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Okonomiyaki Melbourne
A hybrid of an omelet and a pancake, made with a variety of toppings and drizzled with a thick, savory sauce. Okonomiyaki is a popular dish in Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tokyo. This meal is available at a variety of prominent restaurants around the country. Okonomiyaki literally translates as “prepared to your liking.” Today, okonomiyaki is a Japanese delicacy that is served as a party meal, right on the teppan (hotplate). Keeping this in mind, you should be aware of the best okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
1. Papirica
| Key Services | Japanese| Osaka-style Okonomiyaki In Vegetarian, Vegan Or Pork Options | Mochi Rice Cakes| Cheese And Kimchi Add-ons | Homemade Okonomiyaki Sauce |
| Website | https://www.papirica.online/ |
| Address | 22 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9416 1829 |
| Operating Hours | 10AM – 3:30PM Wednesdays – Fridays | 9AM – 3:30PM Saturdays – Sundays |
Okonomiyaki began as a pop-up event in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 2013, and the official business opened in 2017. Authentic Homemade Style Japanese Food Cooked “Simple but Properly” They hope to take you on a mini-Japan tour at Papirica. ‘Simple but correctly’ indicates that many of their items are created from scratch, such as Okonomiyaki sauce, mayo and other sauces, bread, pickled veggies, and Kimch. Papirica does not use artificial flavors. To establish a particular area that allows you to spend quality time with your family, friends, or spouse, or for someone to come alone and relax. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Created from scratch
- Artificial flavors not used
Customer Testimonial:
“Great katsu sando using their house made shokupan and seafood okonomiyaki. Coffee could be improved by using more robust coffee beans.”
Shuyi Liang
2. Project281 Eatery
| Key Services | Cafe By Day | Japanese Inspired Restaurant by Night | Indoor Garden Setting | In-House Coffee Roastery | |
| Website | https://www.project281.com/ |
| Address | 281 Albert St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9080 6119 |
| WHOLESALE.FOUNDERCOFFEE@GMAIL.COM | |
| Operating Hours | 8AM – 4PM Sundays – Tuesdays | 8AM – 10PM Wednesdays – Saturdays |
A large industrial warehouse converted area with a botanical build out. The food is Australian-inspired with Korean and Japanese influences, and their coffee beans are roasted in-house. Project281 roasts its own coffee (as Founder Coffee), with former head roaster Anne Cooper of Proud Mary’s and Axil Coffee on the tools. “Roastress Coops” provides nationwide consulting as well as roasting for 23 Degrees, a firm that works with female coffee producers. Head chef Lachlan Timms and his staff serve up traditional breakfasts with Japanese and Korean twists next to the coffee bar. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Coffee Roasted in-house
- Australian-Inspired with Korean and Japanese influences
- Female Coffee Producer Consultants
Customer Testimonial:
“I tried Japanese Okonomiyaki for the first time in life and it is one of the best dishes I had eaten. A warmly place to grab lunch and industrial interior adds on to the ambience with all plants around giving a lively feel.”
Lipika Sharma
3. Penta Elsternwick
| Key Services | Array Of Healthy And Colourful Eats| Superfood Smoothies | Nutella And Salted Caramel Milkshakes | Golden Lattes | Healthy Options |
| Website | https://pentaelsternwick.com.au/ |
| Address | 28 Riddell Parade, Elsternwick VIC 3185, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9523 0716 |
| info@pentaelsternwick.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 2:30PM Mondays – Fridays | 8AM – 2:30PM Saturdays – Sundays |
The new café from the creators of Legacy, Temperance Society, and Mob Espresso promises great things for Elsternwick. Meet Penta Elsternwick, who only sends forth positive thoughts. Penta’s menu, like its predecessors, provides a variety of healthful and colorful foods that are helping to elevate Melbourne’s café culture. The décor is sleek and contemporary, with pot plants blooming in massive metal canisters around the café. The exposed infrastructure contributes to our favorite Melbourne atmosphere. Penta will satisfy all of your café cravings, whether you’re healthy or sassy. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Creators of Legacy, Temperance Society, and Mob Espresso
- Healthy and colorful menu
- Sleek and contemporary décor
Customer Testimonial:
“Get the okonomiyaki with eggs and ginger (and bacon on the side). So good!!”
Julietta T.
4. Au79
| Key Services | Coffee Roasting on Site| Asian-influenced Flourishes | Bakery and Patisserie | Okonomiyaki Pancake With Eggplant Katsu |
| Website | https://www.au79cafe.com.au/ |
| Address | 27/29 Nicholson St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9429 0138 |
| abbotsford@au79cafe.com.au | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 3:30PM Mondays – Fridays | 8AM – 3:30PM Saturdays – Sundays |
Au79’s aim of creating one of Melbourne’s top cafés was realized in a small garage in Abbotsford. Melbourne-based Mim Design turned the ancient motor garage into what feels like a large indoor botanical garden, with discolored cement flooring and old tyres. Interior windows display a bakery and patisserie as well as a self-contained roastery producing the house mix as well as single origins from across the world. Classic meals are complemented by Asian-inspired flourishes, such as the Okonomiyaki pancake with eggplant katsu, yuzu mayo, and sweet-potatocrisps. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- One of Melbourne’s top cafés
- Interior windows display a bakery and patisserie
- self-contained roastery
- Classic meals are complemented by Asian-inspired flourishes
Customer Testimonial:
“Great food and great coffee! The Big Breakfast was perfectly portioned and to top it off the cafe has a wonderful ambiance and interior! It is definitely a go too in Abbotsford!”
Samuel Karaoglanis
5. Dohtonbori
| Key Services | Good For Groups | Japanese Cuisine | Three Different Styles Of Okonomiyaki | All-you-can-eat Options | Japanese Beers |
| Website | https://dohtonbori.com.au/ |
| Address | 147 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia |
| Phone | +61 427 374 354 |
| dohtonboriaustralia@gmail.com | |
| Operating Hours | 12PM – 3PM, 5PM – 10PM Tuesdays – Thursdays | 12PM – 3PM, 5PM –10:30PM Fridays – Saturdays |
Dohtonbori is a Japanese restaurant that specializes on okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancakes). The restaurant provides three types of okonomiyaki. There’s the original, Hiroshimayaki (Hiroshima-style), with separate layers of thin batter, shredded cabbage, fried yakisoba noodles, and a crispy egg, or monjayaki, which is identical to the original but stickier and gooier due to dashi in the batter. All of the okonomiyaki are prepared on a hot plate in the center of the table, either by you or a staff member. Toss them with Kewpie mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, dried seaweed, and bonito flakes as desired. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Specializes in okonomiyaki
- 3 types of okonomiyaki
- Prepared on a hot plate in the center of the table
Customer Testimonial:
“Nice place to have okonomiyaki! Cooking the okonomiyaki ourselves was the fun part. The food was fresh and the staff are friendly, teaching us how to cook it and helping us when needed! “
Xin Lin Toh
6. Yokoso Izakaya
| Key Services | Japanese Cuisine | Bento Boxes | Maki Rolls | Japanese Tapas |
| Website | https://www.yokoso-izakaya.com/ |
| Address | 702 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9372 8702 |
| Operating Hours | 5PM – 9PM Mondays – Saturdays |
Perfectly prepared fried fish, pork gyoza, and grilled beef are available. This restaurant’s chef prepares delicious panna cotta, green tea ice cream, and chocolate roll. Wine is offered; sample it and enjoy it. Yokoso is popular among travelers for its excellent iced green tea and chocolate frappe. This restaurant is ideal for those who need to eat quickly because meals may be ordered as takeaway. The personnel here is regarded to be knowledgeable. People frequently mention prompt service in their remarks. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Fried fish
- Pork gyoza
- Grilled beef
- Panna cotta
- Prompt service
Customer Testimonial:
“Wow, this restaurant is amazing! Incredible staff and customer service, the best I have ever had, in all honesty.”
Layzy Liam
7. 8 Murray St
| Key Services | Cozy In-house Seating | Separate Private Room | Divine Coffee | Endless Cocktails | Great Food |
| Website | https://8murray.com/ |
| Address | 8 Murray St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9939 1118 |
| theguys@8murray.com | |
| Operating Hours | 7AM – 3PM Mondays – Fridays; 8AM – 3PM Saturdays – Sundays |
Through their charm, kindness, and unique take on a Melbourne brunch experience, 8 Murray Street tries to reduce the rush of Melbourne’s fast-paced brunch scene. 8 Murray Street in Abbotsford offers a unique experience, complementing their extensive breakfast and lunch cuisine with a café environment. This menu has something for everyone, from their Sticky Pork Burger (talking all things pork crackling) to their vegan banana bread. Enjoy your burger amid the trees in their outdoor courtyard, or curl up with a book and a cup of coffee in a cozy interior nook. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Reduce the rush of Melbourne’s fast-paced brunch scene
- Extensive breakfast and lunch cuisine
- Café environment
- Outdoor courtyard
Customer Testimonial:
“The service and the food here is exceptional! Staff are friendly, coffee is wonderful. They were so happy for me to hang out all day drinking coffee, snacking and working. Will deffo be back. Thanks team!”
Luna Darling
8. Tokyo Tina
| Key Services | No Reservations | Japanese Food | Rising Sun Cuisine | Ceviche-style Options | Brothy Bowls Of Soba And Ramen | Japanese Beer, Sake And Whisky |
| Website | https://tokyotina.com.au/ |
| Address | 66A Chapel St, Windsor VIC 3181, Australia |
| Phone | +61 3 9525 2774 |
| TOKYOTINA@COMMUNEGROUP.COM.AU | |
| Operating Hours | 5PM – 10PM Mondays – Thursdays; 12PM – 4PM, 5PM – 10PM Fridays – Sundays |
The modern Japanese restaurant on Chapel Street, opened in February by the three behind Hanoi Hannah and Saigon Sally—Simon Blancher, Paul Nguyen, and Nic Coulter—deftly mixes kitsch and charming with hip and edgy. Inside, Tokyo Tina is divided into three sections: dining to the right and up the rear, and a bar to the left that serves Japanese beer and sake as well as a long variety of cocktails inspired by the East Asian country. Li’s menu focuses on less popular components of Rising Sun cuisine while completely avoiding sushi. This is why they one of the finest okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
Key Differentiators:
- Hip and edgy
- Japanese beer and sake
- Long variety of cocktails
Customer Testimonial:
“Had a lovely fun time at their bingo brunch. The food was incredible and they were able to cater for a few different dietary requests. Must have dishes to try are the eggplant and the cauliflower bake”
Evva Langoria
Okonomiyaki Melbourne
Overall, what began as a simple Japanese pancake consumed in times of shortage is now a hometown favorite and a proud culinary icon of Osaka, Japan’s gourmet foodie metropolis. Aside from its delicious flavor, okonomiyaki is also a very “social” cuisine; knowing how to prepare okonomiyaki may even provide you with additional opportunities to connect with family and friends. Whether at home or, even better, at one of the many okonomiyaki restaurants located around the country. We hope this helps you locate the best okonomiyaki Melbourne has to offer.
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