Sozai serves up great quality Japanese fare with polite service albeit for a price. Although, it's in Armadale, so no surprises there.
The sashimi is always fresh. Their signature dishes like the agadashi tofu, tempura and udon do not disappoint. The gyoza is somewhat unorthodox in shape and texture but still offers great taste. The wafu salad is refreshing and healthy.
Will be back to try their desserts!
DO: The sushi platter and tempura prawns
DON'T: Forget the chicken KARAAGE
TIP: Place takes bookings and is a hit with the locals so just be careful during peak times to avoid long wait queues.
Amazing sushi and sashimi! Absolutely love coming here with my friends for a casual night out. Everything is delicious, although slightly pricey it is worth the cost
My family have been coming to Sozai since it first opened. Throughout the years, the food quality and standards have always been consistently high. All the sushi chefs have a minimum of 3-5 years experience in making sushi, and when it's not peak hour are more than happy to answer any questions I may have for them. Absolutely recommend for sushi fans - the fish is always market fresh and use the most appropriate types for sashimi. Their miso soup is outstanding and we have always enjoyed the Miso Eggplant and their Teriyaki Chicken/Beef/Salmon. One of my favourites in the inner south east without a doubt!
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An established good suburban Japanesse. This used to be the premier Japanese in The Malvern and surrounding suburbs and has moved back to just an average for the area. I have been eating here for over 15 years.
Visited Sozai on Monday night. For starter had the edamame. It was served warm, but I prefer a bit hotter. Then had the Wafu salad which was good and then had the miso soup. Both were served ok.
My friend had a soda lime and bitters and it tasted too sweet. It was average. I would have suggested soda water, fresh lime and then a splash of bitters. The one served looked like a concoction my 8 year old made up.
We then had spicy salmon maki and spicy tuna maki. Both were presented well and tasted average to OK. We then had a salmon and tuna sashimi and sushi and shared this. That dish was ok.
The staff here are not well trained and I think the previous staff were friendlier. They tried to jam all these plates on the table and then look at me strange when they can't fit it on.
The Sozai restaurant is showing its age and like any other good establishment the restaurant needs a lick of paint, better trained staff and more
Importantly just a little more love and passion back into the food.
Fresh sashimi and wonderful eggplant with sauce. Teriyaki with chicken, salmon and beef, but chicken's is the best one. Nice staff and traditional japanese sushi bar.
My second Japanese venue for the week. Nice friendly venue. Excellent miso and beanshoot/tofu salad. Eggplant and sauce was delicious. Sashimi (not very fresh) and Chicken mains were nice but very chewy. Not a young crowd either. A little pricey for what we ate.
Still just as great as I remember it. There aren't many Japanese restaurants I've been to that serve sushi and sashimi as fresh and perfect as Sozai. Very consistent and delicious plus lovely staff make this place an all-time favourite.
Good quality sashimi, friendly staff, what more can I ask for?
Slightly on the pricier side for a simple meal, but at least I know I'm getting quality food. Loved it.
Very good neighbourhood Japanese restaurant in many ways - it is authentic, the prices are reasonable, you don't have to book ahead, good service, very fresh and high quality sashimi although lacking in variety, excellent tempura. The gyoza were tasty but not what I was expecting in terms of shape/presentation (see picture). Overall a very good experience worth checking out again.
Wonderful, fresh Japanese food. Sozai has become a bit of a fave. Their Nasuden is incredible and the inside-out spicy maki is the best I have EVER had!We never book ahead (we're never that organised) and they always manage to squeeze us in. If you've got 3+ people, it's probably worth booking.
Loved coming here for dinner. The sushi & sashimi were absolutely delicious! I love that you can see the sushi chef preparing all of the fresh sushi & sashimi! The venue is quite small and usually packed - defiantly book ahead of you can!
A catch up with a dear friend led me to Sozai, a Japanese cafe in the heart of Armadale(1221, High St). It was jam packed for a Monday night, proving that it is a favourite local haunt. The sushi bar is the main feature as you walk into the restaurant so you can see them preparing their fresh sasishmi & sushi rolls. We were both quite hungry, so we ordered up. We had the miso soup first to start with which came out piping hot. Eggplant is one of my favourite vegetables and I always order the Nasuden when I have Japanese. This one in particular was quite big and I must say up there with the best that I've had. It was soft and custardy and wasn't drowning in miso sauce - perfect! The Agedashi Tofu was a generous serve, however the tofu wasn't as silky like others, it had a roughish texture when you bit into it. We shared the California Maki with fresh salmon, rolled with avocado & cucumber. We also had my friend's favourite, Spicy Maki Tuna Roll which is an inside out roll, with avocado,
If you want an insider’s tip for Sozai that you may use on your own, it is ‘ask for the Nasuden nigiri’ ($3.00 per piece). They are the seaweed wrapped eggplant sushi. Using the same eggplant displayed earlier, only finely cubed sitting on a bed of Japanese rice. Need I say more – order, order, order. Two per person is perfect. The entree sushi platter – 4 pieces maki + 4 pieces nigiri ($13.00) was put on the same dish. Good use of space if I say so myself. Excellent, fresh pieces of sushi. Flawless every-time. Unfortunately, this is the extent of sushi for this meal.
Delicious authentic Japanese food. Very fresh sushi. Have never been disappointed as have been going here for a couple of years
Great!. A couple of weeks ago, i had an excellent miso soup and very good sushi at this restaurant! GO!
Superb. The menu is rather limited but everything we tasted there was simply delicious and the prices are very reasonable.
A gem in the neighbourhood.
Best salmon and tuna inside out maki in town! Such an amazing restaurant!
Entree's and mains- what will come out first?. I love this restaurant. The sashimi is always fresh, cut well and beautifully presented. The other dishes are also very tasty such as the agedashi tofu. However I have to vent something that has bothered me the last couple of times I have been there. The food comes out soo fast!! I know a lot of you will probably wonder why I am winging about great service, but I feel as though they are wanting you in and out of the restaurant so that they can accomodate other guests after you. The one thing that irriatates me the most though is that they bring the food out in the wrong order. I received my entree last and the main first the other night! What's the point in having entree's and mains if they come out at the wrong time? I think next time I go ill ask them to bring out the entree's first. Hopefully this works!
Great Japanese restaurant. One of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. Staff are great (friendly and accomodating, always willing to find you a seat without a booking!), and the food is very fresh and of a high quality. Often eat-in and get takeway, both are excellent.
Best fried oyster I ever try
Fresh and tasty. Really super fresh. Seriously the best fresh oysters I've had in a Japanese restaurant. Also the best prawn udon noodle soup. The soup was perfectly balanced and the tempura was proper tempura. I liked how they served it on the side of the soup so it didn't get soggy. Everyone commented very favourably on their meals (see photos). Areas they could improve: expand the wine list; and waiters who have a better grasp of English (sorry, but it was due to poor communication that some aspects of our order were mixed up).
Awesome Japanese food. Went there with friends 3 weeks ago, food was amazing, fresh and the service was really good
We love it with or without the kids in tow.... Sushi is fantastic!!
Not as good as it was. Used to love this restaurant. Sushi is great but teriyaki beef has gone down hill. They are using cheaper cut of meat and it is always stringy...
The food is great. Fresh, beautifully prepared and service is great. Only issue is the dessert menu, would like more choices.
Good sushi and good price. Been here few time with some friends and it's always a pleasure sit down and enjoy a good sushi. Service is good, food is good and of course the price is good as well.
We Keep Coming Back for More!. We absolutely love Sozai. As it is in our local area, we have been quite a few times and have never been disappointed. The service is great, the atmosphere: warm, cosy, and relaxing, and the food is delicious!
Our favourite menu items are the kaki fry (fried oysters), tempura (a dish which at Sozai, unlike at so many other japanese restaurants, tastes like they use fresh oil), and the sushi and sashimi platters which are so fresh and satisfying.
Really nice atmosphere for dinner with the family, a date, or a get together with friends.
Love it!
Love it. Been coming here for seven years. Favourites would be the Chef's special for two - sushi sashimi combination but pricey, the eggplant dish forgot the name, Gyu Tataki - one of the best dishes I have tasted at a japanese restaurant and the Spicy Tuna Maki is also amazing. Staff are lovely and will always find a table for you. Amazing!
Simple menu that rarely changes but everything is done to perfection. Bonus points go to the Agadashi Tofu!
Consistently excellent Japanese takeaway.
Been going here for the past 10 years... Consistantly great, clean, food... Take away easier as service too slow!!
Nice and clean little eatery. Spotted it as we were having a drink at the bar next door so we decided to pop in for some food. It’s uncommon for a Japanese restaurant to have numerous vegetarian options so that was a pleasant surprise. The dishes were well-executed. Nothing fancy but good standard. My favorite was the prawn tempura dish. Agedashi was a bit ordinary as it was missing the bonito flakes on top.
Cosy spot on the main road.
The karaage chicken while plentiful in size did not have the same level of flavour compared to other Japanese restaurants.
Sashimi was definitely on point, very fresh and tasty, especially the tuna.
Spicy tempura prawn rolls are a must-have.
Good time to go is around 2-3pm if you want quiet dining.
Been coming here for a few years now and I am always impressed. The shared tuna and salmon platter is always a good option as it is always fresh and delicious. Tempura vegetables and agedashi tofu are also great options. Very nice little restaurant feels very traditional. It is a little on the expensive side due to its location, however definitely worth it.
The fillet beef teriyaki has us returning again and again.
Not a large range of sushi/sashimi, but they have the basics and they do it superbly with really fresh fish.
This is our local family favourite!!
Chill and low key spot for a classic Japanese meal. All the staples are done pretty well. Fish is fresh and local, presentation is crisp. Generous portions and a convivial local feel.
Lovely food. Enjoyed the tempura prawns and vegetables.
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