The 10 Very best Japanese Places to eat in Melbourne

Outside the house of the continent by itself, is there any country with a much better grasp on Asia’s culinary range than Australia? There’s a good deal of proof that the finest Asian food outside of Asia can be discovered down underneath. Probably which is most evident when searching at the most effective Japanese places to eat in Melbourne.

Australia’s second premier metropolis is frequently locked in competitors with Sydney for a declare to the country’s greatest Japanese foods. And dependent who you question, the struggle is so unbelievably just one-sided it would be laughable to counsel that the harbour metropolis deserves anything a lot more than a participation medal. The jury is out on that 1 – Sydney has some ridiculously excellent Japanese spots – but Melburnians are unquestionably spoiled for decision. 

The adhering to are the 10 very best Japanese eating places Melbourne has to provide, from substantial-conclusion, specific-situation dining, to experimental sketches of common strategies showcasing just how adaptive they can be.



Minamishima

The highly-prized king of Melbourne’s wealthy Japanese scene has not dropped a step immediately after all these many years. Minamishima, which opened to relative obscurity on a Richmond backstreet in 2014, is now deemed Australia’s finest sushi-ya and is ideal recognized for a 15-course omakase that’s typically booked out months in progress.

Eponymous operator and Sushi Learn Koichi Minamishima, who deftly climbed Japan’s famously hierarchical culinary scene just before bringing his knowhow to Melbourne, is generally found standing calmly at the rear of a shiny wood counter, casually hunting up to the 12 diners that encircle him whilst he slices, styles, torches and brushes sensitive items of nigiri. 

The wider dining region pulls on flavours from other corners of Japanese cuisine, most effective professional by way of the personal dining degustations lavishly designed by 3rd-era sushi chef Yoshiki Tano who, like Minamishima adopts Japan’s ‘shokunin’ philosophy of complete, uncompromising mastery. 

Menus improve on a regular basis, but standard flavours you can expect vary from Hokkaido king crab and sake-steamed scallops, to butter-smooth flounder fin and, for the brave, meticulously well prepared fugu (puffer fish).

Tackle: 4 Lord St, Richmond 
Make contact with: (03) 9429 5180

Kisumé

From the exact hospitality team behind everyday dining giants like Chin Chin and Hawker Hall, Kisume was Melbourne’s biggest opening in 2017, equally in literal and figurative terms. The three-amount Flinders Lane cafe dwarfs nearby favourites like Supernormal and Sake, immense in stature and just as ambitious in principle.



Kisume has multiple eating ordeals in the one particular venue, all tied jointly with the type of elegant, muted minimalism that flawlessly communicates the no-fuss method to great meals and even finer wine. The beautiful 18-study course Chef’s Table encounter is the coronary heart of this supplying, ever-evolving but generally laser focused on expressing Japanese perfection by way of the freshest Australian seafood readily available.

Restaurateur Chris Lucas has taken the beverages listing just as critically, traveling in Jonathan Ross (previously of New York’s best-rated Eleven Madison Park) to direct a formidable wine crew. The final result is The Chablis, an very easily neat bar house to the biggest selection of the world’s purest chardonnay, alongside with vintage cocktails and an exploratory assortment of equally whisky and sake. 

Tackle: 175 Flinders Ln, Melbourne
Make contact with: (03) 9671 4888

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Kenzan

Kenzan is the elder statesman of Melbourne’s Japanese restaurants, and soon after 4 decades stays a single of the most coveted culinary activities in the city. Which is no uncomplicated feat in a put like Melbourne, which is famed for its remarkable eating scene and – at minimum just before COVID – would see a extremely anticipated cafe opening just about each individual other 7 days. 

In truth, without the need of Kenzan, several of the other eating places on this checklist simply would not exist. Koichi Minamishima received his start listed here, as did Shigeo Yoshihara (of Tempura Hajime) and Kentaro Usami (who is best identified for his get the job done at Kappo and Izakaya Den). Many of Melbourne’s foremost authorities on Japanese cuisine acquired their chops listed here, no question mastering how to craft fragile flavours like signature Chawan Mushi, which a steamed egg and dashi custard with seafood, and put together Japanese classics like grilled eel with sweet soy sauce on a bed of flawlessly textured rice. 

The menu below is pretty wide, but the perseverance to craft and standard techniques would make it one particular of the city’s greatest showcases of Japanese consolation foods.

Address: Collins Put, 45 Collins St, Melbourne
Contact: (03) 9654 8933

Tempura Hajime

Little, with barely sufficient area for its 12-diner cap, Tempura Hajime mirrors the sort of concealed gem you’d uncover if you have been to veer off the neon-washed primary streets of Dotonbori in Osaka. Besides you’re in South Melbourne, frantically wanting about Park Street to find this modest, award-profitable eatery.

Hajime is unapologetically high-conclusion, with a rate tag to match. It is, after all, the only regular tempura house in Melbourne. Chef-owner Shigeo Yoshihara received his get started in Osaka through the mid-90’s, so you’re in pretty experienced fingers as the 8 or 10-piece tempura and sushi omakase unfolds alongside with a vast-ranging checklist of sake and wine.

Deal with: 60 Park St, South Melbourne 
Call: (03) 9696 0051

Ishizuka

Nonetheless comparatively new on the scene, Ishizuka has proven a valuable addition for enthusiasts of high-quality Japanese cuisine, centered on the country’s extra traditional dining expertise acknowledged as kaiseki. Here it is all Beluga caviar and poached daikon topped with foie gras preceding leading-quality Wagyu and correctly textured tuna, wrapped into a established menu that’ll established you back again $235pp, and that’s without the possibility $120pp wine pairing. 

Like several of Tokyo’s greatest kaiseki eating places, this a person is also well concealed in a Bourke Road basement, close to-difficult to discover, save from a discreet keypad from which you dial in prior to staying granted entry to the carry. And like those Tokyo eating places, Ishizuka’s philosophy is guided by a “holistic dining experience” that needs almost nothing short of perfection and meticulous preparing.

Address: basement degree b01/139 Bourke St, Melbourne
Make contact with: (03) 8594 0895

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Hanabishi

Melburnians positive can not get sufficient of significant-stop Japanese dining and Hanabishi fits ideal into that insatiable demand from customers. Edging off just one of the city’s busiest road, steering clear of the fuss or layout-forward language as its more modern day competitors, the stalwart eatery focuses exclusively on the excellent of its adventurous menu, which lists everything from pan fried duck dripping with sweet soy, and high quality pork tonkatsu, to Wagyu sukiyaki and an assortment of sushi.

The restaurant also presents just one of the extra reasonably priced established menus throughout Melbourne’s best Japanese dining places, touting the $80pp omakase wherever chef-proprietor Akio Soga prepares a five-course feast with the signature duck dish (described over) surrounded by numerous rounds of contemporary seafood and capped by two desserts.

Tackle: 187 King St, Melbourne
Call: (03) 9670 1167

Cibi

Positioned in an ethereal, mild-flooded Collingwood warehouse, Cibi is the city’s go-to for basic Japanese-model breakfasts. The room doubles as a notion retail outlet, run by spouse and wife Meg and Zenta Tanaka and has been a beloved element of Melbourne’s dining scene for more than a decade. The thought has tested so thriving, in truth, that the Tanaka’s were capable to expand Cibi to Tokyo’s Sendagi district, wherever it has because observed a identical amount of acclaim.

The name, this means ‘little one’ in Japanese, telegraphes the sort of minimalism and simplicity this cafe is hinged on. Japanese components are softly blended with Western flavours and Australia’s best seasonal develop to provide perfectly well balanced dishes like the signature significant brekky normally consisting of modest grilled salmon fillet, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), cherry tomatoes, pickled daikon, greens, a creamy potato salad and softly textured rice garnished with furikake. 

Tackle: 33/39 Keele St, Collingwood
Contact: 0481 498 686

Kazuki’s

Uprooted from the foothills of Daylesford, Kazuki’s has moved its celebrated tasting menu and opened up in Carlton. Not that the regional location stopped metropolis-dwellers from packing the spot each individual working day of the week, provided the restaurant’s higher-excellent generate and meditative speed. 

Chef Kazuki Tsuya channels his childhood developing up in the bountiful Akita prefecture in Northern Japan, positioning provenance as the menu’s driving pressure and softly touching common Japanese flavours with typical French methods, most effective showcased by the $150pp 7-courser.

Tackle: 121 Lygon St, Carlton
Get hold of: (03) 9349 2223

WaKenbo 

Whilst owner-chef Kenji Ito plainly praises traditional Japanese cooking procedures, he frequently demonstrates a bold transfer outside of individuals extremely finessed boundaries. Wonton tortellini loaded with pumpkin and dashi. Environmentally friendly tea-smoked duck breast with duck neck chorizo. Miso and coconut milk braised rabbit served with a marrow raviolo, seared scallop and preserved lemon. All these unconventional dishes have appeared on the Wakenbo menu over the yrs, building up a good standing for harmonious crossings among Japanese and Western palates.

Ito has a background deeply rooted in Tokyo’s Ginza district, perfecting the common delicacies distinct to Kyoto prior to relocating onto Adelaide in the late 90s. It was there the place he designed a huge effect on Australia’s now ravenous appetite for experimental Japanese by opening Kenji Contemporary Japanese, swiftly forming a legacy which flows by way of this fashionable Fitzroy cafe. If you’re searching for a little something distinct, this is the greatest place to commence and certainly a person of the best Japanese places to eat in Melbourne.

Address: 69 Victoria St, Fitzroy
Contact: (03) 9041 9495

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Nobu

The Nobu legacy is just one of legend groundbreaking and unimpeachable when it will come to shaping the worldwide hunger for modern Japanese delicacies. At its core, the renowned brand name is crafted on the plan of Nikkei, which is the unique cross-section of Peruvian and Japanese flavours that impressed founder Nobu Matsuhisa in the mid-90s. Now, Nobu is a world drive and can be observed in no much less than 48 towns, declaring common expressions in affluent locations like Monte Carlo, Milan and, of training course, Tokyo.

Melbourne has Australia’s only Nobu to day, equipped into the basement of the Crown with a loud, seductive environment and a relentless kitchen area frequently serving out higher-top quality sushi, ceviche-fashion seafood dishes, and 9+ Wagyu. The menu is more different in its preferences than the standard quality Japanese eatery, scanning global flavours to fulfill an endless rotation of high-rolling regulars. It may possibly be ubiquitous and showy, as opposed to the other spots in this record, but there’s no mistaking that Nobu is amongst the greatest Japanese dining places in Melbourne.

Handle: Crown Riverwalk, Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
Speak to: (03) 9292 5777