Takeaway review: Top-level authentic Japanese food from a Michelin star chef

What’s on offer?

Michelin star chef Takashi Miyazaki is originally from Fukuoka in the southwest of Japan. After meeting his future wife, Stephanie, who was teaching English in Hiroshima, he moved to Ireland in 2008. While working in restaurants around the country, his plan was to open his own place. Seeing the lease for the Yangtze River, a former Chinese takeaway in Cork, come up for sale, he opened a takeaway in March 2015, with six counter stools.

The menu features typical Japanese street food – donburi rice bowls, Japanese curry, hot soup and cold noodles and salads. There is also a specials board with about seven dishes which is worth checking out. Miyazaki brings together Japanese classic dishes and techniques with Irish ingredients, and also does so at a premium level in Ichigo Ichie, his formal kaiseki ryori restaurant, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2019.

What did we order?

There is salmon sushi on the day we visit, but much as I love sushi, my preference is for tuna, so I give it a miss and order the beef noodles and ten don prawn and vegetable tempura.

How was the service?

Very helpful. Staff are happy to chat and explain what’s in the different dishes.

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Was the food nice?

The food here is extremely good. Finely cut slices of beef and udon noodles are served in a steaming dashi broth with a touch of ginger, finished with finely sliced spring onions. For the tempura, lightly battered prawns, green beans and aubergines sit on top of steamed rice with soya sauce underneath. They are generous servings and it’s absolutely delicious.

What about the packaging?

We managed to nab the high stools, so we ate from bowls, but takeaway packaging is a mix of compostable and recyclable containers.

What did it cost?

€31.00 for lunch for two people – beef noodles, €15.50; and 10 don tempura €15.50.

Where does it deliver?

Miyazaki has a walk-in and collection policy with limited delivery depending on how busy they are. Open Tue-Sun, 1pm-3.30pm and 5pm-9pm.

Would I order it again?

The food here is incredibly good. Top-level Japanese food is very hard to find in Ireland. If I lived nearby I would work through the whole menu. If you’re lucky, you might get one of the counter stools.