Overview
Shimbashi is one of the best-kept secrets in Melbourne's inner north. The specialty soba bar first opened in Sydney back in 1993, before it brought the Japanese staple to Melbourne in 2012. Today, traditional soba-making meets Tasmanian buckwheat noodles in Carlton North, Collingwood and Northcote — and it's all certifiably gluten-free.
Chilled soba noodles, served with a dipping sauce or in a saucy salmon salad, are a refreshing summer order. When the seasons change, opt for winter warmers instead. Vegan mushroom soba noodles sit in a light vegetable broth, a chicken version is simmered with truffle mushrooms, and there's a hearty beef soba bathed in a creamy soy milk and mushroom soup. For a classic soba pairing, turn to an assortment of lightly-battered seafood and vegetable tempura.
Beyond soba noodles, all three stores offer rice bowls — they're loaded with a range of toppings like chicken katsu curry and sashimi cuts — and salmon sushi rolls topped with lotus chips, available plain or seared with spicy mayo. There are also grab-and-go teriyaki salmon bento boxes for the office crowd, which are repackaged as leisurely teishoku sets and served with miso soup at the Northcote shop.
Pair a selection of Japanese sakes with some izakaya-style snacks. Pop some edamame beans before a vego feast of agedashi tofu and deep-fried eggplant glazed with sweet miso sauce arrives. If you're eating meat, Japanese fried chicken is always a great shout.
Some rotating dishes might be exclusive to one location, like a matcha-infused seiro set in Carlton North last year. We recommend checking the store's Instagram for updates before visiting.
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