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22 Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne

Aimee O'Keefe, 3 Mar 2023 | Guide

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The best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne include Wabi Sabi Salon, Little Ramen, and Ichi Ni Izakaya. However, our team of editors have highlighted everything from the best fine dining Japanese to value-for-money options. At the end of the day, eating at any of the restaurants below promises indulgence without overindulgence. Unlike say American diner food, Japanese cuisine is an exercise in exploration, presentation, harmony and, quite often, restraint – your meal will commonly be parsed out in small bites, giving you room to pace yourself and digest.

Related: Looking for some great Asian cuisine? We can’t go past these yum-cha restaurants in Melbourne.

How Man of Many Chose the Best Japanese in Melbourne

With more than 10 years of experience eating and drinking at the best restaurants around Australia, Man of Many’s team of editors has selected a list of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. Their list puts quality over quantity, with menus filled with sashimi, udon noodles, and teriyaki. Pull up a chair, order some sake, grab those chopsticks and try a little of everything without resorting to overkill.

Best Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne at a Glance

Our list of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne goes like this.

• Best Japanese in Melbourne overall: Kisume
• Best for fine dining: Ishizuka
• Best value-for-money: Tokyo Tina
• Best for Omakase: Minamishima
• Best for drinks: Yakimono

Now we’ve had a look at our favourites, let’s check out the complete list.

1. Kisume

Ambitious in concept and brilliant in execution, Kisume is three stories of gastronomic splendour. Brought to us from the veritable tastemakers behind the Lucas Group, the restaurant eschews the team’s normal blitzkrieg antics in favour of streamlined sophistication, copious variety and unforgettable taste. Choose between the street-level sushi bar, the omakase upstairs or the hot kitchen in the windowless basement, and leave your worries behind at one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.

Address: 175 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon 5-10pm, Tue-Sun 12-10pm
Phone: (03) 9671 4444

Check out Kisume

2. Yakimono

Located in the landmark 80 Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne’s fashion quarter, Yakimono is hard not to miss, with a signature bright neon sign out front. The neon sets the scene — as much a Japanese restaurant as it is a cocktail, sake and music venue. We come for the outlandish Japanese-inspired cocktails, with tipples like alcoholic bubble tea and every sake you could imagine. With a menu focused on fire and flavour, Yakimono will transport you straight to the streets of Japan.

Address: 80 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Sun 12-11:30pm
Phone: (03) 8616 7900

Check out Yakimono

3. Supernormal

Supernormal isn’t your average Melbourne Japanese restaurant. Offering a fusion between Chinese, Japanese and Korean cultures, the Flinders Lane venue is an eclectic mix of atmosphere and indulgence. Here, you’ll find Szechuan peppers tickling the tongue as some decidedly more dulcet Japanese flavours flow through.

Address: 180 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Sun 12-10pm
Phone: (03) 9650 8688

Check out Supernormal  Supernormal Menu

4. Kazuki’s Restaurant

Founded by the husband and wife team, Kazuki Tsuya and Saori, Kazuki’s is an acclaimed dining destination and one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. The menu allows you to choose from two, three, five or seven courses of heavily curated Euro-Japanese plates. We recommend the seven-course menu, which includes salmon tartare, calamari crackers, and chicken liver, just to name a few.

Address: 121 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053
Hours: Mon-Thur 5-10pm, Fri-Sun 12-10pm
Phone: (03) 9529 5999

Check out Kazuki’s Restaurant Kazuki’s Restaurant Menu

5. Little Ramen Bar

As the latest global food craze, ramen is now so much more than that thing you ate every day in college so you could spend all your money on beer. For proof, look no further than Little Ramen Bar. With great prices, a limited menu featuring miso ramen, vegan ramen and plenty of traditional side dishes, this bustling joint is as straightforward as it is satisfying. Pop in to see what all the fuss is about.

Address: 369 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm & 5:15-9pm, Sat 12-3pm & 5:15-9pm
Phone: (03) 9670 5558

Check out Little Ramen Bar  Little Ramen Bar Menu

6. Mr. Miyagi

One of the main reasons we love Mr. Miyagi is its fun, playful energy. Known for its exciting spin on traditional Japanese dishes and flavours, the Windsor institution is our recommendation for where to go when you want a good, and delicious time. Our top picks from the menu include the ‘Soba Noodz’ with green tea soba noodles, sesame dressing, edamame, and shaved vegetables, and their raw bar has some fresh selections, like oysters and the sashimi of your dreams. No trip here is complete without a cocktail, however, with 12 cocktails to choose from — the ‘Hello Kitty Sour’ is our choice.

Address: 99 Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Hours: Wed-Thur 6-10pm, Fri 12-2pm & 6-10pm, Sat 6-10pm
Phone: (03) 9349 2223

Check out Mr. Miyagi Mr. Miyagi Menu

7. Minamishima

For all the black belt sushi enthusiasts of Melbourne, Minamishima is more than a destination, it’s a mecca. The discreet, omakase-only restaurant is arguably the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne, and with good reason. Chef Koichi Minamishima’s technique is second to none and his cuisine is some of the tastiest you’ll find outside of Japan. Prepare to drop serious cash and yet still feel like you walked away with a deal.

Address: 4 Lord St, Richmond VIC 3121
Hours: Tue-Sat 6-10pm
Phone: (03) 9429 5180

Check out Minamishima Minamishima Menu

8. Ichi Ni Izakaya

Ichi Ni Izakaya celebrates our two favourite epicurean mainstays–small bites and alcohol–in spectacular fashion. This wildly popular St. Kilda destination covers all the classics while keeping the prices within reason. Order a fresh pint of beer or a glass of cold sake and pair that with some yakitori and resoundingly fresh sashimi. In other words, indulge to your heart’s content at one of Melbourne’s best Japanese restaurants.

Address: 127 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Hours: Mon & Sun 5-10pm, Tues-Sat 5-11pm
Phone: (03) 9417 4127

Check out Ichi Ni Izakaya Ichi Ni Izakaya Menu

9. Wabi Sabi Salon

Resembling the kind of cosy and unpretentious nook you might find down a back alley in Tokyo, Wabi Sabi Salon in Collingwood uses fresh, local ingredients to deliver massive flavours at affordable prices. A favourite among vegetarians and carnivores alike, this is one of the best Japanese restaurants Melbourne calls its own. Bring a group and try it all, or stop by for lunch and order one of their legendary bento boxes.

Address: Level 1/94 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Hours: Mon-Sat 12-10pm
Phone: (03) 9417 6119

Check out Wabi Sabi Salon Wabi Sabi Salon Menu

10. Izakaya Den

The name pretty much says it all. Tucked away inside hidden basement digs is Izakaya Den, an absolute haven for good times, great Japanese drinking and food. Once you’ve actually found the place, you’ll want to come back until you’ve tried everything on the menu — starting off with the Kara-Age chicken wingettes is our best bet. Bring a group of friends or impress a date with your knowledge of the Melbourne underground.

Address: Basement/118 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Tue-Sat 6-10pm
Phone: 0476 208 573

Check out Izakaya Den Izakaya Den Menu

11. Ishizuka

This up-market Japanese restaurant in Melbourne is Haute cuisine at its finest. The restaurant has just 16 seats, all situated around a central counter. Ishizuka is a fine purveyor of Kaiseki, which is a time-honoured culinary tradition, similar to a Japanese degustation menu. The process is seasonal, so the nightly set menu will change regularly. They also offer drink pairings curated by sommelier David Lawler, so you’re always in for a treat when paying a visit here.

Address: basement level b01/139 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon & Thur-Sun 5:30-10pm
Phone: (03) 8594 0895

Check out Ishizuka Ishizuka Menu

12. Kenzan

Decades before the sushi epidemic took the world by storm, Kenzan was serving up mouthwatering slices of fatty bluefin tuna belly and sweet, tenderly grilled eel. To call this place an institution would be an understatement. To call it one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne is more or less obligatory. Put simply, Kenzan is old-school sushi done right.

Address: Collins Place Lower ground floor, 45 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Mon-Fri 12-2:30pm & 6-10pm, Sat 5:30-10pm
Phone: (03) 9654 8933

Check out Kenzan Kenzan Menu

13. KOMEYUI Melbourne

Almost more of an art form than a meal, KOMEYUI re-invents traditional Japanese dishes to create a unique, unforgettable sensory experience. With dishes that look so good, you’d be forgiven for feeling like a crime to dig in, but the aromas will tell you otherwise. We recommend trying the chef’s tasting menu for the full experience, some standouts include the steamed scampi and josper-grilled miso-marinated duck breast, all paired wine the finest selection of sake, of course.

Address: 181 Ferrars St, Southbank VIC 3006
Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm & 5:30-10pm
Phone: (03) 9645 5420

Check out KOMEYUI KOMEYUI Menu

14. Yugen Dining

An underground bar and dining experience like nothing else, Yugen Dining exists on an entirely different playing field. Whether it’s the six-seat mezzanine omakase bar, the considered dishes, bold flavours, and the sizzling accent of umami in the lower dining room, or the eight-seat golden orb, the six-metre-high stone walls and industrial interiors of Yugen Dining are where great things happen. The food and drinks don’t take a backseat to the ambience, either — menu standouts include the pork, beef and chicken skewers, the special fried rice and the raw king salmon with green apple, salmon roe, puffed rice and sudachi vinaigrette. They even gave a late-night supper menu for those who can’t seem to leave (we’ve been there.)

Address: 605 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141
Hours: Wed-Thur 6-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-1am, Sun 6-11:30pm
Phone: (03) 7000 3232

Check out Yugen Dining Yugen Dining Menu

15. Tokyo Tina

In the hyper-serious world of food culture, it’s always refreshing to encounter a restaurant that kicks back and has a little fun while nevertheless serving killer eats. In that regard, Tokyo Tina duly abides. Inspired by the street food and visuals of Japan, this wildly popular destination keeps the atmosphere festive and the bites tasty, saving any overwrought intensity for the kitchen. Try the DIY pork belly bao with pickled daikon, teriyaki, and kewpie.

Address: 66A Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181
Hours: Mon-Thur 5-10pm, Fri 12-4pm & 5-10pm
Phone: (03) 9525 2774

Check out Tokyo Tina Tokyo Tina Menu

16. Shoya Japanese Restaurant

Between Shoya’s whopping six levels, you’ll find pretty much everything you can think of, including some the best Japanese Melbourne has to offer. You’ll also cop karaoke, fine dining, casual lunches, omakase dinners, full bars, fresh sushi and expertly grilled meats as well. Needless to say, this award-winning palace of degustation begs to be discovered many times over.

Address: 25 Market Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Hours: Wed-Fri & Sun 12-2pm & 6-9:30pm, Sat 12-2 & 5:30-9:30pm
Phone: (03) 9650 0848

Check out Shoya Shoya Menu

17. Nobu

No restaurant is more synonymous with sexy, upscale Japanese dining than Nobu, and their Melbourne outpost is no exception. Located in the Crown Casino, the renowned hotspot delivers a brilliant ambience, gorgeous people and delectable Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine. The result is an epicurean experience that’s firing on all cylinders, and naturally one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.

Address: Crown Riverwalk, Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
Hours: Mon-Thur 12-3pm & 6-10pm, Fri-Sat 3-11pm, Sun 3-10pm
Phone: (03) 9292 5777

Check out Nobu Nobu Menu

18. Sake Restaurant and Bar

Along with sister locations in cities like Sydney, Melbourne’s perennially popular Sake Restaurants have modern dining down to a science. However, don’t take that global franchise potential to mean the food here isn’t spectacular. Indeed, people flock from near and far to try Sake’s array of Japanese fusion dishes while sucking down delicious cocktails. The Hammer Hall location doubles down on indulgence by way of stunning glass walls and riverside views.

Address: 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank VIC 3004
Hours: Tue-Thur 5:30-9pm, Fri 12-3pm & 5:30-9:30pm, Sat 12-3pm & 5-9:30pm, Sun 12-3pm & 5-8:30pm
Phone: (03) 9119 4799

Check out Sake Sake Menu

19. Tempura Hajime

Gaining entry to Tempura Hajime is kind of like getting into a secret society, and the experience once inside is no less sacrosanct. Take a seat and let Shigeo Yoshihara seduce your taste buds one dish at a time. We can’t go past the Ten-don these guys do, which is a selection of vegetable and seafood tempura on steamed rice with teriyaki sauce on top, served with miso soup and salad.

Address: 60 Park St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Hours: Tue 6-9:30pm, Wed-Thur 12-2pm & 6-9:30pm, Fri 12-2pm & 5:30-10pm, Sat 5:30-10pm
Phone: (03) 9696 0051

Check out Tempura Hajime Tempura Hajime Menu

20. Eazy Peazy

Expect a thriving yakitori menu with wings and salty yuzu spice, paired with some charred leek and miso barramundi. Eazy Peazy is one of the coolest and best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. What’s more, this eatery also has a pretty great beverage menu, so why not make a whole night out of it?

Address: 108 Swan St, Richmond VIC 3121
Hours: Mon-Thur 12-3pm & 5-9:30pm, Fri 12-3pm & 5-10pm, Sat 5-10pm, Sun 5-8:30pm
Phone: (03) 9965 1977

Check out Eazy Peazy Eazy Peazy Menu

21. Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake

This small, intimate spot reminds us of the traditional ramen bars you would expect to find in Tokyo, which is one of the main reasons we love it, running in a close second to the delicious ramen that’s served here. They serve up bento boxes for a quick and easy lunch, but, it is the ramen that’s the star of the show here. Choose from chicken breast, pork belly or spicy pork mince, in a slow-cooked chicken broth with noodles. Wash it down with sake, matcha tea or a cocktail — the Nashi paired with nashi pear sake, cinnamon whiskey, lemon, and sugar is our go-to.

Address: 6A Anchor Pl, Prahran VIC 3181
Hours: Wed-Sum 12-3pm & 5:30-10pm
Phone: (03) 9533 2218

Check out Yoku Ono Yoku Ono Menu

22. Machi

Serving up traditional Japanese dishes with a creative flare, in a moody, minimalist space, Machi is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. On the menu, you will find a selection of Japanese ‘tapas’, think age dashi tofu, eggplant chips and gyoza, as well as signature machi tacos (our recommendation) and maki rolls, sashimi, nigiri and a selection of platters to share. They have a decent selection of vegetarian options, without forgetting about the meat-eaters, too.

Address: 14 Inkerman St, St Kilda VIC 3182
Hours: Tue-Thur 5-9pm, Fri-Sun 12-2pm & 5-9pm
Phone: (03) 9534 5000

Check out Machi Machi Menu

Key Things to Consider for Melbourne’s Japanese Restaurants

The important factors to keep in mind when deciding where to go:

• Price – how expensive is your food/drinks.
• Variation – menu variety and ability to make changes when needed.
• Location – whether that be in the center of all the action or somewhere quaint and quiet.
• Service – good service makes the experience at a restaurant that much more enjoyable.

Alternatives to Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne

If you’re looking for other things to do in and around Melbourne, we’ve got you covered with some of the options listed below. You can also check out our list of Fun Thing To Do in Melbourne. If you’re looking for a more specific cuisine, check out our list of Best Mexican Restaurants in Melbourne or the Best Italian Restaurants in Melbourne. If you’re full, we can also help you with your search for the best vintage clothes with our list of the Best Op Shops in Melbourne for Vintage Clothes or show you the Best Beaches in Melbourne for Surfing and Swimming.

Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne FAQs

What is the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne?

While there are a number of great Japanese restaurants in Melbourne, Minamishima is the highest rated on Google.

What suburb is the best for Japanese restaurants?

The Melbourne CBD has the highest concentration of Japanese restaurants, particularly around Flinders Lane.

Where can you get the best ramen in Melbourne?

Fitzroy's Neko Neko is the highest rated ramen bar in Melbourne, but there are many great options, particularly in the Melbourne CBD.

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