Overview
Melburnians love a good Japanese restaurant. Not only is it the most Googled cuisine in the state, but these spots come in so many forms — from wallet-friendly takeaway sushi and ramen haunts, to high-end omakase diners and neighbourhood izakaya.
We've also seen a rise in contemporary Japanese restaurants that pull many of these elements together into one playful package — Ichi Ni Nana Izakaya, Yakimono, Supernormal and Robata all do this brilliantly. And the latest to join this club of new-wave Japanese restaurants is Kushiro, which opened in June on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
This is Yvonne Cheng's second Kushiro outpost, with the first located inside Hong Kong's legendary Peninsula Hotel. Both sites have many similarities, but while the Hong Kong Kushiro is a traditional omakase diner befitting its five-star-hotel setting, Melbourne's version is significantly more low-key and has a distinct izakaya feel.
But just because it's less formal, don't think that means the quality here has also been taken down a notch, with Kushiro Hong Kong's Executive Chef Jan Chung in Melbourne to personally ensure the new offer is just as impressive as the original. Chung has worked in a slew of Michelin-starred restaurants, so you should rightfully expect top-quality eats with a lot of creative flair.
You'll find him serving up a luxe scampi tartare with lobster bisque panna cotta; a less-than-classic char siu made with beetroot-marinated pork belly that's been tenderised with papaya and glazed with a sticky and sweet sauce; and a 12-hour slow-roasted short rib with barley, carrot and a whisky rosemary glaze.
When it comes to bevs, the team is pouring Kushiro's own Japanese-made sake, as well as classic and signature cocktails, Japanese spirits, and a tight selection of wines and beers.
You'll find Kushiro at 175 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, open for dinner from Tuesday–Saturday and lunch on Saturdays. For more details and to book a table, head to the venue's website.