Level 1, 78-86 Harbour Street, Haymarket 2000 NSW
www.wagaya.com.au
www.facebook.com/
WagayaJapaneseRestaurant
'Wagaya is awesome. Touch screen make ordering food cool and it all comes out so quickly.'
N. Nathan@Google Reviews
The Galeries Victoria 500 George St, Sydney, NSW 2000
www.yesfood.com.au/hotaru.html
www.facebook.com/sushihotarutgv
'The new installation of the ipad ordering system makes everything so much easier when it comes to browsing around the menu and also when it comes to splitting bills with your mates.'
D. Vo@urbanspoon
Victoria Plaza Shop 10
369 Victoria Avenue,
Chatswood NSW 2067
www.yesfood.com.au/takeru.html
'I like this place! The touch screens are so much fun. Through them, you can order your dishes, ask for the waiter, check on the status of your dishes, etc.'
Van C.@yelp
Level 1, 76 Ultimo Rd
Haymarket, NSW 2000
'Each table comes with an iPad where you can browse through the menu and place your order. It's so convenient and super easy to use!'
Mel@takemeto foodieheaven
Shop 2, 38-42 Bridge Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
www.yayoi.com.au
www.facebook.com/YAYOIJapaneseTeishoku
RestaurantSydney
'The touch screen allows you to see what you've ordered, how much it is and whether it has finished cooking... I actually like this idea because i find it more efficient, rather than having to wave down the waiter/waitress to get attention.'
Eileen@eilxrrr
125-129 Bathurst Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
www.yesfood.com.au/hotaru.html
www.facebook.com/sushihotarutownhall
'As you use a touch screen, service is quite prompt and friendly.'
Miffy7@urbanspoon
Level 2 Suntower, 591 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
www.lantern-wagaya.com
www.facebook.com/lanternbywagaya
'The popular touch screen ordering method is used and allows for efficiency and a bit of amusement. And lets be honest here, I'm all for it because I get my food quicker!'
Katrina@2hungryguys
339 Sussex Street,
Sydney, NSW 2000
www.yesfood.com.au/hotaru.html
www.facebook.com/yakinikugyuzo
'We were still ordering and our initial selection were arriving at our table in a matter of minutes! Talk about quick and efficient service!!'
MattandChristie@snapshotsoffood
400 Bridge Road,
Richmond, 3121 VIC
www.sakejapan.com.au
www.facebook.com/MaedayaSakeGrill
'Maedaya is my absolute favourite! They have this super cool ipad ordering system which takes away the hassle of trying to flag down a waiter when busy and allows me to just order food, food and more food'
Scott E.@yelp
294 Bridge Road
Richmond 3121 VIC
Modern Japanese Cafe Bar
Shop 118 Mid City Arcade
200 Bourke Street
Melbourne 3000 VIC
www.yesfood.com.au/hotaru.html
'The biggest draw card for Sushi Hotaru thought, is probably the ipad ordering system. See it, press it, eat it. No fuss, and no wonder it has crazy queues.'
Chely M R@yelp
Shop 201 Mid City Arcade
200 Bourke Street
Melbourne 3000 VIC
www.wagaya.com.au
www.facebook.com/
WagayaJapaneseRestaurantMelbourne
'Although some may enjoy being served by a waiter, there are times when eating out when you only want to be left on your own. Wagaya is the perfect place that caters for that kind of service. Of course, if you needed someone, all you need to do is call for service on the ordering screen and someone will be with you shortly. Too easy.'
WMint@wanderingmint
Level 1, TCB centre, 315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
www.wagaya.com.au
www.facebook.com/
IzakayaWAGAYABrisbane
'The touch screen ordering system is really efficient and a lot of fun. It is pretty easy to go crazy and order a sh*tload of dishes, but you can always check on your balance to see how much you have ordered.'
Rhiannon C.@yelp
24 Activity Crescent,
Molendinar QLD 4214
www.ichibajunction.com.au
We have just opened on 30th January.
The most of items from our website (www.ichibajunction.com.au) are in the shop.
There are many attractive ones from Japan.
Please visit us to relax and enjoy shopping with free daily coffee or tea.
35 Rotherham Street,
Kangaroo Point QLD 4169
www.mitoki.com.au
www.facebook.com/
MitokiJapaneseModern
TapasRestaurant
'One of the first things to catch your eye is the handy I-pad placed on every table that acts as your server. All you have to do is scroll through the menu and tap your way straight into the chef's ear.' Rhea R. G.@weekendnotes
Shop 129/400 Newmarket Rd
Newmarket QLD 4051
www.facebook.com/
sushiedo0518
'Very busy, but i've found you dont have to wait long for a table. The ipad system is amazing and the items made to order come pretty quickly.'
Char@urbanspoon
1 Franklin Wharf
Hobart 7000 TAS
www.sush.com.au
www.facebook.com/SushTrain
'Novel food ordering system, very efficient, great service, clean, efficient seating for a small restaurant.'
Bindi B.@tripadvisor
163 Gouger St,
Adelaide 5000 SA
www.sushibar-genki.com
www.facebook.com/SushiBarGenki
'Every plate tried was exceptionally fresh and the service was immediate, friendly and professional. Delightful staff guide us through the iPad ordering system and service is speedy.'
Katrina R@yelp
Shop 25, 522 Port Rd,
Welland 5007 SA
www.sushitrain.com.au
www.facebook.com/SushiTrainAus
'Every visit I've experienced the place has always been quite busy, especially during lunch hour so expect a bit of a line up! Inside you can be seated on a booth where a touchscreen allows you to order off the menu or sit by the belt to take your pick.'
Vivian W@yelp
3/160 King William Rd,
Hyde Park 5061 SA
www.facebook.com/Ichitaro-Dining
Modern Japanese fine dining
THERE'S not a notepad to be seen at Wagaya restaurant in Haymarket. At this epitome of the computer age, reservations are made by SMS and diners use touch-screens to order everything from sashimi to cocktails.
Each table in the large modern-Japanese restaurant has its own screen, recessed into the wall at eye level. With the touch of a finger, diners scroll through menu options divided into categories including entrees and salads, grilled, sushi and sashimi, rice and noodles, and alcoholic drinks.
If something looks appealing, touch it and a more detailed picture and description pop up. Touch the "Order now" tab and the request is sent to the kitchen where a team of chefs starts cooking. Within minutes the dish is at the table, so diners can eat while deciding what else to try.
If it sounds complicated, Wagaya spokeswoman Junko Yajima says even the least tech-savvy patrons have no problems.
"The touch panel is obviously a very new thing to have in a restaurant, so we were worried customers would complain about it being too technological but so far no one has had any problems at all," she says. "They jump in straight away and are clicking like crazy, ordering away. I think because computers and the internet are so popular these days, this sort of technology in restaurants is really just the next step."
Diners seem to think so. The 200-seat restaurant is booked out most nights.
On Good Living's visit people queue up the stairs and those without a booking are turned away. At every table, diners huddle around the screens laughing and fighting over who does the touching. Next to us, a man tells his teenage daughter: "You can do the entrees, your brother can do hot pots, mum can take care of drinks and I'm doing the rest because I'm paying."
Paper menus for Luddites are left untouched at every table.
Our first choice is the home-made gyoza. On the screen they look delectable and they arrive hot and juicy, three minutes after we order. Next is udon soup and tempura, which is over-battered but tasty. Grilled wagyu beef skewers, crispy tonkatsu and scallop and garlic fried rice follow.
The touch screens are efficient, easy to use and fun but the novelty is intoxicating and low prices (dishes are $5 to $12) make it easy to get carried away and order too much food.