We headed to Hana Hana opposite Market City for lunch. In Japan, some restaurants have vending machines out front where you push a button for the food you want, insert coins to pay, and the machine spouts you a ticket that you show to the chef behind the counter who makes the food for you on the spot. Hana Hana comes close to those restaurants – you choose your food at a touch screen at the front, then go to the counter at the back to pay and receive your food. After you’re done eating, you place your tray with your empty dishes etc. on a shelf, just as you do in some restaurants in Japan. It’s fast food, but Japanese style.
I had a half serving of udon in soup and a side of sashimi and salad. The udon was delicious with just enough chewiness – often you get udon that’s overcooked, so it just melts in your mouth (gross).
They didn’t have the sashimi ready when we ordered, but they quickly made it for me on the spot. But I wouldn’t expect any less – the people who run the place are Japanese, and the Japanese are efficient almost to a fault.
Hana Hana is located at Shop 5, 209 Thomas Street, Haymarket NSW 2000.