Dining review: Mira Japanese restaurant in Manly

Manly restaurant Mira has built up a local following with its Japanese menu and a few contemporary twists.

Mira’s sizzling salmon (front), salmon and salmon and Manly Tower.

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Mira is one of those little haunts that’s almost hidden in plain sight.

It’s right on East Esplanade in one of those gorgeous terrace buildings, but The Corso-blinkered masses who disembark from the ferry go in one direction — down towards the beach.

And that makes it a locals’ only restaurant, owner chef Jay Jung says.

On a cold wet Friday night, the restaurant goes from completely empty to buzzy and full in 30 minutes.

It’s so busy there’s even a group clad in high-vis jackets who are happy to brave the elements and sit outside on the front terrace.

Sizzling salmon on rice.

We’re one of the lucky ones and our early arrival bags one of the few empty tables. Note to self, book a table next time.

Mira has Korean owners. It is named after Mira Choi, and the couple opened the restaurant five years ago.

As well as traditional Japanese favourites, Mira has moved into trendy fusion food such as pretty blow-torched sushi rolls, bento boxes and an introduction to Korean dishes. An overhaul of the menu is coming, but locals’ favourites will stay.

The restaurant is known for its salmon — and if you love this oily fish, there’s plenty of choice.

One favourite is salmon and salmon, which isn’t a late Sunday night cabaret act but a ceramic plate of fresh, raw salmon served with nine pieces of sashimi, five sushi and salmon fashioned into flowers and filled with the house pumpkin puree.

Salmon and salmon at Mira.

Jung has also been busy with the blow torch and created a main course special. Sizzling salmon sits on a mound of crispy rice.

It’s finished with seaweed, radish, mayo and teriyaki sauce. The presentation in a deep, black pottery bowl makes it a pretty dish, too.

The Manly tower is a another of chef Jung’s contemporary fusion food. This time he stacks up fresh fish with avocado, cooked sushi rice, crabmeat mayo salad, cucumber, fish roe and strips of dried seaweed.

Pork house goyozas, crunchy seaweed salad and 12 pieces of sashimi is a light and simple way to start the weekend.

Jay Jung owner and chef at Mira.

Add the softshell crab roll with its special mustard sauce and a lip-smarting marinated pork yakiniku with homemade chilli sauce and dinner ends with texture and plenty of flavour.

There’s more on Tuesday nights when you can get a Bento box with sake for $25. Salad lovers can also pop round to Whistler St where the restaurant has a hole in the wall takeaway Asian salad bar.

MIRA

47 East Esplanade, Manly

Bookings: 9976 6746

Open: Seven days, dinner from 5.30-10.30pm; lunch, Fri-Sun, noon-3.30pm

Go for: sizzling salmon with salad, $21; Manly tower with fresh fish, crabmeat mayo salad and dried seaweed $20; wakame salad, $7.50

BYO: Yes, wine only, corkage $3.50 a person

Bottom line: $79 for two

Or try this: Sushi Izakaya Waka, Manly