Kuni's Restaurant

Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne 2000

Contributors' Choice
Page 66

For its price and quality, Kuni's is hard to beat. Now established for 21 years (originally in a nearby location) it is a Japanese restaurant which sets the standards for the rest of the city. The open style, the service, the quality of the sushi at the bar, the excellent value lunch specials, all make for a place which is popular throughout the dining spectrum. You can see Japanese businessmen here, families with children and groups. And because it is so popular, the turnover of produce - particularly of fish, is reliably high. And as Japanese experts say, you must eat sushi in a busy place. Their other piece of advice is to talk to the sushi chef and ask him what fish he wants to use today.

"We still love Kuni's, especially the sushi bar, because every dish is good, particularly the light, vegetarian daily specials such as shiso leaves with abalone (only disappointment is the wine list). And it's fun because the crowd is so so Melbourne: black-wearing architects and so on. There's always a buzz." J.M-S

A 1999 interview (and recipes) with chef/owner Kuni Ichikawa

56 Ltttle Bourke Street
Melbourne
Japanese
Melways reference 1B:T4
Phone: 9663 7243
Opening hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri 12 noon-2.30pm. Dinner: Mon-Wed 6pm-10pm, Thur-Sat 6pm-10.30pm
Licensed & BYO
Corkage: $1 per person
Accept credit cards
Seating inside: 100
Features: Restricted smoking
Favourites: Sushi and sashimi $8.50-20, Gyoza $8.50, Tempura $7.50-13.50