🇯🇵 japanese food
🍱 breakfast set
🍣 chirashi
🏚: Wabi Sabi Salon
📍: Collingwood
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📝: Small little Japanese style diner in Collingwood, serving delicious Japanese Teishoku sets and dishes. Definitely a must try for Japanese food lovers out there.
❤️: I ordered the Japanese Breakfast Set, a salmon main whith so many side dishes—too many too count! There was beef shabu shabu, onsen egg, natto, and so much more.
So obsessed with how cute the set is, with so many side dishes to eat with. Loved the teriyaki salmon, of course, the main course, but I’d also like to shout out for the mushroom tofu side, a little crispy on the outside but soft and tasty inside.
I love Wabi Sabi so much! It's healthy and fun and colourful and so tasty. The food is wholesome and affordable for what you get. I recently got a Bento to take away, which isn't composed like a Bento but contains various elements (black rice, crumbed tofu, pickled veg) that could define it as such. Curry on top is optional but highly recommended. Each element on its own has such great flavour already but the combo is even better. For $12, it made a super filling and satisfying lunch.
This place has very similar if not the same menu as Neko Neko but somehow the food here tasted better, perhaps made with more TLC.
Vegan dumplings and spicy ramen were delicious!!
Agedashi tofu and mushroom on rice were also very tasty.
Will definitely be back for more.
Service was very friendly and inviting even though we had to queue on a Sat night, expected after 7pm.
Tried two of the ramens there. The tofu one and the shoyu shickoji one. The Tofu one was great , I really enjoyed it, quite spicy which I like.
the other one was quite bland but I guess some people enjoy that as my friend didn't mind it. The edamame s were very cold and tasteless though , about more salt or something would have helped.
The service was quick and staff were helpful.
Loved the ambience and the food. Been there twice and was extremely satisfied with both the food and the service on both occasions. The jap curry was delicious and so was the teishoku. Would definitely go back again.
The Wandering Reviewer
+4
A late night supper here and it was superb. Seated at a lovely crafted timber table with the restaurant still sprinkled with diners on a Tuesday night, we chose food without really knowing what we were ordering. The lovely staff gave us some guidance but it was still pot luck. And we struck gold. I had a lovely noodle broth with vegetables. My friend chose a dish that looked superb. Alas no photos of the meals because frankly on this occasion, it would've been inappropriate.
Staff are so lovely with excellent English and know the menu inside out. Nice red wine and good beer as well.
Wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly. Parking out the front is limitless after 6.3pm. A must visit.
Wabi sabi salon in Collingwood. I am really into this small cosy cafe or restaurant. Give you a unique Japanese fusion and like something you won’t experience in Japan. I like their lunch mini bento box and poke bowl. Prawn Gyoza is a bit salty to me but I know that Japanese do eat strong and salty food thus gyoza is not always type.
The food and service is really good here. I got the tempura mushroom dinner bento and the veg gyoza. However I feel they're a bit overpriced, especially when it's not a fancy place, we had to sit at a communal table. I'll definitely come back though as it was all delicious.
Wabi Sabi has completely changed the way I view Japanese food, these guys definitely know how to put on a feast! With a great selection of vegan options there is no way you can leave this place hungry. The atmosphere is lovely and they have an adorable little outside area that is great for warmer days. My favourite dishes here were the Shoyu Shio Koji Ramen and the Vegan Heaven Curry. I will definitely be coming back to this place for another feast soon. *sponsored free meal
The food was amazing. I dont usually eat sashimi and I'm now a convert. Second time I've ever eaten ramen and such a standard has been set that I think I need to drive to Smith St everytime I get a ramen craving now! Flavours of everything were amazing.
Wabi Sabi Salon has recently updated its menu so I was keen to visit. The offering skews vegan and pescatarian, with four types of ramen (three of them vegan!), donburi, Japanese curries, and various traditional delights (agedashi tofu, miso eggplant, tempura etc). I tried the tan tan ramen which was spicy, creamy, sesame-y, and delicious, packed with noodles and crowned with a few choice vegetables. The portion was huge and I struggled to finish it. For dessert, we tried the frozen yuzu pudding (great!) and the matcha mille crepes with red bean (sadly the vegan cream filling tasted strongly of margarine). Keen to go back to try more of the meals as everything looked amazing!
3066Wabi Sabi Salon was well located for our Friday evening plans, we'd booked a table which turned out to have been a good move as it was pretty busy when we arrived at around 8pm. Inside the typical Smith St storefront the interior sloping 'roofs' provided a Japanese touch and a cosy feel. Out the back there was also a small courtyard area that was also busy with a group of diners.
We came as a group and they put us in a nice area at the courtyard (covered with heater on). Friendly service from the moment we walked in. I don't normally get food envy but couldn't help myself as they brought out the dishes one by one. It's not your "typical" Japanese restaurant, but it's fresh, modern and I'll definitely come back to try more dishes.
Because I had wanted to try Wabi Sabi a long time before they closed for renovation, I came here with no holds barred when it finally re-opened and ended up ordering A LOT of food. The highlight of the night was definitely the tempura prawns with green curry mayo. The mayo was so deep in flavour; it was very exciting for us curry fans. We also really enjoyed the dessert, a kind of amazake gelato with a yuzu dressing. The wait staff were also very friendly. We really enjoyed our night - thanks Wabi Sabi!
Now the team from Neko Neko, still a fave are doing wonders at this place. As a vegan I find lots to choose from and all of it delicious. No really I haven’t had an ordinary dish yet.
Love the noodles here. The broth has a rich yet subtle flavour and the atmosphere is very nice. We have had lots of team lunches here and the service is friendly.
Came here to try the newly revamped Wabi Sabi and was not disappointed! The new menu appears to have more choices I'd want to eat and on this occasion tried the Poke bowl which was so refreshing and delicious. Would easily return to try the other dishes (hopefully just as good too) or just come back for the Poke bowl. Interior looks good too.
Plenty of vegetarian/vegan options.
The tempura, tofu and tempeh salad and ramen were all super yummy!!
Very reasonably priced.
Highly recommend!
The dishes were tasty and flavour packed with an attention to detail. I loved the cosy woodsy traditional Japanese decor, I didn't feel like I was in Melbourne. Staff were friendly and helpful.
One of the most expensive lunch bento box I have experienced. Simple work only a few pieces of tuna. Presentation is elegant. Despite first impression of not enough to eat. The cut of tuna with fresh wasabi dressing was simply sublime. Perfect serve on a cool late showing afternoon. If you have big appetite this bento is not enough.
Let’s continue our culinary journey on Smith Street and we come across yet another Japanese restaurant. This cozy eatery with its indoor wooden huts and the most adorable mini Japanese garden out back, provides a traditional and quaint atmosphere whilst serving a modern menu with “authentic home style and fusion Japanese cuisine”.
This place is the perfect amount of japanese boho kitsch and the food is amazing. Can never go past the tuna sashimi salad and the beef tataki - seriously tasty business. Love this place.
Wabi Sabi salon presented beautiful insta-worthy meals. I had chicken katsudon, it was a little bit cold, but I think this could be because they were trying to bring all the food out together. All meals took a while to arrive, especially ramen. However, ramen had lots of ingredients in it and everyone enjoyed their meal.
You might be able to find a kitten at the back (on the way to toilet) if you are a cat lover, this kitty was there the whole time we were eating😍
I would say overall an average Japanese restaurant.
Kaarage was not as crispy as I like kaarage to be. Mushroom Bento was delicious and the black cod was very flavoursome although the Bento was not great value, would have preferred to have just ordered the dish by itself with rice separately. Will be back to try the swordfish kaarage main.
You get a good Japanese curry for about $20. You generally can't go wrong with a katsu and even though it's good it could be a little bit bigger.
Great food and wonderful experience . The waiters are very accommodative . We are strict vegetarians and they changed our order to minus eggs and add tofu
Wabi Sabi is an authentic and cosy Japanese restaurant in Collingwood. Service was great and there is an outdoor seating which is perfect for larger groups.
I had the Japanese curry with panko chicken. It was delicious, flavoursome and a very generous portion! 😋
This Diner Is Anonymous
+4
There are plenty of ramen options on Smith Street alone, but this place is a decent pick. The sweet potato chips were an absolute delight - the creamy sauce that they're served with is lemony fresh and without peer. My friend was a little bemused by his bento box - half of the tray he could have gone without, the other half he loved. My shoyu ramen was creamy and delicious, but a little too heavy. The place was packed and buzzing, though acoustics are a little challenging when it was so busy. Overall, a lovely night out.
A Fresh take on Modern Japanese Food!
This place was on the list and we decided to go and take a look, we arrive and the place was full except for the corn yard at the back so opted to sit out there as it was a nice summers evening!
The Menus came and so much to choose from, all the dishes sounding amazing so we ordered a few dishes to share. It was a while ago so i do not remember the exact dishes however they were all amazing. Perfectly cooked Wagu Beef fresh and left going back for more simply melt in the mouth. The Chicken warped in a crispy skin was also a very high quality dish and my favorite of the night server with a beetroot sauce. Another Dish we ordered was the lots flower i was a bit hesitant but it surprise me fresh crunchy and a great slaw to help eat it.
The service here was great and the fresh modern menu was just wonderful, id go back here for sure to sample some more delicious Food.
Restaurant Type: Modern Asian/ Japanese
Belle Eats Melbourne
+4.5
One of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne. Great atmosphere and food, a bit pricey is the only downside. Service is also pretty good. Highly recommend
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I went to Wabi Sabi Salon after Neko Neko couldn't fit my group in. Luckily they let us book the beautiful outside area that has a mini Japanese garden! It was very lovely and tranquil eating and drinking in that area. I would definitely recommend trying to get a seat outside of you go to Wabi Sabi - it really adds to the experience.
Customer service was very good. They explained the daily specials very well. I ended up ordering the sparkling sake and the Mushroom sushi special. Wabi Sabi the Mushroom sushi shouldn't be a special, it should be on the main menu guys! Seriously that was some of the best sushi I've had in Australia since returning from Japan! I'm so happy that they made something so fresh. This dish is perfect for vegetarians and it certainly doesn't lack any flavour. There's lots of wasabi on the mushroom sushi though so prepare for a lot of heat!! I liked that they used lots of different types of mushrooms and were able to create 3 different unique sushi flavours. The only downside was that the sushi probably wouldn't be enough to fill you up so I would suggest customers to order some sushi to share as a side dish and then order a larger meal. For those looking for a more filling meal I would recommend the ramen or one of the bento boxes. The bento boxes look so pretty!
They also sell sweet potato fries here which really surprised me! Apparently they tasted really nice.
I think I would really return here - would definitely be my go to place for sushi in Melbourne.
Such a cute atmosphere. The back area is nice when the weather is good. The sashimi slices were tiny but the black cod with saikyo miso was one of the best Japanese dishes I've had here! I am Japanese and it made me miss home! Please try.
I always delight when I find an authentic Japanese eatery just like this one. Lunch on Sunday here was wonderfully relaxing. I enjoyed the gozen, it was a surprise box of deliciousness, laden with thoughtfully prepared pickles and condiments. Their desserts were just as excellent, matcha creme brûlée was amazing and their matcha cheese cake perfectly paired with black sesame ice cream. Service is very attentive.
I recently attended a friend’s wedding that was catered by Wabi Sabi Restaurant. So here is my review for the catering component as I have yet to dine at the restaurant itself in Collingwood. I understand Wabi Sabi create more of an authentic home style and fusion Japanese style of cuisine – just as you would find in Japan! Boy do I miss Japan. The menu of the evening was extensive. I can see the banquet on offered would be great for sharing however we got them as individual plates per courses.
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Came here with 6 people for mums bday.
This place is nestled in with a stack of awesome restaurants next to it, so it has to be good otherwise it wouldn't survive.
Firstly, Japanese restaurants are usually run by Chinese, gladly this is run be authentic Japanese whom know what they are doing.
We ordered bento boxes and several sides dishes as below.
Bento boxes:
Black cod- this is a must have. Cooked perfectly with the sticky sweet outside skin with tendor flesh yum!
Sword fish- deep fried with crispy corn batter. Omg to die for, crispy outside and tendor flesh!
Wagyu meat balls- this is really disappointing, because the Wagyu is cooked well done, you can't tell if the meat is wagyu and it loses its grade. It might as well be normal beef mince.
Side diahes:
Tuna salad - omg so many flavours, sweet, tangy and citrusy
Beef tataki - quickly charcoaled in a mayonnaise sauce. Still raw, tendor and just soo good
Tempura prawns and gyoza. All well good!
Really happy except for my wagyu meat balls which I do not recommend. 4.5 stars
Wabi sabi! What a great institution on smith street when you want to get Japanese food. Came here the other night, and got their Grilled Black Cod dinner gozen. The presentation of the food was amazing, and each component was tasty, and I felt more and more healthy as I ate it. Service has always been fantastic, you feel calmer, happier just being there. If you don't want to spend $28 for a meal at night, consider dropping in quickly to grab a couple of sushi rolls at lunch - they are definitely close to the high standards that Kenzan at GPO set for sushi in Melbourne.
Always a fan of Japanese food .... especially a quirky one.
This place is exactly that, once you go inside as first impression doesn't give you much.
Food wise, on the middle echelon of set Bento prices (lunch), good quality and well cooked.
Great service and very enjoyable Japanese dining experience.
I can't tell you about the rest of the menu, and I'm not sure I'll ever know, because when I return here to eat again, I'm not sure I can order anything other than the black cod meal plate. The other tiny bits and bobs were nice enough, and the minty drink was potable if somewhat too sugary. But. That. Cod.
I'm very confused with how to proceed in eating my small, dainty meal with lots of sections but luckily it tastes good. There are a lot of vegan options here.
Love this spot to get a bento, they are always top qual. Here, you get options of meat, fish or veggie bentos and I have had all types and they're all great. These change seasonally, which will keep your palate saucy. I feel like the prices are good here, relatively affordable.
Had the agedashi tofu and eggplant bento and really enjoyed it. It was vegan but you'd never know- full of flavours and versatility. The tofu was in a thicker sauce than the thin one I was expecting, but that was actually preferable as it was easier to enjoy with the rice. We also had the edamame croquette curry which was very delicious, too!
Prices were appropriate for dinner and the staff were very friendly and accomodating, particularly the man who helpfully moved us to another table when we gained an extra guest.
Thank you.
My favourite Japanese place here in Melbourne land is Wabi Sabi Salon. They have an inventive, interesting menu that delights the tastebuds with modern Japanese cuisine. Lunch is a little different of an experience to dinner, and I went for the katsu bento box with my flatmate whilst we were hunting for a house in Collywood. Fresh, interesting tastes and textures with all items presented well. Great homemade pickles. They have an adorable outdoor seating area although the inside and toilets can be a little cramped at times. How Japan!
Not so traditional but very delicious. Crispy agedashi tofu with intense umami sauce and crunch of fresh daikon strips. The slightly seared ocean trout sushi was melt in your mouth with the slightest smoke flavor.
Loved their food. Wagyu is tender and great. Deep fried chicken is very juicy which I would say it's one of the best I ever had in Melbourne. But their nigiri is only average. And their mushroom is a bit too sweet for me. Would definitely come back!
Expensive Delicious Habit.
+3.5
A couple of weeks ago, I went to Wabi Sabi Salon for the first time. This day had torrential downpour and we were seated in the quaint 'outside room' at Wabi Sabi. Quite an experience! I chose the seafood bento box of the day. A very unique place- no Japanese curry made from a packet here.
Fantastic food, some of the best Japanese I've had in Australia. Great service and lots of different traditional options on the menu. The $25 dinner bento box was really good value for money. I'll be back.
Took me by surprise that this Japanese Fusion cuisine has quite a large serving!
I'm usually not a fan of fusion cuisines, but I have to say, Wabi Sabi salon is doing rather well, mixing Jap and Western flavours into a modern jap dish. Also, the nice ambience in the courtyard really helped!
Melbourniancritic (The Melbourne Experience)
+4.5
Feel like you've been transported to Tokyo as you walk through the doors of this charming eclectic Japanese restaurant. Their menu offers a great variety of authentic Japanese cuisine, that include sashimi plates, sushi nigiri, wagyu options, Japanese style burgers, Japanese curries, sashimi carpaccio, noodle dishes, salads, bento boxes & so much more.
Photo credit: Wabi Sabi Salon
A great place to stop for lunch! We ordered the sashimi lunch plate and the teriyaki chicken. I really wanted the bento but wasn't keen on deep fried pork belly. Great portions and sensational flavours! The tuna sashimi was an absolute standout!
A group of 8 in a busy Friday night and we all were really satisfied with the food and service. All dishes were very tasty, unique and nicely served with reasonable proportions for the price.
If you loved your eating experiences in Japan (generous services, multiple components, weird and wonderful) then tada! Wabi Sabi is the closest thing I have experienced. I had a vegetarian pack of some sort and it was awesome. Would eat it everyday if I lived closer to Smith st. Keen to go back and try their bento box which is super good value. FINALLY, staff are LOVELY and look after you well
Good value for money. Had the meat bento which was pork today and it was juicy and tender. Love all the pickles that come with the bento too.
First time eating here last nice and I'm wrapped to have found another gem of a restaurant. Our waiter was fantastic, full of jokes and entertaining. We started with the pork belly buns - soft, light, light bun with melt in your mouth marinated pork belly. Followed with delicious, fresh Salmon sashimi in a zesty orange vinegarette, Wagu beef sashimi, roasted sweet potato chips and perfectly seared pan-fried scallops. With enough food to fill 4 of us, plus 2 bottles of wine, we were happily surprised for the bill to come in under $300
Came here for lunch on Monday and got the meat don lunch set. I have to say it was really delicious. I got the crispy chicken as that was the meat option on the day. It was crispy and the Mayo wth it was delicious. I only wished there was a little bit more rice and side dishes. But other than that, the meal was good and the price was reasonable. The service is really good too. I don't think my water cup was ever empty.
Wabi Sabi lunch considered of my chicken teriyaki and husbands' bento box. My chicken was really nice and tender, teriyaki was spot on. Bento box also came with a side of Miso soup. Very enjoyable Japanese lunch.
Very solid Japanese restaurant with good food. There is a cool outdoor seating area as well. Service was okay. Reasonably priced as well.
Went here for a friend's birthday and had a really good lunch experience. Dishes were varied, interesting but most importantly, very tasty. Staff were friendly and the interior decor was kind of quirky but in a good way
Good Japanese, with a sizeable with many standard dishes having an interesting twist. Quirky but pleasing interior with an interesting set up. Includes a few tables on busy Smith Street, and some traditional floor seating out the back in a cute little rear courtyard. Staffing is pleasant if the quality of service somewhat variable
Wabi Sabi is certainly not a cheap Japanese option for dinner, although with the type and quality of ingredients this is not unusual. Lunch on the other hard is far more reasonably priced, and they do a bustling trade in takeaway handrolls from the front counter as well. Has remained consistently good throughout its life.
Worth a visit.
Love this place so much! Best atmosphere, delicious fresh food. My favourite this to have here is the raw wagyu! Definitely give it a try if you don't mind the raw feel :)
Stepped into a different country, a different time altogether, when I entered Wabi Sabi. Having spent some time living in Japan, Wabi Sabi felt authentic with its traditional interior decor juxtaposed with the modern art pieces (including a print from Shohei Otomo) on the wall. The backyard is beautiful too. Food and service are also great. Ichiban!
Had to wait a little for takeaway and they sat me down at a table with a beer. The atmosphere is great and the chicken teriyaki don was a delight - well worth the wait.
I think the best ramen I have had in Australia.
Very relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff :-) I really like their interesting selection of sushi! The only thing is that I don't like the style of miso they serve - too vinegary for my taste :-(
The World Loves Melbourne
+4.5
Loved the lunch bento box with terriyaki chicken – it was amazing. Some quality Japanese rice and Japanese salad plus pickled vegetables and excellent chicken.
I don't eat sushi, so this isn't the place for me! But I went along with a mate, and he declared it to be good. It's on good old Smith St in Collingwood, so we walked up there from my place.
White fish tempura bento; the fish was really fresh and I was really happy that they weren't dripping with oil! The portion of the bento was jus
While some of the food may not have been complete winners for me, the atmosphere and the service did completely win me over, it's so nice to be able to go somewhere quiet once in a while.
Yummy!!. Everything was yummy! Prawn tempura, salmon sashimi, wagyu wrap, ocean trout sushi, all for a reasonable price. Will come back and recommend.
Authentic Japanese food, friendly attentive service and reasonable prices. Our party of five ate here last night and all were impressed with the expertly prepared and presented delicious food and the friendly professional timely service. One of our group had lived in Japan recently and reported the food and experience here was very similar to that which you'd find in Japan, where most people eat out every night. I loved the food here and there were many dishes I had not previously encountered in Japanese restaurants. There was none of that tired old knife wizardry where you sit with a bib on while some clown tries to propel a prawn into your mouth from the teppanyaki grill, and the prices here are very reasonable.
Great atmosphere and pretty good food.. Have been a few times for lunch. Has a great atmosphere, is run by some friendly young Japanese women. There is a take away selection at the front (sushi and bento) but you can also eat this food inside for no extra charge (it's cheaper) with a nice $1 extra miso soup option. Their miso is good, quite rustic in taste but with quite a few veges and not oversalted. Also cool music (thus far I have heard reggae and enka) that is played softly in the background - I wish more venues would do this rather than blasting loud crappy generic house music and the like!!!
Yum yum yum! Every dish we had was super tasty and delish and a little different to the normal japanese u get everywhere. Service was great and pricess were ok. Only downfall one of our mains took ages to come out, not sure if they forgot it or bodged it but it was very late. Saying that, we would definitely go again.
Do yourself a favour.. Wabi Sabi Salon is wonderful. The Agadashi tofu is delicious and their rice paper rolls are to die for. Do you yourself a favour and try the pork belly or salmon kind and of course if you can, be sure to share a sake!
Love the plum wine, & weekday bento box specials.
Solid. Set course menu surprisingly good value - and substantial
Good food
Good atmosphere and service
Will return
Great food and service. We ate here on Saturday evening with our daughter and her boyfriend and on a warm Melbourne night eating in the rear courtyard was great. The food was loved by all and the service was fantastic. The guys loved the daily special sashimi platter and wagu carpaccio
Incredible bento box! Staff were lovely and accommodating. Seriously, the bento box was amazing.
Sunday special of ramen was great to warm me up on a cold winter day beautifully taste broth with melt in the mouth pork well worth it . Heading back on a Sunday soon.
So delicious! I just loved it. The pork belly dish is phenomenal as is the soba noodle salad.
Love their sushi rollsss. Best sushi roll I have had, other dishes are okay and healthy. But the miso soup can be quite tasteless sometimes.
Mmm mmm. Lots of yum vego options.
Great and a bit different. This restaurant is a winner. Try it and be a bit adventurous in what you order.
Wabi Sabi, hai!. Amazing experience at Wvabi Sabi Salon. We tried the Omakase set, with five courses for $45. It began with sashimi, the kingfish was a standout. An average and not spicy, spicy crumbed squid followed, accompanied with a sublime tempura soft shell crab, with an amazing dipping sauce. Next, was a wagyu wrap, really like Peking duck, it was sensational. A refreshing soba salad with sesame dressing followed this, followed by yet another course.. Tis time of panko crumbed chicken. It was fine, but i recommend avoiding the crumbed dishes, everything else was amazing, and there are many other things worth trying. The staff were lovely, and incredibly diligent with watering! Great value.
Had lunch in the outside area. Group of 10 and kids. Nice food, good service. Will be back. Thanks.
Went here with my wife for dinner. Great flavours with fresh ingredients and service was pretty good. Pork belly was perhaps a little overcooked compared to last time we were here but still very nice. Drink special during happy hour made the overall bill hurt a bit less.
Great tasting dinner with authentic Japanese flavours despite portions on the small size. Great Jap beer selection and friendly service. Highly recommended.
Great service- fresh food that is full of flavour- amazing soba noodle salad
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! What more can I say? Had the Fish Bento with Miso Soup and also an Asahi... was nice and cold and just capped off an amazing dining experience. Thank you!
Been here a few times - easy to spend too much but having lived in Japan for abt 7 years I find it the closest to what I experienced in Japan regarding atmosphere - I even asked the kitchen staff for a special order which they did!
Expensive but tasty. Finally get a chance to try out this restaurant, it was monday night and the place was quite empty (which I think is acceptable for a mon dinner). I came with a friend and he booked the back private table which is uber cool. Ambiance and music are nice, perfectly complemented the whole dining experience.
Ordered King Fish sashimi, Ocean trout & Scallop sushi, Duck breast, Stuffed chicken wings with pork gyoza, Tender pork belly kakuni, and Meatball sukiyaki.
All the foods are sensational, but I should say the outstanding dishes would be their Kingfish sashimi, Stuffed chicken wings and duck breast. Sushi was fresh and tasty I love them as well.
To wrap up the dinner, we ordered pear creme brulee with red bean ice cream and green tea cheese cake.
Creme brulee didn't really taste like pear and the cheese cake was just so - so.
We had a great night here last week. We had the entire restaurant booked and ordered a banquet. The staff were very sweet, only slightly slow w drinks but there were 35 of us! The dishes were very well timed and most importantly delicious! Tempura, sashimi, home styley fish stew.... Ive eaten here many times over the years and the quality has stayed really high. Highly recommended
Quality japanese food you cant fault. I am very impressed with the decor, service and food. Despite being seated in a separate but cosy shed at the back, we were well attended to. Food was light and very appetising... which was why even after a selection of dishes, we felt like we've only just started. Be wary that the portion is small for the price - but it's made up for by the quality and sincere service. Good to share with friends so you can get a good mix of everything.
I would recommend the wagyu bruschetta, duck breast 2way, pork belly, flounder, smoked trout special... oishii! I will return for more authentic Japanese food.
The Worst atmosphere. I was told to sit next to my husband and to sit in front of complete strangers, and the other strangers squeezed in right next to me (like shoulders almost touching!) Actually the waiters were quite friendly and they apologized that making people sit in this "stuffing table" is what they are forced to do by the owner of the restaurant and they can't do anything at the moment. Anyhow, I remember the food was ok, but the atmosphere there was too uncomfortable to destroy all the impression of the food. To someone who still want to visit this restaurant, I strongly recommend to request the table in front area (this "stuffing table" is at the backyard area), otherwise you will have the worst Japanese restaurant experience.
A unique and modern approach to Japanese cuisine. We tried 5 dishes and desert, all of which were sensational. Love it, love it, love it.
Great all round. Was brought here on the recommendation that it was the 'best Japanese in Melbourne' and can say that it's not too far from that. I ordered the sashimi and it was fresh and absolutely delicious. Staff were lovely. Setting is also lovely and reminds me of some of the places I ate at in Japan. My only nit pick (which is minor) is that the wooden table down the back is uneven and therefore uncomfortable. It's not the cheapest but then it's not your average Japanese place. I love it!
Food is amazing. But we sat out the back and it stank like a sewer.
Food and service were lovely as always, but it is hard to eat here with a group (we were 8), especially with the new summer menu. Items are too expensive to really qualify as tapas, but too small and specific to comprise one persons meal. We shared one of almost everything and ended up fullish, but one bite of Wabi Sabi's beautiful dishes just isn't satisfying! Would prefer to come here with two or three people next time.
It's one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. The decor is rustic and the little courtyard is beautiful. I always order the lotus root and some plum wine. It's a little pricey but the food is delicious.
Loved the salad. The sesame dressing salad is my favourite. Very fast service but a little bit pricey.
Yum!. We tried this place on a whim... Loved it! Exactly what we felt like - Fresh and generous serves.
We loved sharing the massive vegie and tofu salad :) Lovely brown rice tea!
I imagine that I will definitely be going back here again.
Fantastic Japanese!. Rated best Japanese Restaurant in Victoria 2010 in the Restaurant and catering awards, this place is a little hidden gem! Outdoor garden, fantastic original menu with both the choice of Tapas style or traditional courses. Highly recommend the Sashimi Salad!
Great sushi. Favourite place for a quick lunch - great spicy salmon hand rolls. And only $2.50.
Amazing place - food is delectable, service is outstanding and the traditional Japanese decor is great. Don't sit upstairs though - gets far too hot. I also didn't think the banquet was value for money.
One of my favourites. I *love* this restaurant. A wonderfully original japanese menu, and *great* for vegetarians too. The seaweed salad is scrumptious. The staff are lovely - japanese surfer sorts! Love it. Highly recommended.
Good food and relexing atmosphere! Especially the Yellowtail salad and the wagu sushi are stunning!
This is one of the best Japanese I've ever had. Salmon and avocado was great, tempura flounder was ok, pork belly pie was so intense and duck breast was amazing! The plum sauce combined with orange sauce left me speechless. And the dessert was also great. Will definitely go back.
Fresh and tasty jap with a twist. Wabi Sabi is not your average Japanese joint, and has a refreshing menu of fresh, light and slightly quirky dishes. Service is always fast and friendly too. It's a regular lunchtime haunt for our office, with a takeaway deal a ripper (two yummy rolls and a miso for $6).
Japanese eatery wait staff who are actually Japanese? Priceless. Great warm sake and super cute bentos.
Great creative dishes. Reasonable prices. Good seasonal selections.
You could do much worse than a visit to this quirky Japanese cafe who can lay claim to an amazing signature dish. I'd gladly eat just this - Wagyu Beef Sushi - mmmmm.
It was four years ago since we came here and the food this time was much improved from the previous experience. The menu is designed for sharing but is much smaller than I remembered so it didn't take long to order.
Regardless, we enjoyed some flavoursome dishes that woke up the tastebuds. The memorable offerings were the Pumpkin Stuffed Mushrooms, Prawn Buckwheat Tempura with a delectable apple cream mayo and the Salmon Sashimi Cerviche.
The three of us were uncomfortably squeezed onto one of the tiny tables in the main room. They wanted to serve more dishes but we had no space left. The lady moved us into the covered garden area at the back, which was nearly empty.
Staff were friendly and helpful throughout the visit. The portion sizes were quite small for the price and we went elsewhere afterwards for dessert. Both visits had some hits and misses but definitely improved from last time.
Overall good experience. Dishes looked fancy. The salmon sashimi was a bit too salty, which made the following dishes tasted plain... Vegetarian katsu curry was undesirably sweet... Disappointed that the menu got much smaller.
Looks a small restaurant from the street, but actually quiet large as there are other areas.
The service was great, especially the waitress, exceptionally good ather job.
Food was great as well
My friend and I enjoyed vegetarian lunch there. Our dishes were nice and colourful with a variety of vegetables. The staff were very friendly and helpful and we received excellent service.
Took my partner on a date night here, booked online noting allergies and that I didn't want to be near the door. When we arrived she clarified my allergies without mentioning it and we were sat on the mezzanine level which I found really cute. The service was friendly, bubbly even, the waitress was really lovely, listened and made great recommendations. Had beef tatake, salmon ceviche, chicken karage and pork gyoza - all very good. The only small nitpick is I would've liked salt on my edamame. Cost for two (with cokes not alcohol) was just under a hundred.
Oh my goodness, the service here was lovely! The food was equally great, price was reasonably cheap for the portion we received. Saving this as one of my favourite restaurants! :)
Spent a week in Melbourne and this was the best restaurant out of all of them. Interior is quirky and clean, staff are polite and service is quick. The food offerings are the best of all, and worth the trek out of the city. Still very much traditional Japanese flavours and offerings with their own signature twists.
Was most impressed by the tofu katsu curry, but the chicken karaage was great too! Highly recommend.
Great food, a lot of choices for all diets and really well priced, lovely staff… it gets a bit crowded and can be really noisy, great for quick dinners.
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