JIPANG
It’s only ever on the most miserable and gloomy of days where I’ll sit down to a warming bowl of Jipang’s finest udon noodles. I guess there’s also those mediocre days where I’ll take a seat on their little stools, at their yellow tables, in their pigeon-occupied alfresco dining area and take advantage of their ever-changing weekday lunch specials. Oh and then there was also that period of time during the Summer where I ordered their ramen every single day for an entire week. So there is absolutely no surprise that Jipang has held residence of arguably the best Japanese in Manly for over 30 years now. Staff are greeting your every arrival, gyoza’s are sizzling in pans wafting off a delicious ambience and if you’re lucky, a counter seat gets you a glimpse at their renowned broths brewing away. Every visit of mine has been a good visit at Jipang.
MY RECS
Other than their incredibly soft and slightly crispy pork gyoza’s, the broth section of the menu at Jipang has my heart. My early days frequenting their little courtyard were loaded up with miso ramen’s. Layered with chewy noodles, a generous portion of charred pork, bean sprouts and spring onion, all drowning in a thick savoury broth that could warm even the coldest of hearts. Add the spicy sauce not only for a little bit of heat but also a tinge of sweetness. It also comes with corn kernels and a gooey egg, both of which I hold. My efforts to leave the picky eating stratosphere can only go so far.
After I ran myself ragged eating too much ramen I turned to their udon noodles, weeks struggle to pass without me ordering one of these dishes. Thick and starchy, each slurp of their slippery noodles is an out of body experience. Joy shivers through my bones, hairs stand up. Order their teriyaki beef udon for tender slivers of beef sitting atop of a rich and grainy broth complimenting the subtlety of the udon.
Or try their curry udon, noodles bathing in a curry broth that’s slightly sweet yet balanced with an inexplainable savoury flavour. Giant chunks of carrot and potato also gasp for breathe just below it’s glistening brown surface. Order this one with their deep-fried chicken to feel like a king.
Being so local, I have been very lucky to claim title as a return visitor at Jipang, to the point where I have had to wonder ‘am I being judged for ordering pickup from here 5 days in a row?’. They are one of the first restaurants where I have strayed from only ordering one dish, as a picky eater my mentality has always been if it ain’t broke don’t fix it (a terrible analogy for the situation of eating out but I am a work in progress). So come here for an abundance of perfect dishes and a feeling of exceeding satisfaction on every visit.
SOMETHING A LIL EXTRA
MONDAY TO FRIDAY FROM 11:30AM TO 2:30PM:
$3 off their bento boxes OR for any main meal (over $22) you can add one of the following for $2 - soft drink / miso soup / sesame seaweed / 3 gyozas
BYO wine everyday!
OPENING HOURS:
11:30am to 8pm everyday
