Located on Field Street, away from the busy Gouger Street cafe precinct, is Wasai. The quiet side street is slowly being transformed as a wave of new eateries open nearby. The venue has an open plan design and is considerably spacious. Decked out with timber floorboards and glossy dark wooden tables, this place has a very casual feel about it. The menu is fairly extensive and offers all your Japanese favourites.

Some of the group start off by sampling some of their Sake which has varying levels of sweetness and dryness. I’ve tried it before and it’s not to my liking.

Edamame Beans are baby soybeans that are boiled or steamed and then served with salt. The beans were fresh and full of natural flavour.

The Deluxe Sushi and Sashimi Boat is one of my classic favourites. The oysters, scallops, salmon, king fish and tuna were fresh and tasted like they were fresh out of the ocean. The selection of nigiri sushi and sushi rolls were also very good. The sushi rice in each of them was soft and moist with perfect rice vinegar content.

The Agedashi Tofu had a nice crispy outer shell which comes in the form of fried potato starch. The tofu centre is soft and delicate, and cleverly absorbs the delicious soy based broth. Hints of mirin, dashi and soy sauce are detected which gives this dish plenty of depth.

The Karaage was probably the best I’ve ever had. Encased in a light crispy batter was chicken that was so tender and succulent. The sweet vinegar sauce provided, added balance, but was not necessarily required.

The Age Gyoza consisted of minced pork and vegetables encased in a thick pastry skin. The filling was soft and moist, and full of flavour. The dumpling skin was crispy and firm, but not too crunchy.

The Soba Salad was so light and refreshing. The buckwheat noodles were nice and firm, and the salad was fresh and crisp. The soy based dressing was simply amazing and it really helped combine all the ingredients together. I’d have this dish again and again.

The Tempura consisted of prawns, fish and vegetables in a lightly crispy batter. The prawns and fish were perfectly cooked and the dish wasn’t too oily.

Tori Mayonnaise is grilled chicken topped with a spicy garlic chive mayonnaise and teriyaki sauce. The chicken was tender and succulent, and grilled to perfection. The combination of spicy garlic and teriyaki sauce results in complex flavours which are both interesting and enjoyable.

Ishiyaki Una Don is essentially grilled eel on rice which is topped off with spinach, spring onion and sesame. The eel is glazed with a soy based sauce and then caramelised over the grill. The eel has a firm exterior with a soft delicate centre, and works well with the perfectly cooked rice.

The Seafood Miso Hot Pot is a noodle soup filled with prawns, fish, tofu and vegetables. The fusion of the seafood components into the miso soup provides plenty of depth. Certainly a perfect dish for a cold winter night.

The staff were friendly and inviting, and the service was fast and efficient. Food started arriving not long after we ordered, drinks were constantly refilled and plates were cleared as we finished. The atmosphere was vibrant, mainly due to the popularity of this place. Every table in this place was full and their turnover of customers was consistent. Between the 6 of us, the food cost $25 per head, which is quite remarkable considering the high quality of the dishes.

Verdict: Oustanding Japanese food at an affordable price.

WHERE: 9/15 Field St, Adelaide