Izakaya Den is such a beautiful and hidden spot in Melbourne City. The atmosphere when the place is full, with the dim lighting, and incredible food is marvellous! I had such a great meal whilst visiting, and can't wait to come back! Thank you also to the incredible service team for providing vegetarian alternatives to course meals!
I came here with my son to celebrate his birthday. The service was impeccable and the food was amazing. Every mouthful was a treat. I particularly recommend the scallops and the salmon sushimi. The waitress was really helpful giving us advice about sake, even giving us a taste of a couple of types so that we could choose exactly what we wanted. I really enjoyed my time at this restaurant.
Have always enjoyed the fabulous food, service and atmosphere at Izakaya Den but this week my wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with dinner at Hihou before going to a show. The food, service and atmosphere were fantastic and I highly recommend both places to anyone who enjoys Japanese food. The two gentleman serving at Hihou were excellent. They never stopped but were able to ensure every customer was looked after. Will be going back to both places!
My favourite restaurant in Melbourne. Always so welcoming, attentive and food is innovative. I've even noticed other well known places copying dishes. To everyone who's unsure...go. Great food.
Amazing food and alcohol, unique vibe and super friendly team. we couldn't stop eating and kept ordering more. so mucu fun, can't wait to be back! xx
My wife and I were there Saturday night and thought the food and service was excellent , yes it's not cheap but well worth it I thought.
People who whinge about the price must be eating Japanese at Sushi Sushi!
Great food and service! Little bit on the dark side to read the menu (may be my age!) But enjoyable.
I was there to drink (rare). The various delicious Japanese alcoholic drinks really G'd us the fuck up and got us in the mood to skitz at an array of clubs until 4am on a tuesday because Melbourne is loose. Happy bday Monty <3
Delicious Japanese small plates and refreshing highballs in a beautifully authentic setting, yet surprisingly affordable.
What a find ! Great atmosphere and delicious food, will definitely be going back for more.
Def try the kingfish sashimi,the sweet potato croquette, and everything else xo
lovely place for pre-drinks! great way to chill ;)
I came to find izakaya den on my friend's birthday and was suitably perplexed. Walk down the staircase to the clothing store but turn into your first left!!
Ordered:
đŽUemashita ($80 pp)
Review:
We got to try so many amazing little dishes! Every thing had flavour, and they were all edible and easy to enjoy. My top 3 favorites was the spicy tuna tataki, the grilled scallops and the pork belly. These all aligned with my personal preferences, and made my tastebuds dance!
The service was friendly, and booking is a must. Atmosphere is very moody, no natural light and there's quite a few suits after work. We spent roughly 1.5 hrs here, and it we a great time to catch up... albeit a little noisy since you're close to the other tables.
Great food and cocktails were yum. The salmon sashimi was very tasty, all the dishes were great! So much to choose from that sounded good, canât wait to go again to try some of the other dishes!
Had the most delicious selection of food here and the beef tataki melts in your mouth. Wanting to come back!
The food has really good Japanese food. Surprisingly large serves. The presentation of the food is much simpler than most Japanese I have eaten.
The restaurant is tick boxes on a paper menu to place the order, a bit silly since the waiter then confirms the order.
One negative, I really didnt like greasy plastic cups for drinking water.
Went here to celebrate my friendâs birthday. We ordered the $80 pp set menu which left us really really full and satisfied! Might have been a little too much for us! However, if itâs youâre first time here and would like to try most of the dishes, the $80 pp set menu might be a good option too.
The best dishes overall from the set menu and a must order if youâre not doing the set are;
- Spicy tuna tataki
-Sweet corn âkaki-ageâ
-Yuzu kosho miso daikon
-Den fried chicken
-Baked barramundi filet
-Grilled beef of the day
Will definitely come back on a special occasion. The bar table would be a good option as you get to see your dishes get prepared. Service was amazing, staffs were attentive and polite.
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Hidden away from the general public in the basement of a building lies Izayaka Den, an elusive and cosy restaurant that can easily be missed with itâs subtle sign on the outside and the long black curtains that hide the sliding doors.
Reflective of its very chic and cool name, Izayaka Den, as Japanese as it gets, there are no irasshaimase when you walk in. Instead youâre greeted with a long basement interior with a bar and the kitchen close at hand. The restaurant resembles a typical Japanese izakaya, which is translated to a Japanese-style pub with drinks and food. The staff greet you over blaring house music by getting you to your stool with a tray of oshibori towels and two rolled up menus, one with food and one with drinks. The service is impeccable, totally Japanese and totally worth the hype to visit.
Depending on where youâre seated, if youâre lucky to miss the peak hour and be seated opposite of the kitchen, you get to see your food be cooked in front of you by young bandana wearing chefs. The best part of the visit is that the prices are extremely reasonable with filling, but not overwhelming menu options. Izayaka Den has two menus: a menu in hand and a changing menu that flashes in the back over a projector in a collectedly cool atmosphere that have first comers ooh-ing and aah-ing with delight.
Drinks comes in all varieties in a classic Japanese style, from sake, shochu, umeshu to even freshly pressed juices, and the menu is irresistible with itâs broad range of steamed figs to sea trout to even black fried rice and ox tongue (yes you read right). The restaurant holds a sophisticated yet carefree air about it that is both classic Japanese with a modern twist that reflects the Melbourne city life.
Even down to the dessert thatâs both sweet and yet still so modest, thereâs something for everyone and anyone of all interests to enjoy. The green tea and white chocolate fondue with small squared cake pieces and frozen grapes adds the finishing touch that combines both Japanese and Melbourne cuisine into one that makes it delicious, but not cloying.
It gets busy, so book first!
Had lunch here the other day, nice vibe, very nice lunch set menu, the price was decent, great food, different drinks can choose from, service was nice, would definitely visit again .
The spicy tuna tataki was my favourite and you'll know for sure its made with the freshest ingredients.Definitely worth the wait
Ordered the Uemashita set and everything tasted amazing! Great value and portion was perfect!
Went here for our anniversary dinner. Izakaya Den is a cozy yet classy underground restaurant that boasts the best of Japanese inspired flavours. We ordered the $80pp set menu, which leaves you satisfied. The quality of their sashimi is lovely; comparable to that in Japan. Overall, everything was delicious but not out of the ordinary. The dish of the night was the urobuta pork belly - melt in your mouth perfection.
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Real rating 4.5
I couldn't believe I just found this Gem after so many years in Melbourne.
Cozy environment, love the 2 people seating by the kitchen bench, it was a great experience watching the chef preparing the dishes. All the staff and chef were Japanese. The manager was very lovely.Â
Everything we ordered was fabulous.Â
+ Sweet Corn Kakiage - even tastes better than Wagyu Ya, loved how it was served with matcha powder
+ Den Fried Chicken - the hero dish of the night, SO JUICY with everybite, so crispy outside and tender inside, one of the best karaage chicken I have ever had
+ Tuna Tartare- thick cut of tuna with a hint of spicy aftertaste
+ Ox Tongue - the presentation was so pretty and generous portion, thin cut perfectly cooked
+ Fantastic Prawn - prawn meat was firm, love the yuzu mayo
The only let down was the drink. Ordered a Negroni but the staff misheard the order and I was served a glass of Sake. They replaced my order but I waited 15 minutes for my drink. By that time I was halfway through my meal. I would say if you have a sweet tooth please avoid negroni as it was pretty strong bitterness flavour not to everyone's liking.
Customer service was friendly and the price point was affordable. I would recommend this place for a date night, intimacy and not too noisy.
Decided to have dinner with friends after having this place on my list for a while. The menu had a good variety of options to suit different taste buds. The salmon and kingfish sashimi were beautiful good sized cuts however I thought the flavouring could have been a bit more noticeable. The prawns in the crackers I thought were a little over cooked and not my favourite. The fried chicken was a favourite and we ordered two large bowls. The kransky was definitely not expected on the menu and was not a crowd favourite unfortunately. The desserts were a major let down and not what we expected. Overall we had a mixed experience - some dishes like the calamari, eggplant and fried chicken were really good but others were missing the mark.
Hidden from plain sight lies izakaya den and despite having been here a few times before I always question whether Iâm walking down the right staircase. The venue has a laid back vibe and counter seating as well as a few high tables. Most of the staff if not all are Japanese or speak Japanese. We ordered:
-sweet corn with matcha salt: absolutely delicious although a little oily and couldnât taste the matcha salt
- salmon sashimi: interesting mix of Yuzu gel
- tataki: fresh and tasty, garlic chips were so good
- scallops: deliciously creamy and well cooked
-ox tongue: so tasty and well seasoned, texture was perfect
-pork belly: loved the marinade, very sweet and full of flavour
Overall an amazing meal with excellent service, staff were friendly and attentive
I really enjoyed the quality and freshness of the food! the price wasn't bad too. I wish me and my bf could've ordered more but the stuff on the menu wasn't that appetising to me but that was an issue on my side. The staff were really nice as well! The ambience was really good.
Love this place.
Down a set of steps and thru black curtain you will end up at a great Japanese restaurant!
Food are great! Service was friendly and attentive!
The chef allows the fresh ingredients speak for itself. All additions enhance the flavor of the ingredients.
Servicing size comes in small to large. We tried 3 small dishes, 2 large dishes plus one desert.
They were all good. In particular the special omelette and the ox tongue. đ
Our dinners come to around $50 per person.
I will definitely recommend this restaurant and will come back. đ
Could not find this hidden âizakayaâ style restaurant at first but been here a couple of times now after discovering it. I love the concept of a Japanese tavern - nice cozy place to dine and have some drinks with a small groups of friends. I think the Uemashita set for $75pp is worth it for the amount food given! Definitely always coming back for my personal favourites - Fantastic prawns, spicy tuna tataki, Den fried chicken & a couple more ... The porterhouse beef was a lil well done for my liking. But overall the food is pretty good.
Izakaya Den is in the basement of the corner of Russell and Lt Collins Street. You enter from Russell and persist in finding the stairs and the big entry door downstairs. It has an intimate atmosphere.
For a week day lunch, we had the $35 set menu ( the light version). It was a great array of small fish and vegetable dishes, with one drink. ( I had mineral water and my friend had the Orion beer).
The first plate was beautifully cooked calamari, followed by salmon; then broccoli and cauliflower; a tofu dish with ginger and slightly spicy sauce. There was a grilled sweet potato and shiitake mushroom dish ( a much less interesting dish than the others). Finally, the tuna tataki was outstanding.
A lovely array of classy dishes over lunch in a quiet sitting.
If I was there for a long dinner, I would not want to sit on the tables with the high stool chairs.
how wonderful this place is! Served by a great Japanese Hospitality mind, nothing is too hard . Went there for lunch and so had a $35.- set menu which included a beverage...a great value.
The service was quick and efficient, the food was well presented and delicious. The desert however was amazing. We had an amazing night and will go back again for sure.
This place was so difficult to find. Iâm sure we circled a few times before finding it because it is located in a hidden basement.
However, after finding the restaurant we found it we were able to embark on an interesting Japanese experience. Izakaya Den introduced a Fusion Japanese menu and we opted for a set menu.
The service was very authentic with the vibe being very bar like and casual.
I suggest trying out Izakaya Den if youâre after a Japanese fusion experience that takes you on a different Japanese adventure
Wow. Just wow. Food is just amazing. Ambience is excellence and staff are great. Recommend the set menu for best experience. Thank you very much.
The food is just beautiful as well as the staff - so friendly, helpful and kind. Definitely worth trying are: the black fried rice, kingfish sashimi and of course their beautiful ranges of sake (have a bit of all the sake if you feel like breaking the bank account). The den fried chicken is also great, especially for those who are not a big fan of fish and like their food well cooked.
This place is so hidden, and at first we thought it's not open. After going downstairs, through the black curtains, we found this really stylish place, not too busy on a Friday night (probably because it's so hidden). The food was really tasty, but it's a bit strange with the order that they come out.
This was absolutely amazing. Itâs difficult to find, but the ambience was nice and dark inside. The Sake Mojito was delicious and so smooth. Had the Sweet corn âkake-ageâ which was just perfectly crunchy, the Ox Tongue was grilled just right, and the Kingfish sashimi was lovely. The Den fried chicken was a bit bland, but still nice. Pricey (on a student budget), but absolutely worth it and Iâll definitely revisit someday.
Izakaya Den is the perfect Japanese restaurant for us, it has lovely environment and very delicious food. Staff are all nice. Difinetly recommend Ox Tongue, fried Chicken, salmon sashimi, Pork belly and special fried black rice. The drinks are all perfect, my favorite is loe night and my partnerâs favorite one is Yamasaki.
Very nice atmosphere here, super cool for a date night. Wait can be long sometimes but they have a little bar area that you can wait for your table. Wait can be long sometimes but they have a little bar area that you can wait for your table. They have like a tapa kinda menu that you can order a few dishes and share around the table. Everything we ordered was nice and we all enjoyed our night.
I wish I could give this place more stars! I went here for my birthday with my partner and we were blown away by it! Amazing staff, food and venue!!!! The atmosphere was great and not busy! The staff were all extremely friendly, helpful and polite. Everything we ate was incredible and we got to watch it being made right in front of us. My boyfriend isnât that keen on seafood but he even said it was one of the best meals heâs had. The open kitchen really makes you appreciate the dish you are being served. The portions arenât huge, and a little expensive for their size (not unreasonable though) but itâs a place that focuses on quality over quantity! I couldnât reccomend it enough for anyone who wants an authentic Japanese experience (felt like I was back in Kyoto!) or if you want to impress any friends from out of town, this place is a must in Melbourne! I highly recommend the grilled swordfish and the kingfish sashimi
Omg their black sesame creme brulee with orange peel is tooo good! Crack open the crunchy top layer of caramel/sugar to reveal the black sesame brulee inside. Pair it with the orange peel to balance off the flavours. Delicious!
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Itâs been a long time since my last visit to Izakaya Den. Got a chance to visit again recently and finally remember to write a review about my dining experience.
You might miss the place since you need go down to the basement and find the entrance.
Like its name says, the restaurant offers traditional Japanese izakaya style dishes, which includes large selections of cocktail and Japanese wines and sake.
People just sat at the long, narrow cement and wood benches enjoying their Tokyo-inspired late snacking experience.
#salmon sashimi#-the nice sweet and tangy Yuzu vinaigrette made the fresh salmon sashimi shine, delicately melt in your month and loved the aftertaste of fragrant Yuzu.
#spicy agedashi tofu#-classic agedashi tofu with crispy coating and silky smooth tofu, the spicy and flavourful soup added extra depth to the dish.
#Den Fried chicken#-almost every table ordered this fried chicken dish. Not overwhelming,but good enough.
#special fried black rice#-not as great as expected. Black rice was not as tender as normal rice (lack of stickiness and chewy ness) but it had very distinct fragrance which I loved very much.
#grilled sweet potato and shiitake mushroom#-really mushy and nice sweet potato and perfectly char grilled mushroom, nice dish!
#tofu cake#-we had this tofu cake for dessert which served with raspberry and coconut ice cream. Umm...the texture of the cake was close to dense version of Japanese cheesecake. It was not really my cup of tea, I personally preferred more smooth and lighter texture. But the coconut ice cream came along was pretty nice and smooth.
The overall dining experience was good here, with quick and friendly service. Will I come back for more? Yes!
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A modern Japanese restaurant hidden in the basement on the corner of Russell and Little Collins. Descend down the stairs and follow the scent of smokiness from the grills, and youâll find yourself in a super funky Izakaya bar. We arrived at 5:30 on a Friday night and were able to get seats immediately, however by 6:30 the place was packed!
We were seated at the bar, which was a lovely experience in itself as we got to watch the chefs make all the dishes. You are normally given a drinks menu as well as an a la carte dinner menu - however, I do highly recommend that you request for the set menu, as I find that this allows you to sample a variety of different dishes and is worth more for the value. They offer 3 different sets - we decided to go with the Uemashita ($75pp) for the two of us.
The food came out relatively quickly - the dishes arrived individually but in order of starters to mains. Our set menu consisted of 15 different dishes, all of which were delicious! Some of the highlights of the night were:
- sweet corn âkaki-ageâ: crispy, sweet and delicious! The batter is very light, so it really allows the corn to shine. Just donât forget to dip it in the matcha salt which is served on the side - this wasnât explained to us by the chef, and due to the dim lighting we almost missed it! Definitely better with the salt though.
- den fried chicken: crispy and crunchy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. So addictive, especially with that mayo sauce on the side!
- grilled fish of the day: I think the fish we had was cod.It was grilled to perfection, with nice smokey flavours.
- special black fried rice: what a delightful surprise! The black rice adds a nice chewy texture, very unique from your regular fried rice!
The two desserts which were part of our set menu were also delightful. We had:
- black sesame brûlée: I absolutely love creme brûlée, and black sesame is one of my favourite flavours. Put them together and you get the perfect dessert! A satisfying crispy sugar top, and a rich but not too heavy creamy brûlée underneath. The brûlée was a little watery in some areas, but other than that it was very nice!
- apple mille feuile: such a cute and simple dessert. Basically layers of dried apple and apple sorbet. Very refreshing, but nothing too special.
Overall, we had a lovely meal at Izakaya Den. The set menu was a very decent amount of food and we left feeling satisfied and happy. A great experience!
Great restaurant, with ambiance, fun and activity it is a great place to enjoy high quality food at a reasonable price. The den fried chicken is a must!
Very nice atmosphere here, super cool for a date night. Wait can be long some times but they have a little bar area that you can wait for your table. They have like a tapa kinda menu that you can order a few dishes and share around the table. Everything we ordered was nice and we all enjoyed our night.
Great food and nice sprites collections. Love the lunch set menu especially if you go for two people. Unfortunately doesnât open for lunch during weekends.
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Do you also feel like treating yourself to a nice dinner after a busy week? Then this place will be a great choice. Stylish ambiance, fantastic food and great service.
The food: we ordered 5 dishes for 2 people, which is definitely recommended to be full. Favourite of the night: definitely the pork belly, closely followed by the beef tataki. Everything was prepared right in front of us and had great flavours and textures. While none of the food seemed overly complicated, it was clear that the focus was on the ingredients, which tasted super fresh and of highest quality. A bit of a let down was the dessert. While it looked good, the fondue was rather cold and, hence, couldnât melt the frozen blueberries. Considering the price of the dessert at $18, I believe that it could have been a lot better.
The service: very Japanese - high precision, very friendly and efficient! We didnât have to wait at the door although it was a Saturday night and the first dishes came just a couple of minutes after we ordered, even though the place was packed.
The pricing: a good Izakaya isnât cheap as you need to order a lot, and Izakaya Den is definitely not for those that want to dine on a dime. But Iâd say that every dollar is worth it as you donât just get good food but a generally great experience.
It was my second time here and both times I had a great time. Will definitely be back!
One of my favourite Japanese Restaurant in Melbourne. We order the $75 set menu for 2 people. The portion size is small but the food is fresh and high quality. I love every dishes serve but my favourite is the Den fried chicken. Love how we sat near the front and can see the chef making the food fresh and give it too you. Customer service is very good. Will definitely come back again. đ
After the first dish, the sweet corn, I thought this place was heading for perfect score territory. I mean, that dish is next level, the place has a cool underground layout, and it's nearly all bar type seating with the chefs preparing everything in front of you. But then all the food after that was a bit of an anticlimax (note we didn't have any seafood dishes).
Neutrally climactic: Fried chicken, special black rice, sweet potato & mushroom, kale salad
Anticlimactic: Dashimaki omelette, broccoli & cauliflower
Admittedly a lot of that is salads *cough* wife's fault *cough*. So really it was bound to happen, so I won't judge too harshly.
Food was impeccable as always, but the shine seemed to be lost a little. Chicken pieces were off their head good, as was the kingfish with sesame oil. But there were a few little things that were a bit annoying; the pace is dark so we couldnât see the dehydrated pea salt, and the waitress didnât explain it. Food was pretty good and I will definitely be back.
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I'd heard great things about this place and was keen to try it. There's a lot of reviews saying it's hard to find and I think that made me overthink how to find the place (going down the alleyway behind etc). It's on the main road and it's likely the numbering that gets people confused, it is in the building that says 118 in big letters but underground so you have to take the stairs down from the glass door closest to Little Collins St.
I think the ambience is nice, the dark lighting probably hides some imperfections. We sat near the specials board which is projected onto the wall which made me feel like I was at a karaoke bar.
The food was great! I loved the black rice with the fried chicken, prawns and sashimi. Each dish had distinct flavours. The dessert was average to me. We had the tofu cake which was basically a sponge cake which was really dry. The coconut icecream helped counteract it. The raindrop jelly dessert was basically clear unflavoured jelly on tofu icecream with a sauce. This was not too bad, but a bit overpriced.
We had a good experience, I'll considering coming again to try some other stuff, maybe not stay for dessert.
Highly recommend this place! It was really authentic in it's atmosphere, presentation of food, the Japanese food itself and the all the staff. Somewhat squishy but that sort of added to the environment! Great food, but if you're a big water, definitely get multiple dishes. Slightly exy so I recommend this place more for a special occasion. Make sure you don't get lost finding it as that was the only confusing aspect!
The Dear Luncher was of the belief that âdenâ in Japanese meant something completely different to what it means in English. Turns out that is not the case. This place is in a basement on Russell St and so fits the definition.
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With no bookings for less than 5, we turned up at 7pm expecting to have to wait. We were fortunate enough to get a table straight away, but I believe this may have been luck! The restaurant was very busy.
We were given the al a carte and drinks menu, which came to us in scroll form! We knew they had banquets so asked for that menu as well. The $55/head menu was dessert free, which suited our appetites fine. We placed our order and eagerly waited for the dishes to arrive. First to arrive was the tuna tataki. Perfect start! This was followed by the sweet corn 'kaki-age', so tasty! Last of the starters was the grilled sweet potato and shiitake mushroom, a little bland admittedly, but welcome! Seconds started to arrive, beginning with the wonderful krispy kale, followed by the highly anticipated kingfish sashimi, which didn't disappoint. Next was the broccoli, cauliflower & black funghi 'gomazo-ae' which was as tasty as everything else. I think there was a little confusion in the order of our dishes, as we had expected the den fried chicken to arrive, but instead we were served the pork belly. We certainly enjoyed the pork belly, soft and succulent, but we were a little worried that the chicken had been skipped over as the pork was supposed to be part of the main. There was a gap in the food arriving, and I think the kitchen must have realised the mix up and their amazing chicken arrived with an apology from the waiter! AMAZING CHICKEN! Definite highlight of the meal. Once completed, the fried black rice appeared, delicious and perfectly cooked, followed by Mr B's favourite of the night, the tofu salad with passionfruit dressing and perfectly seasoned and portioned grilled barramundi fillet.
We certainly weren't disappointed with any aspect of the night. Highly recommended for food quality, quantity, service and value! Excellent night out!
Jennyâs Food Adventures
+4.5
Izakaya Den is a really nice place to kickback and have a few drinks with small dishes to nibble!
A must try: Spicy Tuna Tataki and the Grilled Dry Aged Angus Porterhouse.
Will definitely go back here!
Had the set menu with the following items:
Karage chicken - succulent but not flavoursome
Fried corn balls with wasabi salt - too sweet for my liking
Pieces of kingfish - again flavour less
Tuna chunks with horseradish sauce - delicious
Battered prawn - my favourite
Pork belly - tender salty fatty deliciousness
Black sesame creme brulee - yummy. Delicate. Creamy.
Tofu cake with raspberry coulis - quite bland
Extensive drinks list. Loved the umeshu and shoju with lemon as well as the houji cha tea
Beautiful venue
Quick attentive service
Clean
Date venue, special occassion or business lunch or dinner.
Hidden in the basement with a fitting ambiance, it was rather inviting nevertheless. Had the double smoked kransky, fried chicken, tuna tataki and salmon omelette. I must say the fried chicken amazing. It was light and crispy. This is a must try. Tuna tataki too was delicious. Had a creamy condiment served with the tuna that complimented well. Kransky is always geasy and salty but the pickled cauliflower helped to lighten the dish which made it more enjoyable as a whole. The omelette has a smokiness from the dashi. That wasnât amazing but it was delicious anyway.
Hubby and I share a great love for Japanese cuisine, and so when he brought me to Izakaya Den, it was wonderfully reminiscent of the izakayas that are so common in Japan but so novel here. Heading down that dark stairwell, we were seated at the bar, and spent the evening openly observing the staff prepare food on the grill, and walking back and forth along the bar, presenting beautiful food items in that quaint Japanese manner to customers - with a slight bow and flourish. That really warmed my heart.
Aside from the wonderful ambience and service, the food was spot on. Some of my favourites were the tuna tataki, wagyu steak, black fried rice, and deep fried corn fritters.
AND THEN WE HAS DESSERT. Oh boy, that chocolate tasting plate has etched a happy chocolate memory in the back of my brain. Chocolate lovers alert - TRY THE CHOCOLATE TASTING PLATE!
This place was hard to locate! My boyfriend and I were searching high and low for this place and we ended up finding many other promising restaurants around that area. The service was good and the atmosphere was cosy. I enjoyed their quirky restaurant decor!
Food wise, it was good but not spectacular. I would say it's Japanese fusion with other Asian-influenced flavours. The sashimi was fresh and tangy. The grilled sweet potato was amazing though! That pork dish wasn't particularly memorable but the black fried rice dish was pretty interesting!
I came here and had the $55 set menu with 10+ people it was quite hard to figure out how many pieces each person gets, I do not think itâs good value for money as there are a LOT of dishes that lack any âwowâ factor (Tofu, bowl of cold vegetables, oily af kale, fatty pork) I did however like the corn, chicken, tuna and salmon. Waiters were attentive and helpful although I would opt to choose singular dishes if I were to return.
We chose the $55 Kuikku set menu (however we ended up adding extra a la carte options spontaneously â so it probably worked out to be similar to the $65-$75 mark with drinks). 11 âdishesâ are inclusive in the set menu We added on the scallop, prawn and dessert dishes separately. Based off this experience Iâd say seafood is definitely their strength. Iâm not confident about red meat purely because of my overcooked pork. Iâd recommend trying the scallops and prawns.
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Ok so I figured Japanese portions are generally small so my friend and I made a short detour to Breadtop given we were tracking to arrive 20 minutes early for our reservation. We definitely didnât need to consume the excess carbs as the food was surprisingly quite substantial (or maybe we just ordered excessively). Itâs certainly very dim inside so you can barely see what youâre eating anyway. I must have been deaf to the hype as apparently this is very renowned but other than the one article I read which pointed me here I hadnât heard anything about it which meant I was pleasantly surprised and able to assess quite objectively.
The menu isnât hugely extensive but thereâs a good amount of variety. The ponzu wagyu was definitely the consensus as a firm favourite but the wagyu porterhouse was equally delicious in my opinion. It is certainly on the more expensive side but the ambiance is lovely. You absolutely feel as though you could be at a bar in Tokyo (although the difficulty to locate the entry is ALL Melbourne).
Izakaya den. Nice cosy environment and great music. Food is normal but it is a nice place for second round after the full dinner. Highly recommended
Had a lovely dinner here. The service was attentive and all the dishes we ordered were very good. The special rice paper wrapped tuna roll was the biggest surprise which was innovative and completely worked in terms of flavours. The chilli whole tomato, sweet corn and den chicken were all nice. Tuna tataki was delicious, kingfish sashimi very good, prawns not bad, gomazu ae salad really nice and fondue an interesting end to the dinner. Overall, would definitely recommend, although the relatively higher price for dishes means I probably wouldn't frequent it too often.
Went on weekday night, not that packed.
Not a traditional izakaya, more like a modern fusion. Foods are good for pairing with wines.
Staffs are extremely nice.
Definitely a hidden gem in Melbourne!! Ordered the 17 course meal and enjoyed most of it, my favourite would definitely be the kingfish sashimi, the cod fish and the fried chicken. Will definitely go back again, love the ambience and the underground setting, perfect for date night.
Great place for Japanese tapas. In the basement of a building it has a great vibe with long counter seating. Food is good and a lovely place to drink with friends
Izakaya Den gives 3 set menus with a few tasting sized dishes. (Although the difference between two of them is just a lack of dessert) The dishes aren't out of the world but they are generally well done, it would be a long review to describe them all here but it's worth a try, even if they are at the pricier range. Staff is friendly as well but the place crowds fast on Friday nights so expect a wait. Overall a nice bar with a good assortment of food that would be great if your wallet is a bit fatter than usual.
Great food, nice sake, good atmosphere, nice service, huge room. Overall, I'd return again, but if what you're looking for is something more like hole-in-the-wall, classic Japanese, this isn't it.
Modern day Japanese cuisine
Formal but friendly
Great place to meet and talk business or just catch-up with a friend
Great selection of drinks
Nice environment with good selection of Japanese sake. Food portion is bit small but the presentation and quality are all good. We were sitting at the bar and they have an open kitchen so we can clearly see chef's cooking. Very hygienic and kitchen are all well organized. Staff were bit busy but I can see they already tried their best to help you.
WOW!
This busy place does it all so well.
First visit here and will MOST DEFINITELY be back!
We ordered the Wagyu Tataki...outstanding
Kingfish and Salmon Sashimi...outstanding
Cobia or Black Salmon...outstanding
Den Fried Chicken...outsanding(must have)
Dry Aged Porterhouse...outstanding
Snapper Bamboo...very good
Fried Black Rice...outrageously good
The Miso to start was as good as it gets and the service was OUTSTANDING also.
This place was so full and pumping, yet everything was delivered in a timely manner and without fuss.
Some of the dishes were on the small side like the Cobia, but that would not deter me from ordering again.
WELL DONE!!!!!
This place is great. Hidden down a staircase it can be a bit hard to find but once you get there it's worth it. Great atmosphere, impressive bar and the best Tuna Tataki I've ever had!
It's a really secret spot hides on Russell st. The fried chicken is great, tender and juicy, well seasoned. The ox tongue is nice too, very well cooked to maintain the crunch. The fish covered with bamboo leaf is so so, but not bad. Both desserts are okay, but not surprisingly good. Drinks are nice, and the service is good. The price is a bit high.
Been here in a busy night. The sashimi was really fresh also the nigiri all tasted okay. I'm quite picky with the sushi rice so I'm not really impressed with the nigiri. Not really friendly & approachable service. It's hard to make eye contact with the staffs.Â
It's a bar so it'd be better if you order some alcohols or else the dining experience would be really awkward as the don't have that private dining vibe.
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After some online hunting for restaurants serving up delicious kingfish dishes (obsessed), we ended up at Izakaya Den for date night on Saturday Night. Izakaya was a little difficult to find, even having read the Zomato tips. On arrival we were told there would be a half hour wait and offered a drinks menu. After only 15min our drinks were served and table was ready. The plum sour cocktail is worth a try if like me youâre into tangy cocktails that embrace the tasty egg white foam topping. We thought weâd go all out and do the $75 set menu. It was a good experience but I wouldnât do it again. The plates were small but by half way through we were so full we were wondering how we would make it through the remainder of the menu. If you visit Izakaya you canât leave without trying the spicy tuna tataki, salmon sashimi and black rice! These were the highlights of the evening and I would go back for these dishes alone. The sweet corn kaki age was a treat too! Dislikes â Grilled sweet potato and mushroom dish.After reading reviews I was expecting the service to be of a low standard but I didnât find this at all. I thought everyone was attentive and friendly. Had a great experience at Izakaya Den.
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Food (9/10): most of the dishes served were amazing. My favourite dishes were the kingfish sashimi, salmon sashimi, tuna tataki, scallops, fried chicken and the parfait dessert. The fish were extremely fresh and of high quality while the fried chicken was incredibly juicy and flavoursome. It's the best sashimi and fried chicken I've ever tasted! The dessert looked very pretty and tasted amazing too.
The other dishes however were a disappointment which included the ox tongue which had no flavour, beef tataki which had an incredibly oily dressing, tofu salad which had a weird passion fruit dressing and the ice cream which did not stand out to any other cheap Japanese restaurants.
Service (7/10): as the restaurant became super busy, it was difficult to get any of the waiters attention. When we asked about the icecream, the waitress told us that the flavour was green tea but when we received it, it was actually black sesame. If we had known it was black sesame, we would have ordered a different dessert. Other than those problems above, the service was great and staff were very polite. Everyone of them individually thanked us as we walked out of the restaurant
Ambience (6/10): the restaurant isn't aesthetically beautiful for the price of the restaurant. It was dimly lit and with concrete floors and walls coupled with dark minimalist wooden tables and chairs.
When: went to the restaurant at around 5:45pm on a Saturday. The restaurant was packed by 6:30pm.
Who: 2 people
Cost: $180
Verdict: good quality seafood, cooked food not that great. Disappointed with the interior design for the premium price paid however I would still come back again.
Had the pleasure of enjoying the $75, 17 course Uemashita menu. Everything served was refined and delicious, and definitely offered value for money. It was a great way to experience a lot of what was on offer. The service went above and beyond and when the manager learnt that my father didn't eat sashimi she gave him a dish of his choice and was profusely apologetic that he didn't eat it. We're definitely inclined to revisit on the service alone! The spicy tuna tataki, den fried chicken, dry aged porterhouse, baked cobia, kurobuta pork belly and black sesame brûlée were the standouts for mine!
Make your way down the staircase and you shall find the secluded Izakaya Den. I've been here a couple of times, and I always get a sense of anticipation and wonder as I find the place. The atmosphere resembles a modern speakeasy. The waiters are friendly, and this izakaya has a great selection of sake and sake-based cocktails. Their food, although expensive, are worth the price. The wagyu tataki is one of the best I've tried in Melbourne. A word of advice - don't come here on an empty stomach because you'll want to try everything!
After struggling to locate the restaurant we finally found the little sign leading us into the basement where we found ourselves in a very underground, dimly lit and modern setting. Sitting at the bar, which makes up the majority of the den restaurant, we enjoyed a selection of dishes including the special fried black rice, crumbed flat mushroom and baby snapper. All dishes were delightful and a play on traditional Japanese meals. The mushroom was a standout and while the snapper was enjoyable, I was expecting a bit more than a small fillet of fish en papillote. Thoroughly enjoyed the vibe of the whole place, and judging by the business at 6 on a Saturday, bookings at peak hours are recommended. The service was quick and friendly. Definitely a place worth checking out.
Sooo amazing - loved the vibe and food was amazing fav was the wagyu and fried mushrooms *droools* service was fab and manager Taka was sooo sweet. Definitely recommend, perfect for couples and first dates to impress
Couldn't have been a better experience! Prior to visiting I reached out to them online and received a speedy reply that was very helpful. Great menu, and our group was 50% vegetarian. Lovely staff and quick service. Can't wait to go back!
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UPDATE - 15/07/2017.
Even better than previous visit, impressive $75/pp 17 dish Banquet Menu.
Food has improved including the Asian steak, cold Silken Tofu, it is an acquired taste.Â
The composite stone table was huge and wide, perfect for our group of 14 and the music was loud, hence people were moving around to chat.
Highlights were;
Spicy Tuna Tataki
Crisp Kale Agebidashi, Buckwheat and
Baked Cobia, Sikyo Miso - star of the evening.
Fuji Apple MillefeuilleÂ
Not so impressive ....
Overcooked Porterhouse Beef .... it needs to be medium rare max and
Could be more impressive ....
Special Fried Black Rice is different and quite good, perfect companion for those meats (Beef & Pork Belly) however it did not "showcase" authenticity and ingenuity;I would add Salmon cuts to keep the theme going and save them from going to waste chef :-). Â Â
Very good wine list and Sake too, but I need to be more educated on Sake.
Kanpai on people .....
PREVIOUS
Simple and authentic ......
Always a joy coming here, always greeted politely, always neat and tidy.
Food wise, just too easy to enjoy, Banquet and a-la-carte for dinner.
Tucked away in a basement downstairs, the first time I came here I was blown away! Walk past the curtain and step into a modern Japanese izakaya in a world of its own. The sashimi here is delicious and the beef tataki is amazing! They also make great cocktails here! The decor is really minimalist and modern. The staff are super friendly and attentive. Really cool place to go on a date!
A great contemporary Japanese restaurant and bar located in a basement, the front door can be hard to find but once you have, you'll return again and again. The standout dishes are the den fired chicken (I LOVE fried chicken) and kingfish sashimi with Asian dressing. I'm not a big fan of desserts but I shared a green tea ice cream with my friend and I wanted to lick the bowl!
Went here for a friends birthday. Walked straight in luckily enough there was a big table at the back. This place is sorta hidden in a basement but generally always packed. We ordered almost everything off the menu and the food was delightful! Sweet corn was flavoursome with green tea salt, the steak cause cooked perfectly and the ox tongue was my favourite. I'd recommend it if you were to go here with 4-5 people as you'll be able to try a lot more on the menu. If you just wanna chill out and have a snack, this place will also be an ideal place for you! Would love to come back. The service was amazing! And staff super friendly.
This has been on my Melbourne hit list for quite a while and tonight I was able to go. Loved it. Great service. Brilliant cocktails. The food was amazing, every mouthful was delicious.
We ordered 4 dishes to share. All were very delicious. We started with Kingfish which was fresh and tasty. The Omelette and Char Grilled Pork were also good. The Miso soup was the best we have ever tasted. The only dish that we didn't like was the Porterhouse. Both Sake we tried we yum. Worth a visit, but be prepared to pay.
This place serves great Japanese tapas and refreshing cocktails. My favourite is their fried chicken and corn. I've been here several times but still manage to get lost and walk right pass the entrance each time. Service is friendly and attentive. Recommended.
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