Meet Tokyo Motto, A New Day-to-Night Japanese Dining Hub in Melbourne's CBD

Melbourne's Midcity Centre on Bourke Street is now home to Tokyo Motto, a new eatery poised to offer an enticing experience, transitioning from a casual Japanese restaurant by day, to moody izakaya bar by night.

The brains behind the operation is Spring Chee, a seasoned pastry chef and restaurateur with more than two decades of experience in Melbourne's hospitality scene, having previously worked with Le Mille Creperie, Sugar Labo and Sweetie Moustache. With Tokyo Motto, Chee hopes to bring everyday Japanese-style dining to Melbourne, with a menu focused on championing locally sourced ingredients.

During the day, patrons can expect a mix of traditional (with a spin) and not-so-traditional Japanese dishes. A menu highlight is the Japanese curry made with "Golden" curry sauce infused with a blend of stone fruits and fresh bee honey — a recipe discovered by Chee during her travels in Japan.

Other menu highlights include the omurice, showcasing a tornado egg omelette and thick-cut katsu, a take on a recent Japanese trend using a pork loin done sous vide style for 24 hours. For those looking to have some fun, the Ice Cream Spicy Miso Ramen offers a blend of spicy and sweet, thanks to the literal ice cream cone floating in the middle of the spicy ramen bowl. It's all about balance.

As evening approaches, Tokyo Motto transforms. Starting from 9pm, the venue becomes an izakaya bar, offering a range of classic izakaya snacks, including everyone's favourite karaage, alongside a selection of Japanese cocktails, beer and sake.

Tokyo Motto will be open from Sunday, January 21. It's hours are 12pm–11pm from Sunday–Thursday, and 12pm–1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Find it at shop 23 & 23A Midcity Centre, 200 Bourke Street, Melbourne.