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The Best Japanese Cafes, Restaurants and Bars in Melbourne

From sashimi to yakitori and ramen and katsu, here are some of the best places to fill up on Japanese nosh.
By Concrete Playground
February 15, 2023
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List
Map
By Concrete Playground
February 15, 2023
  shares
List
Map
  • Food & Drink

    Yugen Dining

    Chapel Street's sumptuous subterranean Japanese diner and bar has a flair for the dramatic.

  • Food & Drink

    Hareruya Pantry

    With a name that translates to 'sunny shop', Carlton's tiny Japanese pantry and cafe is heroing beautiful bento and house-made gelato.

  • Food & Drink

    Eazy Peazy

    A yakitori and sake bar with an ex-Yardbird chef.

  • Food & Drink

    Supernormal

    Lobster rolls and karaoke, together at last.

  • Food & Drink

    Parco Ramen

    A tiny ramen bar from the minds behind a beloved lockdown pop-up.

  • Food & Drink

    Le Bajo Milkbar

    Combining a love of Japanese food fare and Australian milk bars, Le Bajo is North Melbourne’s newest destination for fluffy shokupan bread and house-roasted coffee.

  • Food & Drink

    Minamishima

    Down a narrow street just off Bridge Road, there is a quiet oasis of calm — and a journey to be taken. 

  • Food & Drink

    Gogyo Fitzroy

    A Japanese diner in Fitzroy serving up burnt miso ramen, which is smoky, sweet and intense.

  • Food & Drink

    Robata

    The San Telmo Group's playful take on modern Japanese barbecue heroes skewers cooked over charcoal and cleverly reworked classic cocktails.

  • Food & Drink

    Tamura Sake Bar

    You'll find matcha IPAs, Japanese fried chicken and vinyl for sale at this Fitzroy bar.

  • Food & Drink

    Yakimono

    This colourful Chris Lucas venture features a futuristic aesthetic and a menu filled with Japanese street food that's cooked over flames.

  • Food & Drink

    Ippudo QV

    The Japanese ramen chain is now dishing up its lauded soup in the QV building.

  • Food & Drink

    Ishizuka

    The eatery specialises in a balanced kaiseki by acclaimed Japanese chef Tomotaka Ishizuka.

  • Food & Drink

    279

    Hand-strained miso soup, Tokyo coffee and traditional Japanese fare in West Melbourne.

  • Food & Drink

    Saint Dreux

    A futuristic katsu sando and Japanese coffee bar in the CBD.

  • Food & Drink

    Shop Ramen

    Finally, Melbourne's very own shop dedicated exclusively to ramen.

  • Food & Drink

    Kumo

    Izakaya-style dining at the Brunswick end of a worldly Lygon Street.

  • Food & Drink

    Gomi Ramen Shop

    This ramen delivery service by two chefs proved so popular during lockdown, it's spawned its own bricks-and-mortar ramen bar.

  • Food & Drink

    Mr Miyagi

    Mr Miyagi has stayed loyal to their original commitment to fun — which won them hearts in Windsor and across the river all the way back in 2013.

  • Food & Drink

    Mono-XO

    A 25-seat yakitori and rock 'n' roll bar in Fitzroy.

  • Food & Drink

    Future Future

    This little Richmond eatery is slinging meatball katsu-sandos, donburi bowls, cocktails and rare Japanese sake.

  • Food & Drink

    Kisume

    Chris Lucas's three storeys of Japanese grandeur.

  • Food & Drink

    Tokyo Tina

    The third sister has been born, and she brings a Japanese edge to the family.

  • Food & Drink

    Wabi Sabi Salon

    Fun, fusion Japanese that can be found on both side of the river.

  • Food & Drink

    Chotto Motto

    A gyoza and beer bar inside an art-covered Collingwood building.

  • Food & Drink

    Tetsujin

    Emporium's new sushi train and barbecue has a little something for every taste.

  • Food & Drink

    Izakaya Den

    A classic option for cool and classy Japanese.

  • Food & Drink

    Cibi

    A picture of perfect design, balance and Japanese cafe fare.

  • Food & Drink

    Keki Milk Bar

    This CBD cafe is dedicated to fluffy soufflé pancakes and creative sodas.

  • Food & Drink

    Kazuki's Restaurant

    The acclaimed fine diner has brought its famed Japanese fare from regional Victoria to Carlton.

  • Food & Drink

    Shyun Ramen Bar

    The umami-rich and affordable ramen at this joint is worth the trek to Carnegie.

  • Food & Drink

    Neko Neko

    A dietary requirement-friendly ramen joint with vegan broth and gluten-free noodles.

  • Food & Drink

    Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake

    This Prahran ramen joint is known for its rich and creamy slow-cooked broth.

  • Food & Drink

    Shinbashi Yakiniku

    Carlton's all-you-can-eat DIY Japanese barbecue joint.

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