Reviews Kumo Izakaya & Sake Bar

Zomato
Affogato Addiction
+4
Online order, pickup. Easy to use.

Japanese dishes sometimes don't travel well with their delicate textures but the flavour is packed in.

Ramen gnocchi, $16.5, is rich and flavoursome.

House made kimchi, $8.50 is a good shelf stable.

Frozen veggie curry, $14.50, ready to whip out for a meal later.
one month ago
Zomato
Nesscessities_gluttonness
+4
201908 long driven past Kumo, finally stopped in to this tram stylised Japanese eatery. I forgot to take photos so go check it out! Needed quite a few tapas to feel full but what was ordered was tasty.
3 months ago
Zomato
Jonathan Voulgaris
+4
3.7 I’d give this place
My mrs really really liked it
I didn’t like it as much
They were really accommodating with allergies, although worked out to be detriment as we weren’t able to have any of the meat dishes so we had all vegetarian and seafood options
Highlights being the popcorn octopus and the best miso eggplant I’ve had anywhere in Melbourne
Decor, ambience, drinks and service were all excellent, will come back one day but with different company haha
8 months ago
Zomato
John M
+5
Really nice venue, high ceilings. Service not the slickest, but friendly and effective enough. Food is exceptional. Surprised it's not busier.
11 months ago
Zomato
Quince And Cheese
+5
What an incredible space. It used to be a bank and has maintained much of the original structure but the interior is complemented by smooth wood and glass fixtures and vintage-looking light fixtures and shadowboxes of plants and panels of Japanese-inspired art.

The menu is also "Japanese-inspired" but not totally traditional, with options like miso ice cream in a fried bao and cheesy ramen gnocchi. The former was okay in composition but the ice cream alone was great and tasted like buttermilk. The latter was rich but a really cool concept that packed tons of flavour and texture. Other dishes I tried included the nasu dengaku, which was not as soft as what I expected but had a nice sauce and salad on top, and the small but hearty potato salad tacos which are wonderful with a drizzle of katsu sauce and a squeeze of lemon on top.

There's also a varied selection of Hitachino Nest beer (my favourite) including the super delicious and malty Extra High, plus some sweet and interesting cocktail options. I tried the rhubarb and citrus and vodka one who's name I can't remember. It was good but I'd stick to the beers and wines and sakes next time.
Aug 10, 2019
Zomato
Eatenbymae
+4
The crispy soft shell crab bao with nan ban zuke and thousand island was delicious to the last bite. So little but soooo good. Crispy and well balanced in flavour. The Japanese fried chicken with sticky Korean chilli garlic sauce was also a hit. Crunchy well seasoned chicken with just the right amount of sauce and not overly intense. On the other hand, the fried ramen gnocchi with crispy cheese, chives, grana padano and spicy cream sauce was a very confusing dish. There were too many salty elements which covered the taste of the gnocchi itself. A letdown dish but the overall experience was still a positive one.
Aug 07, 2019
Zomato
SuziEats
+4
I love the Japanese aesthetic of this restaurant. It has a Japanese Art Deco feel. We decided to share some of the smaller dishes. They were quite tasty. Great choice of sake also
May 10, 2019
Zomato
Gavin Gusling
+4
Great food authenticity done and served with style. Attentive staff who looked after a large party with ease. There is a private function room where you can have the full Japanese experience, well worth the visit.
Apr 11, 2019
Zomato
M3lissa____
+5
We ordered a few of the tapas and noodles and they were lovely, my absolutely favourite was the fish roe udon. I must say their service made it an overall good experience. This contemporary pub style and casual dining makes it a sleek eatery in Brunswick.
Mar 08, 2019
Zomato
Kerli Kerli Kerli
+4
Kumo Izakaya is located along Melbournes famous Lygons street... the food there was pretty decent however the prices was quite expensive..
The highlight was the prawn taco and the fish roe udon.. good experience and great for special occasions...
Mar 04, 2019
Zomato
Kayla Nguyen
+4
Rating: 4.5/5

Kumo, what an absolutely amazing experience! From the front you’re already wowed by the effort put in to set a japanese scenery. I absolutely loved the interior that gave genuine japanese vibes.

Food was amazing, no faults at all! The ceviche, tuna tacos, fried octopus, broccoli tempura and chicken karaage were so enjoyable and was a huge highlight. The ramen gnocci was so unique and despite the cheese being a little too strong for me, i still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Service from our waitress was top notch as well, only criticism is that there is a slight shortage of staff so it is a bit hard to get their attention, however food wait time so so short which is a huge plus for me!

Overall I think kumo is a must visit if you’re looking for a high quality izakaya that delivers consistently good food through out their dishes. Thank you for your hospitality, we will be back!
Feb 07, 2019
Zomato
The Casual Diner
+4
Will come back for:
+ Fried octopus bites
+ Spicy Salmon Taco
+ Kingfish and Salmon Ceviche
+ Sticky beef ribs

We had an enjoyable meal at Kumo. Although we had not made a booking on a Sunday night, they still happily accommodated us. I particularly enjoyed the smaller dishes. The octopus bites were great with a beer. The spicy salmon taco a textural delight (crunchy, savoury, fresh and tangy). And the kingfish ceviche a highlight. A great little dish to get all the juices going in the mouth (fresh cubes of fish, pops of caviar, and a bit of salty kick from the Samphire). The sashimi was ok and the seafood fresh, although the variety is lacking a bit. We also enjoyed the super tender beef ribs with a bit of rice to round off the meal. Super satisfied. Service was friendly, and quick despite a full house. And they look to have a great selection of sake including Dassai 23.
Jan 24, 2019
Zomato
Linda
+4
Enjoyable feed with quality food in an awesome high ceiling venue. The service was attentive and the protein was handled with care. Authentic and worthy of a visit.
Jan 16, 2019
Zomato
Massivebird
+4
Really enjoyed Kumo. Casual dinning with broad menu that is reasonably priced. Spicy tuna taco and king fish sashimi were stand out dishes. Sweat corn teriyaki chicken was nice too. Maybe a little salt heavy towards the end but that our fault for the ordering, could have matched our dishes better.
Aug 26, 2018
Zomato
April
+5
Definitely go for the chefs menu and if ure keen - pair it with a sake for an extra $45. My sis and I shared a 220ml sake and that was perfect. Food and service was excellent! However, we werent asked about our choice for dessert. It just turned up on our table. Can i recommend sesame seed ice cream to be added to the menu please?!?
Aug 25, 2018
Zomato
Elle
+4
An excellent Japanese option! Menu is full with a lot of different choices - great flavours and advice from staff. Love sitting in a booth with friends and enjoying delicious food. Fried chicken was so good we ordered more!
Jul 08, 2018
Zomato
Dumba
+5
Love the ambience of this place. The decor is great. Food is nice and service is good. Sashimi is fresh and karaage is tender. Great drinks list. A real find.
Mar 22, 2018
Zomato
Bongani
+5
Absolutely love this place.
Food is incredible and service was amazing from a particular gentlemen who was extremely helpful in guiding us through the menu. My third time round and has only gotten better and better. Will definitely be back here. The place itself could use a bit more light but overall a warm feeling and a place to take anyone who’s into Japanese cuisine :)

Highlights: Watermelon Salad, Sashimi platter and of course the Japanese Fried Chicken.
Mar 22, 2018
Zomato
Krishna Brannigan
+4
Really enjoying the Melbourne’s food and wine festival with Matthew Evans and Andre kimoto this was a great educational evening with amazing sakes Thanks to the team for such a lovely menu and educational night, will try and get my hands on some Dassai 50 Junmai Daiginjo.
Mar 21, 2018
Zomato
Chandini Vynatheya
+5
Kumo is such a cute little Japanese restaurant with a very friendly and upbeat vibe to it!
I'm vegetarian and sometimes find it difficult come across good vegetarian Japanese food. But Kumo exceeded all my expectations! Everything I ordered was so delicious - The dashi tofu, potato salad and the sweet potato fries!
But dessert stole the show in the most spectacular manner! I ordered the caramel black sesame mousse with miso sponge and coconut ice cream. It turned out to be one of the best desserts I've ever had!

Service was wonderfully attentive and friendly! thank you Wesley!
Mar 14, 2018
Zomato
Nes
+4.5
Amazing every time. Food is fresh and beautifully presented. Staff are knowledgeable and provide good suggestions. The specials are always winners.
Feb 01, 2018
Zomato
TigerTreeEats
+4
Service: great, they handed me a chart with each dish and it's food allergy details.
Food: fantastic flavours. Eggplant dish was one of the best I had. Vegan chocolate mousse was yummy. Oyster shots were fun. Pickles were great. Sashimi was fresh.,
Sep 26, 2017
Zomato
Esse Elle
+4
This place was so much better before they changed their potato salad...please bring back the old one with the potato shavings 👌👌 great food, good service but I go here way less frequently now after the potato salad changed...
Sep 10, 2017
Zomato
Emily
+4
Modern Japanese cuisine---awesome selection of sake and pretty decent alcohol menu. Had the teriyaki chicken which was yummy but did not taste like teriyaki which I guess shouldn't be surprising considering it was modern japanese.
The Pork Scotch fillet was good and the different flavors blended well together.
The downside was they ran out of both their beef dishes and as a result the dishes were not served together.
All in all good service and nice ambiance but booking ahead is recommended.
Aug 26, 2017
Zomato
Marge77
+5
We had the banquet $65. It's one of the best banquets I've had. The Japanese gnocchi was a highlight it simply melts in your mouth.
Food: 10 out of 10.
Service: Ok 7 out of 10.
Decor: 8 out of 10

Great for groups or romantic dinner for two.
Aug 17, 2017
Zomato
Christopher & Marian
+4.5
Japanese food on an adventurous scale.
This space is everything a 'normal' Japanese restaurant is often lacking.
Large areas with spacious walking and seating areas.
Eating zones that create very different ambience.
Once aware of these spaces,you could make a point of booking this space next time to suit the occasion.
Kumo even has a second open level to eat in and I noticed at least one private room in the classic Japanese room style setting.
A lot of space to eat food which turned out to be totally beautifully flavoured and visually stunning.
The waitress was informed and clearly wished us to be enlightened by the food we had selected.
This visit was a surprise and may I say a very pleasant one.
We shall return and continue our journey at Kumo.
Congratulations Kumo you certainly have created a very informative eating adventure in Lygon Street Brunswick.
Aug 06, 2017
Zomato
Stephanie Papazois
+4
Came with a small group of 4 for dinner. Ordered some sake and meals to share. Started with the miso, and then followed the teriyaki chicken, which came as a whole uncut piece of chicken, so juicy and full of flavour. We also had the 24 piece platter of sashimi. Which came with 4 different types of fish, as well as scallops. Never had the scallop sashimi before, so I really enjoyed this dish... Other dishes we ordered were the fried chicken, octopus balls, grilled mushrooms and eggplant..couldn't fault any of the dishes, every dish had so many different flavours and tastes. All really well done.
Jul 22, 2017
Zomato
Chad Obrian
+3.5
Like this place. Wide selection of food, sake, and friendly service. I guess the restaurant is supposed to be a casual sake bar so the seatings are quite simple/basic. There are many small items you can order that go well with sake, however, the quality is not quite there yet. Will only give 3.5 stars given the price is somewhat quite high for the quality.
Jul 01, 2017
Zomato
Pass The Plate
+3.5
The decor and vibe at Kumo is so cool and typically Melbourne. It's the perfect scene for great food and drinks with friends and loved ones.

I was able to try the new winter menu and the food on offer was great. Along with traditional japanese dishes there were some really innovative ones which were a lot of fun to eat.

My favourite dish of the night was the Ramen Gnocchi which had me a little confused I must admit when I read it on the menu. I don't know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't what I got. Fluffy gnocchi pillows that had a distinct taste different to any other I have had covered in a creamy tomato-ey sauce that paired beautifully with one another. I struggled to see the relation to Ramen in the dish until I learnt that the gnocchi itself was made from ground ramen noodles instead of flour. A genius idea that created the perfect fusion dish.

I'd definitely return back to try the other items on the menu that I was just too full to try.

Stand Out Dish - Ramen Gnocchi & Prawn Bao
Jun 24, 2017
Zomato
Catdog
+4
The decor is really nice and inviting. The food was really good, the sashimi was very fresh and we enjoyed all of the dishes including agedashi tofu, nasu dengaku and kaarage chicken. Bit more on the expensive side but you pay for good quality ingredients!
Jun 19, 2017
Zomato
Katja Petrovic
+5
My hubby and I love this place! Been here a couple of times and will go back. The atmosphere is pleasant and the service excellent. The food is terrific, everything we've had has been delicious. There's also a large well-stocked bar for all your liquor needs. It's a great place for a romantic dinner or just a nice night out with friends or family. Highly recommend!
Jun 05, 2017
Zomato
Belle Eats Melbourne
+3.5
My boyfriend and I came here on date night. We enjoyed the food, wine and sake but found it a little overpriced for what it was. I didn't like the seating arrangements and felt the atmosphere could improve. The service was a little standoffish. We had the miso, tempura broccoli, gyoza, fries (?!), yakatori and fried chicken, which were all 👌
Jun 03, 2017
Zomato
Megan M
+4.5
Had a sensational meal here last night! Couldn't fault the food, everything was delicious. The chicken skin snacks were incredible, I could have eaten so many of them. Sashimi was beautifully fresh, we also had beef tataki, gyoza, daikon salad, octopus karaage, and the cheesecake for dessert - what a feast
Also tried the heirloom sake taster paddle, they have a huge selection of sake. Can't wait to go back.
May 21, 2017
Zomato
Just Jamie
+4
Quality Food  & Yummy Cocktails

Kumo is a fresh and super modern Japanese place towards the end of Lygon Street, with very cool decoration. 

Fresh Cocktails full of yum to start the night it always good server in an ice cold glass topped up all the way to keep it chilled!

We ordered a selection of food for the 3 of us to dine, and it was all tasty! I have struggled to find dumpling to the standards of London from places like Ping Pong. However these were good and pretty up there. Chicken skin pretty crispy and my least favorite part of the meal but that is just because i didn't like it to start. Dish after dish the food was just amazing, lots of time and care had gone in to each one!

The Wagu Beef finally arrived, it came we ate it and it was pretty perfect melting in the mouth. The only way this dish could be improved was if there was more on the plate. 

Overall an amazing meal and night and i will be back for more Wagu!

Restaurant Type : Dinner / Casual + Dinning
Apr 23, 2017
Zomato
James
+4
tl:dr immaculate service, great food, and SAKE! Also, they do take away.

Just a disclaimer, I came here for a food and wine festival event, as such some of the food I ate is not a regular menu item.

Firstly the staff at the restaurant did a fantastic job, the table service was polite, fast, and unobtrusive. I don't think my water glass was ever at less than 2/3rds full the entire night.  And I never touched a pouring jug. 

The range of food on offer was delicious with some interesting surprises (watermelon salad). I would like to come try out more of their regular menu items next time. The different Sake on offer was great and I would definitely consider dropping in for just a drink. If you like Sake or Japanese food I happily recommend this restaurant.
Apr 08, 2017
Zomato
Jess
+3.5
Sublime decor but unspectacular food -

A) Their gnocchi dish was one of the best things I'd ever had.
B) We had some nice starters, decent, quality, enjoyable but unspectacular - fish of the day sashimi, edamame, pork dumplings. I also had a black sesame dessert pudding which was also ok but unspectacular.
C) The wait staff are pleasant and cheerful and helpful, but clearly untrained non-professionals out of their depth.
It was more amusing than problematic though (like when a server brought the wrong dish to us for the third time and was bodily shuffled to the right table by the manager, while both giggling), though we did have to go fetch our own water after our request was forgotten.

However, the decor of the place, and the ceramics, are just sublime.
That's what you're ultimately paying for, and it's worth it IMO given that the food ranged from ok to great, and the staff foibles were benign.
Mar 26, 2017
Zomato
Gee
+3.5
Been on my list for a while and went with the sautéed mushrooms, Japanese fried chicken, vegetable tempura and the ramen gnocchi with octopus. Loved the mixed mushrooms 4/5, the fried chicken was tasty but a little oily 3/5, I found the vegetable tempura far too heavy and felt the pieces were too big 2.5/5, and the ramen gnocchi was different and delicious! It was a decent meal all around and I'd try it again next season when the menu changes.
Feb 13, 2017
Zomato
Jolene Lim
+4.5
Kumo is my first Izakaya (aka Japanese pub) experience and it totally exceeded my expectation. Love the trendy interior decor and high ceiling. The menu has a good blend of traditional and modern Japanese element with a local/western twist ( Fusion). Extensive beverage list as well especially Sake options! To start with, we ordered the seasonal ceviche ( mixed of fresh diced salmon, tuna and king fish) with refreshing avocado, apple, grapefruit, lime, red chilli and milk chocolate dressing. It was absolutely sensational and my favourite dish for the night. It was followed by the pan fried pork gyoza and daikon salad with tuna, tobiko, onsen egg and black rice cracker! The gyoza was so juicy and the daikon salad was so out of this world! Last savoury dish was the Eggplant Dengaku with sweet miso, pine nuts and fennel salad. So perfectly cooked! By this point, we are already quite full but we wanted to finished with a dessert so shared the Mother Earth tea panna cotta with sochu soaked raisin. Delish! Service was prompt and restaurant is spacious and clean. Dinner for 2 costs us $82 including sake. Not too bad given the quality of food and nice atmosphere we had. We can't wait to come back to try the other dishes especially the Ramen gnocchi and their Signature Cocktails!
Jan 20, 2017
Zomato
Tom S
+4.5
Absolutely delicious. Really good place for a meal in an intimate setting. The food is excellent. The ramen gnocchi is absolutely incredible. Will definitely be back !!! Hot tip: they also do really good sushi and sashimi which they do as take-away too
Jan 19, 2017
Zomato
Jake Gelvezon
+4
Our first take on a different type of Japanese restaurant. Unassuming facade but once you go in, it'll take you to a visually appealing restaurant. Staff are attentive and helpful.

The food is delicious, as to be expected of Japanese cuisine - from the presentation down to the very last crumb was delightful to the mouth. The only thing it could've improved was the wait time for the Wagyu steak. Took and hour to make HOWEVER we got a second serving on the house as a way of saying sorry. Who would say no to free steak?!

Overall, you wont be disappointed. Definitely will come back!

P.s. don't forget to book a table, they can be pretty full quickly!
Jan 18, 2017
Zomato
Helen Younan
+4.5
Amazing flavours! Only if sushi and sashimi were part of the banquets. But the atmosphere is great and a great place to catch up with friends!
Jan 01, 2017
Zomato
Luke And Hannah
+3.5
Nice decor, good food but inconsistent flavours. We came here on a Thursday evening and there were plenty of empty tables. We quickly ordered the crispy chicken skin to start. The skin was crispy indeed, but it was slightly salty though the accompanying slice of lemon did help cut through the fatty and salty taste.

Next we tried the mains, starting with the lamb rack, which was amazing. The lamb meat did not smell of lamb at all and was perfectly marinated. The meat was so tender and juicy. The hint of smoke and burn fat made this one of the better lamb dishes we have had in Melbourne. The quinoa went great with the lamb, we especially enjoyed the berries which gave a light taste of sweetness.

The next dish was the adegashi tofu which was however a no for us. We're not sure if it is the authentic taste or how it is supposed to taste in Japan, but it was sour - we did not enjoy it at all and unfortunately had to give up half of the dish.

The final dish was the miso fried chicken which was okay but a bit bland to be honest. The taste bored our palate at the third bites and we finish the dish just because we were still hungry.

Overall, this place has potential but as of the state right now, we couldn't imagine us returning anytime soon.
Dec 01, 2016
Zomato
Gippsland Lad, Living In Brunswick
+4
Ordered takeaway and got the pork gyoza, edamame and fried chicken.... had better edamame but the gyoza and fried chicken dishes were amazing
Nov 30, 2016
Zomato
FoodieAboutTown
+4
This is a restaurant we have been to several times and is a usual go-to place when we crave good Japanese food. Staff are lovely and food always arrives fairly quickly. Extensive sake menu (which can be confusing!) and tasty food.
Nov 27, 2016
Zomato
Judy
+4.5
I don't usually make such a comment on decor. However the scene was set upon entry. Great decor and ambience. We decided on the chefs selection and certainly we were not disappointed. Service was friendly, attentive and fluid.
The scallop ceviche was fresh and tasty as was the sushimi plate. We followed that up with tasty gyoza in a broth and a crisp daikon salad. Main course was pork belly and eggplant with miso. At this point we were all full. Food was clean and tasty. Dessert was a panacotta which was great and not too sweet.
All in all the food was great, blend of traditional Japanese dishes and adapted dishes.
I would suggest to go the chef selection on first visit (as was ours). Our next visit will be picking from the menu.
I have been to a few Japanese restaurants in the area and this is by far my new favourite. Yes, I could bang on about price, I won't. I believe it is great food, attentive staff and lovely decor. I will be back.
Nov 12, 2016
Zomato
TWM
+3.5
So many wait staff who only seem to do one function each! Weird daikon salad great! Sake suitably fetishistic. Chopstick rests stupid. Secretive booths excellent for saucy talk.
Oct 29, 2016
Zomato
Krystal
+3.5
Really good food but was a bit disappointed in the sashimi pricing for the 12 pieces as we felt it was quite expensive for what we received. Service was alright. They were pretty fast in bringing out our dishes
Oct 22, 2016
Zomato
Tiana
+4
I would say the restaurant design is authentic. I strongly recommend the grilled king salmon, which is the so yummy! Sashimi is fresh as well. But i am disappointed at the wagyu steak and chicken skin, which has already become cold when it is served. For service, I do think they should hire more staff to make the service efficient.
Oct 19, 2016
Zomato
Radley Cardente
+5
Amazing restaurant! This would rank close to one of my favourite japanese places to eat at. First off, the takoyaki was amazing, it's usually my favourite dish, amd they NAILED it. Other dishes we tried was the brocolli tempur, which was nice, but we got sick of it faorly quickly. The fried chicken was very nice, but the lamb we ordered was mediocre. Maybe I don't appreciate it as much as others, but I found it hars to justify the price of the dish. Otherwise, service and atmosphere of the reataraunt was amazing!
Sep 30, 2016
Zomato
Donutsam
+4.5
We had asked a Northern-based friend for some Brunswick-located recommendations and Kumo Izakaya was the choice for the night. The front and location is somewhat deceiving as inside is a very well-styled, busy and varied space which was pumping on the evening we had visited. Kumo is a sharing-focused spot with small dishes and plenty of choice for vegetarians or meat eaters alike.
Sep 28, 2016
Zomato
Rosie Raiti
+4
Thursday night - Out on a school night 🤓-work dinner 🍽 beautiful fresh Japanese food @kumoizakaya , Lygon St, East Brunswick 🍣🍣🍣🍣🍣 , family & friends go there highly recommend , great friendly service too. Tried the plum wine for the first time - yum 😍
Sep 05, 2016
Zomato
Uyen Le
+4
I would highly recommend the Calamari Fish Roe Udon for something different and unique. Mixing the egg with the udon adds extra creaminess to the dish, now it may sound too creamy to some, but the spicy chilli balance it out nicely, so you end up with a unique yummy udon. I also ordered salmon sashimi which was nice and fresh. Was not too impressed with the lamb nor panna cotta but its just personal preference.
Aug 30, 2016
Zomato
Sweet And Sour Fork
+4
The Calamari and Spicy Fish Roe Udon ($14.8) is... seriously good; slippery udon noodles and chewy squares of calamari swam about in a thick sauce that was in turns spicy and briny. And if that doesn’t sound amazing enough, there is also a gooey onsen egg to mix through the sauce to add extra creaminess. I ordered some extra Rice ($3.8) just so I could mix it with the sauce.
Aug 06, 2016
Zomato
E
+4
Food is great, ambience as well. Service is patchy.

One dish took AGES to come out, and everyone has finished their food before my companion finally got his meal.
Jun 14, 2016
Zomato
Jacqueline
+5
Kumo packs out so get in early or make a booking! The food is perfect for sharing and very reasonably priced. The meals were well timed to allow for plenty of chatting, but not the best if you're in a rush - expect time for socialising between courses. Beautiful experience and not a single dish disappointed.
Apr 15, 2016
Zomato
Charli.jay
+3.5
Kumo izakaya are very yummy, definately some good options on the menu, the chefs are very creative. It is very expensive though, not something I'd pay for very often
Mar 07, 2016
Zomato
Aimzele
+4.5
My partner and I are huge Japanese fans and Kumo hits the mark every time.
The atmosphere is excellent, perfect for something more intimate upstairs, or larger groups are accommodated downstairs. In the traditional fashion, the food comes out quite slowly, giving you time to enjoy every item individually. The quality, flavor and authenticity is also on point. A great wine and sake selection completes an all round highly enjoyable eating experience.

We've tried others but often come back to Kumo.

Feb 29, 2016
Zomato
The Critic's Critic
+4
Great food and good service. Probably the best Japanese food you'll have in Brunswick. Dishes are well priced and the venue and Japanese hospitality is very warming. Definitely worth it.
Feb 27, 2016
Zomato
Dwayne Melbourne
+4.5
Atmosphere was very warming and authentic. The food was beautifully presented and the taste was just perfect! The highlight dish was probably the octopus pancakes, and the scallops! The drinks were well paired and the service was extremely friendly. The black sesame mousse was a perfect finish to the meal.
Feb 24, 2016
Zomato
Gastrology
+4
Gastrology recently joined Australia's top Sake Master and Kumo Izakaya owner, Andre Bishop for an intimate dinner to enjoy the award winning cuisine from Kumo Izakaya and sake from Japan's most prestigious sake brewery - Dassai. Standing proudly at the corner of Lygon and O'Connor Streets in Brunswick East, Kumo Izakaya and Sake Bar is a Japanese oasis which embraces the social izakaya-style side of Japanese eating and drinking. Offering a laid back environment for catching up with friends and family, Kumo Izakaya focuses on quality food designed to share all of which is served in stylish, modern Japanese surroundings.
Jan 11, 2016
Zomato
Rodney
+3.5
Good quality food, loved sitting at the bar which reminded me a lot of my dining experiences in Tokyo. It was quite pricey however and was the only real thing that is keeping me from giving a higher score.
Dec 30, 2015
Zomato
Luccio
+3.5
The best way to enjoy this place is to share as many dishes as possible. Went there with my family and enjoyed lots of taste plates to go along with some nice sake. However I myself prefer warm sake, there wasn't a large variety in that dept. But its a small price to pay for such wonderfully prepared sashimi, sushi and larger dishes! The Pork Belly skewers and the Takoyaki are some of the best!
Dec 10, 2015
Zomato
Redcat
+4.5
What a hidden gem! I'm not sure why it has such poor reviews. The food was delicious. Serving sizes are small, but that's to be expected from tapas sharing style dining. I really enjoyed all the plates we ordered and the seafood was of such a high quality. The staff were pleasant.
Dec 06, 2015
Zomato
Ashleigh Dougherty
+4
This place is such a hidden gem in Brunswick. You may have passed it 50 times without realizing it's there. The presentation of the food is true to Japanese cuisine where your eyes feast on the food before you even taste it. The price is what makes it a 4 instead of a 5. I recommend it for special occasions and try the sake!
Nov 18, 2015
Zomato
Clemencia Liliana
+4.5
Excelent japonese restaurant, great staff, great food! Busy! Need reservations. The miso soup was delicious, the ceviche very good. The beef tataki had too much fat. Nice music! If you don't like big crowds dine early before 8pm
Nov 14, 2015
Zomato
J88
+4
Came here with a Dimmi voucher and the newly opened restaurant is surprisingly authentic and awesome! Absolutely loved the izakaya experiment and their egg plants was superb!
Nov 13, 2015
Zomato
Julycheee
+3.5
Kumo Izakaya has a beautiful interior - the dining booths in particular look so cosy. For two, we ordered six dishes plus two desserts. The menu presented to us was different to that available online, and I was a little disappointed because the older menu had a lot of really interesting dishes I had wanted to try. We loved the sashimi trio and mochi, fish roe, cheese cigars. Unfortunately the tsukemono was dry. Our other three dishes were nice but not remarkable. Dessert was delicious and much lighter than most Western desserts which was perfect for a Japanese restaurant! The yuzu did not shine through the creme brulee but as a creme brulee it was great. Service was good. Food was immaculately presented but there were hits and misses, and overall did not blow us away. Probably not worth the price tag as there are many Japanese dining options we prefer over Kumo in the similar price range.
Nov 05, 2015
Zomato
Gastrology
+4
Gastrology recently joined Australia's top Sake Master and Kumo Izakaya owner, Andre Bishop for an intimate dinner to enjoy the award winning cuisine from Kumo Izakaya and sake from Japan's most prestigious sake brewery - Dassai. Standing proudly at the corner of Lygon and O'Connor Streets in Brunswick East, Kumo Izakaya and Sake Bar is a Japanese oasis which embraces the social izakaya-style side of Japanese eating and drinking. Offering a laid back environment for catching up with friends and family, Kumo Izakaya focuses on quality food designed to share all of which is served in stylish, modern Japanese surroundings.
Oct 22, 2015
Zomato
David Bright
+4.5
The food here is immaculate. The flavours are delicate and well balanced. The presentation is pretty without being pretentious and the decor is trendy. We had a delay with our food order, but we could see the waiter was distracted by a birthday party, and the wait staff's reaction when they discovered our order was forgotten was spot on. One small mistake had the potential to turn us off this restaurant immediately but their professional and courteous remedies were pleasing to witness. We recommend the Green Chilli Kingfish, Sashimi for freshness, Fried Eggplany and chicken skins, however the highlight was the udon noodles with fish roe and calamari. Even if you don't live in the area then this place is worth trying.
Oct 17, 2015
Zomato
Hania Trzaskowski
+4
Take note: this place is not '$80 for 2 people' as Zomato suggests. $80 + per person is more accurate. The food is amazing, the variety and knowledge of sake is impeccable. It's the place to go for a special occasion, but not if you want a good feed unless you want to spend more than $100 per person. The servings are very small, but u must admit they are very delicious. The sushi is well cut, and the choice of ingredients unlike any other place. Just make sure you go with a full wallet.
Oct 10, 2015
Zomato
Josh_hajis
+4
Fantastic atmosphere and friendly service. We loved sitting in the booths and enjoying the ambiance.

We ordered the banquet option and the food was delicious, the flavours were excellent and I will be coming back again to try the Sake options. Price is a little steep but apart from this I thoroughly enjoyed my night .
Sep 24, 2015
Zomato
Diner
+4
Kumo is one of the better Japanese izakayas in Melbourne with a few dishes done as well as in Japan. The fish is fresh as are other produce and they have a decent selection of sake. The simple but classic agedeshi tofu is one of the best in Melbourne.
Sep 22, 2015
Zomato
Nikita Singh
+4
Great food and attentive staff. One of the best Japanese places I've been to in Melbourne :) the decor is awesome as well, the high ceiling makes all the difference
Sep 19, 2015
Zomato
Jason Pham
+4
Went here a couple of times on a voucher. Without it, might be very pricey. Food is very good, but does come at a price and Serving sizes can be quite small. Come with some money or grab a cheeseburger on the way home.

Huge array of sake and wines, to match anything on the menus.
Sep 01, 2015
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