Ramen Ikkyu (Chinatown)

Hidden away in the corner of Sussex Centre food court is a superb ramen takeaway. There are some rice dishes, however the ramen is definitely the specialty. There are 16 different ramen dishes, whether you prefer thick, rich broth, lighter broth, spicy or mild, they have got you covered.

For those feeling a bit hungry, get the pork rib ramen. The ribs are literally too large to fit into the bowl are are juicy and flavoursome. If somehow you are still not full you can even get free Kaedama (noodle refill). The Chef Special is also very good - comes in black garlic oil and chilli oil, otherwise if you prefer are lighter broth go with the Tokyo ramen.

Recommendation:

• Good place for lunch, but the food court can get busy, so get there early to grab a seat.
• Those feeling hungry should try the Pork Rib ramen, those less hungry should convince a friend to get the Pork Rib ramen then grab a piece from them.
• Don't forget the free Kaedama (noodle refill).

Mary's (CBD)

On the 28th of November, there was a disturbance in the Force...the Star Wars trailer had come out amidst much anticipation while Mary's also opened amidst similar but more locally contained anticipation.  Thankfully, the public response to Mary's has been far more positive.

Mary's is famous for their fried chicken and burgers at the Newton restaurant. In this CBD takeaway, the menu is simple - you have the selection from 5 burgers, which is fantastic for those who struggle to make a decision.

 

Burgers are $10-$12, while a meal deal with Fries and Soda/Thick Shake will set you back $15-$19. Whilst by no means cheap, this won't break the bank either.

You can add an extra patty and/or bacon to the burger. The options for the thick shake on the day were chocolate and passionfruit. Luckily for me, the day I went was the first day the thick shake machine worked!

Chicken Burger with Chocolate Thick Shake

I went with the Chicken Burger meal with Chocolate thick shake. One thing about Mary's is that it is substance over style, it will never win a fashion contest but then again all burgers are beautiful...

I really enjoyed the burger - the chicken was juicy the whole way through, the bun was soft but not flaky, and rounded off by the traditional tomato, lettuce, onion and cheese. The Mary's sauce brought it home. The fries (reminded me of Macca's fries) and thick shake were good complements but the burger was the attraction.

Mary's Burger

I will be back to try their other burgers for sure (such as the Mary's Burger pictured above)!

Recommendation:

• Definitely worth trying, try to get there early/late as the queue and serving time can get up to 30 minutes, otherwise wait till the hype dies down. Don't forget there is tomato sauce on the side counter.
• Not recommended for those with a strict diet -  a logo (which has now been taken down) had the motto "Get Fat".