Nihonbashi Zen

Ph: (03) 9639 7050; 87 Little Bourke St, MELBOURNE 3000 www.nihonbashizen.com.au

Japanese, $$ +
Open Thu-Fri noon-2pm; Tue-Sun 6-11pm; Licensed; AE DC MC V EFT, Seats inside 38, Private room
Chef Hiro Yano (7-11-07) Owner Hiro & Emmy Yano (7-11-07)

Mietta's Review
It's tiny and buried in a Little Bourke St basement but it's worth seeking out for its classic Japanese dishes. The speciality of chef/owner, Hiro Yano, is kushiyaki (griiled skewers done without oil). The excellent sashimi is amongst Melbourne's best.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14/20 "After declining the unsolicited advances of a dozen Little Bourke Street spruikers, descending the stairs into this tiny, dimly lit restaurant comes as no small relief"

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 14/20 "A Japanese restaurant without sushi. Yes, you heard right. In a city of me too' AussieJapanese restaurants, Nihonbashi Zen is a revelation. Forget soggy tempura or tasteless udon - the menu at this dimly lit basement space veers off into much more interesting territory. The signature here is kushiyaki (skewers of food) cooked on a specially imported grill."

Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide "Cookie-cutter Japanese restaurants are thick on the ground in Melbourne, but Nihonbashi Zen distinguishes itself from the crowd with its authentic Tokyo-style take on the cuisine. The menu includes greatest hits - excellent sashimi, tempura and udon - but real treasure lies beyond the comfort zone."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 15/20 One Hat "PINT-SIZED Nihonbashi Zen sits tucked away down some stairs like buried treasure. And indeed there are plenty of culinary riches to be discovered in the moodily lit, split-level dining room."

Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "Nihonbashi Zen is a subterranean Japanese den you might easily walk past, yet within its narrow, contemporary confines lurks an uncompromising Japanese restaurant. Eating well at this chef-owned restaurant can be expensive, but immensely rewarding."

Herald Sun Stephen Downes 5/10/04 "Melbourne is bursting with Asian restaurants of all persuasions, and Nihonbashi Zen, in my view, is a poor option among them. It's expensive for what you get, and its food has to be far more magical at these prices. Service is poor, and the wine list is expensive and limited. Two whites and three reds are available by glass."

The Age Cheap Eats 2004,'Nihonbashi specialises in kushiyaki-style dishes,packing bento boxes with a vivid array of treats like grilled miso-marinated fish...Don't miss the rare X sake,regularly airfreighted from Tokyo to ensure freshness.'

The Age Good Food Guide Awards 2004 1 hat

Herald Sun, Sunday Magazine, 7/3/04, Sally Fisher

The Age, Epicure, Unexplored Territory, Matt Preston, 20/8/02