Lazy Su

All I can say is "wow". Lazy Su is an absolutely incredible restaurant that is designed to share. It ranges from meals such as "Bao-gers" to "Japanese Roast Chicken" and has everything in between. As soon as I entered Lazy Su I saw the absolutely incredible design choices. It is mainly white and black, with white walls and black designs on the walls. They also use wood for chairs and other small design aspects which adds a great contrast and modern feel to the restaurant. And finally for my favourite design aspect, the red accent. Lazy Su uses a small amount of red that makes things pop. On the left wall (walking in) there is an epic neon light that is bright red and has Japanese text. It draws your attention and makes you immediately immersed in the atmosphere of Lazy Su. I was just about to leave Lazy Su when I noticed a disco ball on the roof. I don't know why it was there, but it certainly belonged there. The bar at Lazy Su looks stunning. It has about 20 rectangular lights that all have Japanese or English writing on them. The writing has all different types of alcohol, such as Bourbon, Rum and Biru. On top of these lights are dozens of drinks, which I imagine is what corresponds to whatever the light says (e.g. whiskey on top of the whiskey light).

 

Lazy Su is a Japanese restaurant that is designed to share which makes it unique to lots of restaurants out there. They have their savoury menu split into five sections: Raw Bar, Small & Snacks, Bao-Gers, Bigger Stuff and Sides. 

 

The "Raw Bar" has stuff that is, as the name says, raw. This includes such meals as "Kingfish Crudo", "Su-shimi Platter" and " Potato Nori Tacos". All of these meals have some sort of raw fish (except for the "Potato Nori Tacos" which is vegan), whether it's the raw kingfish in the "Kingfish Crudo" or the array of raw fish in the "Su-shimi Platter". It is designed primarily for those who love some good old raw fish, which is (in my opinion) some of the best things that can go into your mouth. 

 

The "Small & Snacks" section of the menu has everything that is only 1-2 bites big. It is designed for multiple people. You could get "Wagyu Cheesesteak Springrolls" to share with your entire group, or maybe even a dozen "Jalapeno Poppers". I feel like they have made these snacks so good that you have to FIGHT over the last one. They are made small so that it makes them quick and easy to eat. Quick, easy and full of flavour. 

 

Next up is the "Bao-Gers", not bao buns, not burgers, but "Bao-Gers". Sadly I didn't get to have one of these but I certainly would have if I wasn't full from the tasting menu. The "Bao-Gers" includes three options: "Fried Chicken Bao", "Pork Belly Bao" and "Crumbed Tofu Bao". In my opinion, these are the best options possible. First of all, who doesn't love some fried chicken, especially from a Japanese restaurant. Fried chicken is by far one of the best forms of chicken possible (if done well that is). Lazy Su added this option because they knew that almost everybody would enjoy it. Secondly, we have pork belly. Pork is perhaps the most popular filling for bao buns. Every single restaurant that I've been to that serves bao buns has a pork belly, crispy pork, or pulled pork option for the bao buns. This makes it an obvious choice for their "Bao-Gers". Finally, we have crumbed tofu. A unique choice for a "Bao-Ger" but I am positive that it would be absolutely delicious. The use of tofu gives a friendly option for anyone who is vegetarian or vegan. 

 

Time for the "Bigger Stuff". The "Bigger Stuff" section on the menu is things that can be shared and eaten alone as well. There are two types of items on this menu, simple and complex. Some simple dishes include "Grandma's Tofu" and "Japanese Roast Chicken". These dishes are better to share than to have solo. When I say simple I don't mean basic, I mean something that doesn't have too many ingredients but still tastes amazing. When I went to Lazy Su, among the five other things that I ate, I had the "Japanese Roast Chicken". This is an absolutely perfect dish to have if you want other things as well. You might get it with a group and you all just have a little piece here and there, or maybe you might like it so much (which I did) that you just want to have all of it. But I think it is better to share than to have it by yourself. Then there are the more complex dishes. These include such dishes as "Beef Short-Rib Bibimbap" and "Char Siu Pork Ssam". These are the dishes that could totally work if you have the by yourself. They have multiple elements and will always taste different with each bite. Both of these along with the "Five Spice Duck Pancakes" require you to build your own. This is a perfect idea for the "Bigger Stuff" as it makes the eater think about exactly how much of each item you would want, instead of having to pick stuff out of your food.  In this context, "build your own" means that you choose the ingredients that you would prefer and you make your perfect bite. It kind of acts like a Lazy Susan on a plate. Now that I think of it, that must be how Lazy Su got their name.

 

There has to be a side dish in every meal. A dish that doesn't overpower all the others but still has a lot of its own flavour. Lazy Su does this perfectly with their two different rice and vegetable side dishes. Fried rice can go well with just about any Asian dish. Not an entire meal by itself but it can enhance the flavours and overall experience of the dish. Vegetables can be hated at times, but that's because most people don't make them correctly. Lazy Su makes simple vegetables into an absolute wonder to eat, like in their "Charred Chinese Broccoli" and "Miso Butter Carrots". The use of side dishes can make your meal significantly better and Lazy Su is very smart by adding these. 

 

I've talked a lot about the menu, so let me talk about my personal experience at Lazy Su. It was just perfect. From the food, to the staff, to the decor. I couldn't fault it. It was a beautiful restaurant that makes you feel like you're in a different world. A world of food and utter beauty. The tasting menu flows excellently. It has the smaller dishes first, then it moves on to the larger dishes and finally finishes with a small but incredible side dish. 

 

Lazy Su is all about sharing. From small dishes to large dishes, everything at Lazy Su can be shared. Whether you want a little snack or an entire meal, Lazy Su is perfect for you. The scenery is perfect, the staff are perfect and best of all, the food is perfect. So go on, give Lazy Su a try, I promise you won't be disappointed. 

 

Thank you for reading.