Disappointed with this choice. hard to find with just a simple easel sign in an office type…read morebuilding entrance. Absolutely empty on this Tuesday night. Red flag. No one at the sushi bar or anywhere else. Moldy smell throughout which is a problem since this place is below ground. But to save a star, a great selection of sake. Menus are dirty and disorganized. Not easy food selections. Food was just ok. Too many other better options in the areas.

We were hoping for a meal of Japanese while in Melbourne, took the suggestion of Yelp and…read moreUrbanspoon, and ended up at Izakaya Den. I wouldn't say I regretted my choice, but I probably should have taken the advice of one of my friends for a place with sashimi and substantial food. Hidden down a narrow flight of stairs, Izakaya Den is a bit like a den with its cold, yet cozy interior. We didn't end up drinking anything throughout our meal, which I slightly regretted, since that is precisely what you do at an izakaya place. Either way, it was the middle of the day, so we weren't too keen. What we did get were baked scallops with a ginger garnish of some sort. The scallops were a delicious texture, just how scallops how should be, but the highlight was really the garnish on the side! We also went for the tuna tartare, which was alright in texture. Again, the highlight was the sauce. I should have gone for the tuna tataki, which seems to be the more popular dish. We also had the fish of the day (which I can't remember what), and that was really tender and baked perfectly. It wasn't salmon, though that's what it looks kinda like in the picture. The pickled daikon on the side was my favorite part of the dish - but the fish was also really delicious. It wasn't one bit fishy, and the meat just fell apart perfectly! The lamb skewers were also good, though I don't think I would order this again if I returned. They were slightly dry, and didn't taste much like lamb. At the end of our meal, they gave us complimentary house-made marshmallows! They were fluffy, not overly sweet, and quite yummy! Our next visit was Le Petit Gateau, so we didn't go for dessert... Though the food was just average to above-average, the service was really friendly and attentive, and they even hung our coats on a coat rack for us! Truly Japanese. =)

Stay far away from this place. The food is below average and the service is outright disgraceful…read more The waitress with glasses was extremely rude, got our drinks wrong, and never once bothered to check on our meals -- and this was when the restaurant wasn't even busy. What makes it worse is the blatant double standards. White customers were treated differently from non-white customers. When I tried to give feedback, the so-called manager claimed she "wasn't working" yet still happily took our payment. My concerns were dismissed and ignored. This is unprofessional, unacceptable, and reeks of discrimination. Do yourself a favor and go to Okami instead -- the food and service there are miles better. First visit, and without question, the last.

OK it's Saturday evening on Sydney Road and you're in the mood for trying a new place to eat. Well,…read moreif this happens to you get yourself here. Food is amazing (even the wife is convinced of the merits of Japanese food). Great atmosphere, lively, even happy hour Sake and beer if you happen to roll in at 6-7pm. This place is definitely a new fav. Do yourself a favour and sample the various starters and skewers (as we did); shame we were too full to have a second main as they sounded great. Food heaven. Why haven't I tried this place before?!

If you think that Japanese food is about something more than sushi then this is the place for you…read more Friendly atmosphere, intimate dining and an excellent menu that is regularly updated. The sake is excellent and if you need advice ask the staff. Well worth the effort.

As much as I prefer the contact of wait staff when I order there is a novelty and some advantages…read moreof the iPad menu and ordering system. Worth a go. I'm a big fan of the mix on this menu with sashimi, off the grill and classic Japanese favorites. Absolutely delicious and easy to over order, which really isn't a problem as far as I see it. The drinks list is one you want to work through for obviously sake but also beer and cocktails. I indulged in the beer list as you'll see with my pics cos I got too excited and forgot to take any photos of the food.

Lovely little Gyoza place. Huge variety of small bites and a great drink menu. My husband and I…read moresaw this gem and thought we'd give it a try our first night in Melbourne. Salmon tartare was my fav!! So light and flavorful, three delicate pieces packed in yumminess. We ordered a few more Gyoza appetizers and two drinks. The food is mostly $6.80 each for small plates which was perfect for a little nibble. Very clean place and friendly, helpful wait staff.

This Izakaya Style Tapas Restaurant is a great place to sample lots of small bite size dishes for…read morethe price of $6.80. Order a salad and then add to your order another four choices for a great affordable meal. The Gyoza here is a specialty. Order at least a couple of plates! The spicy chicken salad is very spicy Beware. After attempting to eat this my mouth was on fire. Pity as I usually like hot spicy food All dishes we ordered were very tasty and well presented.

Ichi Ichi Ku served unique Japanese food, they also have a coffee window for quick take away…read morecoffee. They also have a delivery service for places around their restaurant or pick up services and catering for corporate or special events. Their service was as friendly, attentive even though sometimes on peak hours, the food preparations can take longer than expected Come early to avoid the crowd cause the restaurant is often crowded and operates on first come first come basis. Ichi Ichi Ku is a perfect place to escape from the city busyness without having to travel too far away from the city.

After a run around the tan my ravenous friends and I decided to check out the breakfast menu at…read morethis cute little hideaway and it did not disappoint. After agonising over the choices all of which looked delicious we went for the chai Bircher, which was amazing almost like a dessert with poached pear and raspberry syrup, the pulled pork which comes with perfectly poached eggs in Panko crumbs and the cheesy polenta porridge, all of which were amazing. We were tempted to stay for lunch or at least try the desserts but decided to leave it for another visit of which I hope there will be plenty :)

The service is impeccable here. I'd advise booking ahead on the popular nights like Friday and…read moreSaturday. The food was fabulous as well, hot fresh and tasty.

Being a fan of Japanese food I was very excited when I discovered Yokoso Izakaya in my local…read moreneighborhood. We ordered soft shell crab sushi roll which was delicious. When the waitress discovered we were sharing it she offered to to ensure the roll was sliced into six rather than five so we didn't have to fight over the last piece! We ordered a warm sake and were delighted when it came out in a cute little pourer bottle in the shape of a man. The food was fresh and tasty and we'll be going back for more!

Went there to have my first meal in the city and wasn't disappointed. Delicious ramen, such a rich…read moreflavor! Service was quick and friendly. Atmosphere is so unique - all these little things. Very well thought

If you want ramen this may be the place to go in Melbourne. The bowls are large and the broth…read moredelicious. The noodles are thick and tasty as well. This place has a basic decor. Server staff were pleasant and the orders come out very quickly. The restaurant is small but you get your choice of ramen soups from miso to pork.

This place is seriously great. It's a lovely sake bar with an extensive selection and great…read morespecials on different days. The bar staff are pleasant and willing to suggest things for you based on your taste. The real bonus is that they're connected to the restaurant next door, so you can get a menu and sit at the bar with a mate (you know who you are #wink) and have dinner with your drinks. The food from there has been lovely each time I've gone. Try the edamame. Always a good choice.

A great sake bar in Melbourne for when you need to feel like you're somewhere else, far away from…read morethe usual rowdy Melbourne elbow benders! Ideal for groups of two or four. Dimly lit. Friendly staff. Comfy wooden stools. Tiny courtyard at the back. Nicely designed. Happy hour on Friday nights with a decent $6 house sake (warm or chilled) sets a good tone for the weekend. The food, ordered at the bar but prepared by izakaya chuji next door is decent.

Izakaya Chuji is a little gem! Izakaya-style dining, which is basically Japanese tapas, is…read morecurrently in vogue in Melbourne thanks to the Den, but Chuji has been kicking along steadily for more than 20 years regardless of fashion. Watching the chefs at the open kitchen in Izakaya Chuji is truly inspiring - they are super-fast and know how to handle a sharp knife. The food is traditional, fresh and beautifully presented. Don't miss the ika butter, which is squid cooked in butter. It literally melts in your mouth. These are the guys that own Nihonshu Sake bar on Londsdale, so Izakaya Chuji has a pretty impressive range of beverages. They do both warm and cold sake, beers and there's a big range of whisky. Izakaya Chuji can get pretty loud when it's pumping, but that's part of the fun - highly recommended!

First time dining here. Order by number on paper provided. Staff were very friendly and helpful…read more Ordered a selection of dishes and all came out very quickly and at the same time. This was probably their only fault. Sushimi fish dish was melt in the mouth -so good! Beef ribs very tender and tasty. Soft shell crap highly recommended. Will definitely come back here again.

We ended up here after our trip to the nearby pier to see the adorable penguins. It was a weekend…read morenight and we didn't have reservations but they were able to find us a table which was very appreciated. The interior is nicely decorated, with a big outdoor terrace that overlooks the water. It was pretty chilly so we stayed inside, but one nice day it's definitely worth doing. There's an extensive sake list, and plenty of beer but I stuck with iced tea which changes regularly. Mine was a lemon rosemary which wasn't too sweet at all. For food, we started with edamame that came with a lovely spicy dipping sauce. That was followed by some skewered meat which they specialize in and you should definitely get - they're reasonably priced and a great accompaniment to drinks. Finally, we had a rainbow roll from their well curated sushi menu. My husband said it was some if the best sushi he's had recently - definitely very fresh. Service is friendly, and if you aren't inclined to dine in there is a dedicated take out area.

I must say, my last visit here was the most disappointing. Your restaurant is only as strong as…read moreyour weakest link, and there was a few weak links that night. The food is always good. It's always fresh, and tasty and beautifully presented. In this regard, they didn't let us down. But the service was so incredibly bad. They clearly forgot someone's entree, and instead of just owning it and admitting it, there was every excuse under the sun and most didn't even seem plausible and varied from wait staff to wait staff. I'd rather just know for sure that something has been forgotten, so we have a realistic expectation of when to expect it. I just don't think they either cope when very busy, or their staff just need more training. Other than the bad service, I have to compliment them again on the food. Every dish was delicious and looked good too. My favourite was the Tuna Tataki (picture attached). Really, really good. Pricing is a teeny bit high, but I guess average considering Japanese food is a bit pricier than other cuisines. Parking isn't always great, so I like coming to the earlier seating so there's a better chance for a parking space. The decor is good, but the chairs a bit uncomfortable and heavy to move when adjusting yourself at the table. But overall, I think if the food at a restaurant is good enough, it sometimes outweighs some of the negatives.