Disappointed with this choice. hard to find with just a simple easel sign in an office type building entrance. Absolutely empty on this Tuesday night. Red flag. No one at the sushi bar or anywhere else. Moldy smell throughout which is a problem since this place is below ground. But to save a star, a great selection of sake. Menus are dirty and disorganized. Not easy food selections. Food was just ok. Too many other better options in the areas. read more

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We were hoping for a meal of Japanese while in Melbourne, took the suggestion of Yelp and Urbanspoon, and ended up at Izakaya Den. I wouldn't say I regretted my choice, but I probably should have taken the advice of one of my friends for a place with sashimi and substantial food. Hidden down a narrow flight of stairs, Izakaya Den is a bit like a den with its cold, yet cozy interior. We didn't end up drinking anything throughout our meal, which I slightly regretted, since that is precisely what you do at an izakaya place. Either way, it was the middle of the day, so we weren't too keen. What we did get were baked scallops with a ginger garnish of some sort. The scallops were a delicious texture, just how scallops how should be, but the highlight was really the garnish on the side! We also went for the tuna tartare, which was alright in texture. Again, the highlight was the sauce. I should have gone for the tuna tataki, which seems to be the more popular dish. We also had the fish of the day (which I can't remember what), and that was really tender and baked perfectly. It wasn't salmon, though that's what it looks kinda like in the picture. The pickled daikon on the side was my favorite part of the dish - but the fish was also really delicious. It wasn't one bit fishy, and the meat just fell apart perfectly! The lamb skewers were also good, though I don't think I would order this again if I returned. They were slightly dry, and didn't taste much like lamb. At the end of our meal, they gave us complimentary house-made marshmallows! They were fluffy, not overly sweet, and quite yummy! Our next visit was Le Petit Gateau, so we didn't go for dessert... Though the food was just average to above-average, the service was really friendly and attentive, and they even hung our coats on a coat rack for us! Truly Japanese. =) read more

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This is our favorite Izakaya on the planet, by far. It's worth the effort and perhaps frustration to find it, since the street address doesn't quite align with the location. Just look for the unmarked stairwell heading down in to the darkness... Enter the door, push aside the dark curtain, and enter a unique, modern and ultimately cool Izakaya. Every item, from grilled fish heads to wonderful tofu concoctions is perfectly prepared to produce a wonderful taste, look, and consistency sensation. Add in a few drinks via the incredibly helpful while unobtrusive waitresses, followed by a few more drinks, and life is definitely good. Top it off with a few homemade marshmallows and your life will never be the same. Ours wasn't. read more

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Well this is a sexy little number, now, isn't it? If you can get past the first two hurdles - finding the entrance (look for the stairs and head downwards) and getting a table (no reservations at night kids!) then you're on to a winner. Start with small grilled items and pickles and choose a sake from their long list - those with a stamp next to the name are especially imported just for Izakaya Den. Then work your way through the menu and keep an eye on that specials board, projected on to the wall. Definitely try the chicken ribs with seaweed and wasabi if it's on! The menu works well for quick visits and snacks or longer drawn out meals. Stand out dishes include - tuna tataki, black fried rice, cucumber and octopus pickle, charred broadbeans and grilled mushrooms. While I think this is a venue that works for a range of people, I'm putting it up there as one of the best date restaurants in Melbourne. Service is unobstrusive and professional, the vibe is edgy and sophisticated, the side by side seats at the bar make for close encounters, and there's ongoing entertainment behind the bar if the conversation slows a little. Win. read more

I was severely disappointed by this place that had been on my bookmark list since arriving in Melbourne. And straight up, the main reason for that is the pricing/portions, given the environment you're in, is off. For what is offered, I find the pricing to be absurdly exploitative. The drinks and dishes are really yummy, and well laid out, with an extensive drinks menu, and the place has an underground, casual busy trendy CBD bar vibe. But it definitely accommodates to a yuppy type demographic of people that doesn't know their way around town or mind being ripped off in exchange for feeling they're doing something exotic and Japanese. I've been to tons of Izakaya places, in Japan and in Melbourne, and this place exploits the essence of what Izakaya is supposed to be - super yummy, bar food, to get drunk with, for reasonable to above average prices. Here you pay about $20+ for a dish, that is absurdly tiny, even for Izakaya standards. We were recommended to get five, and after polishing them off, we were starving. Throw on some Sake/wine, and you're sitting on a $150 check within 15min, feeling totally unfulfilled and unattended to. You literally need about 8-10 of these dishes to feel like you ate something. The scallops, were 3 scallops for $20 that were each the size of poker chips in circumference and thickness. The sashimi, $20, is 6 tinily cut pieces about the size of the end of your thumb. And the mixed pickles, usually free at Izakaya places, is $8. These things are twice as expensive as they should be. This place is basically an expensive and crowded bar, that has some Japanese cuisine informed nibblies on offer. If you want to have a nice, enjoyable Izakaya meal for 2 here: couple cocktails while waiting in the lounge, wine/Sake, and enough dishes to feel content, not even full, you're looking at a $300+ bill. Which for me, is insane, especially when Fitzroy and Melbourne is now covered in wonderful Izakaya places where you can eat, drink and chat to the chefs about Japan if you want and have a great extended time for half the price. Also, in Japan, Izakaya is usually a moderately priced, Mom+Pop run affair to chomp on some sashimi and beer. This is not that. You're hardly attended to here, just in the midst of a massive crowd, which is cool and I like sometimes, but not justified with these prices/portions. I reckon if they knock off 25% off all their prices, or added 50% to the size of their dishes, this place would be justified. But as of now it just seems like a CBD yuppy trap. If it was the only Izakaya place in town, I might return, but considering I'm in Melbourne, with so many better Izakaya places on offer, I'd never come back here. read more

Izakaya Den - Sitting at the bar. Chef's cooking. - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Yes. This is exactly what I was hoping to stumble upon here in Melbourne, and I can honestly say that this was one of my favourite dining experiences. Ever. First off, you would have no idea that the den is near. I know Melbs is known for this, but it's not tucked away down a laneway, it's not in some far-off, über hip 'hood, (cough, Brunswick, cough) it's right in the CBD. It's just very secretive. Once you descend the stairs into the den, you're presented with a cavernous space that would make a lover of urban, industrial-chic piddle him/herself with joy. It's so cool it kinda hurts - menu specials blasted up on the walls, a long dine-up bar, open kitchen, servers running this way and that with shrimp the size of your head, you know the type. To my bar-fluent Japanese-speaking friend's delight, the staff was all Japanese and appeased him by pretending to understand his orders. Sitting at the bar is definitely the way to go as you get the true see-before-you-buy experience. It only took one look at the shrimp, barramundi, kingfish sashimi, den-fried chicken and wagyu beef for the three of us to fully commit to the family style gorge-sesh, and not one dish disappointed. The 5-star rating is really a sum of all of Izakaya den's parts. Great location. Fantastic vibe. Great staff. Superior food. Wonderful service. Excellent sake. Co-ed bathrooms. Savvy clientele. In fact, the more I think about it, I hope you don't stumble upon this den anytime soon so I can keep it all to myself! read more

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Bringing new meaning to the expression 'hidden gem', Izakaya Den is arguably Melbourne's most well-hidden-best-kept-Japanese-secret. Literally located first behind a seemingly impenetrable door and then down some stairs and through one resplendently heavy and voluminous black curtain in a space underneath Russell Street, Izakaya Den is worth the schlep. A long, narrow space that brings to mind NYC's more chic eateries, Izakaya Den is one part bar to one part awesome Japanese restaurant and is all class. I spent a couple of hours at Izakaya a few nights ago putting away a gorgeous bottle of red wine and some pretty incredible food. The Den-fried chicken, served with a generous portion of yummy Japanese mayonnaise was particularly good as was the beef tataki served on fresh wasabi and topped with wasabi cream. Izakaya's staff are gorgeous and sweet, its decor breathtakingly chic, its wine list impressive, its food incredible and don't even get me started on its toilets. Come on now, how many restaurant toilets have mirrors INSIDE the cubicles so that you can check your teeth for rogue nori in private? All in all one of the best dining experiences I've had in Melbourne. read more

Izakaya Den - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Being fresh eyed and new in Melbourne we were recommended Izakaya Den. As most reviews say it's difficult to find unless you know the way but it's down a little set of stairs so keep an eye out for some as you cross Little Collins street. The interior felt almost industrial with dimly lit high ceilings and exposed services. A great ambiance and mood lighting. The mirror at the back extends the perspective of the place as you sit. The seating can be uncomfortable if you're not used to high tables and low sofa's but it's like most bar seating. The toilets were interesting! First surprised me as I realised they were unisex. Having taken it all in and sat we got to ordering as many different dishes as we could, not to mention spending ages trying to decide which drinks to get; there's a large selection and the plum wine turned out to be perfect with our meal. We ordered the Den Fried Chicken (essentially karaage), the sweet corn, kingfish, salmon, wagyu, the tofu, the green bean salad, and the broccoli and black fungi; sharing it around the table. The food was prompt and the waiters were the highlight always being attentive with water and food. Now to the food. Although very well presented and cooked, it felt lacking. It had a very Nobu-esque feel to it all and sadly seemed very unoriginal. The Japanese fusion trend has been done to often and too much, this was no exception. The dishes often had accompanying sauces or spices that fit perfectly together and the swordfish and den fried chicken were absolutely delicious. I couldn't help but feel however it had all been done before, especially by more prominent restaurants. The food missed that explosive quality, sometimes less is more but less can be bore without a catalyst to help accentuate the tastes. I finished feeling somewhat disappointed, not to mention the price tag that comes with it. I can't help but feel it was a great attempt at something fresh but fell down the trap of regurgitating already popular food trends, without the extra touch to call itself original. Edit: I'm a huge fan of tofu and what can be done with it. The tofu here was a bit of a disappointment again! It wasn't cooked in any new distinctive way and felt like they threw it into the menu! Don't take the harsh criticism as it being a bad place to eat, but definitely don't expect to be wow'd by it either. A good place to have a great selection of drinks and ambience, and that is one half of a great restaurant and would make me return, as long as I keep it to one dish or two. read more

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When finding this place think logically - there's no obvious signs out to tell you. So take your time! Love this place. Great for a social feed. Place is pricey but justified I reckon. Food is authentic and a joy to eat. Staff are friendly and helpful. Small touches like the menu presentation and the kawaii water glasses are charming. You gotta try the black sesame brûlée - oh my goodness! All the dishes we ordered were divine. I'll come back again! I really can't fault them! read more

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My sister and mother came from over West and i really wanted to impress them. This place is apparently all the rage amongst my friends. Izakaya Den is one of the greatest eating experiences i have ever had. It took us a while to find the place (We must have looked like complete lunatics walking around Russell St for 20 minutes) but once we found the stairs that led down to the fine dining experience, we were overwhelmed by the decor. Once you open the door and whisk yourself through the black curtains and down some more stairs you'll enter into an open eating arena. We were met with a really pleasant petit woman who informed us they were fully booked but a table should open up in 15 minutes or so. We sat on the couches and ordered a bottle of wine to start us off (I love that all the menus are served as scrolls!). They have a pretty large drinks menu and a bottle of red or white will seat you back anywhere from $45 - $300. As we drunk we enjoyed the fresh beats that were playing, a bit of a hip hop chill-lounge feel. We were seated at a table and met with some more friendly staff and begun to order some menu items. The food came out promptly and we sampled each item to be met with an explosion of flavour and delight in each one. I had the steam veggies and tofu, eggplant and mushroom and eggplant tempura. Not a complaint in the slightest. We ordered another bottle of red (this is when the d&m's begun) and we finished it all off with the white chocolate fondu for 2. A selection of berries and nuts come with the white chocolate and it was a perfect way to finish off the night. We got the bill ($205 for three people) and found our way home. My sister and mother were completely and utterly impressed. read more

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Had the set menu with the following items: Karage chicken - succulent but not flavoursome Fried corn balls with wasabi salt - too sweet for my liking Pieces of kingfish - again flavour less Tuna chunks with horseradish sauce - delicious Battered prawn - my favourite Pork belly - tender salty fatty deliciousness Black sesame creme brulee - yummy. Delicate. Creamy. Tofu cake with raspberry coulis - quite bland Extensive drinks list. Loved the umeshu and shoju with lemon as well as the houji cha tea Beautiful venue Quick attentive service Clean Date venue, special occassion or business lunch or dinner. read more

New fave venue in Melbourne. Food is sensationally tasty and exciting- particularly those sweetcorn tempura thingos. Intriugued? You should be. I also enjoyed the soundtrack for the night - love a restaurant with good taste in music! The whole place just oozes cool. This atmosphere is contagious. Well played Izzy Denny, well played. read more

I'm a fan of Izakaya Den, but before I explain why, lets try and figure out their name. Izakaya = The name "izakaya" is a compound word consisting of "i" (to stay) and "sakaya" (sake shop), showing that izakaya originate from sake shops that allowed customers to sit at the premises to drink. In short, it is the Japanese equivalent of a pub. Thoughts: - Izakaya Den has a really large drinks list with more Japanese beers than you'd find in most parts of the city and an impressive sake list that is often lacking elsewhere. - The decor oozes class and if it is pubesque, it is one of the most high class pubs I've been too. Den= A cave or hollow used as a refuge or hiding place Thoughts: - as other reviewers have pointed out, it is very hidden and you would have no idea at the level of refuge you could take down in the basement. THE REVIEW Izakaya Den sets the benchmark for tapas style Japanese food. The food was really impressive. The seafood is as mouthwatering as it looks. The service is top quality. And the drinks list is EXTENSIVE. My only gripe would perhaps be the value for money. It is an upscale restaurant with prices to match. Overall, for special occasions or if you've got cash to splash, then you can't go wrong here. read more

Izakaya Den - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

What a surprise! I was looking for a bite to eat late one evening and happened upon this wonderful sushi restaurant in CBD Melbourne. It wasn't obvious from the sidewalk a night, and I wasn't sure what I'd find as I walked down the steps to the basement location, however I was amazed at the size and cool vibe as I turned the corner into a large and modern restaurant. The food and service were great, Including offering to provide 1/2 servings because I couldn't decide between the two recommended main dishes. Definitely an "I'll be back" experience. read more

The one thing I always remember about Izakaya Den is the mirror. In true obscure Melbourne laneway fashion, Izakaya Den is positioned down an unmarked set of stairs off Russell St. The restaurant itself is Manhattan-chic corridor style, with the bar on the left and the tables on the right. At the end is a perfectly positioned mirror. It gives an immense sense of space in what is otherwise a pokey venue. It's only when you walk to the toilets that you realise that handsome/drunk/shabby/otherwise person walking towards you is actually yourself. My go-to dish is the popcorn chicken, which I call popplers on account of their strong resemblance to the fast food from Futurama (they are also similarly delicious). The Tuna Sashimi is also a favourite, as is anything that has tofu. I wouldn't normally seek out tofu, but Izakaya Den really has the great stuff. Tofu as it should be. The service is great. They obviously have a lot of staff from Japan, both front of house and back of house. The meals are authentic and they have a good selection of sake and Japanese beers - including some that are more obscure (although expensive). When it opened Izakaya Den was the coolest joint in town. The buzz has died down a bit (fortunately). Plus, now the interior feels just a bit dated. I'm not sure I mind this. A bit more like the down-to-earth feel that an Izakaya should have... Well, I imagine anyway. The only downside is the price. I love the Izakaya-vibe, but it's relatively expensive. Rack up a few of the smaller dishes and some of the more exotic beers and sake - it'll add up. That said, I love the place for a quick beer and some popplers on a weekday night. read more

Dirty date night? Not here ladies and gents. Izakya Den is still my number 1 fail safe option to impress without needing to buy a new dress. Step one is finding this little gem. No clues given here because I don't want to spoil your fun. Once you walk into Izakya Den be prepared for happiness. In typical too cool for Melbourne venue there is no booking. Which I personally love. Ask to be seated at the bar if there is just you and someone special. Think of it as free entertainment as you watch each specialised cooking station prepare and present immaculate meals. Don't be daunted by the menus. The littlest one is the food. In a typical izakya style the food is designed as smaller servings to be shared. Order a range of dishes and watch them flow to your table softly and delicately as the conversation around you. I can't recommend highly enough the Tokyo Cosmo or the Sake Mojito. These two little stars always feature heavily on my tab. The bar staff really know their stuff and flaunt like it's everybody's business. This isn't a place for some quick teriyaki chicken and steamed rice followed by a tofu sandwich. Enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the drinks and most importantly enjoy the company you are with. read more

I walked right past the entrance and had to double back to hunt down the exact location of Izakaya den (a common rookie error). I suspected it might be hidden (as some places in Melbourne) and knew to look for stairs leading underground; it's called a Den after all. Arrived at 7:30pm on a Saturday night and there were about 10 people in line. No, wait, that's 10 people standing in line... There is another 10 people already seated in "the lounge". The hostess said it would be a 30 minute wait, which isn't too bad when you consider how busy it is. You progress to a seated "lounge" area where drink orders are taken. Once your drink arrives you get to sit there enjoying the atmosphere and wondering just how the hostess keeps track of when you arrived and who goes next. I'm delighted that they have Orion (import Japanese beer) on tap (340ml, $8) and the missus ordered a Yuzuko plum wine ($12). I'm going to take a second to praise this little drink on its own. Sweet, slightly sour and with a hint of mandarin this plum wine is recommended for anyone that enjoys a fresh sweet drink. After EXACTLY 30 minutes we were shown our seats (I'm impressed it was to the minute). I'm going to list the menu items we had in order of best to worst; Den Fried Chicken ($11) - Hands down the star of the show. I can say that this is the best version of Chicken Karaage I've had, which means a lot considering I order it everywhere I go. Both of us burnt our mouths eating it because it was too good not to eat immediately. This was highly recommended via reviews and should not disappoint. Spicy Tuna Tataki ($19) - Runner up in my books, this too was highly recommended via reviews and was delicious. Tuna was perfectly done and the sauce under it was of two varieties - one wasabi and the other more Cajun-style. Sweet corn Kari-age ($9) - We didn't order this originally because we don't tend to order two fried entrees, but I can think of three reasons we did: 1) I saw the staff making it and it looked great, 2) I had heard people say it was their favourite dish, and 3) we under ordered slightly the first round and wanted more yummy food. The dish comes as four generous "bundles/balls" of corn and a side of Green Tea Salt. The salt is amazing and when combined with the corn 'fritter' it claims top 3 status. Pork Belly ($19) - I'm a sucker for pork belly. Grilled, double roasted, Korean Bossam, any way you make it I'll take it. At Izakaya Den is comes freshly BBQ'd with lightly charred spring onions and a small side of (meat) salt. Four pieces might not sound that great, until you try and shove one in your mouth and struggle to chew. Not my finest dining moment, but enjoyable. Miso Soup ($6) - I think Miso is one of those standard things we order. It came out piping hot and was of high quality. No complaints. Agedashi Tofu ($11) - we always order Agedashi Tofu whenever we are trying a new Japanese restaurant because it is a shared favourite. We have become tofu-Connoisseurs and unfortunately this is the first dish I'll list that wasn't exceptional. I enjoyed the sesame encrusted outer coating (novel) but the inclusion of cherry tomato didn't work and the portion was too small. Also, a key component of any Agedashi Tofu dish is the sauce (which should always come with spoons - see, we're pros) and this dish was not sauce-friendly. I wouldn't order it again, I've had better in Sydney. Salmon Sashimi ($17) - I found that the Sashimi dishes were the most lacklustre of all the things we ordered. They were good, fresh, but the flavours were the sticking point. The Salmon tasted very fresh in its yuzu vinaigrette, but I could barely taste the salmon after the first millisecond. Kingfish Sashimi ($18) - I'm fickle about Kingfish and unfortunately I didn't enjoy it. The "Asian-style dressing" tasted a bit too much like straight fish sauce for me, and I only had one piece. The missus liked it better than the Salmon, and liked it a lot more than me. She loves kingfish so maybe I'm just biased. Pros: Fried Chicken, Spicy Tuna, Amazing drinks and neat and amazing chefs. Cons: Confusing to find first time, waiting in line/lounge not ideal and sometimes hard to place an order (but it was a busy Saturday night). Summary: I'll be back in a heartbeat, and very thankful that my friend recommended it. In my opinion one of the best restaurants in Melbourne and worth the search and wait. Look forward to next time! read more

I love Izakaya Den! Modern Japanese with a great atmosphere. The corn balls are mandatory, trust me. Expect to wait a little while to get a table. Don't go with a group of more than 4 unless you book the big table at the back. read more

Uber-trendy Japanese restaurant, tucked away behind a big curtain beside a retail store. Confused? You wouldn't be the first! Whenever I've been here I've spotted a few lost souls wandering around the front. It's well worth seeking out however. You can book for lunch or show up and try your luck in the evening (no bookings unless you're a large group). Every tasty little morsel is more delicious than the next. I'd tell you about the tuna tartare I had for lunch the other week, only I fear getting drool all over my keyboard. read more

From all the hype I expected more. The dishes we ordered were well presented but TINY. We went late on a Friday around 8:30 and did have to wait for about 20 minutes. The place is quite hidden and you need to go downstairs. My favourite dishes were the kingfish sashimi and waygu beef. Other than that no other dishes stood out to me. Don't get me wrong, the quality is good and good presentation but for the price and portions I don't think I will be going back often. read more

Very happy with this find. Hard to spot from the street but head down to the basement and you enter a world away from the hustle and bustle of Russell St. We tried the set menu and loved most of the dishes the tempura sweet corn was great as was the pork belly. Will be back in the near future! read more

Quite an exciting and tasty experience at this little hidden gem. Don't be fooled by everyone else saying this place is impossible to find. It's not! Just look for the sign on Russell street and go downstairs; it's not rocket science people! On entering you will probably have to wait but that's totally cool as they have a great lounge area where you can order drinks and prepare yourself for a culinary experience! Food here is pricey but I would not say stratospheric especially when you consider the quality of the ingredients and the overall experience. If you have someone who is adventurous and looking for a great new experience in Melbourne, this is a fantastic spot for small groups. Get a little bit of everything and try the Japanese beers and cocktails. They have some unique flavours I have never tried before- if you don't know what the Japanese translates to: just get it anyway if it sounds good. Guaranteed great experience. read more

Red hot Japanese feed. Dined solo while traveling for work. Walked past the place before I found it. In an unmarked basement. Food was great and the waiter offered me half sized serves so I could try a few dishes. Good selection of Japanese beers (some a little pricey) and a good sake list. I'm not normally a sake drinker, but ordered the cold house sake and it was awesome. Waiter wrote down the name for me and told me where I can buy it. Intimate setting with the chefs within arms reach if you're sitting at the bar. read more

Another incredible Melbourne restaurant. Shocker. This place is hidden through a kind of shady back staircase, but has a cool loungey trendy vibe once you get inside (is this like a den? maybe?). Grab the fixed menu to get the full experience, but especially look forward to the fried sweet corn dish and the pork belly. The sashimi is also delicious - there's really nothing disappointing here, and it's also a cheaper price point than many of the other restaurants in the CBD. Food: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 read more

Japanese sensation in a basement. Open for lunch and dinner Izakaya Den is a cool uber chic dining experience. The concept of a izakaya is like a Japanese tavern with small meals to enjoy with drinks. So I journeyed down the stairs to the basement and came upon a non-descript door with a curtain across it... Aha! This was like an episode of Lord of the Rings - would I stumble upon this treasure of a restaurant? After a while I made out the word "DEN" on the door and knew I had arrived! I then walked in to the most amazing chic cool place in Melbourne. Long and narrow, dimly lit with cool décor and a long bar. Admire the benches and tables. Cool to have the menu projected on the wall. Enjoy the chefs doing their masterful work in the open kitchen. I was shown by a friendly waitress to a bench at the bar. Then I was told about the lunch sets available - do I go for the $18 set or the $28 set? I decided to order the $18 lunch set with the ocean trout main course. I was also tempted to choose the salmon sashimi or the wagyu beef. It didn't take long for the food to come out! The house tofu was fantastic with creamy tofu in soy a wonderfully tasty small dish. The tofu looked kind of curdled and was more of a light texture than what I'm used to - actually I'm not used to tofu at all! Love the house made tofu! On the side were the pickled vegetables such as gerkhin, carrot and spring onion. I loved the way these were pickled and arranged on the plate. A side bowl of lettuce may not sound spectacular but here was pristine gourmet lettuce in a great dressing. Then it was time for the miso soup and main. The miso soup came in a black thick bowl and came piping hot which pleased me. One of the best miso soups I've ever had! It was packed with flavour and presented wonderfully. The ocean trout was fabulous! Quite a decent sized fillet and cooked to absolute perfection! The fish was melt in your mouth perfection and enjoyed also the crispy skin! I found it hard to break the skin with chopsticks - my technique must be lacking here... So I asked for a fork and spoon... The rice was also great with the flavours of the oil of the fish. I would also love to try the signature Spicy Tuna Tataki sometime, recommended by a waiter and consisting of steamed fish with miso mustard. While sitting there eating I was enjoying the ambience of Izakaya Den. The place was buzzing on a Thursday lunchtime - so I'm thinking it must get super packed on weekends. All in all the $18 lunchbox was great value - was in fact filling but also a touch of gourmet class. Next time I would also like to try the famous Den fried chicken and the desserts which looked amazing. Izakaya den was an amazing find for me. I'll be back. read more

One of the best Japanese restaurants in the city centre! Impeccably designed bar and tables (quite small tables perfectly suited for the small dishes) to match the excellent food on offer. The sake list is great and they also offer loads of beer, cocktail and wine choices. The entrance is a little hard to find (as most good places in Melbourne are) but well worth hunting out. I have eaten with groups at the bar and tables though my favourite place is on the waiting couches where you can relax and nibble at all the small plates that come out. Order loads of dishes and share. read more

We were starving and aimed to find a solid post-workout meal. So we decided on some grilled salmon, particularly of the Japanese variety. After doing a quick yelp search, we decided on ID and walked aimlessly along Russell St. After passing a church and some office buildings, we passed a stairwell found right out of TRON and a doorway with some digital text and dinner hours. Assuming it was the right place, we followed the sound of EDM, like Neo from the Matrix, and was seated at the bar at the end of the corridor. Daily specials, both drink and food, were projected onto the cement walls. The bar, stocked with red and white wines, Japanese sakes and whiskeys, alongside syphon apparatus. Our order, as shown in the pictures, included the grilled salmon, Dory (Finding Nemo) sashimi, grilled spicy eggplant with tomato, and chicken. The grilled salmon didn't have that smoke and crisp we've come to expect from the style, however, we did get a nice creaminess and richness from the protein. The spicy eggplant was less spicy and more rich, texturally mushy. The chicken was nice, reminiscent of karaage served with mayo. The Dory sashimi was nice. Highlight of the night, surprisingly, was the syphon filtered Guatemalan coffee complementing the homemade marshmallows, which tasted like solidified Yogurtland yogurt. Overall it was a solid meal, given it is a tapas joint, such dishes should encourage continuous drinking. The night was cut short on a single round of plum wine and Mountain Goat Hightail Ale. read more

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I so wanted to give this place a 4 star, or even a 5 star. Part of me is thinking about how I would have rated this place if I still lived in NYC. But the fact is that I live in Melbourne now. Okay, so the ambiance isn't as sexy or amazing as I had thought. It is really just a basic interior design, and compared to most of the bars and restaurants in Melbourne that are trying to be hidden, this was a super easy place to find. It is a really long room with a really long white wall - not particularly secret or sexy. For five people with a moderate to low amount of alcohol, our tab was $350. Not too bad. But if we hadn't done our own home cheese program before leaving, we would have been hungry and would have risked ending up at Macca's afterwards. Each dish was very good. But each one was pricey and not filling. We have absolutely nothing to complain about when it comes to flavor - amazing. But definitely not a place to go if you're hungry. Service was amazing - very sweet people and wanting to everything possible to make sure we had a good time. read more

I was immediately greeted and shown to a high seat at the long service bar. The first thing I noticed was just how organised and clean things were. One would expect a restaurant to be "clean" as per the meaning of the word, but I found the place sterile. Given that I was going to consume raw fish at some point, I thought it was a great first impression. A scroll was presented to me and when I rolled it out, a drink list appeared. Impressively detailing the various sake on offer, plum wines along with Japanese beer, I was spoiled for choice and the house notes. Knowing that if I start with sake that I will turn drink a bottle of it, I opted for Ichiban Sakura Orion since they were out of the 500ml cans of Kirin. The two set menu options were being beamed onto the wall behind me. I was intrigued by the futuristic font that they chose just as much as I was excited to try the spicy tuna or the quail as the headline dish that is served with the set lunch for $28. I rarely say no to spicy tuna, so I made it so knowing that I can get quail elsewhere but still it provides an impetus to return. Fresh tofu is presented to you as a starter in a bowl. I am allergic to soy however my body tolerates small does. The last time I visted a vegan restaurant with a militant vegan mate during my impressionable Uni years, I was talked into trying the fake chicken, not knowing that it was made out of tofu. That was not the wisest decision of my life and I have not made the mistake since. However the notion of "fresh" tofu and the presentation I found hard to resist. I was feeling 100%, so I didn't think that the small amount of what looked like Spongebob Squarepants would kill me. As I rarely say "no" I began to eat it. Slowly I consumed this soft and light morsel and enjoyed every taste. The servers and staff probably thought I was crazy as I was staring down the dish like Barnaby Joyce would a Green in the Senate as I ate it. I was ready to face the consequences also from the Speaker. A delicate green salad, pickles and yellow fin tuna sashimi was then served. Eating items slowly as I was really enjoying the various tastes, even in the salad, I relaxed by tuning into the background music which was fitting and was a good supporting act to the ambiance. I powered through the Ichiban Sakura and ordered another. My justification is that I did not want any lingering bits of tofu in my mouth or throat. At least that is the story I tell. Before I had even had a taste of the yellow fin tuna, the spicy tuna was placed in front of me along with a cup of miso and a bowl of rice. Like Barnaby seeing another target, I eyed the miso in the very attractive cup. I watched the steam escape and knew that I was just going to have to have it. Normally I do drink my miso and enjoy a good miso, but having an exacta of both tofu and miso during this experience I assumed was going to play havoc with me, so I stopped reading my twitter feed and decided to get on with lunch. The spicy tuna, served as eight morsels of tuna on a small cloud of wasabi mayo was certainly impressive. The rice, pickles and miso complemented every bite. I even used the small pepper that was included with the pickles to transport the remaining mayo into my mouth as it was just so good. By this time my nose started running a bit but that was the worst symptom that I experienced so I was pleased that I took the risk with the tofu. I would certainly have it again. I really want to return and try this place for dinner and the idea has been bumped up on my list of things to do. I suspect that it would be a bit more noisy during dinner service but you would have the benefit of more options including delicacies from the grill however I truly enjoyed this lunch time experience. I was so relaxed and happy that when I was asked to part with $50 for the pleasure, I was not stunned or disappointed at all. It was worth every dollar. read more

I loved this place. The food is amazing and the environment is really cool. Can be hard to find at first but that is half the fun. When you get down the stairs it opens up into a narrow bar like restaurant. The service is really good and the food is amazing. I know it's not a main meal, you you have to try the Sweet Corn! read more

Can't believe I have lived on the same block as this place for years and only just managed to find my way in. This place is well worth the hunt and also would be a place I would seek out for a bomb shelter - its that far underground and under many layers of concrete. I would also add this to any list you are making of places to go on a date. The light and background noise is good for privacy and you could try lots of small dishes to get to know what your date fancies. I wandered in an perched at the bar and while I was quick to be served, I did find that I had a numb rear end by the time I finished my meal as the blocks you sit on are don't offer any additional cushioning to said rear end. The staff were friendly and happy to explain the food on the menu and offer suggestions. They have a huge range of Saki, beer (both local and Japanese), and extensive cocktails. I wanted to have a look through the whole venue but did confuse the staff when they asked if I was looking for the toilets and instead replies that "I'm just having a sticky beak." Maybe I should have said "Just having a bo-peep" instead ;-) I really enjoyed the ox tongue with a half-sized green salad with glass noodles. I'll be back here again soon to check out the rest of the menu. read more

Trendy Japanese izakaya with an Australian twist. They don't take reservations and the ambiance is dark and trendy. Which makes sense since this is a hot-spot restaurant in the basement of a building. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Highlights of my meal here include: Grilled kingfish head. A really good piece of grilled fish head. Very mild tasting Kingfish sashimi. Mild but oily for sashimi Grilled wagyu rump. Very tender and flavorful. Grilled duck breast with baby corn, pomegranates and a glaze. Good flavors, duck breast was tough and chewy (Australian duck meat must be on the tough side overall). Kangaroo takaki. Tender and deliciously grilled. Black sesame creme brulee. I'd take black sesame desserts over peanut butter ones any day! Great food and not too shabby a price to. Definitely hit this place up if you have a chance. read more

The corn balls and the barramundi are great. Very trendy atmosphere and its fun to chat with the chefs as they cook your dinner.

If you can manage to find this place you are in luck. Our anticipation during the 45 minute wait was accentuated as we slowly progressed down the dark stairs after passing through the ominous black curtain. As we reached the bottom of the stairs we were given the well stocked sake and drinks menu to wet our appetites. The menu has a wonderful selection and i recommend going w at least 3 people so you can share. The prices are as listed, but the food is incredible. We had the specials (homemade tofu, scallop cakes, and another) which were amazing, the sashimi, which melts in your mouth, and some other dishes which were equally delicious. The service was good-very good. In summary it was well worth the wait, little spendy, but an absolutely wonderful night read more

Got lost trying to find this little basement surprise, but was well worth the trip. Mostly bar seating, and quite cosy - prepare for a wait if you want a table (and they don't take bookings for two). The setting is dark and you'll find he restaurant behind some curtains - the Japanese staff are quite attentive despite taking a little longer than I expected with one of the drinks. The food is amazing, you must try the fried chicken, tuna tataki, kingfish sashimi - those were our favourites. The cocktails were delicious and the dessert was to die for. Will come again. read more

I must've been lucky. Got to Izakaya Den at 7pm on a friday night and no line. A table for 2 was requested and we were seated immediately. Hmm.. I'm gonna put it down to it being still holiday season and that it was 41 degrees this friday evening. Ordered a couple of dishes to share but my favourite was the Sweet Corn Kakiage - must order! The agedashi tofu and the rice with mushrooms and egg was also a winner. But I would pass on the grilled broad beans.. in my mind I thought they would taste like giant edamame, not the case. On the way out the line was about 12 people deep. Hmm.. that's more like the Izakaya Den I know. read more

I absolutely love this place, especially considering Melbourne has very little decent Japanese restaurants compared to the likes of Brisbane or Sydney. The fact that it is hidden away in a den makes it that much cooler, the restaurant is not as typical as you think but the food quality and authenticity is great. Tofu Cake and Yellow Fin Tuna was amazing, then menu changes a bit though I believe. read more

Loud, edgy ambiance, but still it is a great mood here. I like to sit at the bar, because you can see more of the dishes go by (and order by pointing, haha). My favorites are the spicy (yes please) tuna tataki, kingfish sashimi (I think it was the first time I'd ever had it of kingfish), grilled ocean trout, and the crunchy rice prawns. Even better is their selection of Sakes. You better be adventurous going here, but if you are, the food and drink is so rewarding. read more

Welcome to Melbourne. This is what Melbourne is all about. Hidden, hard to find, a queue (where isn't there?) and great Japanese food. Not your stock-standard type fare either; adventurous and delightful. Surprising, even. Without going into the menu in detail and not wanting to spoil the surprise, just know this - you should go. You won't be disappointed. read more

This is exactly what Melbourne is about. Hidden underground (literally), you would have no idea such a popular little place existed right under your foot. You walk down a flight of stairs in what seems like a corporate building, through the Japanese curtains I was blown away. A well designed industrial looking place that was buzzing with people, high chairs and tables to one side of the long and narrow restaurant, and more seating at the bar (where you can watch the ninja like chefs hard at work). Upon first impression I thought the place was huge, it wasn't till after our 30min wait when we finally got a seat- did I realize that it was a mirror at the end of the room...giving the illusion of a much larger space. Izayaka Den offers tapas style Japanese dining, it's best to try and order as many different things as possible to really experience the place. I really enjoyed my time here, will definitely come back. read more