Review Tana Cafe - Hawthorn

Quant, peaceful and efficient. Coffee was a standout, matcha latte was a treat. I also had the vegetable curry with melty cheese on top from the lunch menu, which was so real and fresh that it would make my mum proud. Really nice space and I was not kept waiting. Definitely will come back, thanks!

Very cosy and friendly Japanese cafe. Sitting along the street due to covid, enjoyed warm sunshine one the back. Nice coffee and yogurt to start the morning.

Perfect froth. Robust nutty blend. Atmospheric organic music to accompany your moment of blissful escape. Soulful coffee served with authenticy. Serves toasts and small sandwiches

The owners are very friendly and the cafe is very peaceful. Despite being a local I have only recently found this place and it is now my go to cafe. Their coffee is consistently tasty and one of my favourites in Melbourne, a must try for coffee lovers. Their menu is concise and delivers a refined homemade touch that is always delicious.

The coffee is top notch, with a lot of love and care put into every detail of every aspect of this typically Japanese café. Brilliant service and polite family-run business. The owner is Yoshi, who has poured his heart and soul into what he loves: TANA CAFÉ!

Lovely tiny Cafe and great service. Would love to come again but it can get crowded with limited seats...

Two years on and it's still my go-to cafe for delicious coffee and sandwiches in Hawthorn!!! Yoshi and the team are always so beautiful and helpful, and the vibe is so relaxed and welcoming. I've honestly never been to a cafe where the coffee is so consistently great (and I like my coffees strong!). Just keep in mind it's a small space, so it's not ideal for anyone looking for a big brunch group. Also, for anyone who read the 2 not-so-great reviews.. while I don't drink chai, I've walked into the cafe while they were freshly brewing it and have to say it smells absolutely divine, so can only imagine it tastes delicious. Also, they remind me (and every customer I've seen) of the surcharge every single time I've paid by card, and it's written at the counter clearly. They're also extremely accommodating anytime there's an issue. Bottom line, if you like great coffee and fresh, delicious and wholesome food (none of that hipster smashed avo), you won't be disappointed!

Cute little spot. Looks super cool. Ol’mate who runs the place is awesome, super friendly and welcoming. Coffee was a tad thin, good flavours, temp was great! Not too hot. Super keen to try the food. Will post back with GF verdict. I feel recommendations will come for food and the setting.

Hands down, best coffee this side of Melbourne no doubt! Lovely staff & gorgeous decor. Love dropping in on my morning walks.

Surprisingly really really good coffee. Still in awe how good the coffee is. Will come back just for the coffee. �

Great coffee, friendly environment and tasty snacks.

Delicious coffee everytime. Also love the moist muffins with perfect amount of sweetness and the moorish veggie burger. Thanks Tana!

I love it very much when I'm in Melbourne I always go there to get coffee from tana cafe it's very close to my house.

Another fabulous Tuna sandwich, thanks Yoshi! And looking forward to my favourite muffin later on.

Cute and cosy with friendly staff. Great local!

Cute japanese cafe and lovely 'coffee supreme' coffee!

I called into this cage for a take away coffee. The service was friendly enough.<br/><br/>I did ask for a strong skinny latte and the second time I saId a strong double shot latte. Now my ccoffe was very good, as this cafe uses premium cows milk the name of which escapes me.<br/><br/>Unfortunately my latte wasn't a double shot. My coffee tasted nice but it was quite milky. There was some good milk froth but I don't like milky coffees.<br/><br/>In saying that I'd be happy to go back but I may need to ask for a triple shot lol.<br/><br/>

Tana cafe in Hawthorn, a place we went in purely for the convenience since our dentist appointment was right next door. The appointment was around noon so kiddos were hungry for food. It’s quite a tiny café and was briefly mentioned about it by the staff in the clinic in case we need lunch. Tana Cafe is a Japanese style café with a small variety of pastries, sandwiches, and cookies. Apart from the menu (which is quite a simple one for breakfast that doesn’t give options for lunch), you can ask if the kitchen can make anything lunching. I happily discovered that the staff there are quite patient and flexible, which is a plus.

Lesser known local gem. On a cold Melbourne day order the baked curry rice with poached egg. Everything in this cafe is as authentic you can get to a Japanese homemade breakfast.<br/>Follow my ig for more foodie goodness: emptystomach

As seemingly every new cafe is trying to shove overtly complicated and enormous plates of food down your gullet it’s nice to find a cafe that understands restraint and simplicity . The food here has a unique style blending elements of Japanese cuisine with european/middle eastern plating and flavours . It’s really quite interesting and eclectic food . Coffee is very smooth as well .

One of the best small relaxed cafes in Melbourne. Quite, friendly, warm, simple and just generally excellent. One can certainly feel the Japanese culture of perfection the owner brings to ever element of the cafe. The coffee is always perfect. The food is delitful. One of the best pumpkin soups I’ve ever had. Light but not watery and different with some small pieces of potato and onion. Awesome cafe run by great people.

Great coffee and healthy menu. However the food lack some excitement just taste as it is, like wish they add a bit say chilli or wasabi or soy sauce. Great comfort food if your tummy isn’t feeling well though

Such a lovely cafe in hawthorn area, small but cozy with vintage decoration. Customer service was a great and attentive. <br/>Tana cafe offer coffee and spindle drinks as well as sandwich and rice dishes for breakfast and lunch. <br/>#matcha latte#matcha Latte had the dull green color, but the taste was good with perfect sweetness, creamy and milky flavor was stronger than the green tea flavor though. <br/>#rice dish#-baked brown rice with white sauce, ham cheese and salad. Very light and small portion lunch option. The creamy sauce was very tasty with healthy brown rice, made it a good choice. Rice was cooked well, not too sticky but more toward nutty flavor. I loved it very much. <br/>Next time, I would love to try their sandwich and coffee for a simple and light lunch:) <br/>

Loved my first visit this absolutely cute cafe ! Cozy Cafe with great soothing music, all I needed in a rainy day . I had a soy latte and house made muffin which was low in sugar :)

This cafe is a little gem that we discovered on Zomato when passing through Hawthorn. Friendly, welcoming staff and yummy fresh food. Vegetarian burger was delicious and nice coffee. Definitely worth a visit, we will be back!

Decors 1: cute little cafe<br/>Coffee 1.5: good coffee & yummy house baked muffin! A wide selection of healthy Emma&Tom's juices! Didn't try the food but will come back to try 🤗<br/>Service 1: lovely & attentive

Had my take away coffee and banana bread at Tana cafe this morning. They uses Coffee Supreme 👍 Beautiful small cafe with well mannerd service I had in the Easter morning. Can't wait to try their food soon.

Tana café is a great find on Church St Hawthorn. Run by one of the ex-chefs of cult Japanese Restaurant Yu-u, this delightful little café serves a mixed array of east meets west food and drink. <br/>We tried the tofu salad, the Vegetable Burger, a Matcha Latté and a raspberry iced drink that were all fantastic. The...

Very small cafe. Coffee was good. <br/>I had toast. Dont recommend the toast. <br/>$6 for simple half toasted bread that was full of holes lol?? Left hungry...... but the asian dishes on menu i saw others eating looked good 👍

Japanese ingenuity and meticulous produced with love.<br/><br/>The owner, Yoshi spend a great deal of time in making sure things are in order in that small space that they operate from.<br/><br/>Many things around the place are vintage and lovingly recycle, re-use, re-produce; just check those French Duralex glasses and the hand-wash basin in the toilet.<br/><br/>Staff are friendly and approachable, most importantly polite, just like in Japan.<br/><br/>Great coffee and food, try those hand-made cookies.<br/><br/>Enjoy!

Lovely people with very friendly service. I had the Japanese roasted rice tea and it was great. The gratana was yum but the tofu salad is super delicious and healthy. Tana is a little bit out of my way but everytime I have a brunch appointment with someone around the area, I would choose this place.

The coffee was great!<br/>I think it is the best in the area:-)<br/>Food was also nice!<br/>I ordered Apple walnut muffin, its so yummy!<br/><br/>I will be back to this cafe more often!<br/><br/>

The service is impeccable - Tana and his family truly care for you! The food is modest and heartwarming, the music is relaxing and trendy. But the coffee is what Tana prides itself on - the owner Yoshi is passionate about coffee and it truly shows. Whether you're there for a macchiato or skinny late, Yoshi's state-of-the-art coffee machine and barista know-how assures that you've had that coffee fix you need for your day.

I'm a local and this is hands-down this is best coffee in Hawthorn (and arguably Melbourne). Unlike most cafes that are hit and miss (especially when different baristas are in charge) the coffee at tana is consistently strong and full of flavour, and the service is so very lovely :) <br/><br/>They score a massive bonus point for their 20cent discount for people who bring their own cups! Great incentive for environment awareness & friendliness. <br/><br/>Food-wise, the cafe has a selection of healthy and minimalistic items, which are delicious thanks to the organic and fresh ingredients used, but think of it as more of a relaxed meal and not as a restaurant/diner experience. Space is limited and the focus is on a cozy/chilled environment.

Lovely service - the most polite people I have come across in some time. Great coffee, and delcious sandwiches. Tana Cafe is the perfect plaec for a relaxing solo coffee date, were you can settle down with a magazine or book and chill out.This place is one of the biggest things I miss about living in Hawthorn!

This has become my new daily coffee shop. Coffee is perfect and the staff are so accommodating and friendly. I have tried most food items on the menu and they are all nice but the selection is limited. Best café in the Church St, Hawthorn Area.

Best cafe in the area. This is one of my favourite places to go for coffee. Good coffee. Excellent, reasonably priced food. Staff are lovely. It is never too busy or too loud.

This is a fantastic little cafe that not enough people know about. The coffee is superb, the staff are always friendly and there is a really lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend! :)

And on those days I will be heading over to Tana Cafe, because I seriously think they make the best Matcha Lattes this side of town! The owners are super lovely people and always greet me with a smile.   I don't even know how to describe the joy I get from sipping on my matcha latte.  It's just a perfect blend of green tea and frothy milk, not too sweet and oh so soothing. Bubs is crazy for their corn mayo toast.  I don't blame him, there's just something delicious about the mix of crunchy corn, creamy mayo and that gooey melted cheese.  Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu, and more of that matcha latte of course!

The menu focuses on light breakfast and lunch meals, with some dishes having a Japanese twist. I chose one such dish, an organic tofu salad drizzled with their house-made dressing of pickled plum (or ume). It was perfect. The alfafa with its grassy notes, the raisins and their sweetness, the almonds and their crunch and the gentle silky tofu came together beautifully. The dressing was slightly sweet, slightly tangy, faintly bitter and just so freaking good that it stunned Fakebooo into muttering out a mangled remark “I love the marination!”

A little off the beaten path in Hawthorn is the less-known strip of eateries on Church Street (near to the corner of Barkers Road), which is where the quirky-looking Japanese-fushion eatery Tana Café is located. I was impressed with the ease of which Tana Café manages to balance Japanese flavours with modern Australian cuisine… adding, rather than detracting, from the dishes. It is easy to see why so many of the locals fall in love with the Tanakas’ eatery. With its delicious food, reasonable prices, and quirky charms, Tana Café is a great find.

Amazing coffee! I drink soy and it's always creamy and delicious. Great barista.

Consistently good coffee using specialty roasted beans. Barista, Yoshi, makes it strong and flavorful with a burnt caramel style latte as the milk froth bubbles pop on top - not unique but this is my favorite. Delicious sandwiches and lunch casserole dishes with a delicate Japanese influence. Lovely cakes and biscuits go well with coffee. The interior is small but makes use of all the space. Quaint country style wooden shelving is a clue to the cafe name, "Tana" - meaning both "shelf" in Japanese and from Tanaka, the surname of the owner (the "ka" being "ca" in cafe) So much care is taken in the service but there is a nice casual and welcoming atmosphere. Lots of takeaway coffee traffic and regulars spilling onto the footpath. A gem in this part of Hawthorn!

This is my go-to cafe for a relaxing coffee. A great place to comfortably go by yourself and flick through a magazine. <br/>Coffee is different, but delicious and the home made Anzac biscuits are definitely a must. Their food menu is small and so far I've only had a sandwich, but it was delicious!

Gorgeous. Love this place too, the owners fantastic and a real homey feel.

Excellent Coffee !!!!. Tana makes a great coffee, a little rare for this part of town, havent tried any of the food but i am sure its also quality.

Too cute!. I love this place. Great service. Cute and cosy. Just adore the fit out, right down to styling in the bathroom. Outdoor seating also perfect for those sunny days. Bircher museli is amazing. Perfect stop off before or after yoga next door.

Delicious tuna sandwhich and small yet beautifully decorated cafe, warm and welcoming people. And nice latte too !!

Lovely place. Great coffee and interior design.

Run by lovely people. Tasty food and coffee. Can't wait to go back! We has the Bircher muesli and the rice gratin dish both were fabulous.

Tana Cafe. This warm, inviting new cafe is a real treat! Fantastic coffee, traditional and western menu, with items like Japanese rice bake, tofu salad, vege burgers, home made sandwiches and yummy desserts, definitely my new local!

Unpretentious,cosy and inviting.. The Japanese influenced, unpretentious food and the attentive and friendly staff made me feel at home and will keep me coming back for more.

Wish I lived next door. Tana Cafe is a tiny but cosy, warm and welcoming spot. We trekked all the way there from Elwood for a late lunch and it was worth the drive. We tried their homemade lemonade, chai, potato salad and the rice gratana - a sort of rice version of macaroni and cheese that came with ham, potato, boiled egg, pinenuts and garnished with rocket. Everything was super yummy, perfectly seasoned, constructed and presented. If we lived next door I'd come here everyday.

Small and homely, homecooked Japanese and cafe food. Recently opened, we had the nourishing soy-based bean soup with rice for lunch! But the best was the last: beautiful coffee and chai with home-made cheese cake for desert!

The Boyfriend and I went out on a lunch date this afternoon to one of my new favourite go-to-place,  tana cafe . I first found out about 'tana cafe' when I-Hua and Shellie both raved about this little gem on Instagram. Boy, am I glad they did! I absolutely adore tana cafe ;  this quaint little cafe is set up so well with the perfect ambience.

Tana Cafe is tiny. Extremely tiny, and so are the chairs. So if you are thinking of bringing your little ones here, please note that there will not be much room at all for your giant prams, let alone human space...Their menu is straightforward and minimalistic. Simple Japanese flavours melded to modern Australian cafe brunch fare.

We liked the idea of having matcha lattes and light, Japanese-influenced dishes as an alternative to the usual Melbourne brunchscape of bacon and eggs.

In Japan, there’s a concept, ‘Wabi Sabi’ which is a world view or aesthetic centred around the acceptance of transience and imperfection...I could be wrong, but I feel like Tana Cafe embodies a lot of this. The little Japanese cafe sits unassumingly on Church Street in Richmond and with it’s clean but earthy palette, feels just so soothing when you walk in. Perhaps it’s the bric-a-brac feel to the place, with a mix of wooden square shelves adhered to the wall, low seats and tables, nothing really matching, but it all matching at the same time.  Very cute. Water is a self served affair, and I’m positively delighted with the glass jugs used for the water, as they’re exactly the same ones we have at home. It’s a bit of an Asian thing I guess.