Japanese and Korean unite to delight at Missing Spoon in Gordon

Japanese & Korean inspired dishes at Missing Spoon

Geisha girls and Gangnam guys seeking sashimi and Seoul-food can finally connect at the Japanese and Korean influenced Missing Spoon in Gordon. Sydney’s Upper North Shore has been gaining a reputation as a foodie hotspot, and Missing Spoon is the latest star in the line-up.

Café by day, restaurant by night, Missing Spoon was already buzzing early on a Saturday night when we visited. Plenty of greenery, high ceilings and rings of ironwork lanterns make for a distinct but welcoming elegance.

Great for brunch or dinner – café by day, restaurant by night

Lightly-seared scallops on a bed of tomato in Korean soybean sauce are a picture on a plate, scattered with tiny flowers. The delicate flavour is elevated by tiny, aromatic leaves of lemon thyme. Cool and fresh, it’s a lovely contrast to the warm and crisp Tempura Nest: an assortment of tempura resting on very finely grated potato tempura. This is tempura at its best: a delicate crunch around tender slices of potato, sweet potato and pumpkin, as well as a juicy king prawn.

We also try the Gujeolpan, a “wrap platter of nine delicacies”. This is super fun for sharing – and super healthy. The delicacies include finely shredded carrot, zucchini, beetroot, egg and beef, and you mix’n’match and wrap them up in tiny spinach pancakes with a drizzle of zingy Korean mustard dressing.

Missing Spoon’s famous Healthy Bowls are a lunchtime hit

While the menu is diverse in the evening, it’s the Healthy Bowls that take centre stage at lunch, ranging from Volcano Poké (salmon getting a fiery accompaniment of wasabi peas and spicy mayo) to Bulgogi Beef – reportedly Missing Spoon’s top seller. The Healthy Bowls are served in huge and beautiful blue glazed bowls, a nice match for a tall tumbler of mint-leaf infused Blue Lemonade.

Missing Spoon has a wide selection of wines. The sake is a real event: you get to choose your cup from a tray of exquisite tiny cups, all different styles and colours. It’s also the only restaurant in Australia that serves a special plum wine from Fukuoka in Japan: “sour and sweet” and a perfect dessert wine.

A feast of Asian delicacies from bento boxes to gyoza

Talking of dessert, the Hotteok, a Korean street-style doughnut, is an aboslute hit. It looks like a pancake but has the texture of a churro, and it tastes like Greek baklava – oozing with a warm syrup of brown sugar, crushed nuts and cinnamon. Our only regret is ordering one to split – it’s so delicious you won’t want to share a mouthful!

Missing Spoon
8 St John Avenue, Gordon
Opening hours: Brunch 6am – 5pm weekdays, 7am – 5pm weekends. Dinner 5.30pm – 9pm Wednesday to Saturday

About the author

Lisa Creffield is a Sydney-based writer originally from the UK. Years of horrifying English school dinners sparked a desire to find something more delicious. Having also lived for six years in the Middle East, Lisa loves discovering new and exciting places and cuisines, from manti in Kazakhstan to sea urchin in Shanghai.

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