Review Murasaki Japanese Takeaway - Wantirna

Been here many times and the food is always great. The wait time for the fresh fish is around 45min-1hour in busy periods. Seems like priority is given to takeaway orders instead of those dining in. Perhaps that is my perception or perhaps it was the waiter of the night apologising on behalf of the takeaway customers. For that reason, it’s a 4 stars from me.

Probably the best affordable Japanese restaurant in the area. My personal go-to spot for Japanese food cravings. Sushi and sashimi is extremely fresh, and the amount of fish is very generous. I would also recommend trying the udon, which has a broth which is probably one of the best I've ever tasted. All other dishes are very satisfying and I am yet to be disappointed.

Authentic Japanese cuisines with the loveliest staff. The place is quite busy so best to book ahead of time. The katsu bento is so well made with crisp katsu and tender chicken. The sashimi is cut fresh and delicious.

A simple and unassuming restaurant in the Melbourne’s outer east, this Japanese restaurant delivers premium quality and tasting food at affordable prices. I ordered the eggplant, takoyaki, oyster tempura, chicken karage, agedeshi tofu, sushi and sashimi platter, ramen and udon. All of it was top quality and you’d pay half of what you’d expect in the city.

Incredibly fresh sushi, traditional and enormously generous for the price. A must try for sushi lovers. They were very busy and we were told there would be a wait for sushi and it was well worth it. Excellent service as well! Everything we had including the matcha latte and ramen were delicious.

Consistently one of the best and most authentic Japanese restaurants in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. We’ve come here again and again and every single time we leave so satisfied with our food. The sashimi is always so fresh and melts in your mouth... the karage chicken is always fried perfectly... and the dessert is home made and so delicious. The experience of eating here really brings us back to Japan, can’t think of a higher review to give! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Good quality of traditional Japanese food! Probably one of the best for this price range. However the waitress was too busy and was not able to properly serve the customers sitting on the outside tables

🏠: @murasakitanuki3152 @coffeelover2306 📍: Wantirna South 📝: Got these delicious treats from my friend. How amazing do these look? I’m a big fan of Japanese dessert, especially anything chestnut or pumpkin. ❤️: My favorite was the Chestnut Tart. The perfect amount of sweetness, the chestnut paste so tasty and full of flavor. The Strawberry daifuku was also so soft and creamy. Just the right texture!

I got a takeaway strawberry shortcake and a hojicha tart. I understand the desserts are made in house. They were beautifully presented and were delicious. The strawberry shortcake was light and had just the perfect amount of sweetness from the cream and tartness from the fresh strawberries. The hojicha tart had a balanced hojicha tea flavour and was lovely and chocolatey too. I am so impressed. Service was friendly. I will be back to try other dishes and desserts.

Have been eating for the past few years and it is still the best Jap restaurant in South East Suburb. King fish, Swiss roll cake and crepe cake is a must try. Very well organised and family orientated place, splendid.

Visit this place many times and always great service. The meals has great quality of food no matter how many I visit to get something to eat.

Staple dining with great friendly service <br/>Amazing authentic sushi and bento boxes<br/>Cakes are nice but a bit overpriced

One of the most authentic Japanese restaurants run by a lovely family!

Me and family have been a long time customer of this local family run Japanese restaurant, started back in their early days. They used to be very easy going, friendly and charming people. <br/>Food was great, service was prompt & polite. We enjoyed their made to order sushi, bento boxes and homemade cakes.<br/><br/>Fast forward to 2019, they’re getting busier and more well known, it is impossible to get a table when you walk in, even when you get a table, the food takes more than 30 minutes to come out. The customer service is definitely far from friendly and at times could be bit rude.<br/><br/>We thought it was one of their bad days so we decided to give it a try again, this time we decided to takeaway since we know we won’t get a table. And OMG I was advised that my takeaway will take 40 minutes. I have never once in my life been advised to wait for 40 minutes for takeaway. I might as well cook my own meals if I need to wait that long.<br/><br/>I sincerely hope Murasaki picks up their game and deliver the service they used to back in the early days. I hope they run their restaurant better so they don’t lose long time customers.

Ordered wagyu bento box and wagyu sushi for takeaway. Prices itself are not cheap, but so cheap considering the wagyu is directly imported from Japan and is top prize winning beef. It will cost so much more elsewhere. Aburi wagyu sushi was to die for as well. I usually order grilled fish bento or chirashi, but I’ll have to go back for wagyu again very soon.

Great Japanese spot - perhaps one of the best in Melbourne! The food service can take quite a while, but it is all prepared fresh. Recommend going with a larger group and getting the large platters and lots of dishes to sample. Friendly service, good selection of Japanese beers and love the Matcha Green Tea ice cream to finish up!

Murasaki is a hidden restaurant in Studfield shopping strip. The panko oysters were fresh and in a crispy shell. The salmon ikura don was delicious. The only downside was the preparation time for sashimi, in excess of 40 mimutes. Apart from that, would definitely return.

Whilst the level of table service was quite poor, the katsu curry rice was one of the most flavourful that we've had anywhere, with lovely crispy bits of chicken. Would come here again just for that

This is a nice little suburban Japanese restaurant that serves up reasonably authentic fare at fair prices. <br/><br/>It's crucial that bookings are made on the weekend to avoid disappointment. We had a variety of dishes. Their sashimi and sushi were freshly made and presented beautifully. You could see and taste the care that was put into the preparation of each individual morsel of goodness. <br/><br/>The spicy chicken ribs were delicious but not very spicy at all. <br/>The egg custard was very nice as well - it was creamy and rated highly on the umami scale. This one needed to be pre ordered. <br/><br/>Service was good and overall, we had a lovely time here.

It’s reasonable price , good quality and staff very friendly,I love this place i will come back here ,recommend Beef tataki and Karage chicken

Supporting an authentic local Japanese restaurant in Wantirna. Booking is essential at night unless you are willing to sit outdoor. Food are fresh and staff are friendly. The ambience and in whole style recalls my memory of the olden day Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.<br/>

I had high expectations due to the ratings but I found the food to be rather average. It was nice enough but nothing to write home about. I also found the portion sizes on the smaller side. The food also took awhile to come out.. so overall acceptable but not the greatest!

If you are looking for a value for money Japanese restaurant, Murasaki is a great choice. You need to make a booking especially on the weekend. I like their sushi platter and sashimi main.

Friendly and attentive service. Need to wait for sashimi and sushi as there is only one chef preparing them. Good quality. <br/>It’s always crowded on weekends. So, it is advisable to make reservations.

3.5<br/><br/>Located on a small shopping strip、 this japanese eateey offers indoor and outdoor seating. Not much ambiance and interior is quite plain but the staff are welcoming. The eatery is quite busy so best to pre book ahead.<br/><br/>Age Takoyaki is crispy with a generous amount of sauce drizzled on top.<br/><br/>Chicken kaarage bento was okay. Generous amount pf serving though the chicken tasted slightly uncooked. The sashimi was fresh but too thick for my liking.<br/><br/>Katsu curry is on the sweeter side and the sauce has a lot of onions. The katsu itself is crispy.<br/><br/>The green tea icecream was okay. Slighlty icy but majority was smoothe and flavoursome.

Nice, authentic Japanese food. Love the vegie obento box, I always order it when I visit this restaurant. Lovely people and good service. Nice cozy place too.

Local gems are some of my favourites, especially when authentic food is found in unlikely places. Murasaki Tanuki certainly falls under both categories, being a small Japanese eatery located on a inconspicuous shopping strip. Sure, the interior may seem quite bare when you first enter – tables scattered around, with minimal decoration. However, the restaurant was filled with diners even during lunch hours on a weekday, which sort of hints at the quality of food that can be expected.

I have been here a few times. The chirashi don that I had the most recent time I went was not bad but could be better as there was a scale and a bone... but the seafood was fresh. It was a generous portion, with an excessive amount of mushed tuna pieces. The service was polite and quick.

Absolutely love this place! No frills, just good honest authentic Japanese cuisine cooked and priced well, mixed with friendly service! Been coming for 12 month now regularly despite being 45 minutes away and we’ll keep that up for sure👍👍👍 thanks Murasaki for being Murasaki!

Very nice food, prefect service! Tiny place but awesome place.<br/>Real Japan feeling, may need to line up for table sometime, it is still worth to wait.

This place is the bomb! Authentic Japanese at very reasonable prices in the suburbs - there’s really nowhere else like it. It’s not fancy at all so don’t go there expecting white table cloths. The food more than makes up for it though. <br/><br/>We ordered a separate nasu dengaku did after trying a piece of it in the unagi bento box. Although I was initially reluctant for mum to order the takoyaki balls, these turned out to be some of the best I’ve had. Great fresh sashimi. Definitely one of my favourite places in the Eastern suburbs.

Our favourite family owned local restaurant: Murasaki Tanuki. Been eating with them since their humble beginnings, Hiro San is head chef and papa to the restaurant, his dishes are made with love. And Kana is the pastry chef there, making the most authentic Japanese cakes you can find in Melbourne.<br/>For more foodie goodness follow my ig: emptystomach

FAST Food Review<br/><br/>Food: Everything off the menu was scrumptious, especially the beef dishes, very tender - 4.5/5<br/><br/>Ambience: Standard, slightly cramped - 3.5/5<br/><br/>Service: Really nice and polite in every interaction - 4.5/5<br/><br/>Total: 12.5/15

Ordered couple entrees, sushi, sashimi, katsu curry, cha shu ramen. Sushi and sashimi are just average. The katsu curry, the katsu(pork) was a bit dry and tasteless. Cha shu ramen wasn’t great either, the soup was a bit bland, cha shu was very tough and chewy. It is authentic japanese restaurant, great and friendly staff. Reasonable priced too.

This place sells quite a nice dessert. The main dishes are decent i guess. I got the karaage and katsu curry which is nice but nothing special.

Now I have to say I really wanted to like this Japanese restaurant as it’s in the suburbs and we don’t get much good Japanese out here. However, the sashimi cuts were not good quality and the pork tonkatsu must have been one of the worse I’ve ever had. Perhaps it was an ‘off’ day, but I wouldn’t bother trying this place as the experience was that bad!

When I have a horrible day at work, one of the things that will comfort me is 100% MURASAKI! THEIR FOOD TASTES JUST LIKE Japan and I've tried various things on the menu! And I have nothing to fault. They all welcome you as you come in. I'd highly recommend this place. The service is a+, always with a kind smile!

Hands-down our favourite Japanese restaurant in Melbourne.<br/><br/>Favourite dishes: Murasaki sushi rolls, teriyaki chicken bento, chicken karaage and the katsu curry. Their sashimi is fresh, and their dishes are flavourful.<br/><br/>Ambience: Homely atmosphere that is sometimes bustling, sometimes quiet. Their restaurant is also hidden from street view, so it feels like a hidden gem here in Wantirna.<br/><br/>Service: Staff are always kind and attentive. Food almost always takes a bit to arrive but is understandable, as this is a family-run business. It's also overlooked when the dishes taste delicious.

Came here hoping to find a hidden gem. And though it wasn't quite the amazing find I hoped for, it was decent without much to complain about. <br/><br/>The main thing that sets this place apart from other Japanese restaurants is the energetic and kind waiters who serve you. As soon as you enter, you're greeted with warm smiles which only adds to the homely ambiance. <br/><br/>Prices are affordable, with satisfying portions. We ordered the chicken teriyaki bento, the beef udon and a side of edamame (I must say, it's the biggest serving of edamame I've ever had). The bento was tasty and was glad it didn't have that MSG taste. The only fault of our dishes was that the beef was slightly on the tough side.<br/><br/>Overall, Murasaki Tanuki is a lovely little Japanese restaurant, however, it lacks any WOW that makes me want to rush back.

Food (had the Katsu and Beef curry) was delicious, great vibe, lovely staff and amazing/fast service despite how busy it was! Highly recommend!

This is almost a weekly visit from me, food is amazing and so fresh. The sushi is irresistible. My favorite is the chicken karage and also the tenaki rolls.

A bustling little local Japanese restaurant that isn't much to look at but seems to always be busy, which is always nice to see for small, family-owned businesses. <br/><br/>I was really impressed with the freshness of the seafood the first time I came here. Really had no complaints at all and couldn't wait to bring the bf back.<br/><br/>Second time was really disappointing though. We got the main sized sashimi, which didnt look as pretty as the entree one. The skin was left on the kingfish, which wasn't very pleasant and there were bones left in a few pieces of salmon. The fish itself was still fresh, just clumsily prepared perhaps. <br/><br/>The fried chicken was ok, the beef tataki had no flavor at all and the teriyaki salmon was far too sweet, although I quite enjoyed it with the rice. <br/><br/>

Hidden gem in Wantirna, almost missed the front door. Friendly service, decent meal, ingredients are fresh as well. <br/><br/>A bit of drive even coming from Clayton, but definitely will come back.

This is a real gem in Wantirna, it's actually hard to find cheap and tasty Japanese fare in outer eastern suburbs. I live around the area and have been here many times now. Their sushi and sashimi are really fresh and tasty, and given their price it's great value. You can really tell they're doing a great job when they get busier and more popular every time I visit!

This place is great. Its traditional Japanese run by Japanese and the food is very tasty as its meant to be.<br/><br/>Generous portions and friendly staff, make it all the better. <br/><br/>Bento boxes are really good. Fresh tuna and salmon for sashimi. Great gyoza. <br/><br/>If your looking for mordernised Japanese food in a flashy restautant, then this isnt it, but if you want authentic food that makes you feel like your in a restaurant in a small Japanese town, then it's the place. Been twice now and cannot believe how lucky we are to have this place so close. My Japanese wife and I are very happy and cannot wait to go back.

I've only tried the Sashimi bento, cause it's so good that I can't help but order it every time I've been here. Super fresh with a great mix of produce! It's magnificent. <br/><br/>There's a great little outside dining area at the front of shop for warmer nights.

Delicious authentic Japanese! What a pleasant surprise! Friendly service. Food is fresh. We have been twice and love it. We will be back again. It can get busy at lunch. Well worth it.

A great quaint place to go to for real Japanese food. We were greeted by Japanese staff who made us a table, all staff were very nice and attended to our needs.<br/><br/>The restaurant is small, much like a cafe restaurant fusion and had a more homely vibe.<br/><br/>We ordered various dishes, but personally had Takoyaki and Pork Katsu Curry. The Takoyaki was crisp and was well balanced with sauce, would recommend. The portions of our food were more generous, and the curry didn't disappoint. The Katsu was freshly fried and didnt not sog away with the curry.<br/><br/>Would recommend the curry and bento boxes my friends had due to their size. The ramen not as much, could find better else where. Overall was a great place to eat!

Fresh and somewhat tasty but nothing special... Don't think it would make our top 5 for Japanese but it's good for locals wanting a quick fix. Service was average - was required to pay the bill before we even had our food served but when I told the lady that we had one more guest coming, she then said we could pay the bill at the end of the meal (as it should be?!)... Was an OK dining experience overall.

It's rare to find a Japanese restaurant that's actually run by Japanese these days and Murasaki is one of them. A hidden gem and Japanese food lovers will not want to miss out on this one. Definitely worth the trip. Their bento boxes were impressive especially the chicken kara-age one. Very reasonably priced and generous portions. Highly recommended.

We had a really nice experience at Murasaki Tanuki. The staff are warm and friendly, and the food is great! The prices are quite reasonable and the quality is really good. I tried the chirashi don, which blew my mind- I really wasn't expecting a super high level of freshness and quality but was proven wrong! It was a really enjoyable meal. My friend tried the pork bento special. She said she liked it too! The portion was massive and had lots of variety. There was edamame, sashimi, salad, etc which came with the bento and made it so wholesome! <br/>The only (slightly unpleasant) thing I have to admit is that there was a strange odour coming from the area near where I was sitting. Wasn't really sure what it was but I hope it was just me, and that the general hygiene is good. <br/>Would like to return soon (to try their desserts too)!

I have been to this establishment a few times before, and it has always satisfied my Japanese cravings. It's quite a privilege to find such a high quality Japanese restaurant sitting right outside my doorstep. Their curries and katsu dons are very authentic, and there aren't many restaurants in this area which can match the quality. I can also vouch for the friendly and attentive staff.

Met up with a friend for Japanese a couple of weeks ago at a restaurant near her place. Small cafe, friendly staff and a simple menu consisting of the usual options available. Place was quite packed when we arrived there slightly after 7pm and I would recommend bookings for larger groups. Una-ju bento - I like how there were so many different types of bento options to choose from. Bento boxes are excellent for portion control as it allows users/ diners to moderate their intake of protein, carbohydrates or fiber. At Murasaki, each bento box had a small serve of fresh sashimi as appetizers followed by a small serve of fruit and vegetables, preceding the main course and steamed rice.

Consistently fresh and delicious, the food at Murasaki is legit and the staff are super warm, friendly and attentive. In this visit, we had the spicy chicken ribs, the Ebi Katsu bento and the Salmon Teriyaki bento and it hit the spot. We were well fed indeed. Love the sashimi and chirashi too. Generous portions priced at what you'd expect. Hidden in a nook, it's a great find and a keeper, so make sure you check it out. Even the fact that this gem is hidden is reminisce of the finds you unexpectedly come across in Japan's maze of Prefectures and continue to come back to! You won't regret it!

I can't believe I live like in the street it's next to but haven't tried it.I only ordered take away but the feel of this restaurant is amazing, not too sure but I think all their staff are Japanese unlike many Japanese restaurants in Melbourne where most staff are not Japanese. I liked how you could look at the staff making sashimi. The staff are very nice and kind. I'm kind of glad it is hidden and there weren't many customers so I could order. I'm sure if the world knew about this place then I wouldn't be able to get my food.

Update: rating gone from a 5 to a 3. Was a loyal customer but immensely disappointed. Visited on a busy Saturday night for takeaway, but that's no excuse- sloppy work. Bones and scales in my salmon chirashi and blood and bones on the tuna. They could have cut my mouth or I could have swallowed them. Not sure if I'll be back ever again. <br/><br/>--- <br/><br/>Hole in the wall restaurant, but a hidden gem. Don't expect much other than the emphasis on food. Authentic Japanese cuisine, I can't say much about the cooked food but I had the salmon ikura don and I loved it. Fresh fatty cuts of salmon belly and normal parts as well with a generous serving of salmon roe, probably one of the freshest ones I've had in Melbourne. I'm serious, their salmon roe beats Calia's and Ichi Ichi whatever in South Yarra.<br/><br/>The rice was warm, which I'm not really used to with sushi, so it did feel weird at first but in my experience, it's usually warm because it's freshly made. I took a bus for 45 minutes and got off at the wrong stop, walked for about 2km to get here and I was not disappointed. <br/><br/>Tamago (sweet egg) was made there, sweet and yummy. It's really like wandering off the streets of Tokyo into a comforting and yummy eatery, Japanese music plays in the background and I wish I had room for the desserts as well since they looked so yummy! <br/><br/>The matcha latte was great value for money $3.80. Not one of the best I've ever tasted, but one of the better ones. It's not overpoweringly sweet, the taste is pretty comforting but I like my matcha lattes strong with a deeper matcha flavour. All this being said, I'm never going back to The Glen or Clayton for sushi anymore!! 😊<br/><br/>Update: Murasaki, I love you but your cooked salmon bento is terrible 😷 fish was fishy tasting and gross. This is my go-to for sashimi/sushi, but their cooked food could be better. That said, the nasu eggplant was yummy.

Why did I take so long to come to you?Was there for lunch and oh my!this is going to be my hangout.I love the board's special of King Crab Agedashi Tofu.So much meat that complements the perfect tofu. Even the simple takoyaki was devine.The Char Siu Ramen was served with clear broth liken to taste of chawanmushi and it was delish.My own sashimi and bento was just alright.I wished the sashimi were not so small cuts but I love the heap of ebiko on top of the salmon roll.

This is my fav takeaway Japanese place! Bentos are yum and always a pleasant experience here from this local authentic flavoured restaurant , the takeaway is nicely wrapped. Personally don't like sitting there but overall price reasonable and food is almost always good. Except the vegetarian dumplings are really not good and the curry is very average everything else id rate quite highly especially with the corresponding price point!<br/><br/>Btw the photo of the dumpling is not from there I accidentally uploaded it 😂

Nice hidden suburban Japanese in Studfield, better than what you get in Knox or The Glen.  Real Japanese chef and waitresses.  Real fresh fish, real fresh crumbed tonkatsu, ebi.  Must support these rare authentic Japanese casual restaurants!

The menu is standard but don't let that drive you away. I don't usually review restaurants but Murasaki Tanuki only has a couple and I'd just like to add that their sushi is very fresh. I ordered a Chirashi for myself and was greatly surprised. The Curry Udon is good. Udon is udon but the broth was really good and tasty. I can taste a lot of vegetables in the soup sand overall very very satisfied with my meal. I'll be sure to try their other dishes next time.<br/><br/>Note that the place does get very busy and gets booked out quite early. We were lucky we came in earlyish and we're able to get seats right away. By 6.00 there were no seats left and the minimum wait time is 1.5-2 hours.<br/><br/>Edit: I had two of the desserts take away just then which were yuzu cheese and black sesame cake roll. Both were fantastic and fluffy just like authentic Japanese sweets. Could not recommend it more. I did notice that service was a not as fast as your usual cheap Asian restaurant but the fact that everything was fresh I wouldn't be surprised if they just made orders as they came in. Sushi is perfect temperature and the tamago was fluffy and soft as it should be.

Recommended by a Workmate to try this place out. Was told that the chef of this eatery used to work for Murasaki. Ordered the Japanese curry, as the Japanese does the Japanese curry version better. It was not too bad. Mum had the bento box and it was of decent portion and taste was not bad. The toilet is kinda inconvenient as you have to s leave the eatery and go round to the back. Guess they can't help it as its the way the building is designed. I would be back again to try other dishes on the menu. The atmosphere of these place is honest and ain't fancy, which I find rather relaxing, much be me! :)

Fantastic little local restaurant for a quality meal with family or friends.  <br/> <br/>The service is fantastic and the food is delicious - with value for money an added bonus as menu items are very well priced.   <br/> <br/>This restaurant has a casual feel to it where you can dine at your own pace in a relaxed environment.  <br/> <br/>Whether you're after a quick meal or a few courses, Murasaki provides fantastic Japanese cuisine and hospitality.   <br/> <br/>Hidden away in Studfield Shops, this neatly presented restaurant provides a quiet sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of Stud Rd.  <br/> <br/>You won't leave disappointed!

Delightful to find this place out in the Eastern suburbs, where there is a lack of affordable good Japanese food. There is great variety, good presentation and quality. The shop is 'out of the way' and has a quiet authentic side street feel to it, being located underneath offices. Pricing is very reasonable and we'll be back to sample more of the menu.

There's no doubt this place is the best local Japanese restaurant in the area. Everything positive said in the previous reviews is true.<br/><br/>My simple 1st judgement of a Japanese place is how they do the Agedashi Tofu. So simple and often so overlooked, this dish when done really well sets great expectations for what is to come. This Agedashi Tofu was the best I've had in Australia, and I've had that dish hundreds of times. The rest of the food speaks for itself. Generous portions and fresh fresh fresh.<br/><br/>This place can't be a 5 for only 2 reasons. The situation with the amenities is pretty bad. As mentioned before, you cannot walk through the kitchen to get to the rest room. You have to leave the restaurant and walk all the way around the back of the shopping complex to get there and then there is only the one toilet which I found occupied for a lengthy time. Certainly I will be back to this place, but I will be prepared next time.<br/><br/>Secondly and less importantly, there is only one ramen dish with salmon on the menu. I'd really like to see a few more options, like pork belly etc which would be a real hit at lunch for fast turnover weekday clients.<br/><br/>As it was, on this Sunday the place was full. We took the only unreserved table and after us, there came many other people, almost exclusively Asian who were happy to wait in the very conveniently set up area with sofa's and chairs out the front. It's a great use of that area.<br/><br/>My wife is a stickler for freshness, so it looks like we've found our new local place. I'd rate this close to Aoba in Glenferrie road which is a serious place to be compared to. Aoba wins for pure excellence in technique and presentation but who cares when Murasaki Tanuki is 10 minutes away from home.<br/><br/>Love it.

Love love love this new kid on the block. Authentic a Japanese food and friendly owners to match. Have already been a few times and recommend many friends who have also loved it. Prawn Bento is always my fav and I now know to preorder the chawamushi as they don't make it at dinner.<br/>May 2017<br/>Still love this place however since its increased popularity, we can never get a table unless we book ahead. No more walk ins.... or chawanmushi.....also I sense the quality has slightly gone downhill due to the busyness?! Can't be sure as I haven't been able to get a table of late! Will keep trying...

Best Japanese I've ever had! Lovely people, quick service and fresh food. Sushi is fresh and yummy and comes on a boat if you order enough. A new favourite!

Came here for lunch on a Friday - the place wasn't busy at all so seating was no issue. What a lovely little authentic family run Japanese joint! The service was very friendly, and food came out in a timely manner. While this place takes card, please note it is for $30+.<br/><br/>The matcha lattes are really delicious; the balance of bitter and sweetness is just divine. The nigiri sushi, is not the best I have had, but decent - I think the technique in making this (in comparison to other nigiri omakase joints I have been to) wasn't quite there. The spicy ribs, unfortunately, lacked any heat to them and were a bit too salty. Although the gyoza skins weren't crispy, the seasoning for the filling was spot on.

Sooo excited to try our friend's favourite Japanese restaurant WAY OUT  in Wantirna.<br/><br/>How was?  S L O O O O O W.  1hr+ wait.  <br/><br/>In the meantime this Whippeteer entertained a friend's NINE year old by EATING LOTS AND LOTS of WASABI for her.  The photos of contorted facial expressions kept us amused for about HALF AN HOUR.   <br/><br/>Another HALF-HOUR WAS SPENT trying to find the DUNNY.   No JOKE.  You have to walk out of the shop, down the SHOP strip, around the corner........to the BACK DOOR OF THE RESTAURANT.  Down some steps, then, guess which door to open.  ONE HUNDRED STEPS!  Anyway, it was an ADVENTURE!<br/><br/>-The Pork Curry Don was FABULOUS.   The best this Whippeteer has had (cheap eats).<br/>-The Bento Box had GREAT chicken, VERY TENDER beef,  good sashimi.  The vegies were a bit plain.  Probably, this is HOMEMADE style.  Very nice, maybe more traditional than WAYA in Glen Waverley.<br/>-Matcha Latte SUPERB. Nice and warm.<br/><br/>SERVICE excellent, friendly.   We were having a great time so the 1hr+ wait wasn't so bad, but not so keen to go back.

Amazing Japanese owned restaurant. Food was in great authentic quality. You felt like eating at a Japanese host family. <br/><br/>Ordered these: <br/><br/>Gyoza <br/>Grilled egg plant <br/>Takoyaki <br/>Milk base salmon ramen <br/>Katzu curry <br/>Matcha latte <br/><br/>Such a good place for some authentic Japanese meal around the area! Family owners are all very nice and friendly. Food tasted amazing, all freshly made to order. Love to support small business. <br/><br/>

This place was recommended by a couple of Japanese friends and it did not disappoint! I don't normally upload picture so f my food but this meal was definitely worthy of a post. It looks as good as it taste.<br/><br/>In the few that I've had this meal in mother restaurants, I was always disappointed with the ratio of sashimi to rice. However, at Murasaki - the sashimi serving was generous and you get your monies worth. The fish was fresh and tasty, green match was as it should be - not too sweet. I also tried the crepe cake and it was heavenly!<br/><br/>Service was very friendly , prompt and welcoming. I can't wait to return and try other meals.<br/><br/>

Loved this place. Authentic Japanese run by actual Japanese people. Glad to have a good value Japanese place in the area. Will definitely be back

Came here for dinner on a Thursday night and it was quite busy, possibly because it was the eve of a public holiday. It's also a small store made for takeaway with a row of small dining tables. Hence, making a reservation beforehand is recommended. The staff are very friendly, the dishes are authentic, fresh and tasty. Enjoyed my chicken kara-age bento box, especially the mayo that came with it as a dipping sauce for the crispy boneless chicken. Also shared a plate of murasaki roll of sushi, which were delicious. Would love to come back here to try their other dishes :)

Been looking at the menu for a while. Took me a little while to find the place as it's in a small set of shops on Stud road. There's a few tables but not many. It's more designed for take away but the food is good, and freshly prepared.  I really enjoyed the tataki and the gyoza. The bentos, while generally thought of for lunch made a great dinner with lots of variety. <br/>Definitely will go back to this one as it beats the more commercial Japanese places in the area.

Murasaki is my favourite Japanese restaurant! The food is authentic and fresh and the menu has something special for every taste. The service is always friendly and attentive no matter how busy. love it!

As a Japanese national I have to say this place is far much better than the most in Victoria. The owner chef is also a Japanese national who has worked for Murasaki Restaurant in the CBD for more than 25 years.<br/>I didn't rate them as 5 because their chairs and tables are not comfortable. And I haven't been there lately so I don't know about non-traditional dishes. <br/>The owner chef is quite adamant on the quality of what they offer so it's worth try when you are in the East.

Fresh sashimi and delicious chicken karage. The sushi roll is nice but a little warm, thought should be cold. Will definitely be back for other food.

What a gem. Did not know what to expect, but what a surprise. Authentic Japanese food from a family run restaurant. New to the Wantirna area (Studfield to be precise) but do yourself a favour and enjoy. Check out their Facebook page

I came here as I am a local and recently arrived home from a holiday in Japan and was craving some Japanese food. I was greeted with a traditional いらっしゃいませ which made me feel very welcome. The staff were lovely and the food was wonderful. We only tried a couple of dishes but loved what we had. The katsu curry hit the spot. It's so nice to find a Japanese owned restaurant out in the suburbs. We will be back for sure (the desert in the fridge looked good. Hopefully we will try that next time!) ありがとうございます！

Hidden gem in Studfield shopping strip. It's a family run Japanese restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and the family is very friendly. Sashimi and sushi are fresh and delicious. Bento box is generous and Beef Udon tastes just right. It's the kind of restaurant that you can feel the full dedication from the staff and deserves return customers! I deduct 0.5 from the full score just because they are cash only.

Arrived at 7:45pm for dinner. Thought it was a good time as it's just after the dinner crowd. We were happy to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Once seated we ordered the katsu don, katsu curry, chicken terayaki don and tuna karaage with ponsu sauce. It took a while, the tuna came out, it was ok, not up to their normal standard. The katsu don then turned up which was the wife's. We were told the rest would be a wait as the kitchen was busy. We thought it was alright if it was just a few minutes. 20 minutes later, the chicken terayaki was brought out. We waited another 15 minutes and unfortunately my patience wore out. I motioned the waitress over and asked for my meal to be placed in a take away container which took forever. They apologized profusely but I had to explain that when anyone goes out for a meal, it'll be nice for the everything to come out together. I do hope they get their act together as this is one of the better places for yummy food. It'll be a while before I come back. Still reeling from the experience.<br/><br/>This strip of shops along Stud Rd is starting to show some variety in terms of good food. Murasaki is a family owned restaurant using seasonal ingredients. We had the toro which is fatty belly tuna, rolls with lobster, tuna and tobiko. The belly tuna was melt in your mouth. Every mouthful gastronomic. We finished dinner with a milk based miso ramen with salmon and katsudon. Both were yummy. Would encourage people to try this place. It's not glitzy like Knox Ozone but the food is genuine and full of love.

Mmm mm~ <br/>Me and my beau have been here twice, both times very satisfied with the quality of food and service. We love Authentic Japanese cuisine, and so having found one just nearby our home, we were stoked! Initially we were reluctant to submit this review as we don't want the quality to be compromised due to an overwhelming popularity and crowd. But but but, we'd really like to show our appreciation for Murasaki Tanuki, thus here we are. Thank you for the lovely food and service you provide!

Great Japanese Family owned restaurant with excellent meals, Salmon and Tuna Sushi very fresh and high quality.<br/>One must try the Matcha Latte 10/10.

Great fresh food, friendly service.  I hope that this place will remain for a long long time.  So tired of commercialised Japanese food.  From the preparation of the dishes to the service, you can tell that the family run business takes pride in what they do.  There's a standard menu and a specials board with more interesting dishes like Blue Mackerel Sushi and Hokkaido Ramen.  I assume they change the specials board depending on the season and what fresh produce they can get from the market.  There's also a real coffee machine.  One thing to note is that the menu may seem pricey at first glance, but once you get your dish, you will understand why.  They don't scrimp on the ingredients and it is a generous meal, the way japanese food should be.  Will definitely return.

With median house prices in Wantirna rising as much as they have, and a new slew of families moving into the area, it is refreshing to finally see that GOOD Japanese food is now available in the area without travelling miles out of the way.<br/><br/>Located in the Studfield shopping strip on Stud road, Murusaki Tanuki is a Japanese owned and operated Cafe and Takeaway that serves up fairly standard 'western' Japanese food. The menu holds no real surprises, nigiri and sashimi, assorted bento boxes and ramen dishes. What is a surprise however, is the care that the staff take of the customers and the quality of the food here. It feels less processed, more homely and is just delicious. Value for money is excellent and the staff are friendly, generous and attentive.<br/><br/>I just found a reason to go out to lunch more often.<br/><br/>Superb.

Nice little local Japanese restaurant. Authentic and well priced. Generous serves. We ordered the bento boxes and it was perfect as it had a bit of everything in the one little box. My little girl loved the miso soup and rice. Will be back for sure.

Owned and run by Japanese.<br/>Waiting Service - Good and pleasant.<br/><br/>Wait time for food - Average.<br/><br/>Food Quality <br/>Katsudon - Taste is authentic.  Crumbled pork was nice and tender.  Not sure if they are using japanese rice as it was pretty mashy / soggy.<br/><br/>Murasaki Roll - was very authentic and tasty.  Fresh salmon, avocado & roe went very together. <br/><br/>Positives - Owned and run by Japanese.  Authentic japanese taste.<br/><br/>Negatives - Not at the moment, will have to visit again & try other dishes.

New place on the scene. I must say they are better than what I expected, but still fall short of the true gems found further in towards the city. What they do have going for them is the lack of good Japanese food in the area and the fact that the management is actually Japanese. It's also quite reasonable for the price. The bento boxes are quite worth it. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many unexpected morsels in them as standard additions, such as the miso eggplant, sashimi and assorted vegetables. The miso eggplant was not grilled as advertised, but it's inclusion at all makes this easier to overlook. The chawanmushi is also great, even though untraditional, as it has grilled eel and prawns inside which adds some extra enjoyment.

A thoroughly enjoyable dinner with authentic japanese cuisine. Fresh ingredients and great care in the way they prepare and cook the dishes. As you can see from the pictures, they look visually stunning and so much effort in making the food look and taste delicious. We will definitely be returning soon.

Nothing better than being taken back to Japan with authentic style and flavors. After devouring the luxurious Takoyaki and the mouth watering Kara age, I was sold. This is a fantastic local Japanese resturant in an up and coming foodie paradise, Wantirna. By the time my wife ate her more then ample bowl of fragrant curry udon, I was already half done with my generous tonkatsu bento. This will be a regular for our family. Arigato gozaimasu.

Amazing place to go for authentic Japanese food

This place is absolutely Devine!!! Soo glad it's sooo close to home too. Been here three times now in the last week!! Not only are the staff so friendly especially Kana,but the food is Devine!! So fresh and authentic!! The wasabi is freshly ground too. Don't think I can go back to the other play dough looking wasabi that is served by most Japanese restaurants. The sashimi is very fresh, the murasaki roll is absolutely delicious!! A must try when you go there. The ishikari ramen ( milk and miso base ) was subtle yet packed a lot of flavour. Everything I have had so far I have thoroughly enjoyed and no doubt I will be going back for more. I urge everyone to give this awesome place a go!!! You won't be disappointed.

Very nice,cheap and authentic Japanese food:)<br/>Love it so much:)<br/>Nice ramen, Gyoza filling was so juicy "homey filling"<br/><br/>The place is small but cozy, and the service was great everyone re so friendly and welcoming:)<br/>I love this place so much!!

Local gem definitely. Ordered Sashimi on sushi rice and the king fish was the best. Sushi rice is bit plain. I would suggest the owner to offer a package like this dish with side dishes for a few more dollars. People next to us ordered Bento and looked so yum. Definitely would go back to try Bento. Have high chairs. Kids friendly. But you have to pay by cash, the only downside.

Cheap, authentic and friendly service. Best part is it's only 2 minutes from home. Would say on par with Don Don for value and service in CBD. Probably better than Tokyo Sake in Ringwood in terms of value and service but not as good as Shira Nui in Glen Waverley (unfair as it's much cheaper). I think that it would benefit from some gas heaters in the outdoor area as it was quite busy inside but too cold outside. Overall I hope this place becomes a mainstay of studfield. Healthier and tastier than most choice at Knox Ozone

Finally came here in their opening hour. Quite looking forward to it . Staffs are friendly & nice . We order a tonkatsu bento & matcha latte & fried chicken . The fried chicken is so hot & juicy and freshly made . Love it . Also the matcha latte , not very sweet but mild .awesome dinner !

Been waiting for a Japanese cafe to open at the Stud Rd Shops. So happy to see that it is an authentic restaurant with Japanese owners and staff, most in Melbourne seem to not be ran by Japanese but other asian nationalities. menu has a nice selection and things you don't see at your standard Japanese cafe around Knox. Have only had takeaway twice, but am keen to eat in soon. The bento box was nice- homemade pickled vegies and good quality fish. There was even decorative cherry leaves included, which added to the authenticity. Everything I have tried so far have been nice. However the hand rolls were OK, but not as impressive/tasty as I had hoped. They can make them on the spot for you if not already made for takeway, which is good. Prices are fairly standard, maybe a bit more expensive than the norm but you are paying for fresh homemade ingredients so is worth it. Staff are really friendly and the shop is cute with Japanese prints etc. It is tucked away at the end of the shopping strip, but are definately worth checking out!

Unexpected nice food here, even the decoration here is still under progress but the food here taste pretty good :) the sashimi here is really fresh especially the salmon one, 100% will come back!

Simple and authentic home made Japanese food, way better than those so called Japanese restaurant who clearly don't even know what they are serving. The food was well prepared with details that makes me smile, such as the fresh Shiso leaves. They make their own sauces and pickles, even the carrot in the bento box was cooked in bonito flavoured broth. It may not be the best part of the fish used for sashimi but it was fresh and nicely prepared. So happy to have this warm and friendly place locally!

A casual, amazingly friendly eatery. Authentic Japanese chef and crew, providing great value, real Japanese dishes. Not an extensive menu but all the staples. Making it my regular Japanese joint. Gochiso sama deshita.