I love recommendations from readers as I know that they’re just as passionate about food as I am and I am always one recommending food to others, usually because I want them to experience as good a meal as I had. One of my longtime readers, SydneyGal wholeheartedly recommended a visit to Zenya and when I told my husband about it, he was all too eager as ramen is one of his very favourite ever meals.
Unlimited cup of Tea $2.50
Walking inside you’d never guess from the outside that the interior is done so nicely, looking a bit like a bar rather (and it’s dark!) than a brightly lit ramen joint. And a good sign is the queue. There is a crowd of people waiting for a table and one puts down their name and the number of people and tears off the numbered slip and waits for their name to be called. We look at the menu while in line and about 5-10 minutes later we’re seated.
Phoenix Organic drinks $3 each
We’re dining with M and her sons S and In and we try a variety of things from the curious e.g the raw octopus with wasabi to the staples e.g. Teriyaki Beef as well as the bento boxes and ramen. For an extra $3 you can get a serve of 3 Gyoza and a side salad with the ramen and for an extra $5 you can get a mini bowl of ramen with your bento box. Everyone grabs drinks – they stock Phoenix Organic beverages in their very own Phoenix fridge ($3 each).
Tako Wasabi (Raw Octopus with wasabi) $4
The Tako Wasabi arrives first, in a small bowl with a slimy wasabi sauce. The boys refuse to touch it but my husband, M and I try it. It’s not bad although raw squid or octopus is not my favourite sashimi texture. The strong but not sinus clearing level of wasabi is not too bad and my husband finds it too chewy but M likes it very much indeed.
Beef Teriyaki Main size with rice and miso soup $14.80
It’s a little hard to know what side dishes go with what as they’re just placed on the table so we assign the side dishes to whoever we think they’re meant to go to. In is a firm carnivore (vegetables aren’t welcome in his family he says) and so beef teriyaki is chosen for him. It’s not a huge serve although it comes with rice and soup but he does a good job finishing it. It probably wouldn’t be enough for a very hungry person however.
Ton Katsu Bento and not-so-Mini Ramen $20.80
I like Bento boxes as they allow me maximum sampling opportunities and M and I both choose one each. Mine is with Pork Ton Katsu which isn’t too bad although the Pork Katsu is not freshly fried which I think is disappointing. It’s dry and has been cooked prior to my order so I eat it but without the gusto that I reserve for freshly cooked Katsu. The salmon sashimi is ok, not the best I’ve had, and the delicious seaweed salad is delicious, if a little on the small side. The fried gyoza are slightly different to the gyoza that my husband gets with his ramen, and I definitely prefer the ones in the bento box. If I could’ve swapped the Ton Katsu for the Gyoza I would’ve been happy.
The Mini ramen that it comes with however is delicious, and there’s nothing mini about the size at all. It’s enough for me for lunch and is full of richly flavoured deep soup broth, sesame seeds, veges and a slice of roast pork. The ramen noodles are thinner than at Ryo’s and of course Ryo’s ramen itself is better.
Unagi (eel) Bento $20.80
I try some of M’s Eel and it’s deliciously thick but soft and melts in my mouth. I wish I had ordered the eel instead!
Eel-sweet and soft delicious eel be mine!
Citrus pepper Ramen with salad and gyoza $14.80
My husband’s choice, a little left of centre, is the Citrus Pepper Ramen from the Specials menu and it’s a heady citrusy peppery soup with buttered corn and pork slices. He adores this and its deliciously strong taste.
Vegetable Tempura Udon with salad and gyoza $13.80
S is convinced that he is up for the gigantic ramen eating challenges we’ve been telling him about so he orders the Udon which he manages to almost finish leaving a bit of soup and flotsam behind. The udon isn’t bad although it’s a bit soft for my liking, I like a particular udon texture which is still chewy.
Gyoza with Ramen set
We wait for S to finish his udon but alas the champion in training cannot. But he’ll have fun training for it!
Zenya Noodle Bar
217 Rowe St, Eastwood NSW 2122
Tel: +61 (02) 9874 2122
Fax (02) 9874 2144
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19 Comments | Add your own
It all looks delicious – makes a girl hungry first thing in the morning.
I like the way the menu has pictures of pigs and chickens next to each dish!
WOAH, this is my kind of place, looks like a mountain of food
A pity the bus doesn’t go here
I thin udon should be chewy too – love that texture.
The steamed and seared side dish gyozas look great – I much prefer them as ‘potstickers’ than deep fried.
My oh my that eel looks good!
I’ve seen this place advertised in the magazine which comes with the Chinese newspapers on the weekend.
Eel looks awesome, unagi is my favourite with rice. My most memorable meal was eating these in Tokyo!
Love the place, hate the lines. I admit Ryo’s ramen is better but not enough to warrant the long drive…(which is long) so I’m regularly at Zenya for ramen fixes. I love their teriyaki salmon bento as well!
you and your husband eat at awesome places!! your pictures are making me soooo hungry, even though i just ate a little while ago. haha
surprisingly nice inside!
i don’t know whether i would have ventured inside, based on that frontage!
did you manage to fit that tea set into your handbag? gosh it’s lovely.
an aside:
wasn’t UNAGI that secret martial arts power that Ross, from Friends had?
Hi Cakelaw-Japanese has that effect on me too
Hi Arwen-hehe it’s cute isn’t it!
Hi Cappucino-I think the train station isn’t too far away? Yes it was a lot of food! I could have been happy with the mini Ramen!
Hi Christie-Definitely chewy. Otherwise I just can’t enjoy it. Yes potstickers or steamed is much better than deep fried. I think it preserves the flavour more too!
Hi Howard-I don’t know why I didn’t order the eel, it was a big regret that day!
Hi Karen-Yes the lines are bad! Ahh good to know the Teriyaki Salmon bento is good too in case of a return visit (although for my Ryo’s is really close).
Hi Madison-Hehe thanks! I never like to waste a meal and I have to do as much research as possible into it
Hi the projectivist-Yes it was lucky I got the rec from SydneyGal! Haha yes I wanted to but we were right next to add the staff
Plus not great to do that while impressionable kiddies are around 
LOL yes Ross and his unagi!
you eat such an interesting variety of foods–i’m so jealous. would you believe that there isn’t a single ethnic restaurant in my town (except italian, but that shouldn’t count). ’tis a sad life.
Since you are test tasting Jap in Eastwood, I would highly recommend Sakae. One of my favourites in Eastwood. Love the beef tetaki with their special sauce. http://sakae.com.au/index_eastwood.html
Oh my gosh I’m so thrilled! I couldn’t be more pleased if this was a tip I’d sent in to Good Living and they’d reviewed it!
Sorry your tonkatsu wasn’t fresh – my daughter has had this and it’s always been lovely. I agree with another poster who says that although the noodles aren’t quite as good as Ryo’s, they’re very good and the difference is not worth the drive, at least not with two hungry kids in the backseat.
Glad hubby liked the broth, it’s their broth I crave when the weather gets cold.
I’m seriously absolutely thrilled, I feel almost famous!
Oh and I love their gyoza, so yummy!
Still smiling broadly … and the children have read the review and they’re very happy you enjoyed it too!
Hi grace-Sydney is so multicultural it’s a delight to be able to eat from so many different cuisines. At least you have an Italian place right?
Hi carolyn-Thanks so much for the rec! It looks great, I love how they have photos of all of the dishes too
Hi SydneyGal-Thankyou so much for the recommendation! I love getting recs, especially for areas that I am unfamiliar with
My friend M still talks about our meal here, she loved it! Thankyou again for your recommendation! 
Hey! What a surprise you posted about this place. I just went there yesterday. I go there rather regularly because its close to home, but I much rather prefer the ramen from Ryo’s or even Genki Ramen in Artarmon…! nice post!
Glad to see you enjoyed the food at one of my fave local joint. The eel at Zenya is one of the better ones my husband has had. Their takoyakis are also highly recommended!
I agree with carolyn that Sakae is the other great Japanese joint in Eastwood. We go to Zenya for the eels, Takoyaki and Agedashi Tofu, but Sakae for their sashimi and katsu curry.
Hi Teresa-Oh wow, really? It looks like the place to hang out! Karen said that she was there too
Oh yes I have no excuse not to go to Ryo’s, it’s so close to me! Thankyou 
Hi angevb-Oh yes I dream about the eel! Good to know about the takoyaki, I love that. I must make it to Sakae then
Thanks for giving me the rundown on what’s good at each!
I love the pictures of the animals next to each dish..hehe.
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