Tokyo Tina

It is not traditional Japanese restaurant, the ramen actually looks like instant noodle. Taste not good

I was excited to try this place as I make my way through the ‘sister shops’ but I should have known that my earlier experience at Hanoi Hannah would ring true here. In short, good but not great. I had the classic ramen and there was nothing classic about it frankly. Pork was shredded and the soup base was closer to the amount and consistency of a dipping sauce, very small and thick. My mate had the chicken ramen with what seemed like lettuce, an odd choice. She did report it was good but also needed more soup broth. The small for $ 9 is not enough for a standalone meal, so go with the large. We had an app which was also good, not great, ceviche salmon. Being such a ramen fan, you can go elsewhere for a better bowl. Perhaps other choices on the menu would get it to the full 5 stars.

Great little spot with a great ambiance. Getting served in the hustle and bustle can be a little frustrating. Great food — bao sensational!

Having tried (and loved) Hanoi Hannah and Saigon Sally, I really had to complete the set and try their little sister — Tokyo Tina. This new arrival (only two months old) is at the increasingly trendy Windsor end of Chapel Street. While Sally is the most upmarket of the three, and Hannah concentrates on cheaper, street food offerings, Tina fits nicely in between.
I started with scallop ceviche; chopped scallop served on the shell with white ponzu and yuzu kosho. The latter is a type of Japanese lemon which forms the basis for the vinegar-​like sauce the dish is served with. Really tasty and the finely diced chives on top complemented the flavours very nicely.
Next I ordered the pork and kimchi gyoza served with sliced and sautéed spring onion, which my friendly and attentive waiter assured me were the best this side of Tokyo. They were, in fact, very good even though I couldn’t taste the kimchi.
The waiter had been doing a great job on the recommendations so far so I took his advice on the next two plates as well; kingfish served with wasabi, apple served in a charcoal cone, and the do-​it-​yourself Bao with beef bulgogi and pickles.
The kingfish was good — reminiscent of the scallop ceviche. The Bao was also very good. The beef was served on the bone and cooked to the point of disintegration. It came with a couple of soft buns and a bowl of pickles. Very tasty, and more than enough to squash my appetite.
Tokyo Tina is a great addition to this little Vietnamese fusion family. They only take bookings for parties of more than six, and booking is a good idea. I arrived just after 6pm and managed to get a seat for one at the bar, but by the time I left the place was full. And for good reason.

Very hip new place. Great hip hop tracks being played while you eat. Good selection of alcohol and very interesting Asian fusion Japanese dishes.
Food came out very quickly and service was good. We got the tonkatsu croquettes, gyoza and crab Cali rolls.
For main we got beef tataki don and Classic soba with pork belly.

Tokyo Tina is very much in line with its sister restaurants, Hannoi Hannah & Saigon Sally.
It’s loud, busy and bustling.
Food is good not great in my opinion. There were now ‘wows’ from our table — which we had to wait about 40 minutes for.
We waited (standed) at the bar area and had a few martini’s, scallop sashimi & an open California roll.
Admittedly we opted to wait for a table. We could of ate at the bar.
At the table we had dips (eggplant miso, turnip wasabi, beetroot inevitability) served with an unusual side of chips to use to dip. Poached chicken salad and Duck Tataki which was nice.
Look, I guess it comes down to what you’re after in a dining venue. We would have liked to have at least been able to hear eachother when we spoke. We were pretty much yelling at eachother!
We weren’t blown away and probably will not go back in a hurry.
I would say it would be a good place to enjoy a few cocktails and nibbles before heading out for a night on the town.