Four Cinq, situated at the wharf end of Lake St, is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a truly authentic and delicious Japanese dining experience in Cairns. Owned and operated by Kyoto-born chef Yoshikawa Junya, the restaurant is renowned for its wide range of delicious ramen noodle dishes and unique ‘kasakei’ family-style dining.
Chef Yoshi does a masterful version of the classic ramen styles, including: Tonkotsu – a creamy, pork-based broth that is made by boiling pork bones for several hours to extract the flavour and collagen; Shoyu – a soy sauce-based broth that is dark in colour and has a salty, savoury flavour; and Miso – a broth made from fermented soybean paste, which imparts a rich, umami flavour.
These rich broths are the backbone of the kitchen at Four Cinq and they produce huge pot fulls of them every day.
“It is actually stewed over a very strong heat and boils continuously until it gets thicker. I make about seventy litres of broth every day,” says Yoshi.
While his classic ramen dishes are justifiably popular, those seeking new horizons in their ramen journey should try Yoshi’s lime ramen, featuring a zesty and pungent broth with slices of lime, mizuna, shallots and ginger topped with crispy karaage chicken. His vegan ramen option is also a must-try with its unique white pepper and soy milk broth making it the perfect lunchtime pick-me-up. There are also several ramen options which are served cold – a refreshing change that makes them the perfect dishes for our balmy Far North Queensland weather.
For an even more authentic dining experience, head to dinner at Four Cinq to experience Chef Yoshi’s specialty – ‘kasakei’ style dining. This unique style of Japanese food service combines the traditional elements of Japanese cuisine with contemporary presentation and flair. The name ‘kasakei’ comes from the Japanese word for ‘pouring’ and refers to the way in which dishes are prepared and served to diners. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal ingredients and the food is typically prepared in a minimalist style to showcase the natural flavours and textures of the ingredients. One of the unique aspects of kasakei dining is the emphasis on sake, Japanese rice wine. Sake is traditionally paired with each dish to enhance the flavours and bring out the subtleties in the food.
Yoshi learned the trade from his father, and it seems that culinary talent is deeply embedded in his family’s genes.
“My father specialises in family-style Japanese cuisine mixed with Chinese-style cooking,” Yoshi says. “My eldest son is a Japanese chef; actually, all of my relatives are chefs! I have never been to cooking school, but I learnt a lot from my father.”
With its small number of staff — just three chefs and three wait staff – Four Cinq has a very welcoming family feel and Yoshi wants his customers to take their time and feel at home when they come to dine.
“Our dinner menu is more extensive and more complicated. They’re dishes for drinking with sake or beer, so people can take their time and enjoy it,” says Yoshi.
“The Wagyu beef is very popular, my customers love Wagyu. One of the other really popular dishes in the restaurant is the pan-fried ox tongue. I get the ox tongue from Byrnes Meats, who've been in business in Cairns for nearly thirty years,” he adds.
The majority of the restaurant's customers are locals, and Yoshi focuses more on serving this local clientele rather than trying to court tourists.
“Ninety percent of my customers are local, so I still try to build them up more and more, they are my focus more than tourists. I think that is getting better year by year,” he says.
The restaurant has recently faced challenges with the cost of tuna, which has gone up dramatically.
“I find myself using more Atlantic salmon and preparing it in different ways – not only served raw – sometimes cooked or braised or marinated. This way people won't get bored, there's always something new, so it makes it more fun,” he says.
Four Cinq by Yoshikawa offers one of most authentic Japanese dining experiences in Cairns and its welcoming family atmosphere will make you feel right at home and have you coming back again and again to sample Chef Yoshi’s extensive menu. Just make sure you bring your sense of culinary adventure with you and try some of Yoshi’s unique creations, you won’t be disappointed.
