In Short: Gojima is a delicious new take on the humble burger with fantastic Japanese inspired flavours. Try from both the Classics and Sushi selections, and you won’t be disappointed!
Sydney, just in case you aren’t yet done with the burger craze that’s a staple (with every variation imaginable) in most pubs, diners and corner joints everywhere, you can now add ‘sushi burger’ to your list! Under the creative hands of award-winning Chef Chase Kojima (the chef behind the hatted Sokyo restaurant), the rice burger bar Gojima entered foodie lexicon late in December 2016, opening in Sydney’s The Star Casino. We here at Coco & Vine love a new food trend, and when it also means enjoying one of our very favourite cuisines, how could we not join the queues and try these burgers out?!
But, first things first – what’s a sushi burger or rice bun burger anyway? Gojima has created a signature sushi rice and nori ‘bun’ that’s filled with all the classic ingredients of a regular hamburger – tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, onion, cheese and your choice of beef chicken or fish. But it’s the Japanese inspired twists on these that really make these burgers stand out. Think Angus beef, katsu chicken and sustainably sourced salmon, kingfish and tuna with Gojima’s secret sauce, and start salivating!
We head down to The Star on a hot and steamy day in Sydney, and make it just before the mad lunch rush and believe me, the lines queue out the door any time after 12pm so we’re glad we got here early. Ah, and the ongoing challenge of any food lover in a new place, what to choose! After much deliberation (read: what will look good for the camera!) we land on a ‘classic’ and one from the ‘sushi’ list. With our goodies in hand, we head out to the foreshore of Pyrmont to the wooden benches by the water, and unravel this much-anticipated feast!
We, of course, start with the classic Gojima Chicken Burger filled with crispy chicken (JFC Style), special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun…aarrgghhh…oops! (Is it just me or does anyone else still have that Macca’s burger song etched into their brain??!!) Yes, this does have special sauce, but this is a far more sophisticated Gojima Miso Sauce, which is absolutely delicious, with a hint of heat on the back of the palate and notes of ginger and sesame. Add this to the unique combination of American cheese with Japanese pickles, bursting inside the crisp rice and nori bun, this burger did not take long to be devoured! The chicken was moist and tender, without feeling greasy at all and this burger was crunchy, spicy and fresh all at the same time.
Next up we try the sushi Salmon Miso Burger. Made from 100% sustainable Tasmanian Salmon, this burger has a nice set of complementary ingredients of cucumbers, scallions, lettuce, radish and pickles…oh, and don’t forget the cheese and Gojima Miso Sauce. The salmon is fresh, with a generous portion making this burger feel substantial while at the same time tasting light and refreshing. The miso sauce really brings the flavours of ginger and sesame to the forefront and is a perfect addition to the mix.
Now a burger meal is never really complete without its long-time partner, the fries (chips, for us Aussies!). The fries at Gojima also have a twist and the crunch of the shoestring fried potato is combined with Umami Salt. This is my new ‘chicken salt’ – that addictive taste that means you can’t just stop at one chip. Low and behold, the whole thing was demolished in the time that it took fellow Coco & Viner Steve to pack up the camera. You snooze, you lose buddy! Oh, and don’t skip the Japanese Mayo if you want that extra kick.
Chef Kojima has, without a doubt, created a fantastic taste sensation in this new venture. It was well worth the wait and we know that those who’ve waited in the long queues will agree!
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