An authentic izakaya has arrived on King Street
In Japanese the word izakaya (居酒屋) translates into "stay-drink-place," a spot to grab a drink, and settle in, and now we can experience this unique dining experience at Susuru.
Formerly known as Newcastle’s home of ramen and gyoza, Susuru closed the doors to its bright yellow interiors, undergoing a swift, and significant renovation to relaunch a brand-new look on Friday, March 7.
Entering through those familiar King Street double doors, the transformation is significant, with the brightly-lit former self barely recognisable. Susuru 2.0 is all grown up, with the darker tones, exposed timber frames, and paneling together with the Japanese interior edits, very much setting the Izakaya mood.
Like tapas bars are to the Spanish, izakayas are a traditional Japanese bar, or the Aussie version of a cosy pub.
It’s where the drinks flow freely, the small plates of delicious food keep coming, it’s a place to unwind the night away, and that’s exactly what the team at Susuru have created.
The brand-new look also brings with it a fresh new menu, as co-owner Taiyo Namba explains,
“We first launched Susuru in 2017, and the concept was to focus solely on ramen. During this time we’ve had plenty of feedback about the menu from guests, and requests to expand it. We listened, and that’s how the izakaya idea came about."
“After seven years, we also felt the brand needed a refresh. We wanted to transition the Susuru dining experience from what was quite casual, to something more grown up with an emphasis on sharing plates. We also have a more extensive alcohol menu to choose from. You can now choose between wine, beers, saki and soju, which is South Korea's favourite party drink."
Taiyo also went on to explain what brought about the significant interior update.
“We’ve gone with a very different look. We’ve moved away from the bright yellow colour, to a darker, more grungier feel, which better reflects an izakaya experience. We felt it was time Susuru grew up.
“We want people to be able to dine in and relax, have a drink, and enjoy a mix of dishes from the menu.
"You’ll still be able to order ramen and gyoza, but we have extended the menu to feature a range of seafood dishes like salmon sashimi and carpaccio, and popcorn prawn to name a few. The menu includes sushi, bao, donburi, a big mix of entrees, and bento boxes during the day.“
The seated-style dining space easily caters for all types of social groups, whether you’re flying solo, or you’re in a big group. The relaunch of Susuru is an exciting new era for the brand, and we recommend you book a revisit.
Photography credit: Newy Digital
