The katsu curry rice bowl is delicious, filling and affordable. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Tucked away in Bailey’s Arcade, there’s a brand new casual Japanese eatery.
Owner Suchitra Shrestha, also known as Suchi, has approximately six years of experience working as a chef in Japanese restaurants. She decided to take the leap and opened her own shop, which has been operational for just a few weeks.
There is plenty of space for people to dine in, but they’re mostly focused on grab-and-go takeaways. Suchi told Region she’s aiming to cater for the office crowd who want an affordable, everyday lunch that is quick enough for their lunch break.
I visited for an early lunch and asked Suchi to help me choose.
“My favourite dish is the katsu curry. I actually prepare the curry freshly every morning,” Suchi explained.
“It’s been one of our most popular dishes so far.”
Suchitra opened Suchi’s after years of experience working in Japanese restaurants. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
For only $14, this hearty bowl of curry is a total bargain. And I love the care that has been taken when plating: the slices of crumbed, fried chicken have been placed on the rice, and the curry takes up the other half of the bowl. I’ve too often received a bowl of katsu curry where the chicken is placed directly onto the wet curry and arrives with a soggy bottom! Not so here: the chicken has remained perfectly crisp.
The curry has a warming spice level, plenty of veggies, and a generous portion of rice. Suchi said she was surprised that hot dishes have been very popular so far, even throughout the heat waves!
A few hand rolls would make a satisfying meal and leave you with plenty of change! Photo: Lucy Ridge.
I also ordered a teriyaki chicken hand roll. It’s difficult to predict customer levels for a new business, so Suchi is making all the sushi and hand rolls to order. Eventually, there will be a large refrigerated cabinet to make it easier for customers to grab what they’d like.
The hand roll is packed with delicious chicken and slices of avocado. Two or three of these rolls would make a very decent lunch.
Suchi’s menu focuses on Japanese dishes such as rice bowls, sushi, ramen, and bento sets. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Suchi tells me that the location has been empty for over a year, so people aren’t in the habit of coming into Bailey’s Corner for lunch, but she’s hoping to get the word out so she can continue growing this one-woman show into a thriving local business.
One of her plans is to start offering larger trays of sushi and hand rolls for office catering. She’s also just signed up to Uber Eats deliveries and was taken aback at the immediate demand! If you’re in a hurry, you can also place your order on their website for pickup.
Suchi’s is located at 143 London Cct inside Bailey’s Arcade. They are open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 3.30 pm. Visit their website, or follow Suchi’s on Facebook or Instagram.
