Mayumi’s Kitchen is the new Japanese restaurant in the Star Court Arcade on Molesworth Street, and they are opening with specials and smiles. 

Their first day of trading was yesterday, and the lunchtime queue was already long. The aim is to “Provide more healthy food, and though local, it's authentic.”

Many delicious options are beautifully presented, Sushi, Ramen, Udon, Edamame and Miso, to name just a few. They are currently offering their lunch menu til late for June while they are setting everything up and training staff. 

In July, they will start their dinner menu, which will include specialty meals which are being kept secret for now.

Mayumi wants the restaurant to be true to the Japanese style.

“I want people to have an authentic meal, not look like Japanese but taste is not right.”  

All the food offered is favoured Japanese food, popular for being tasty and healthy. Mayumi’s cheffing experience has shown her that “people love food that is more easy to digest. Quick and tasty, but most important - healthy. It’s good.”

There are four staff from Japan at Mayumi's Kitchen, who have that characteristic Japanese friendliness. Some are still honing their English skills which gives the real stamp of international experience.  

(Nao, Mayumi and Masa at Mayumi’s Kitchen)

Food is a passion of Mayumi’s, and sharing her knowledge has been a great way to connect with people. Mayumi reflects on her son going to school and being given simple sandwiches and party pies for lunch, so I started feeling he needed to eat lunch correctly. 

“So I approached the school canteen to provide an alternative to the kids. And they say “yes”, but 20 years ago, no one knows or has tasted Japanese food around the area. 

The order was only one - from my son.” Mayumi laughs, “After that, I tried to educate people how to eat a healthy way.”

Mayumi’s flavours have been enhancing Lismore palates for 25 years. This restaurant is new, but she has been serving meals here for most of her time in Lismore. She has a catering business as well and moved the restaurant in the Star Court Arcade after a generic sushi take-away was set up right next door to her food counter at the Lismore Square.

Being a chef, a lot of work goes into the food produced, and Mayumi told me, “We got awarded best Asian restaurant in regional New South Wales.” The flavours they produce, speak for themselves.

Although Mayumi, in her mid 60’s, is ready to retire, she is very hands-on in the kitchen. If you are lucky, you can see her relishing her work in the thick of preparing food and helping customers.

Mayumi’s Kitchen is open from 10am til 8pm, Monday through to Saturday. Look out for the queues to the left as you enter the Star Court Arcade from Molesworth Street.