Off the usual track of Chinese and Japanese restaurants in the CBD is Izakaya Chuji.

By no means slick, the interior is prosaic, yet the atmosphere is lively and inviting. Rather than a dowdy spinster, Chuji is like the eccentric aunty, playing the latest Japanese pop music and always happy to see you.

Take a seat at a table or file round the sushi counter at the end of the restaurant. Upstairs they serve Yaki Niku or traditional Japanese BBQ. The menu reflects the relaxed nature of Izakaya-style eating, where it’s customary to order many small dishes and share them amongst friends.

The izakaya menu is always a great place to start your meal. Simple, well-priced dishes such as scalloped salmon cooked in sake or takoyaki (octopus balls) are perfectly matched with a Sapporo on tap or hot sake. Take a peep at the daily specials menu as there are always new and interesting dishes appearing. A personal favourite is salmon head cooked with a little salt and grilled. Chuji also offers a lunch menu with a variety of bento boxes.

What Izakaya Chuji lacks in sophistication it makes up for in ample measure with charm and honest dishes. And next door is a shochu and sake bar by the same people, Nihonshu.