9 each = $18) add-ons, plus a warabimochi ($12). This order clearly exceeds the minimum spend.

But then the waitstaff informed me that wagyu korokke was unavailable. For context - we arrived to the restaurant before it opened at precisely 11.50am. We were seated at 12pm (when the restaurant opened). Why was this on your menu in the first place - if you can't offer this to your customers? This is ridiculous, but not what bothered me the most.

So I proceeded to make my order without the wagyu korokke. The waitstaff informed me that I must make another order because I did not reach the minimum spend. The order amounted to $58 - I paid $58.80 using my debit card. As the restaurant was so persistent about the minimum spend, I said I would speak to my partner first and make another order to meet the minimum spend.

We decided to order a tea ($9) only so that we could meet the minimum spend. So I went up to the counter and started speaking to make my order, when I was interrupted by the waitstaff. Another customer had come up behind me. The two people in the kitchen spoke in Japanese and decided to serve the customer behind me first, even though the customer had come AFTER me. This was not justified or explained to me.

I waited back at my table, and the waitstaff followed up 15 minutes later. Clearly upset about the service, we told them we changed our mind about the additional order. The waitstaff returned and pointed to their $30 per person minimum spend policy. We had already spent $58, and told the waitstaff we were unhappy with the service and would rather pay them the $2 than make an additional order.

Three key points: The restaurant's minimum spend policy isn't my issue. I was happy to exceed the minimum spend, but the items listed on the menu wasn't even available - at the restaurant's OPEN. This shouldn't happen. When I went to make an additional order to meet the minimum spend, the waitstaff was rude to me, turned me away and served another customer who had clearly joined the queue after me. Why this was the case was not explained to me. This is appalling service. After being turned away, the waitstaff had the NERVE to come back and insist that I spend more to meet their minimum spend policy. Truth be told, I hadn't even wanted the tea in the first place - it was only to meet the restaurant's $30 per person minimum spend policy. If it wasn't rude enough the first time, the waitstaff was being even more rude by insisting we spend more after all that - over what? $2. We would rather PAY you $2 than sit through your insufferable rude...

Juan Bowl and Tea: A Redfern Gem Serving Up Japanese Delights

Juan bowl and tea in Redfern is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Japanese flavors with a touch of modern flair. This cozy eatery offers a delightful menu of rice bowls, tonkatsu, and tempting desserts, all crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

During my recent visit, I had the pleasure of experiencing their exquisite wagyu rice with garlic butter sauce. The star of the show was undoubtedly the 2-hour slow-cooked wagyu beef, which was incredibly tender and boasted a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The subtle wagyu flavor was perfectly complemented by the rich garlic butter sauce, and the addition of salmon roe provided bursts of salty, oceanic flavor that further enhanced the dish. The onsen egg added a luxurious creaminess, while the crispy lotus root provided a welcome crunch, though a more generous portion of lotus root would have elevated the textural experience further.

To accompany my meal, I opted for the jin jun mei tea, a premium selection with a delightful sweet honey character and subtle smoky notes. This tea proved to be an excellent pairing for the richness of the wagyu, offering a refreshing counterpoint to each bite.

The premium tonkatsu (320g) was another highlight. The pork was cooked to perfection, with a satisfyingly crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior. The accompanying sauces – a classic sweet, savory, and tangy tonkatsu sauce and a creamy mayo – elevated the dish further.

For dessert, the sakura matcha tiramisu was a true delight. The balance of matcha and sakura flavors was exquisite, and the combination of the matcha powder, silky tiramisu, and sponge cake created a symphony of textures.

Served in an elegant bamboo pot, this dessert was as visually appealing as it was delicious.

While I thoroughly enjoyed my selections, I couldn't help but notice some intriguing off-menu specials, including a tantalizing tonkatsu pork curry and a unique wagyu arancini-type ball.

These tempting options have certainly given me a reason to return for another visit.

Overall, Juan bowl and tea offers a memorable dining experience with its delicious food, carefully curated tea selection, and inviting atmosphere.

Whether you're a seasoned Japanese cuisine enthusiast or simply looking for a satisfying and flavorful meal, this Redfern gem is...

Just Updating my review since my last two years ago:

We came again as we had a good impression last time around, came early as you cannot make a booking. We were first in line, however the staff didn't even look at us, and went straight for the third person in line. So the reason for that was because this person was some sort of blogger, so obviously they get VIP treatment.

After that, the staff member decided to go to the large group behind us and take their orders. We asked, if we needed our order to be taken, and was told to just wait, quiet rudely as well. And after that, basically ignored until the door opened.

Once the door opens, the line doesn't matter, it's up to the staff to decide who gets to sit down first, So we waited while the blogger gets ushered in, then the big group, then us.

Don't mind the other members of the public either, they will just barge into the front of the line expecting to be seated, luckily the staff member was considerate enough to tell them to line up.

Make sure you have your orders ready, as there is another line at the register for ordering food, so please remember, one line at the front door before the restaurant opens, and another to order your food. While the rest of us run around like headless chicken, the blogger gets VIP treatment with their order being taken at the table!.

So once all the logistics is over, the good was exactly like it was 2 years ago, no variation, but otherwise still the same, pretty good once you get pass the logistics..

So I'll leave it up to you to decide my ratings.

My Review 2 yrs ago (5 Stars):

Staff are nice, simple nice minimal decor, food is great too. Make sure you book or else it gets busy pretty fast. Had all four main courses. Plus the desserts to share. The matching teas are also nice, with traditional...