Fast Facts

Restaurant Name: Gochu Gang

Address: Shop 38, Eikestad Mall, 43 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch

Contact number: 021 001 8555

Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12pm-9pm, Friday, Saturday 12pm-12am, Sunday 12pm-7pm

The average price of the main meal:R90

Corkage fee: R60 wine, R100 spirits

Parking situation: Street, open lot across the road, inside the mall

Food type: Asian fusion

Best For: Asian street-style food from potstickers to poke bowls, fast and tasty. Grab it on the run, sit down if you want to, or order on Uber Eats and Mr D.

Food

This is Darren Badenhorst, the chef behind Eat Out Retail Capital Best New Restaurant Dusk – also in Stellenbosch – and friend and accomplished restaurateur Steven Comrie’s new spot in the heart of the town. Nocturne (Stellenbosch) and Le coin Français (Franschhoek) currently complete the group. While these celebrate fine dining and exceptional mixology, Gochu Gang leaps to the other end of the spectrum with casual street-style takeaways, with no compromise on minimalist style or flavour and variety. And it’s ridiculously excellent value for money. When last did you see five salmon roses for R55?

On one side of the menu is sushi – maki, California rolls and other classics; specialities like bamboo rolls, rainbow reloaded and prawn avalanche; and combos ranging in size from 10 pieces to 32. Poke bowls round out the cold selection.

 

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On the opposite page is a list of delights that make it difficult to choose: Gochu pops (basically little chicken nuggets, or squid, a crafty little snack that can be eaten while walking), spring rolls, bao buns, yakitori and more… the Gochu Gang Bang, perhaps an unfortunate yet cheeky name, will solve all the problems with a comprehensive selection. It includes eight pieces of well-filled dim sum (chicken, prawn), two veggie spring rolls with crunchy flaky pastry to mess everywhere, two pork (bit overdone) bao buns (pillowy, one white, one black – yin and yang), two skewers of tender beef yakitori which look extremely well done due to the glaze but are in fact pink inside, and a carton of Gochu pops. It’s a lot of food and can easily serve two people with average appetites. If you sit down, everything is served in takeaway containers – still attractively presented – so popping a lid on to take the leftovers home is simple, when you realise you’ve radically over ordered. If the food is not quite saucy enough (which it is), you can order little tubs of Kewpie mayo, extra sushi condiments, gochu glaze, sweet chilli sauce and hoisin smokey BBQ sauce.

 

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There are no desserts but stick your hand into the jar of fortune cookies for a quick hit of wisdom, or grab a bag of White Rabbit sweeties.

Drinks

As Gochu Gang is essentially a takeaway/delivery joint with place to sit down if you want to, the drinks selection is limited to things in bottles and tins – including the wine, being Spier’s Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. The venue is fully licensed so you can knock back a few shooters or bombs if that floats your boat, or a “Red Bulltail”.

Ambience

The venue is bright and light, with neon lighting art standing colourfully out on the black walls. It looks out onto the street through floor-to-ceiling glass so it captures the vibe and essence of its urban setting. Overall, a fun experience, with generous, delicious food that won’t break the bank.

 

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Service

You order your food at the counter, from friendly, smiling staff who are eager to explain the menu. They’ll bring your food and drinks to your table if you’re staying a while, and show genuine interest in what you think of the food.

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.