Note: I was invited to dine in as a guest, however all opinions are my own.
Omi hails from Victoria and specialises in premium wagyu rice bowls. We were invited to dine in at Omi at the Canberra Centre for lunch one day. A waitress greets us at the reception desk and shows us to a table after checking our reservation. I receive a bound menu with large photos of each dish which I find helpful in deciding what to order.
There’s a QR code on each table which I scan to easily order online. One thing I notice is the wide range of sauces available – some are an extra $1.50 depending on the sauce. I like that there’s also photos of each dish on the online ordering system too. You don’t pay when you order, but take the bill up to the counter at the end of your meal.
Our drinks arrive first – Mr FPJ orders the Tokyo Slipper and I order the Yuzu Passion Fizz. Both are similar versions of each other, mine just without the alcohol!
We start with vegetable gyoza and I love the crispiness on the outside. I order this with a wasabi mayonnaise which seems to complement it nicely.
I order the premium wagyu beef rice bowl with teriyaki sauce. This comes with pickles, broad beans and an onsen egg. The thinly sliced wagyu is mouth-watering though there doesn’t seem to be enough of it. I love it on rice, and I think it’s a better option than noodles. We’d both definitely order this again (and have since this experience).
I also try the aburi salmon with udon noodles (with the onsen egg on the noodles). The waitress tells us the salmon comes medium rare which is fine with us. It’s super tender and flakes off easily. I like my choice of the Singapore chilli crab sauce which isn’t too spicy and a little bit sweet. This is a much lighter option compared to the beef rice bowl.
For dessert, there are two types of cheesecake and two types of mille crepe cakes. We’re both full, but indulge in sharing the Thai milk tea mille crepe. I like that the cream between the individual layers is very light and not too sugary, which goes well with the sweeter milk tea sauce on top. Quite a light dessert to finish with. It isn’t until dessert arrives that someone realises the table is covered in empty plates before clearing them away.
We were here during the Christmas break on a weekday so there weren’t too many people dining in. It’s very easy to order and I don’t remember it taking too long for the food to arrive. Although there’s a premium menu and you do pay for the higher quality, there’s still a casual vibe at this restaurant.
Omi Canberra Centre
Shop EG08/84 Bunda St, Canberra
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