Review Peko Peko - Fitzroy

Yummy food, nice staff, great street side dining. Interesting wine glass selection!! 🤣

Love this Japanese diner on Smith Street. Nice mix of traditional Japanese foods. Each dish was tasty and good value. It can be busy which makes inside a little loud however the endearing outside was comfortable. Recommended.

A nice little eatery with a large table seating for bigger groups. Japanese-size big meals - make sure you order multiple big eats. Oh btw, there is another Peko Peko in South Melbourne (very good Taiwanese place) although is not related to this place.

1st time had the niku udon. Its meant to be spicy but it was the sweetest udon i've ever had (most likely due to too much furikake or similar seasoning). 2nd time i had the makizushi and gyoza which was alot better. Friends had the katsu curry and karage set which were good also. Forgot to take pictures the 2nd time around.

My dish was good. But my friend’s dish was very sweet - not really enjoyable if you expected spicy instead.

Always great food and wine here. The veggie curry is divine and so filling!

Every dish we had was delicious, well done Peko Peko. We look forward to visiting again.

Considering the price, I think the big dishes are literally small, the food was ok but not tasty. Not worth the price.

The food is too salty! Miso soup is way saltier. Don't think I'll be coming back anymore.

Really delicious food - tofu with eggplant, vegetable pancake. Lovely,friendly service

Disappointing experience here.  Firstly, I would like to comment on the service, there was one lady in particular (tallish lady with brown hair in pony tail) rude, rude, rude! No customer service here and certainly no warmth from her as she serves you.<br/><br/>The restaurant has an open kitchen with poor ventilation so if you are going out afterwards I do not suggest coming here as your hair and clothes will smell from the food being cooked.<br/><br/>My Mazikushi was underwhelming and boring, no substance to the dish really.  It has been a while since I have felt so disheartened by a place, this certainly does not deliver on service or food.  I do not recommend.

Peko peko gives off an edgy, modern vibe for a chill hangout over some japanese food.<br/><br/>Service: 2/5 <br/>Definitely something they can work on, wait staff seemed very inexperienced and blunt. I felt i had to show myself to my own table and guide the waiter. <br/><br/>Food: 4/5 <br/>The soba salad and kara age were definitely a hit! Soba salad had the most delicious, creamy sauce that was very generously provided; so much that i could mix rice in to flavour that as well. Chicken was cooked to perfection and super crispy, hard to fault anything with fried chicken! Food was small in portions but high in quality so i’m happy! <br/><br/>Overall, I would give this place a 3.5/5, despite their service needing some work, the food delicious at a reasonable price and i would definitely return!

Peko peko at Fitzroy. Small and cosy environment with good service and nice delicious Japanese casual dinning cuisine. I had the lunch with the karage chicken with rice. It is deep fried so well that hot juicy and tasty. Definitely will come back to try other dishes.

Been here twice now and very impressed both times. In a word.... honest. Simple menu done really really well. Every dish was delicious, couldn't fault anything. Food was quick and the service was friendly. Cozy romantic feel.

Love noodles and this one was tasty. Highly recommended. We went for a team lunch and I really enjoyed the meal. Service can be a bit varied but overall, it is somewhere we frequent for team lunches. Would give dessert a miss though.

The service was fantastic! So here I was on a date and things were going fine, until at 8.50, we were the second last table left in the restaurant and the wait staff were so concerned with us enjoying ourselves that they started hovering around the table asking us whether we would want dessert because the kitchen wanted to close.. Made to feel so uncomfortable we left the discoloured sashimi, skulled the remaining wine and hit the bricks. #awesome 🤔🤢🤮

What a bloody gem. This is my go to local Japanese restaurant and if someone suggests any other, you better hold me back. I've never had an average dish here they have all been delicious!!! And it's only a few shops down from Messina. Like what more could I possibly ask for? Only flipside is it's sometimes hard to get the waiter's attention but the food totally makes up for it.

Do not go to this restaurant if you want “Proper” Japanese cuisine! <br/><br/>$16 dollar for a small bowl of rice, veggies and some meat which taste nowhere like Chicken Teriyaki....... And the meat was so chewy to an extent that hurt my jaw...... <br/><br/>Just do go....... <br/>

Food was quite mediocre unfortunately. I enjoyed the agedashi tofu but my karaage lunch special was so bland. The chicken wasn't seasoned and was lacking salt. Also, service wasn't good. I prolly won't be rushing to return.

I had been to the South Melbourne Peko Peko several times and thought I needed to check out this one in Fitzroy. Compared to its Taiwanese counterpart in South Melbourne, this one is skewed to Japanese cuisine. Service was friendly and despite being a full-house, we didn't wait long for our food. All food was great except a very disappointing beef teriyaki. It was very dry with barely any sauce at all. Because it was my main meal it was hard to look past it! <br/><br/>I would probably return here if I was in the area but would definitely stay clear of the teriyaki.

I have been eager to try this tiny place for some time.  Since the John Kelly and Greg Johns exhibition was on at Australian Galleries, a short walk along Smith Street was perfect.  I had booked fortunately, as it was booked out and it was only Tuesday.  Service was very good.<br/>Our first dish was the Tiger prawns cooked in soy, baby spinach, peanuts & nori was very good.  The next 2 dishes we shared.  Chicken Currydon with Soba noodles looked good however,  the gluggy japanese curry tasted like some powdered curry which was was too thick and the bits of chicken was hard to find in between the thick noodles.  The Teriyakidon Beef on rice had tough bits of beef.  The rice was ok.  Both were edible but not very good overall.<br/>Wouldn't be rushing back.  There are better and cheaper japanese restaurants than this.

Ordered the Sakedon, very freshly prepared. You can see the kitchen from where you're sitting. We were seated at the share table on above the kitchen. Might be best to make a booking if you're planning on eating here if you don't want to use the share tables.

i love what these guys can produce in such a tiny kitchen. <br/>always good. the service is good too. <br/>everything is fresh and made with love.

Came here for mid week dinner with a friend and really enjoyed it!<br/><br/>Cosy space, younger crowd, friendly and welcoming service, food came out fast and menu offering the typical dishes you'd expect from a casual Japanese bistro. We had the agedashi tofu, okonomiyaki, teriyaki don and sashimi don - can recommend all of these. <br/><br/>Great private room upstairs that would be perfect for a larger group of 6-10<br/><br/>Would definitely come back to this great Smith St option!!

Simply Great Food!<br/>In a casual and relaxed environment this place delivers.<br/>The food we shared was all very good and considering the price, offers terrific value for money. Money aside, if the foods average then everything else is out the window. Nothing out the window here, trust me.<br/>Miso soup was good and the Sweet Potato Gyoza....excellent!!!! Different to most Gyoza in texture, but I think these guys have it right.<br/>The Salmon Sashimi was simply served(well) and very fresh. No BS just VG. The Chopped Tuna Sumisoae and avocado was a treat. Very delicate and smooth textures, definitely prepared with love.<br/>I have only had Okonomiyaki a few times, but theirs was the best. Soft Shell Crab was good, have had better IMO, perhaps not as crispy as I prefer, but this may not necessarily be a better thing for some?<br/>I am sure their Chicken Currydon is very popular, as it was no fuss, but very very good. Great flavour and cooked to perfection.<br/>Ice cream was great, Sesame and Green Tea. Always refreshing at the end.<br/>I have to find out if anyone would care to offer some advice or educate me on what should be expected when ordering Banana Tempura. Should the end result be a more crispy like shell or more fluffy and soft, pancake style? I guess there may be no 'CORRECT' as it is possibly a matter of preference. Theirs was the latter and although I was expecting a more crisp batter, I cant say it was wrong or not good.<br/>Although the wines etc were priced OK, BYO wine would be nice.<br/>All in all, a great night out in a simple and relaxed environment that serves GREAT FOOD....well done!

Soft shell crab, soggy and oily, cold inside, I think the oil temperature too hot when it fried, so outer coat done quicker than inside.<br/><br/>Agedashi tofu, doesn't like the sauce, very blend, tofu had the same issue, warm outside but cold inside.<br/><br/>The green tea soba was ok, didn't taste much of the green tea flavour, I think because of the sesame sauce, no texture for this dish, I think it has some crispy texture would be good, maybe some crispy salmon skin etc.<br/><br/>He ordered the sashimi on rice, very little sashimi, very strange that they put the soy sauce all over the rice under the sashimi, very salty. <br/><br/>Not my preference and will not come back again.

Wonderful little Japanese on Smith Street. The kitchen is visible in the back and patrons eat in a simple decor setting on polished cement floor and black tables and cushion chairs. The waitress was very sweet and non-intrusive. The food was excellent. You must try the Miso soup and dim dums as starters, all the mains, particularly my fresh tuna was prepared superbly. The dishes are not so big and will allow room for dessert. Try the chocolate and whisky mousse - yum - and green tea will finish your meal comfortably. Reasonable, relaxing retreat and highly recommended.

This is where I 'do lunch' with one of my dearest friends, Ms Caroline. It was Caroline's idea to meet here for the first time a few months ago, after a stint of furniture shopping down Smith St. And since then, it’s become a regular haunt. To give you some background on my friendship with this darling girl, we bonded over food when we worked together in advertising over ten years ago. We’re both the type of people who get 'hangry' if we’re running on empty, and share this crazy obsession with food, glorious food. So when Caroline suggested we meet at Peko Peko, I knew it would be good. And it was. <br/><br/>Peko Peko is a casual, affordable Japanese eatery that’s open for lunch and dinner. As soon as you enter, you’ll embrace its chilled-out vibe. There’s an eclectic mix of recycled furniture, and an open kitchen where you can see the masters at work. On our first visit, the Japanese chefs were busy making sweet potato gyozas, so their bench space was jam-packed with these must-eat delicacies. Lightly fried on the base, then steamed and served with a light soy – they’re delightful. The waitress was super relaxed and friendly. I love how the menu is divided into ‘small food’, ‘medium food’ and ‘big food’, along with some lunch specials. It's an uncomplicated menu with all the Japanese favourites, including sushi and sashimi, along with some more creative, less traditional dishes. Rest assured if you have dietary requirements, as there are lots of gluten free and vegetarian options available.<br/><br/>We shared a variety of tasty dishes, but the stand-outs were: agedashi tofu in the dashi broth with ginger and sesame; chicken currydon (a Japanese curry); and the most warming and delicious niku udon – beef, capsicum, spinach and udon noodles served in a spicy soy soup. You’ll definitely be back for more.<br/><br/>A meal at Peko Peko leaves you feeling well-nourished and satisfied. Although, if you have room for dessert, Messina gelato is just down the street!<br/>

The food here has been delicious every time! I've been here 3 times so far will defiantly go back.  Good quality, so tasty and well priced.  The atmosphere is gorgeous and the service always beautiful. Caters well for vegetarians, the sweet potato gyoza is to die for! Mmmmmmm hmmm!

Had high hopes coming here but sadly disappointed. Gyoza udon was crazily sweet with mediocre gyoza. Beef teriyaki was dry and bland. More flavour came from the mayonnaise on the chicken terimayo don than the chicken itself. I normally love Japanese - it never really goes wrong - and fusion can be good too. But instead of fusion where elements come together and enhance each other, this just tasted like something trying to be Japanese AND different at the same time, and sadly failing. <br/><br/>Maybe we ordered the wrong dishes, but nevertheless, wouldn't come here again.

I've been here a few times. My friends all love this place so much but I don't really find any "awesome dishes" here. Everything we ordered was good, but they didn't wow me. Nothing was bad but I just didn't find them excellent... or maybe it was because I had a really high expectation? I understand that they use Japanese rice etc but sometimes it's too sticky or too watery, miso tastes too light and I never tasted any dashi flavour. I don't really see why they are SO popular and PACKED all the time.

My friend took me here tonight for dinner. On reading the menu I was concerned about how much sugar was on the menu. Almost all the dishes were "sweet". <br/><br/>We started w the soft shell crab which was good but the sauce was ... u guessed it, SWEET!! <br/><br/>We tried the fresh tuna sushi and the salmon sushi which was served a sweet soy sauce haha<br/><br/>Then we had some chicken, coriander and shitaki mushroom gyozas w a sweet soy sauce! <br/><br/>For main we had the chicken curry w soba noodles and the curry tasted like Keens Curry and sickly sweet. Gosh I could have stayed at home and eaten a bowl of sugar!! <br/><br/>We also had some Terriyaki beef and the meat was dry but the rice was ok. <br/><br/>With soo many great restaurants along Smith Street personally I won't be back.

I have been to Peko Peko a few times and each time the service has been excellent and the food has been delicious and authentic! I love the sweet potato gyoza! That is a definite must have and my favourite main dish is the Sashimidon which has such great flavours and beautifully fresh melt-in-your-mouth sashimi. Highly recommend this place for an authentic and relaxed Japanese experience!

Came in after work on a Sunday night with no reservation, we were seated straight away which was really nice. I ordered the sashimidon which came out very fast. It was very delicious but a little too saucy for my liking. But over all the fish tasted super fresh and well balanced out with the ginger. I've been here several times and the staff are always accommodating and very friendly. And the price is alright for the quality that you get. Although the sashimidon is a little steep for a rice dish. But overall great experience !

Went here for dinner the other night . A small nondescipt looking joint on smith street . The moment we entered inside the smell of the food confirmed why this place is so well rated . We were sat down by the hostess and given ample time to decide our order without trying to rush us. We had sashimidon and another chicken cooked in sweet teriyaki sauce don along with miso . I can't praise enough . Everything tasted delicious and was perfect to the "t". Definitely going back to the place to try some of the other stuff on the menu.

Food: Soft shell crab was well-crisp and moist on the inside. Japanese curry don was good.<br/><br/>Service: Was rather unprofessional to be delivering my food and saying hello to a friend across the road. Mains have to be asked twice before it was delivered.

I had only popped into Peko Peko for a quick lunch but was quietly impressed with this little gem. The flavours are simple, but very effective and done so well. I ordered one of the karage chicken lunch specials (around about the ten dollar mark) and from this taster, I’d be more than keen to check out the fully fledged menu. Chicken was crispy, tender and flavourful and the mayo, salad and rice were great accompainments. We’re really spoiled for great Japanese here in Smith Street, and I’m just a little sad that I didn’t discover the wonders of Peko Peko earlier!

Had a lovely dinner here last night. It was our second stop so we only tried the okonomiyaki, agedashi tofu and gyoza soup. All tasty, nicely presented and decent sized portions. Had to ask for the bill twice but that's not big deal. Would definitely return to get another Japanese fix.

Love coming here for all its vegetarian options. They are all so delicious. The best bit about it is you can order and go sit in the pub/bar next door and they will bring it into you. So many different types of delicious dumpling options and so good that things are cooked in veggie broth if you are a vego, or not, like me, but who prefers veggie broth. Cant wait to return.

These guys can cook! Literally not one disappointing dish on their menu. I'd honestly order absolutely anything everything they prepare it's an absolute delight to eat. Heaven for vegetarians/pescatarians Only downfall is that I wished I lived closer. Gold stars all round.

This place is a little gem. Can be busy so book ahead of time. Been here multiple times now and everything is always delicious. My favourite is the Eggplant with miso paste. Sushi/sashimi always fresh as well

Stumbled on this amazing little place while looking for a spot to eat with a friend. It was délice! Fresh, light, flavoursome and great service. Loved our meal!

It is Absolutely amazing, not one dish we have tried so far was a disappointment. Becoming our regular Japanese fix. Kani Age and Agedashi are a must try.

The food here was great - had the sashimi, chicken gyoza, chicken currydon and tempura between two of us. For a fairly quiet Saturday night, the service was, frankly, below par.<br/><br/>For a menu that is meant for sharing, it would be nice to have a short explanation of how it works/how much we should order. When it was time to take our order, the waitress simply walked up to the table, notepad in hand, and looked at us. A simple greeting isn't hard.<br/><br/>At the end of the night, we kept trying to make eye contact with the 4 wait staff, but all were standing around a trolley eating food and laughing with the chefs. I work in hospitality too and love trying food and laughing, but for 5-10 minutes, during service? Probably not...

Love the food and the rustic presentation of Peko Peko. During the busy periods there can be a bit of a delay in getting the food out to you, that said, it's worth the wait.

Every time I see the name Peko Peko pop up while my thumb is getting its daily workout scrolling through reviews I get prematurely excited in the hope that someone else shares my opinion that this is one of the most reliably excellent Japanese offerings in Melbourne. Almost every time this name appears it is in relation to the other Peko Peko in South Melbourne, which (to my knowledge) is no relation to this Peko Peko. I can't speak for that Peko Peko, but I can speak for this one when I say that it is FANTASTIC. <br/><br/>Being a chef at a reputable Japanese restaurant in a previous life results in me approaching most if not all other Japanese restaurants with trepidation and anyone who tries to convince me that they know where to get "OMG THE BESSSST" authentic Japanese food in Melbourne is invariably met with a hefty serving of side-eye. Just an FYI - KIMCHI IS NOT JAPANESE. Your favourite "Japanese" restaurant that serves kimchi pancake is not Japanese, it's Korean. Now that we've cleared that up, on to the food.<br/><br/>I don't even know where to begin with the food here. The entire vegan menu (yes, separate menu to spare everyone the tedious "so what can be made vegan?" conversation) is straight up fabulous. Right down to the little things, like refreshing the edamame in chilled water prior to serving, to the house made vegetable gyoza with their beautifully burnished bottoms to the caramelised eggplant in the nasu dengaku being perfectly soft without disintegrating, to the ideal ratio of sweet to sour in the dressing on the super fresh tofu salad to the impossibly light and crispy tempura (which is made the correct way, without egg) this is no-nonsense Japanese food at its best. The only (very very minor) issue I have is that seeing as Kewpie now make a vegan mayonnaise, they could add this to the okonomiyaki rather than veganising it by simply omitting the mayo (okonomiyaki is the only time vegan mayo is acceptable.)<br/><br/>The open kitchen (there's no back of house here, which is novel for those who like to see what usually goes on behind the scenes) with the Japanese chefs calling orders out brings back many a memory of my former occupation, and sometimes I wonder why I chucked in the tea towel (and then I remember the terrible wages and antisocial hours and can rest safe in the knowledge that it was a decision well made.)<br/><br/>Maybe not being widely reviewed is a blessing in disguise for Peko Peko Fitzroy, as they're less likely to be inundated with crowds armed with their phones ready to do battle on social media because #foodporn #cleaneating #blessed (#howaboutno) and those of us who prefer to eat our meals rather than photograph them can keep this little treasure to ourselves.

OMG! the best japanese in melbourne behind kenzan really nice place the waiters are nice in future I will definitely go back in future. Great place.

I've been coming here for years, every time the service gets worse and worse. It's sad to see such a great place become no longer a fun place to go.

Casual Japanese food, sadly not at casual prices. You can eat inside and outside. The best bit was the beef tataki. It was nice having some green tea with the meal.

Had the chicken curry udon and a crumbed pork tonkatsu. Nothing wrong with the food but very average, not much flavour, small portions and for $18 it is way overpriced. You can go to countless home style Japanese restaurants in the city and get a better dish for half the price. Staff were friendly

I love their tofu curry udon. The miso pana cotta was dissapointing. Its flavour was good but the texture of the pana cotta was too hard. Other than that, their Udon soup and carrot cake dessert were great.

Wonderful food, get the chicken dumplings they are super nice. The staff were really friendly. Better than 'Don Dons' and the price was reasonable!!!

Came here for dinner with a group of friends, we ordered 8 dishes, both small and medium to share among us. The food were really good especially the karaage and beef tataki. However the portion is a bit too small to share among the 7 of us, so will definitely suggest to have large dishes too if you are thinking to share.

Ate outside at the terrace. The waitress was horrible, she didn't care about anything, acted so uninterested. However, later we were served by a waiter who was great! The food was good, but not great. They had a separate menu for gluten-free for my friend. For Japanese I would recommend Pabu in this area.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS. <br/>Came here over the holidays, high expectations were quickly crushed with a space cadet wait staff more interested in looking elsewhere than us when telling me the drinks are on the back and specials on the board. This is also not a chain of the south Melbourne eatery, as I quickly discovered sweet potato gyoza ($9) consisted of ONLY mashed sweet potatos as the filling... The chive mentioned briefly on the menu was nowhere to be found. Makozushi ($10) turned out to be two salmon/tuna handrolls cut into 4 pieces each. Had better at food court. Teriyaki tasted a whole lot more than the Japanese theme and menu suggested. Will most definitely not be back :(

I was a little disappointed with my experience here. We sat in the corner and had to move due to an unpleasant odour. The decor is basic and their attempt to be quaint doesn't quite come off.<br/>However, the lunch dishes were served in a timely fashion and although the waitress was not exactly friendly, the Japanese cuisine was good and the green tea nice and hot. If you chance this restaurant I recommend the Sashimi.<br/>At least they take cards unlike the Japanese across the road.

Came for a Friday lunch with colleagues.  Restaurant is a bit dark and quite noisy despite there not being many other diners.  Service slow for a Friday - only one wait staff on deck.  Food was OK - we had chicken gyoza which had plenty of filling.  the salmon sashimi was fresh as you'd expect and the chicken kara age was crisp and tender.  Sashimi marinated in miso served with avocado had a nice sour kick.  A different mood in the dining room would score this place higher with the food the saving grace.

Nice food with reasonable price. It's one of the best fusion Japanese in town. Worth trying if need to. Both my friends and I loved it.

Had dinner here with 3 girlfriends and I must say the food was DELISH!!! Highlights from the menu would have to be the Nasu Dengaku and the Salmon Sashimi (must try!). Can't say the same about the service we received from our waitress who completely ignored us when we tried to catch her attention to order more food (because we are growing women and we need to EAT!) and seemed like she just hated her job and would rather stand in the corner.I'd come back for the food though :-)

Reasonably priced, good quality Japanese food. Buzzing vibe inside, and located in the heart of Smith Street. Food is fresh and consistently good. Lots of healthy options to boot, and also a good place to grab takeaway from. Recommended.

Average place, ordered chicken and sweet potato gyoza which was probably the highlight. Ordered the inside out sushi, was quite dry and had to scull water so I didnt choke. The tempura was average, didnt even come with prawns but was 18 bucks (expensive!) the creme brulee was nice but nothing special. Blonde waitress had a huge attitude problem, yeah we get it we have to leave by 8pm. But sorry my tempura didnt come out until 7:30pm, not rushing my meal. We had 15 mins left, she didnt want us to really order anymore food and drinks. Asked for bill, she said it was already on its way. Again, we get it have to leave by 8.

Recommended by a local and it lived up to the expectations. Busy even though it was a Monday! Shared the 'inside out Maki' which was tasty but the Chilli Tofu Soba Soup was delicious!

Decent price for upscalish type Japanese cuisine. Most if your Japanese faves were there like gyoza okanoniyaki karaage and all done really well. Spicy Mayo sauces were good and everything was tasty as. Big ups to this place :)

Terrible service, unfriendly waitress, waited so long for food, average food, overcharged by $40 for a bottle of wine we didn't have and no apology. Wouldn't go back.

The food here is really tasty. Had the salmon sashimi bowl and one of the tofu dishes and Gyoza. Loved them all. We sat up stairs and the ambience was nice and the girl who served us was really friendly and helpful

Best thing about this place is having them deliver your meal while you have a pot at Kent St, the bar next door. Good value dishes which are decent sized. Recommend the lemongrass chicken. Can't go out of their way enough to help.

Food is really yummy here, I love the soba noodles, a must try!!! Can become very crowded and loud. Make sure you call for reservations first as they are always busy

Ordered a bunch of share plates, it was all delicious. Filled us up and the bill was much less than i expected. New fave

Good broth times. I rate it

Peko Peko in Fitzroy, not to be confused with the restaurant of the same name in South Melbourne, is one of those restaurants where we had two very contrasting visits. The first time we came here, we loved it. The dishes we had here the first time around, including the chicken makizushi and salmon don thing were very tasty. However, on our most recent visit we had a very different experience. The miso soup I ordered was frankly awful and the tuna maki we got was very stingy with the tuna and just not very good. The chicken karaage was also gristly, cloying and not very crispy. The teriyaki don we had was pretty tasty but not enough to save the evening. We also found the service here ambivalent at best and at times, abrupt.

The menu is neatly organised into small, medium and big dishes, offering the usual favourites as well as a few twists like sweet potato gyoza and chili tofu soba. Peko Peko’s version of sashimidon was salmon and tuna marinated in soy and garlic. The soy and garlic marinade was delicious and they’d added enough of it so it soaked through part of the rice, making for a simple but satisfyingly tasty dinner. Sashimidon – Salmon & Tuna Sashimi Marinated in Soy and Garlic, Served on Sushi Rice w Nori, Shiso, Wasabi Peko Peko 199 Smith St, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065 (03) 9415 9609

"Peko Peko" is Japanese for "Golden Yummy." Okay, not really - but it might as well be. I have been to Peko Peko (199 Smith Street, Collingwood) many times, but this was the first time I thought to blog it. I did my usual forget-photos thing, but I WILL get more. Promise. Mainly because it's so yummy I know I'll be going back soon. When I like a place, I go there over and over, and can therefore add new details from each visit (case in point: Three Bags Full . And  Backstreet Eating ). Peko Peko is the Smith Street sista-from-another-mister... or just sister... to Otsumami in Northcote, whose reputation is generally top-notch. I've not been, but I'd like to, and I really like saying the name. OTSU-mami! Ot-su-MAMI! ("Sake-to-me!" Groooooaaaan.)  Like " Tootgarook ", it's just too much fun not to say aloud. I digress. The best part about my recent visit to Peko Peko was the pretty, pretty sake. It's almost a shame to drink it because - imagine how valuable those bits of gold are! The fo

The karaage was indisputably good – crunchy, deep-fried pieces of chicken served with a thick dollop of mayonnaise, slices of lemon and a handful of spinach leaves. Tender and juicy on the inside with a crispy outer coating, it was a good choice for starters.

...the menu from the small food and medium food are so appetising!! We just wanted to order most of our dishes from this categories hence we only ordered one main from its Big Food Menu. Sweet Potato Gyoza AUD$9.00 Makizushi AUD$10.00 raw salmon and yellow fin tuna sushi (nori sheets were great aroma, fresh raw fish but the sushi rice was just little disappointed) Nasu Dengaku AUD$11 (my personal favourite dish of the day! so good!) Miso Ika AUD$15 Lemongrass Yakitori Don AUD$14 I must say, overall it was good food!! It was cheap, service was quick and friendly. It was a busy place!! Many bookings were made & we were lucky to have a table for three!! It was interesting for me to try something that I was not disappointed about but it would not be a place that I would return very

While the next 2-3 dishes were quite standard, the sake-don was the absolute bomb. Perfectly seasoned with teriyaki sauce, the fillet was soft and tender; though not comparable to the salmon I had at Suzunami in Nagoya, it was as good as you could get, in terms of cheap (or non high-end) Japanese food in Melbourne.

Love this Japanese restaurant in the heart of Smith St Collingwood! Walking down Smith St looking for a decent lunch I was drawn by the modern look. Peko Peko has a chic ambience. Love the wooden chairs and tables, use of plants and materials. And the artwork. And the mysterious stairway.

Overall, pretty average and also slighty pricey for the offerings. Have had better japanese food elsewhere and at a cheaper price too.

I'd read on another blog that the Sashimi Don serving size was quite mean here - not true at all! This was a very large bowl of rice with a good portion of raw fish on top and excellent marinade. All in all a very good rendition of one of my favourite Japanese dishes.

I can't say that Peko Peko serves authentic Japanese food, but they certainly does their rendition of Jap food pretty well. Delicious and simple food served at a pretty reasonable price. If you do find yourself having dinner here, be sure to call in for a booking as they can get pretty busy at times. Sweet Potato Gyoza, $8 We started off with some gyoza , that comes is filled with mashed sweet potatoes . This was certainly unusual for us because we've never tried anything like that before. The skin was perfect. There was also a combination of sweetness of the sweet potatoes and the savouriness from the soy dipping sauce. Shu mai, $8 This makes a delightful vegetarian option, shu mai made with tofu, shitake, and bamboo shoots. However if you're carnivorous like the rest of m

When mixed through, the rice and sauce was rich and sticky, and the large pieces of chicken extremely tender. There was the addition of several unorthodox, but welcome vegetables such as capsicum and spinach. What I discovered very soon however, was that this was an extremely oily curry – within minutes, a small pool of oil had collected in the spoon that I had left in the rice. That certainly explained why this was even more filling than a standard curry.

Peko Peko in Collingwood is a great place to go for dinner. However, it is more Fusion than Japanese, and more cafe than restaurant.

I am usually sceptical of modern food in cheap restaurants. Generally I associate this with a lack of authenticity. Yet Peko Peko was packed on Saturday night, and perhaps this was an indication that the meal wou

I rarely eat out by myself. In fact, I despise doing so. Why? I hear you ask. Apart from having no one to talk to during the meal, I also can’t order asPeko Peko is a casual Japanese restaurant featuring popular dishes like sushi, gyoza and don (rice bowls with toppings) but you’ll see some modern twists on the classic dishes.

Even though for years I had been taking the ever faithful 200 or 203 bus (although these days I'm not so good to the environment and am driving everywhere...) past Smith Street, I'm glad that it's only recently I have become acquainted with the street. It always baffles me to hear that Smith Street used to be a not so hip and happening place, that there was nothing to eat here. Gosh how times have changed! From the cafes, to the chocolate shops, to the soul food to the Japanese food...have I mentioned how much Brad and I love Japanese food? I think we've both made it our mission (or at least it's my mission and I'm dragging Brad everywhere with me), to try as many of the Japanese restaurants we come across as we can. Sometime ago we had tried to get a table at Peko Peko on a Friday night, but they were unfortunately full, so the next time I decided to go, I made sure to call up first and make sure I could acquire a seat (or three, for my grandma and brother too). Peko Peko is small spa

Perhaps I'm showing my age, but I remember when Smith Street in Collingwood was so dodgy no one would actually go there for social events. Catching the 86 tram which goes up that road all the way to Bundoora was a bit of an ordeal, as you skilfully avoide

The strip between Johnston and Gertrude Streets on Smith Street is takeaway heaven. Slowly RM and I are taste-testing our way down the street as our workloads increase and cooking-energy levels decrease. Peko Peko is billed as a Japanese cafe and it seems

Yum. Last night my wife and stopped in for a quick dinner. I had the Salmon and I would recommend it to anyone! So tasty and well priced.

Used to be one of our favourites. Unfortunately over the past 2 years we've seen the once friendly personal service decline rapidly and food go from standout to average. Hurts a bit to do this review as we put off doing it hoping they were just in a slump. Unfortunately not.

Ate here the other night. It was delicious. I ordered the Sashimi-don. My only complaint was that it was all piled in a bowl and drizzled with soy sauce. I couldn't eat the rice as it was soaked with said soy sauce and too salty. It was also hot rice and when served with raw fish can be a bit off putting. My preference would even just be to serve rice, soy sauce, sashimi, nori, wasabi and pickled radish seperate, in a bento format. All of the ingredients were fresh and delicious, but the customer should choose how much wasabi and soy they get in each bite.

Yum!. Would recommend the agadashi tofu and the soft shell crab.. mmm

Food is ok, with some nice standouts like the okinomyiake and Nutella gyoza. Service though is absolutely terrible with the exception of one lovely waitress who took pity on us. They put this absolutely clueless waitress on the door who didn't know how to manage a reservation or wait list. We were told to put our names down for a table and that it'll take 30 mins. 40 mins later we walked back and were told there was still no available table even thoougj there were empties around us. we were then told we can order the menu from the Kent St pub next door. Would have loved to have been told that 40mins ago. So we pop next door and then find out tat there were available tables Afterall. Talk about incompetent - if you can't be stuffed trying to accommodate your customers or do not yet have the language skills to communicate effectively, then why work an important role like the person who greets and seats guests?

Appalling service. I received a call from the restaurant on Sunday afternoon after I left a voicemail enquiring about table availability - notifying me that there was a 6:30pm table available but we had to be out by 7:45pm. We are usually fast eaters so I accepted the booking. We had no pleasant greeting on arrival (as you should have when you walk into a restaurant) and instead we were hurried along to our table by a pre-occupied waitress. We were seated directly next to the door and it was a very cold night, and I figured that because the restaurant was practically empty, I'd politely ask the waitress if we could be seated somewhere warmer (as my partner was sick). The head waitress rudely said "No we are very busy tonight". We then had to wait for orders to be taken - again in a very hurried manner. The Tori Niku gyoza, Okonomiyaki and Karaage were all delicious, with the standout being the generously sized doughy Okonomiyaki chock-a-block with vegetables. The gyoza were nicely browned and juicy. Then came the "Big food". The Sakedon consisted of over cooked salmon and a whole lot of rice with very little sauce. The teriyaki beef also had mounds of rice and was basically bland flavourless shredded beef with bits of capsicum. We then went on to desserts. The nutella gyoza were imaginative and beautiful little pockets of gooey Nutella, paired with a refreshing green tea ice-cream. The tempura banana lacked flavour and was quite stodgy - it definitely needed to be paired with the brilliant, creamy and nutty black sesame ice-cream. Overall, the food was pretty good but the bill ended up being on the pricey side and the whole experience was overshadowed by the bad attitude of the staff - making us feel like it was a pain to have us in their restaurant.

Don't bother. After seeking top BYO restaurant Peko Peko was listed.<br/>Made a booking and shifted from 8.30pm to 8.45pm on Peko Peko request so we could have a table not a bench seat.<br/>On arrival we discovered that it was not BYO (rudely) and despite showing where on the web they were listed as top 10 BYO there was no flexibility<br/>Despite specifically asking and booking a table we arrived to be seated on a bench.<br/>Waiter offered us the owners phone number - we said sure - he then backed off and didn't provide it. Service - none! <br/>All that is tolerable if the food was as good as advertised.<br/>The food was very poor, didn't have all food on menu available, below average and to be frank you can get better Japanese in half a dozen city takeaways. <br/>Need a good shoe leather then order the beef dish!

Food is food. Good.

Will be back. Had a lovely time dining here. Nice atmosphere with quick friendly service!

Japan on Smith St. Once you step inside, you'll forget you are in Melbourne. Waitresses dress up, the decor is adorable and there are little Japanese knick-knacks everywhere. Likewise, food is faultless. Dishes come in 3 sizes, the largest is enough for 1 person's main. Customer service isn't fantastic. I'll be honest - the nutella dumplings aren't as great as I thought, but who am I kidding you're going to try them anyway! Sashimi don is wonderful too.

Beware if you are sensitive to MSG.<br/>I asked if they use msg in their cooking and she told me a few dishes where they do. However the sauce they use on most of the meals has msg and lots of preservatives in them. Won't be going back.

Can't fault it!. We were looking for somewhere cheap, cheerful, with good reviews, not too far from home, and open on a Monday night. And Peko Peko (Collingwood) satisfied all of these - and didn't disappoint. My miso soup was fragrant and delicious, and not over-salted as I've had elsewhere, and my teriyakidon was a thing of beauty: I could have eaten it for ever. My wife's veggie pancake (okonomiyaki) was perfect: she expects high standards of restaaurant food, and she got it. We shared two desserts: banana fritters with green tea icecream, and fuji apples in hot caramel sauce. Both were splendid. Peko Peko is a small unassuming place, and on a Monday night it was crowded - always a good sign. Well done!

We have been passing this restaurant, which is full of house always. We decided to have dinner! Very very disappionted...lemongrass teriyaki don not sure if it stirfy or rice soup topped with spinach capsicum onion and bit of chicken really its $16!!! Not worthed!!! Sweet potato Gyoza is nothing more than sweet potato puree and very pricy. Agedachi Tofu i have had better elsewhere. Overall it is a bad dinner and this would be the first and last time

Best meal in Melbourne!!. Went tonight with my cousin and Aunt, all different tastes and likes and we all walked out loving the food. Shared the eggplant, sweet potato gyozas, veg pancake, green tea buckwheat noodles, and the green tea ice cream with nutella gyozas. Simply delicious. Will return soon!

Nice place. Nice flavours and a quirky outdoor toilet.

Top, easy feed up. A very casual restaurant that serves up quality dishes in next to no time. The menu is broken up into small food, medium food and big food and hits the mark with a good variety of dishes. The sushi rolls coming out of the kitchen looked super fresh and tasty. We ordered the eggplant and veg with rice and also the dumplings with udon noodle soup. Both were well above average. The wine list is also a positive with some good options at great value. At under $50 for 2 people with a drink, Peko Peko is value for money and satisfies your taste buds.

Having been a long time patron of Peko Peko, I was , along with my partner, genuinely disappointed with the quality of food served and of the service on Friday night, which was way below par. The produce seemed to be less than fresh and the attentiveness of the waiters was blasé and "whatever " attitude . Hate to say but you've lost us as customers.

I am glad I found this hidden gem, I've eaten at a lot of Japanese restaurants and I think this is one of the best!<br/><br/>Friendly and fast service, fresh and vibrant flavours, overall a fantastic meal!

Japanese with a Smith St flare, and very nice sashimi, tuna tataki and sumisaeoi. Otonomyaki could be better though!

Pretty ordinary. I am sorry but unfortunately I do not agree with the majority of the people that liked this place. I went there after reading the positive reviews about this place. Between the 2 of us we had 4 dishes. Maybe the best dish out of 4 dishes was the tempura mushroom. The most disappointing being the sashimidon, just few small pieces of marinated salmon and tuna on the rice for $18. It was a rather disappointing lunch considering it cost us around $60.

Dirty walls, dirty furniture, dusty chopsticks. The Japanese waitress is rude and cold and unfriendly. Food average but cheap for some items.

Too expensive for average fare. Food was very average and too expensive for the meal that I had ("big food" - Teriyakidon) Don't understand how you can even justify asking $16 for 6 slices of cooked beef (which was very tough) and half a bowl of spinach. <br/><br/>Will never come back, these types of fusion restaurants overcharging the unsuspecting customer really anger me.

Great little place however service suks and lemongrass yakitori don is all rice and spinach and no chicken (cheapskates)

Another asian restaurant which is average but probably impresses your none the wiser non-asian customer. nothing special at all<br/>chicken gyoza while the sauce was quite good the filling of chicken mince wasnt moist nor flavoursome. ive had better gyozas elsewhere<br/><br/>teriyakidon. ive definitely had better elsewhere. and just throwing a bunch of spinach leaves into the bowl? errr not sure about that. it wasnt a terrible bowl of teriyakidon and at least the sauce was decent but definitely nothing special and there's no love or thought in that dish. beef was not tender and not sure if they really serve "sushi rice" as it says on the menu. sushi rice is usually mixed with salt/sugar/vinegar but this just seemed like regular steamed rice.<br/><br/>this is not fantastic japanese food

GREAT Gyoza Udon!. These guys are just great in my opinion, consistent over years and pretty damn well priced Japanese style food. Washed down with a local Steam Ale from Mt Goat or a Japanese beer. The Gyoza udon is one of my favourite lunches in Melbourne.

Better than sister restaurant. Went on a Saturday night - they took our booking after calling up late Saturday afternoon. We had 4 small/medium dishes and 1 large dish off the menu - were all excellent. Much prefer the menu and layout to the sister restaurant in Northcote. Lovely staff, great food- would recommend.

Easy place to eat. A first visit here - we booked a table, which was a good idea for a busy Saturday night. The salmon sashimi was tasty, sweet potato gyoza a fun twist, edamame disappointed me being served cold (always have had and preferred it warm), a couple more pleasing dishes through to black sesame icecream for dessert and warmed sake - we'd reached a perfect level of satisfaction. Staff were attentive and service was efficient. Look forward to heading back some time.

One of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. Nice relaxed atmosphere and tasty food!

Not traditional. This place doesn't serve traditional Japanese food, just great food that has its roots in Japanese cuisine. Plenty of veg options too. Have eaten there a few times now, and I think it's about time I head back.

Lovely vibe. Amazing food with great vegan/vegie options. Great value for money but definitely book a table! Thursday night 7:30 and it was busy!

Food is amazing, but the staff seem to want to clean your dishes away long before you've finished..I wish the sister restaurant in Northcote served the same dishes

Reliably Awesome. I love the food at Peko Peko, especially the Inside Out Maki, Nori Rolls, Sashimi, and Sweet Potato Gyoza. I have been going for years and the food is consistently great. I also feel it is reasonably priced. Great for dining-in, take-away, or taking next door to Kent st to have with drinks.

We've been regulars here for ages and it's been consistently great. Sweet potato gyoza, sashimi, okonomiyaki... It's all good here, very highly recommend!!!

Clean and fresh. One of my favorite Japanese places. Sweet potato Gyoza, eggplant, tofu salad, and teriyaki salmon are all my top picks !

Absolutely shocker!. We went to Peko Peko to celebrate our son's birthday. It was a totally disappointing dinner. We ordered miso soup which was incredibly salty and not drinkable. We complained and the soup came back diluted with water. We were sitting in the mezzanine and could see how foods were prepared. The miso soup was microwaved and pored on the bawls. I'm Japanese and it is not acceptable! Gyiza was prepared with Chinese spices and did not taste like Japanese version of that. Kara age was burnt and full of carcinogen. Don't go there for Japanese cuisine. What you can get is overpriced Asisn food and potentially bad for your health!

Nice modern Japanese. A very nice little place, lots of interesting, well-executed dishes on the menu. The Agedashi Tofu was my favorite even though I'm not a big tofu fan normally. The inside-out maki was also very good. Overall great food and friendly service. The space is quite small so probably a good idea to make a reservation!

Stayer. This place is a real stayer of Smith Street. I have to agree with other comments made and say that I too have never had a bad meal there.

Fave Japanese in Melbourne. I've never had a bad meal at Peko and I've been there a lot over the years. The sweet potato gyoza is a must for starters and the other night I was very satisfied and happy with the dumpling udon soup dish. The genmai tea is also a really nice treat. I had my birthday dinner here a few months back and sat up in the back elevated room, we all had such a wonderful time. The food came out at reasonable times, they catered for me being vegan and also had veg and gf options. Everyone was happy and the service was wonderful, as always. I highly recommend Peko to anyone wanting some of the best food Melbourne has to offer.

Great for lunch. The salmon teriyaki makes for a quick and healthy mid week lunch.

Vegetarian!. My mates and I went there to look for vegetarian food and we where supriced how delicious it was!<br/>Hope to come back soon! Thanks guys!

Yami. Knew this please would be hard to get into on a Friday night at 7 pm but they smoothly and quickly found us a seat at the bar. Given we were first timers we chose the 'feed me' menu and were very impressed - so much food we couldn't finish it all. Now a firm favourite.

Really like it, especially the soba and soft crab dishes. Will definitely go back again

Japanese Food Satisfier. Food is good - liked the sweet potato dumplings and the salmon teriyaki - perhaps unnecessary was the 4kgs of shredded seaweed on the top. <br/><br/>Service was fine. They do seem a little confused as the restaurant itself presents a somewhat formal dining experience - but the drinks are served in cans with straws. Hmm.. <br/><br/>Overall though, it did satisfy my cravings for Japanese foods - but I have no doubt there are many other restaurants out there doing the same. This one was not a standout, but I would certainly return.

Simple and wholesome. The food is pretty good value for money and pretty good quality, so really can't complain. They should really mention that the rice dishes are more than big enough for 2!!!!! It's basically an above average casual dining experience and the quality is good. You can do no wrong here. I would not have a large group meal here though, doesn't seem properly equipped or well set up for it.

Not good lunch experience. Tasteless chicken<br/>Gyoza and the rice that the chicken don was served on was terrible, gluggy and clumped together.

Who runs out of salmon and tuna at 9 on a Saturday? Peko Peko.

Very nice food! Would go there again...many times

Poor Service. I liked the food here but the kitchen and floor staff are from different worlds. The waitresses are rude, unaccommodating and have a terrible customer service attitude. Management must think that it is OK to serve good food to patrons on the one hand and be rude and abusive on the other. Strange. I would not recommend this place unless you want to keep your head low and just eat.

First time at Peko. I was in a big group for a pre-booked buffet at Peko. The restaurant itself is typical Melbourne hip-chic. I love it and the backyard with the 'outdoor dunny' is so cute that i wish it was my house.<br/><br/>The food was delicious and served at a timely manner. The vegetarian options were amazing (despite what other reviews have said).<br/><br/>The service was not good at all. It was an unwelcome feeling indeed. Once the buffet ended, the service stopped abruptly. No further questions if we'd like another drink or coffee etc. Didn't ask if we'd like the bill. When i said thankyou and goodbye when we left, i was met with a cold stare.<br/><br/>I might return.

The Best. I've been eating at this place for 8 years and it is one of the best eateries in Melbourne.

Great Japanese!. I absolutely love this place! Their sashimi is always high quality, their gyozas are delicious and their main dishes are mouth-watering. <br/>They have a good selection of what they call small, medium and big foods and a small but lovely wine list. Try the vegetable gyozas, the salmon sashimi and the chicken curry don. <br/>The service is always friendly however the wait can be long sometimes. For a cool little adventure, try to find the bathroom! The outdoor bathroom is through a little garden lit with tea lights.

Disappointing. I came prepared that it is not an authentic Japanese restaurant and yet I left with disappointment. The food while is not bad but really it is nothing special, pretty ordinary. The only dish that I find it a little different would be the pancake. However it is a bit pricy for the serving. The staff has not passion in their work and couldn't be bother to attend you, let alone giving you a welcome gesture......

Great food in a lovely space for a super price. Most dishes are excellent. The chicken curry is a tad underwhelming. Service is also good.

Reasonable food-nothing amazing & horrible service! staff had way too much attitude! Very rude & probably ruined the experience a bit!

Love this place. I have loved Peko Peko right from my first meal there.<br/><br/>Really fresh, great tasting food.<br/><br/>Staff are more than happy to modify the dishes to suit your liking. <br/><br/>Their Vegetable Tempura is fantastic and its a dish I always get.<br/><br/>Cant say anything bad about this place at all. Love it.

Lemongrass Yakitoridon. Tender pieces of chicken, fresh spinach, it actually feels like I'm eating healthy food!<br/><br/><br/>-----16 Jul, 2011-----<br/><br/>Sweet Potato Gyoza. So original, yet so delicious! why don't other places make this too? I like mine with the chilli soy dipping sauce.<br/><br/><br/>-----16 Jul, 2011-----<br/><br/>Kani Age. Soft Shell Crab with a sweet chilli mayo. Super crunchy legs, and juicy on the inside claws - yummo!<br/><br/><br/>-----16 Jul, 2011-----<br/><br/>Nasu Degaku. Amazing sweet miso over tender pieces of eggplant. I have won over many Non-eggplant eaters with this one!<br/><br/><br/>-----16 Jul, 2011-----<br/><br/>Lemon Chicken Box. This is not served here<br/><br/><br/>-----16 Jul, 2011-----<br/><br/>Honey Chicken Box. This is not served here.<br/><br/><br/>-----16 Jul, 2011-----<br/><br/>Awesome. This restaurant in not BYO, but it is licensed and has $6 glass wines to $44 bottled wines - and beer too! I would definitely recommend booking as they are always busy.<br/>A few good things to try are the Sweet Potato Gyoza, Kani Age, Nasu Dengaku, and the Currydon. All favourites of mine. Also the Sashimi is always so fresh, never over a day old.

Perfect Peko Partnership. I went to Peko Peko the other night for some brilliant comfort Japanese. Unfortunately we left it a bit late and couldn't get a spot in the restaurant... low and behold, Peko Peko and Kent St (bar next door) have a brilliant partnership whereby customers can order in Peko Peko and eat in Kent St whilst merrily drinking away in a super comfy bar (with great music!). Karate Kid was silently playing on the projector, the beer was good and cheap, wines top notch and the food as great as ever.<br/>Sweet Potato Gyoza was to die for. <br/>All in all, it was a brilliant one-two punch by Peko Peko and Kent St.

Have had better elsewhere.. We had the Agedashi Tofu $10, Okonomiyaki $11, Teriyaki Don $16, Lemongrass Yakitoridon $16.<br/>The food overall was just average, the only standout was the Okonomiyaki. It was soft on the inside and well complimented by the mayo. However, didn't enjoy the Teriyaki don nor the Lemongrass Yakitoridon, found it to be lacking in lemongrass flavour. Same goes for the Agedashi , I have had better elsewhere. Overall, pretty average and also slighty pricey for the offerings. Have had better jap food elsewhere for cheaper. Wouldn't be coming back.

This was my third visit to Peko and the first time the place was pumping. The phone rung merrily as new potential traipsed through<br/> the front door and the nice Australian woman werking the floor met each newcomer with a wave and a smile as they entered. Her accomplice backed her with more greetingz and informed the new customers of the night's proceedings as in what to expect. Being informed the moment you walk in always makes everything so much easier:-)<br/> The second visit they were equally under the pump and admittedly it was a bit later in the night.. The same staff were on and i was greeted with recognition immediately. Such a pleasure on a busy night when my first visit was at least a month ago! But we are only human and likewise after getting pounded for a few hours one's mind tends to wander to where your next drink is coming from. Peko at this point i still loved you.<br/> My last visit - i always give venues a three visit chance - i was met with a sneer from a young japanese girl with her hair a la Cameron Diaz and donning a pseudo kimono. Her english which lacked so much trying to decipher my simple and friendly attempts at conversation about the menu seemed to serve her perfectly well to other tables which were greeted with quite the aussie accent replete with a few "no worries" and a cuppla "mates" thrown in for good measure.<br/> I took my time reading the menu; during which time i was rather impatiently approached several time with pen tapping the waiter's pad and foot matching the beat on the floor. At this stage i am only a quarter of the way through my first Kirin and i must admit: Being served a beer or cider in a restaurant without a glass being expected to drink from the bottle is a cardinal sin in my books. There is only a few tables in and they are under no pressure whatsoever. I finish my first drink and then am forced to practically help myself to my next one before i am finally "granted permission" to order my dinner.<br/> My entree and main are rather unceremoniously banged in front of me - This is not bloody Tokyo - at the same time without so much as a smile or announcement and i am met with her back more quickly than you can say "Kampai!" So i am left to my own devices with an empty drink and neither chopsticks or serving bowl.<br/> Sweet potato gyoza is tough from the microwave and also rather suspiciously hot. I eat two as i am hungry and the third as i am polite.. Leaving another two. I decide to try the Teryakidon - beef with rice - and then after giving up decide to forage for myself for my next drink.<br/> I return beer in hand after having to fight hand over hand for a CLEAN glass and return to my book which remains to the moment the highlight of my night.<br/> I decide to give the beef a second chance and it appears the meat has had the life boiled out of it before hand then briefly stirfried then slopped over a bed of gluggy rice. My Mother - who funnily enough, lived in KL for 20years and who served the likewise cuisine to me as i was growing up until i moved out at 18yo - always said never go to an Asian restaurant which doesn't have any Asians in it and as i look around i am surrounded by aussies.<br/> Peko Peko is a disappointment and has been struck off my list of go to places for sustenance.

Amazing. Great atmosphere, Friendly staff, Fast service, Fresh food, and great value for money!

Never enough Peko!. Peko Peko is my FAVOURITE Japanese restaurant. I am actually hesitant to write a review in case it becomes any more popular. The staff are reasonably nochalant but this is irrelevant once you taste the food. The gyoza, edamame and large salmon dish are very tasty. The vibe is cool and laid back - fingers crossed Smith Street doesn't go the way of Brunswick Street and sell out its long-time residents.

This was a fantastic night, all great dishes and relatively cheap! We got currydon and lemon chicken (both great), and heaps of small/medium dishes, all of them were great! Heaps of veggie options, some of the best tofu I've eaten, and staff were wonderful. Add this to your wishlist for sure!

Treaty and good value. Terrible for vegetarians though. They have choice but it's rubbish compared to the meet options.

Terriaki fish, prawn dumplings and homemade spring rolls to die for. This place is expensive for Japanese takeaway/ eat in but worth every penny. You won't have to pay corkage either but i recommend booking beforehand

Love, Love it!. Had never had Japanese before my visit here. WOW! Sensational! Amazing food, had to share with my friends!!! Loved the quiet calm of the place. Cannot speak highly enough!!

Eggplant and tofu agedashi rules and the king prawns are amazing. Menu highlight however - sweet potato gyoza. Good prices, great service and top food. Peko win.

Simple, inexpensive. Food here is nice for what you pay. Japanese food can be expensive but Peko Peko is very inexpensive and good for a quick eat.<br/>Edamame is great as are the crab dishes.<br/>Also love the fish wallpaper!

PekoPeko. I love Peko Peko

Tasty wanted more.... Service was excellent.<br/>Food was tasty, the portions could be a bit bigger.<br/><br/>From what I could see, the restaurant was packed for the above reasons.

Fantastic, reasonably priced. Food here was fantastic (we shared vegetarianplates). The eggplant and tofu agedashi were amazing. The vegetarian gyozas were only average, however I have since been told that the sweet potato gyozas are better. The food was staggered so we could take our time enjoying it over a glass of wine. Very reasonably priced

Nice. If I had to score this restaurant, I'd give it a 8.5/10 with my asian taste buds. If it's your first time in Peko Peko, go for the Peko Peko chicken, no questions asked. The other dishes are pretty ordinary, I only favour the Peko2 chicken.

Sublime. The gyoza is yum yum.

Ordinary food. Went there for lunch staff was friendly. Had a chicken teriyaki don.. nothing impressive. Very ordinary. Definitely not authentic.. rather fusion feel.

Try the gyoza. Peko Peko is perfect for a spontaneous night out - simple menu, relaxed, and on the way home. Favourites of mine are the various flavours of gyoza, beef tataki and the okonomiyaki. Sometimes a little busy and the service is occasionally haphazard as a result but otherwise always solid. Checks the specials board for unusual items.

Peko Peko is a Japanese Cafe, rather than a restaurant. Dishes have fusion feel, rather than authentic. That is, you can get vegi-gyoza and sweet potato dish. I have lived in Japan long enough to recognize authentic flavour... Whick you will not get from Peko Peko (Okonomiyaki, a savory pancake was served all chopped up and tasted like nothing I have ever tasted. Certainly nothing like an authentic Japanese Okonomiyaki). It is a lovely little place with excellent service. I call it cafe as their main course dishes are mainly "don-buri" dishes. That is, different meat and veg placed on top of a big bowl of rice. If you are after 'real' Japanese food, I suggest another venue.

Small on space, big on taste. Cute little restaurant with a great range of Japanese favourites - gyoza, agedashi tofu, udon noodle soups, sushi, yakisoba and the like. Meals are divided into three categories - small, medium and large - so you can easily choose something for your level of hunger.<br/>I tried the tofu curry don on rice - an excellent example of a mild Japanese curry, with fried tofu cubes, red peppers, and onion (I wasn't that keen on the onion though). I also sampled the vegetarian gyoza, and the sweet potato gyoza - both were great, particularly the latter.