Shiranui is a great place to introduce Japanese cuisine to those who have not had Japanese before…read more Or rather, it's a great place to go for sushi. It has the reputation of being the best place to get sushi in Australia. When I first heard about Shiranui, I was told to go for the Omakase. The next dozen people told me the same thing. I don't eat seafood though, so I put it off. If you don't know, Omakase is where the chef decides what he's serving to you. Anyway, long story short, I ended up going after being persuaded by my lovely wife. I can tell you that it's quite an experience. While I sat quietly, enjoying my chicken dish (the name of which escapes me, but it was quite nice and fresh), my wife was treated to a series of beautifully presented (and judging by the reaction of my better half, beautifully tasting) dishes. It's a nice place, the service is pretty good and the food is tasty. I will be going back there.

Shira Nui is hidden away though it is on the very busy Springvale Rd in Glen Waverley. This is the…read moreJapanese restaurant I compare most others to as the food is always fresh, efficient service and atmosphere is plain but inviting. You will also be guided on how to eat your sushi by the servers and chef directing you to "NO SOY SAUCE" or "Yes soy sauce". They offer a lunch menu and two sitting dinner menu's. Lunch: $25 and under -Chirashi bowl: Very juicy fresh fish with sushi rice on the bottom, miso soup, entree fish, chawanmushi (steamed egg). -Braised pork with rice: huge dish with miso. Meat was tender and very fragrant. Dinner: Dinner is more expensive and there are two sittings. It is important to book in advance. You can go with the al a carte or Omakase (sit on the bench and the chef chooses what to serve you). I have had each option several times and I suggest trying the Omakase first that way you can experience different types of sushi. One you know what you like, it may be more reasonable for your wallet to not have omakase. Must haves for me each time: seared salmon sushi, kingfish, yakuniku beef, sashimi platter, and of course the OYSTER- this is a must have and cost $4.5 each last time I went but so worth it. There is no fishyness to the oyster and it is in a sushi form topped of with something like kewpie mayo or cheese. AMAZING! Please give this a go and if you aren't into sushi/sashimi there are many other options such as grilled fish, rice, noodles and even a juicy steak.

Great place for sushi!! Found this on Yelp of course and had to try it. My first time in Melbourne!…read more Very impressive menu and reasonable prices. There was a nice selection of sushi, sashimi and hot dishes. See my pics of the menu! We tried the Sushi and sashimi special combination first. Everything was excellent. I also ordered some yellowtail nigiri and salmon. Service was prompt and friendly. It wasn't too busy when we were here but when we walked past later it was packed. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Will definitely be back next time am in town!

I had a highly enjoyable experience eating at Kanpai Japanese Restaurant. It all began with a quest…read moreto find a decent Japanese place near the city -- but not too close to the city that parking would be impossible. I think Kanpai is in a great location for the perfect balance. ~ Inside, its dimly lit, warm atmosphere is relaxing and the staff are welcoming and understanding. ~ The drinks come in big glasses, the food is well presented, and orders come out quickly. ~ The open kitchen style is nice, albeit not particularly unique, finding comforts in the more traditional teppanyaki-styled Japanese restaurants. The downside of this is that when the restaurant is busy, I imagine the kitchen sounds could get quite noisy for the seating environment. ~ The restaurant is open 'late' on some nights -- and they mean it more than other restaurants in the area. Kanpai was actually my second choice of places to try, however arriving at the first restaurant at 10.15pm on a Saturday night and finding it closed made me give Kanpai a try. On the Saturday night I was here, the kitchen closed at about 11pm. ~ Sadly, the entrees and mains did not come out at the same time. It's a little pet peeve of mine, but if I'm eating with someone else and my entree arrives ten minutes before theirs, I have the choice of either being rude and gobble it up without waiting for theirs to show, or allow it to go cold while waiting for my dining partner's dish. Overall, the food was tasty, the environment was quiet and clean, the experience was positive, and the staff were kind. I even had a laugh at the waiter who I witnessed using an array of chopsticks and sticky-tape to rescue a receipt that had fallen behind the fridge. A positive dining experience. I will be back.

If you love Japanese food you will be in love with hinoki Japanese pantry. Walking through the…read moreglass doors you quickly learn that this is no ordinary ethnic supermarket but rather an ode to Japanese cuisine. You can get everything from sake to soy sauce, soba to sashimi and everything in between. There is a delicious range of freshly prepared sushi and sashimi as well as everything you would need to take home to make your own. All the packaging is in Japanese so you may need some help from the staff. They are super friendly and eager to help. Loves: 1. Assortment of products 2. Freshness 3. Value for money - quite inexpensive 4. Staff picks and suggestions - help you navigate the different brands

What a great find! I've been here a few times for a quick sushi lunch and it's a bonus it's also a…read moreJapanese convenience store. (This is where I'll pick up some frozen udon, soba noodles and sauces). The good thing about this place is that it's got variety, from sashimi to different sushi rolls, even seared ones too. The sauces aren't too over powering as other sushi joints may smother mayo all over the sushi! There's only been one time that sushi I ordered there wasn't as good, salmon was a bit chewy. I recently ordered a platter for dinner and it was ready to be picked up in 1hr (called to order). Great presentation for a dinner party or if you just want to indulge in a sushi platter for dinner.

This is my favourite Japanese restaurant in Melbourne. Very traditional place, just like Yokyo…read more Staff are great. Try the Toro "tuna belly" sashimi or sushi, it's incredible. Here the sushi has only small amount of rice, proper Japan style. The sushi and sashimi platter is amazing, the Prawn Dumplings, Sukiyaki, Shabu Shabu, everything here is just like real Japan! Love it!

Extremely friendly staff and very quick service. Quite expensive mains considering portion size but…read moreworth it for the quality of food. Amazing experience for anyone visiting Melbourne

The first time I heard about Kenzan, I'd walked in to a room of friends and they were all rolling…read moretheir eyes in ecstasy and making funny noises. Apparently one of them had just made mention of Kenzan and their crispy nori sushi rolls and it had sent them all off in to fits drooling. I realised I was missing out, so marched to the GPO building quick smart to sink my teeth in to one of them. Yep, they're pretty damn good. There's the usual fillings - tuna sashimi, spicy salmon, terriyaki chicken yada yada yada... but what sets Kenzan apart is their nifty plastic wrapping that separates the nori from the rice until just at the last minute. Before you can eat the roll you have to do a kind of sushi origami and unwrap the roll and then re-roll it upon itself (trust me, it will make sense to you when the time comes). This means you get expertly cooked rice, fresh and delicious fillings and CRISPY nori on the outside. It's a textural delight and is going to ruin you for every soggy nori roll you ever eat in the future. As a dining experience Kenzan is nothing spectacular - you'll sit elbow-to-elbow with shoppers and office workers during the peak lunch period, but it's quick and fresh and you'll only pay a small premium for what I feel is some of the best sushi in Melbourne.

Kenzan at the GPO is, in my opinion, the best place to get nori rolls in the entire Melbourne CBD…read more The nori rolls come wrapped in plastic to separate the nori paper from the rice. When you are ready the eat you unwrap and roll the rice roll into the nori paper. The result is a crispy outside and makes all the difference in the world! I cannot eat 'soggy' nori rolls anymore. You have to get there by about 1:30pm if you want to have a decent selection as they sell out of the most popular - cooked tuna and california - very quickly. Getting a seat can also be difficult between 12:30 - 2:00pm. I usually get take away though as my office is just around the corner. One quick tip - they often forget to put the soy sauce and wasabi in the bag so double check before you step out.

Always had a good experience here. Friendly staff. Good food. Nothing flash but good fresh food…read more Great place for quick bite to eat before heading to the Palais.

Oki to go, oki to stay, oki any time of day! The freshest, most appetizing sushi is at Oki 2 Go. I…read moreguess they've no excuse for not having the freshest seafood, after all they're on the doorstep of the bay but seriously, this is good stuff. At first glance Oki 2 Go may look like your typical walk in-walk out questionable sushi joint, but take a closer look and a step inside and you'll realise its actually quite an upmarket place. The lighting and red colouring of the decor adds to the authenticity of the Japanese restaurant. Larger than it appears, open til late seven days per week, BYO wine, dine in and take out options, Oki 2 Go won't disappoint. Selecting where to eat can be a hard choice when in Acland street but trust me, Oki 2 Go certainly holds its own in the dining mecca of St Kilda. Tip: If you're a fan of bento boxes, choose the Oki Bento, mmmm oishii!!

I've been told for a while now to enjoy a nice meal here, and I finally had the chance for a late…read morelunch. I selected their 'from the sea' lunch menu for just $17. Soup was a lovely start to a winters day meal. I wasn't disappointed with the lovely tasting main either. Everything was at a high standard. Service was friendly. Atmosphere was welcoming. Menu was extensive and I'll be back for sure to try more next time!

Clean, simple and well priced-2 of us ate here last Friday night and we thoroughly enjoyed our…read moreexperience. Remember to look on the specials board when you arrive as half of what we ordered to share was from the blackboard and the dishes were oh so delicious. -Hamachi seared scallops and scallops on nigiri: smokey and fresh -Thin waygu slices on silken tofu: refreshing on the palate -Seared moment tofu and miso infused eggplant: I pretty much gobbled this one up by myself -Tuna sashimi with soy and wasabi dressing: dressing may be a bit strong for some however I would have preferred to have an additional kick! I must say the food is better than the service as the waiter's did not seem to know what to call each dish when they served but it attempted to describe them to us however I would return as the service was still friendly.

This place was excellent! I love a conveyor belt Sushi restaurant from time to time, and this place…read moredelivers! I walked in and was given a small table next to the belt, and was amazed at all the different dishes coming out. You can also order using your phone, which I did- beer and Saké, which was brought to me within a minute! I also ordered some Sushi that was not on the belt, and it came quickly as well! There were two servers running around, but they were cheerful and funny, and very helpful. I grabbed several plates, and everything I had was fresh and tasty- AND- QUALITY. There are seats right next to the belt, but there are some tables as well, if you want a more normal dining experience. When you are done, they count up your plates, and then you pay at the register- I was amazed at just how cheap my meal was! I will happily come back here again!

Great selection, fair prices. You might take a few minutes to figure out how plate colors work…read more Fresh sushi!