Tasuke

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

I was taken to this restaurant by my friend who eats here quite frequently. This was my first ever taste of Japanese food and I was actually a bit scared because I didn't know what to expect.

But Oh My God it was amazing! I had my first taste of hot sake (quite nice!) and then dug into squid balls, japanese pancake, pork buns, gozme (spelling?), pork cutlet with egg on a bed of onions and rice. Just magnificent tasting food. Will definitely go back there again! I cannot believe I have been missing out on japanese food all this time!

May 18, 2011 

4.8 Average

Food  3      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  2     

Tried the place out the other day. Very disappointing. Ramen noodles were cold, and the pork cutlet was soggy. The prices were ridiculously expensive too. I certainly won't go back. If you want an authentic and satisfying Japanese experience, look elsewhere.

Nov 20, 2010 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Tasuke did not disappoint, again. The produce is so fresh and well prepared. The mix of languages in the kitchen is entertaining and the presence of Japanese, chef, is reassuring in Canberra. Tasuke must be the last "real" Japanese restaurant. The Fried Tofu, agedashi tofu, was silky and the soup divine, I wanted extra. The tonkatsu, pork cutlet, with Japanese breadcrumbs was really crispy and tender.

The chef's selection sushi plate was great value with a little bit of everything, although the waitress did say that it differs every time he makes it, depending on what is good that day. We splashed out and had lobster tail with ginger and shallot to finish. Thank goodness the waitress brought out a knife and fork to extract every last morsel of meat, irresistible.

Service was very informative and strong in Japanese language and native in English. Very helpful for suggestions and when we order too much!

Oct 27, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

I had Jaja-men noodle. It was nicely spicy and had fried Takoyaki. Takoyaki was a bit too tough, but service was great and friendly atmosphere. I'll go there again.

May 15, 2010 

3.3 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  3     

I eventually tried food in Tasuke following reading the positive comments here. The result is, as shown in the score I give them. We ordered one noodle dish with pork cut let and one chicken cut let with egg and rice, one tempura. I have to say, they are all disgusting. This is the worst "japanese food", if it is, experiences I have ever had.

The pork was old and not fresh, the tempura was bunch of carrots julienne dipped in flour with weird sauce on it. The tempura was particular disgusting that we felt sick after the lunch for the rest of the day. I will discourage any one to try their luck with this little diner next to the bus interchange.

Furthermore, if you are after lunch, Tasuke don't even offer a better value than others, which is just 20 metres away, where it has the true japanese food. Even disrespect the Japanese feature, I would still not recommend Tasuke as a noodle/fast food place.

May 04, 2010 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

Tasuke was recommended by a friend to be a 'quaint and cute' Japanese restaurant like the cafe's in Japan with hand drawn specials on the wall. And it was. We went on a weeknight and had a great meal which included some specials and some from the regular menu. Pork buns, noodles, shiitake and seaweed in sweet soy, teriyaki chicken, chicken curry and stir fried vegetables. Some were entree's which arrived in good time, some were main and all mains arrived roughly together. They weren't far enough apart to cause issues.

The wait staff was particularly helpful as one of our party had some allergies and they went to ask specifically what ingredients had been used in various dishes. Eventually two of the mains were spliced together for her and this wasn't a problem. I really enjoyed Tasuke and would go back again as the food was cheap, plentiful and tasty!

Mar 22, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  5     

Amazing sushi (equal best in Canberra) with great variety but too expensive.
Sushi is ridiculously expensive and costs more than it does in a high class sushi bar in Sydney. If only they dropped their prices.

Aug 18, 2009 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

Tasuke is now a Raamen-ya (noodle bar) and they do a fantastic job. The noodles are authentic and the waitress mentioned how they cook the soup for hours, the traditional way. They still have the old favourites like tofu and teriyaki but not sushi and sashimi. They apparently occasionally have sashimi on the hand drawn specials but the focus is on quality noodles and rice for cheap now.

Jul 01, 2009 

5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

This used to be one of my regular Japanese haunts in Canberra but after the latest experience I don't think we'll be going back. The food is still okay (cheap homestyle cooking) but the service was truly terrible.

Not sure what we did to earn the waitress' cold shoulder but we had to watch in hunger as other tables (who arrived after us) have their orders taken and arrive before us. The kitchen also seemed intent on cooking all the food for one table before moving on to the next.

As a result we ended up waiting 45 minutes for one entree and two mains, which came all at once. The quality of the sushi was also very ordinary, some of the fish looked dried out and the small sushi rolls obviously had been pre-made at least a day before. The avocado was a grey colour and the rice dried out. I refused to eat any of it and concentrated on the salmon and tuna which was fresher.

Service without a smile, dried sushi plus long wait meant zero tip and this unflattering review. Sorry.

Mar 11, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  6     

After many attempts, we finally got into this little oasis (its always so busy). We loved the fried tofu and cold soba noodles, and our kids loved the chicken teriyaki and rice. It is a little bit pricey but our tastebuds were very satisfied!

Feb 12, 2009