Pasta Wafu, Darling Square - Sydney

I’ve had some of the best Italian food in Japan. I always hit up pizza and pasta shops whenever I visit Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. It’s all thanks to my homie Kerby Craig’s influence. The Japanese take (or known as Wafu) on pasta is especially interesting.

Speaking about Kerby, he recently teamed up with renowned chef Hamish Ingham and restaurateur Rebecca Lines to open Pasta Wafu. This eatery is located in the centre of the newly developed The Exchange in Darling Square. The focus of their joint venture is Japanese style pastas. Expect dishes like the classic mentaiko pasta and more with their very own fresh housemade pastas. So what sets Pasta Wafu from most Italian pasta you may ask? It’s the fusion of familiar Italian pasta making and cooking methods with Japanese ingredients and flavours to bring out and maximise umami in every dish.

The classic Mentaiko pasta ($14) is available on menu. It consists of Pasta Wafu’s housemade spaghetti with mentaiko (pollock roe) butter sauce and nori. This is a staple in all Japanese pasta shops. The simplicity of the creamy sauce with explosions of umami from the nori flakes and mentaiko with some subtle sweet notes is what appeals to me with this style of pasta.

The miso fettucine ($14) has housemade fettuccine, miso bolognese, shiso and nori. Whilst the miso bolognese had lots of umami and nori, the shiso added some complexity to the dish. I would have liked more miso bolognese sauce as it was a tad on the dry side. But I’m taking into consideration the fact that I was the first customer on their soft opening and some teething issues is always expected (from any new eateries/restaurants). Nevertheless, flavours were solid.

My absolute favourite was their kinoko spaghetti ($14). Spaghetti with mushrooms, shio koji (malted rice with salt & water) and shoyu butter. There was definitely no shortage of umami in this dish. The shio koji brought out umami from the mushroom and gave the dish complexity. The shoyu butter added depth to the flavour. I added bacon for $4 and onsen egg for $4.

Tiramisu ice cream mochi

Classic Japanese sides are also available like crispy renkon ($5) and karaage chicken ($11).

They also got you covered with a great line of beverages. The Shokuhin umeshu ($14) is a must try especially if you like sweet fruity notes in your alcohol.

I miss Japan and the dishes just took me back to my lovely winter holiday visits to the land of the rising sun. Congrats Kerby, Hamish and Rebecca on your joint venture together! 

Pasta Wafu

The Exchange Darling Square

35 Tumbalong Boulevard 

Sydney NSW 2000 

Hours:

7 days 11:30am to 9pm