In my never ending quest for amazing Japanese restaurants outside of Melbourne's CBD, I decided to…read moretry Akita Japanese restaurant in North Melbourne. ~ What's with the small menu? Honestly, there were six mains. Their "specials" menu was larger than their regular menu by a long shot, and I was kind of disappointed they didn't have a more diverse or comprehensive selection. ~ VEGETARIANS BEWARE. None of the mains were vegetarian compatible; they all had meat/seafood in them. Even the vast majority of the entrees were meat based. This is particularly peculiar for Japanese cuisine. When we asked what was on offer for vegetarians, they recommended three dishes, mostly from the specials menu. The only positive I can attribute to Akita in this respect was that the waiter did come back a few minutes after ordering to confirm that egg was okay in the vegetarian dish. But I probably wouldn't come back here with a vegetarian person; the difficulty of working out what is edible and the severe limited choice makes the whole thing too much hassle. ~ From the outside, the door is somewhat hidden the place looks relatively small. When you look around the main entrance, you also get the feeling of smallness. However, there is actually a labyrinth of seating areas, all hidden away in their own rooms. In this respect, Akita reminds me a lot of Stalactites in the city, except more enclosed. This causes the environment to feel more intimate, and probably reduces noise too. The atmosphere was of a high calibre here. A++. ~ Overpriced. We all know that Japanese cuisine is expensive, but even for Japanese standards this place was overpriced (especially for its location). If you can, check out the photo of the entree sashimi to this venue. You can get better quality fish at a cheaper price than $18 from elsewhere. ~ Forgot the drinks. Unfortunately I forgot to check the bill to see if they had charged us, but we ordered tea twice and we didn't end up getting it either times. ~ No ginger with the sashimi. What! For a so-called *authentic* Japanese place you kind of expect them to provide some ginger with the sashimi; they didn't, which was a little disappointing. Upside was that they gave me so much wasabi. Overall the food (albeit small and expensive) and atmosphere were good. The location is convenient for drivers (heaps of parking), and the staff were kind (although they forgot drinks). Would I be back? Probably not -- the limited menu is a dealbreaker.

I was craving food so I did a quick search and found this establishment closeby! I love Japanese…read morefood so I was good to go. Ambiance: Very very good. The restaurant is large and spacious with a series of different dining rooms. It has an old feel to it, but very clean and modern at the same time. They have light Japanese music playing which makes for a really incredible dining atmosphere! Customer Service: The servers were very polite, courteous, and attentive. However, I do have to remark that the kitchen staff is a bit slow. The wait time for the food is EXTREMELY long. Food: One thing I have to note is that this place is probably good for large groups, but I would avoid it if you're only going by yourself or with 2 people. The menu comprises of large platter-like dishes of sashimi and sushi rather than anything that is convenient for an individual set. The only thing I pretty much can order is Nabeyaki Udon Soup (udon noodles with tempura shrimp, egg, veggies, thin slices of beef, and mushrooms) for 12 dollars and a plate of Gyoza for 8.50. Like I said, the wait time is long. I ended up getting my Gyoza after my main... when Gyoza is an entree. What's up with that? When I picked up a piece of Gyoza, I thought to myself "This better be worth it". It was good... but not worth the 30 minute wait. The Gyoza wrap was very thin, which is a bit unique I suppose but I prefer thick wraps. The Nabeyaki Udon Soup at first glance was rather tiny - so it was very alarming. However, it was absolutely delicious! Probably the best Udon Soup I have ever had. The meat was good, tempura soft and tasty, and the egg accented the dish really nicely. I absolutely loved it. Things they can improve on: ~ Adding more variety to their menu. Where are the bentos? The ramen? And donburi? Everything is pretty much just a platter, which excludes the people who just want individual meals. ~ Upping their efficiency! I'm not sure how exactly they can do that, but at least bring out the Gyoza before the main so my stomach isn't growling like mad. Overall, I did enjoy my meal - the atmosphere was great, the service was nice, and the food was tasty. However, 1 star off for the lack of variety and another star for the horrid wait time. I would come here again, but only if I'm with a large group of people ready to order some platters.

This place is the perfect Japanese food experience! I've never been out for Japanese food in a…read morerestaurant before but this place really showed me the ropes! The platter was great, a lot of variety and things to try if you're wanting to experience different times of sushi. The Pink Dragon drink was awesome! Very cool concept. We also had popcorn karagge chicken (garlic Mayo) which was great. I highly recommend you visit here! Beautiful atmosphere and food.

After a weekend of lackluster dining experiences, Matsuri was a welcome relief. Arriving at 6:15,…read morewe were the only table for the first half hour, and from ordering to receiving our meals of chicken katsu curry and yakiniku chicken took only 15 minutes. Both of which were well above average and came with delicious miso soup--much less salty than is typical. With two glasses of house wine, the total was roughly $55. Light jazz played in the background, servers were attentive; and before I knew it, I looked up to a full restaurant and a full belly. I would strongly suggest you make a visit here, but come with friends so you can try more than one dish!

Awesome Japanese food. Good service, good servings and good pricing. Actually rather surprised how…read moregood this place was! Don't let the outside fool you it's probably one of these best I've had in Melbourne!

Fantastic quality Japanese food. Really friendly staff. Have gone there many times for dinner and I…read morewill keep going back. Great selection of food and very nicely presented.

This place is an extremely confusing From start to finish I…read morewas a bit complexed about what this place was trying to achieve Came here drawn by the nice aesthetic and vibes good mood lighting and big sign saying Veganism outside Sitting down we were given a menu with WAY too many menu items - this is usually a recipe for disaster but once again it was confusing in how it didn't disappoint but didn't really blow us away either ... The dishes we ordered were massive servings but while they were good in some areas like taste perhaps, it failed poorly in areas say how well the dish was put together. Eg the laksa was tasty but way too rich, the Udon was nice in balance but lacked flavour in the soup Super confusing Extensive drinks menu (very extensive) And a bit on the more expensive side but definitely portion sizings to match Very interesting and confusing :D

Updated review after eating there a second time. I was a bit overzealous the first time whilst in…read moregood company and enjoying a couple beers. This time I came in for lunch and was greeted with the same fast service. I tried their signature tonkatsu shio ramen, which was as described as a milky broth with a decent amount of toppings. However the broth could have had a bit more pork taste, not sure how long it is cooked to really draw out the flavour. I was a bit disappointed when enquiring about condiments commonly found on every table in a ramen shop, there was none (chilli oil, pepper, sesame seeds, etc.). They were going to charge $2 for chilli oil. What?! I accepted the togarashi red pepper instead for free. Thankfully the beer I ordered was up to par. Their selection of craft beer is quite uncommon for most ramen shops and is a definite draw here. I still feel it's a decent place for entrees and ramen, especially standing out amongst the long road of Vietnamese shops.

From start to finish, Kisume provided a delightful dining experience for our honeymoon. We sat at…read morethe sushi bar, which provided an entertaining environment and excitement for our chef's tasting order. All of the food looked incredible! Our courses included the kingfish sashimi, assorted sushi, ponzu chicken, fish substitution for angus steak, cos lettuce and hazelnut dacquoise. The kingfish was unlike any other sashimi we've had with the truffle sauce. All of the sushi was incredibly fresh and flavorful. I wish we lived closer to dine here again soon!

We booked Kisume after a fantastic experience at Chin Chin. Kisume did not disappoint! We didnt…read morethink there was room for improvement during our week of phenomenal food in Melbourne, Kisume proved our assumption incorrect and amazed us with the brilliant food and service ! Lovey decor and lively ambience. The scallops and the kingfish was the highlight .

So happy to finally cross Gypsy & Pig off my list, a Japanese pork speciality spot in CBD that I…read morehave been eyeing on for a while. Hidden in plain sight, precisely located in a tiny corner, down one end of Hardware Lane with no obvious signage - do look out for a piggy sign and you are at the right place ;). The restaurant might have small physicality, but the decor is simply adorable, black loving interiors surrounded with pig ornaments to match the theme - A porky heaven! Oink~ Their menu is specialized in Katsu of different variants. Not the healthiest indulgence, but for me there is something utterly satisfying about biting into crunchy katsu. And for my first visit, I was excited to order their special mix fry: kurobuta cheese Hamburg, eyefilet, crabmeat croquettes and Anago (sea eel). Best of both world!! As much as I wanted it to be good, everything was underwhelming. The unagi has many small bones in them, making it so troublesome to eat. Adding to that, the Kurobuta hamburg with cheese had this musty smell that's so unpleasant. I was hoping the crab croquette would save the day, but sadly the texture was so soggy it completely threw me off. The stuffed chicken wings appetizer, however, was quite delicious and worth ordering a second. The service, was also quite impressive. All smiles and making sure that you are taken care of the moment you stepped in the door. In addition to that, they also pride themselves on using the highest quality Kurobuta pork... which then resulted in their premium prices. Overall, I love Gypsy & Pig for their venue because the space is so cute, authentic and really sets the mood! In terms of the food, sadly it just doesn't strike a special chord with me, well at least on my visit... :)

Make sure you make a booking because this place is cozy. It's small. You will get table seating if…read moreyou are a group of four or more otherwise you sit at the bar and watch the chef cook. This place is known for their kurubota - or black pig meat. It is recommended by urbanlist that you try their katsu curry, their scotch egg, and their green tea cake/pudding. We had the katsu kurubota curry, the scotch egg, some sushi, and the kimchi kurubota eggplant hotpot. My food came in a steaming hotpot duh. The fermented smell was heavenly. The kurubota was so tender. It was such good meat - meat that I had never tasted before. The eggplant - well, you couldn't even tell it was eggplant. The rice was seasoned and I enjoyed having it on its own at the end. All three of us loved our meals and can't wait to come back for more. Great portion sizes. Split bills accepted and attentive staff.

Ate here with 2 of my homegirls when I was in town, I guess she picked it cus it's rated really…read morehigh lol... it's actually really good and of course I ate most of it. It was really good Japanese food. The sushi rolls, to some of the raw fish, and even the karage was just really textured well. It was exceptionally good for being a in a low key quiet area on a

Mid-high end Japanese restaurant, located in the same building as a hotel (Hyatt I think?)…read more I went there for a weekday lunch, as they do lunch specials. I went for the sashimi and sushi set ($48) which was good value for the amount of food you get, but the quality of the sashimi and sushi was average. For the set, you get quite a bit: chawanmushi, miso soup, a yakitori skewer, pickles, and the food you order. Extremely good value for the cheaper sets (I think like a bento for 20-30?) The sashimi and sushi set was a bit disappointing. The fishes given for the sushi and sashimi were on the cheaper end. I don't think there was even a tuna. They did give two pieces of scallop, which was tasty. Overall, I would have either expected one or two pieces of pricey fish, or a few extra pieces of sushi or sashimi. The rice was also cold, rather than slightly warm. Overall, it felt like an average sushi lunch, not fitting the mid-high end positioning they are going for. Tip: don't forget they have 20% off on EatClub; which if you use with the lunch offer, is great value for money.

Very average-tasting udon noodle soup. I like their concept of adding side dishes to the noodles -…read morebut the cost can easily add up, and their side dishes are mainly deep fried stuff...

One of the best neighborhood sushi places in the area. Had the Takoyaki and croquette to start,…read moremountain veg udon, shared a sushi platter and took a ebi maki home for mum. Everything was ON POINT and the waitress was incredibly accommodating, she seriously made us feel right at home even though the restaurant was packed. If I had to pick a bone it would be that the vegetable croquette lacked on the 'veg' part, it was pretty much 98% potato with maybe a pea here an there, it was delicious none the less.