We were looking for another cheap, tasty spot to try in the CBD and Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe sounded like a good fit. It's located right beside Perkup Cafe & Burger Bar (and across the street from Krispy Kreme). We dropped in on a Thursday evening (around 7:30pm). The inside is pretty small with16 seats but there were another 3 seats outside to people watch. The menu is up behind the counter. It's a bit hard to decipher but it's broken into cold, burgers, hot, hot stuff and noodles. There's also a bunch of pre-made items right when you first walk in if you're in a rush. - Matcha shake ($5.90 AUD) - green tea, vanilla bean, white choc & kirsch base mixed with ice cream, red bean, whipped cream and homemade matcha cookie crumbs. - Tsuke don ($13.50 AUD) - salmon sashimi marinated in mirin, sake, sesame and soy. Served with vinegar. - Beef curry soba ($11.90 AUD) - thinly sliced beef & veggies with buckwheat noodles in a mild Japanese curry. - Teriyaki chicken ($13.50 AUD) - flame grilled chicken marinated in soy, sake, sesame and ginger. Served with carrot and bean sesame salad and rice. Hit the spot for us. read more

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Nestled across the Southern Cross station, among the multitude of eateries in the busy business district of Collins Street, one could easily passed Purple Peanuts without noticing its presence. Purple peanuts is a lovely Japanese cafe with a very intimate (a.k.a limited seating capacity) setting. Despite of their humble interior, their menu is certainly more grand, listing impressive variety of hearty home-cooked tasty meals at reasonable prices. Menu such as curry rice/noodles, hot burgers as well as sashimi salad are some of the things to look forward to here. They also carry wide arrays of ready made sushi rolls/sashimi and salad... hearty and healthy meals suddenly becomes so convenient. For my lunch, I ordered the Tsuke don ($12.50), which consist of premium salmon sashimi marinated in mirin, sesame soy and sake tossed with homemade pickles, salad and served on top of warm sushi rice. First of all, the presentation was creatively executed. Taste-wise, I love how the fish was fresh and well-seasoned, there won't be a bite where it's not flavorful! Adding to the already wonderful salmon was the mango, radish, onion pickle salad, which adds interesting sensation in each bite. Much love to this delicious dish! Even though this is a self-served place, the counter service was gracious and friendly. Overall, I had an enjoyable lunch at Purple Peanuts, its an affordable and unpretentious cafe serving up delicious, genuine Japanese comfort dish that satisfies the tummy & I guess that's the beauty of it :). read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Tsuke don. - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Update they do take debit/credit cards now. We had the chicken curry and pork Katy's curry. We love Japanese curry but found the bocconcini (mozzarella cheese) to be an odd addition and just weren't overly impressed. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Chicken Curry - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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My favorite lunch spot near the office. I love the tsuke don, which has cubes of marinated salmon, Japanese pickles and spinach. I've also had Akio's salmon sashimi bowl, which is good too, but less flavorful, as compared to the tsuke don. Service is fast and quick, and I generally get my order within 5 minutes of ordering. A lovely gem in the CBD! read more

I bump in to my friend Jarrod as I'm walking up the street. "Gee, that's looks good - is that from that Purple Peanuts place?" He's eyeing off my little sushi pack. Eggplant and tamari rice balls with flamed salmon sashimi on seaweed salad neatly packed in to a box with a clear lid. And yes, he's right - my lunch today is from Purple Peanuts - a tiny little place on Collins Street that is jammed on any given weekday lunch time with students, travellers, and suits. Sushi rolls, salads, bento boxes, and other assorted hand-sized snacks make for a quick meal on the run. If you have time, try and score a table and settle in with a big bowl or curry, miso soup or sashimi based salad. It's fresh, delicious and quick - everything you want in a Japanese lunch spot. read more

FRESH, HEALTHY, AUTHENTIC .... once you've been to Purple Peanuts it's the stick by which you measure everything else (in the take away Japanese category). You'll typically see a long line queuing outside but they fly through the orders making the wait only a couple of minutes, as they seem to have as many staff as there are customers. The prices are reasonable but the main attraction is the non-standard meals on offer like Prawn Burger, Vegetarian Californian Rolls and great fresh sushi plates. It's so refreshing to leave behind the standard Chicken Curries and experiment a little whilst not going down the road to unhealthy fried / oily foods. read more

Simple and healthy fare at a reasonable price. Definitely a must try if you are in the area. The staff are pleasant and helpful if you are stuck about what to choose. Its a tight space so take away is recommended if you are dropping by for lunch during the weekdays read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Salmon chowder - special of the day - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

One word: solid. Even though this place is super busy around lunch time and can look a little chaotic, the service is still always quick and the food is fresh. There's a little bit of seating inside, but I think that most customers prefer to grab their lunch and run. The prices are all very reasonable and the curries are cooked fresh and hot. While the sushi is pretty great, I'm a huge fan of the chicken curry. The chicken is always cooked just right, and although the curry itself is a tiny bit bland it's complimented for some seriously tasty pickles that make the dish perfect. The only setback is that they only take cash, so come prepared! read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Chicken curry! - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

As noted by a fellow Yelper this Sushi is worth rioting for. Located near the corner of Collins & Spencer Street if it wasn't for the crowds pouring out the front door over lunch its shop front could easily be slotted into the 'if you blink you'll miss it' category, suggesting you've probably walked past it a million times. With a 'soup nazi' production line you'd better have your order ready for fear of being death starred into oblivion by a line of eagerly waiting regulars. Failing the above method, if you were to blind fold yourself & spin around like the karate kid and point at the menu at random you'd more than likely pick a winner. Each menu selection is riddled with flavour and extremely tasty. Its simple, freshly prepared like most Japanese food and well worth the wait. I make the pilgrimage with a team of recruits from the neighbouring Docklands precinct and line up for the Osaka Burger or the Soba Salad. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I stopped in here twice during my trip to Melbourne. It's just across the street from Southern Cross and it is the best affordable Japanese/Sushi that I tried! The Tsuke Don is a large portion and absolutely amazing! Also all of their sushi was fresh and incredibly cheap! Only down sides...The queue gets pretty long around lunch time. It is cash only...so go prepared! read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Tsuke Don - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Quick, simple and delicious. This little gem at the southern end of Collins Street can get very busy during lunch hour but they are quick with their food. Their food feels healthy and definitely delicious. Their deep fried rice balls is an easy snacks. The staff is friendly enough. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Quick, simple and delicious - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Finally, a great Japanese food outlet situated in Collins Street where I have been fortunate to consume sushi with brown rice. Thank god for healthy food on this side of the city where Krispy Kreme across the road is not a good idea. The only problem was the first time I decided to go here was on my lunch break while in the corporate world in a previous life. A word of warning this place gets extremely busy and it is obvious that the staff indicate through their body language that they are under heaps of pressure, and it is best to back off and come back another time. It is best to come to this establishment in the morning just before the lunch rush. I have also tried their miso soup, and I was extremely pleased with the quality of this menu item. Their miso soup does not have that artificial taste where you feel like that you are drinking soup that is runny and powdery - like it has come out of a processed packet poured with hot water. The miso soup (I am pleased to observe) at Purple Peanuts tastes real and authentic; like home made and of high quality. A great place with friendly staff. It is advisable to only buy food from this establishment outside of the lunch rush period. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I got the vegan Gammodoki Tofu Burger. Wanted to try the Yasai Curry Soba but was told it isn't vegan-friendly. The burger was so so good - really interesting combination of ingredients (tofu, beans, carrots, sake, sesame, ginger, oats) served in a Turkish bread roll w/ salad & teriyaki sauce. The oats gave it a nice crunch, and the taste of the sesame & ginger was really rich which I loved! Altogether a perfect, one of a kind burger :) read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Gammodoki Tofu Burger - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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This place was basically a God send to my hungry self. They only take cash, but there was a sign saying to expect cards soon. Well, I found it after flying in then taking a Skybus to the station, basically starving all morning. As I walked to my Airbnb I smelled the most amazing grilled smell. Turned right into the cafe. Turns out to be a great joint. Small tables inside and some in the laneway. I got huge plate of grilled chicken teriyaki with rice and salad for like $9-$12 bucks if I recall. They had jugs of water and cups out. All I needed. After sitting I realized they have a full drink cooler to the side of the entrance and to-go sushi hand rolls, which were really popular with those that came in after me. My plate was amazing, I managed to take a photo before I devoured it. You're welcome. If you're in downtown Melbourne leaving Southern Cross Station, eat here. read more

Very good and affordable Japanese food on the go. I say on the go because its right by Southern Cross station and, therefore, makes for a great stack before hopping on the train. Any of their brown rice sushi's are delicious and very filling. But my go-to order is a sashimi salad with ponzu dressing! very light and refreshing! read more

Yummiest array of Japanese inspired lunches in downtown Melbourne. The brown rice nori rolls are delicious as is the onigiri. A good selection of vegetarian dishes also. A handwritten menu board on brown paper adds charm and changes regularly. The people here are friendly and they deserve the success they are having with regular lunch time queues out the door. read more

This is now my favourite Japanese takeaway. Foods fresh original and you get far more bang for your buck. My only thing I was not a fan of was when I was ordering the young lady did not make me feel welcome no smile and when I ordered (eat in) I was not offered a drink or miso. Just the price of what I ordered no please or thank you. But the chef who works really hard to please everybody saved my impression. Was offed more rice when my dish looked a bit small. Top work! Love the food A++ read more

The busiest lunch take away southern cross side of town probably best describes this joint. Japanese fusion cuisine with pre packed sushi, and salads, and made to order items ( about 10 items) Items I like and have tried - salmon sashimi with Apple pear and rocket salad has to be one of my top mentions. It's a fusion I haven't seen much place else. Very fresh (it's a cold dish !!) but yet filling (it's got boiled white rice in the salad). Like I said - very clever fusion Tied for top mention on the list - kakuni pork belly - this is a larger filling and yummy item. Slow cooked pork belly in spicy gravy atop steaming hot rice. Some salad to top it off and now you are rolling :) a piece of heaven for a pork belly, spice fan I am. If there's a second place, that's for the gyuzara, spicy and comparable to the Korean bulgogi - my memory fails me here. I always go for my favourites. But hey, food is also about what memory it leaves. The other items are good too, like the sushi and arancini balls like Japanese version, or the chicken teriyaki - but nothing like my fav items above. That's just me though! Mind that the prices are on the higher side for a takeaway place, and it's cash only, and the queues are huge at lunch. If you go here with those items expected, you will be rewarded with some excellent and consistent food. Feeling adventurous? Try the spicy sprinkle normally found in ramen joints - it's fiery atop the above dishes. read more

Definitely a must-try if you're stuck for lunch options in the starker end of the CBD. The sushi rolls are great and I'm a big fan of the soba noodle salads. Be prepared to queue - this is no hidden gem. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Café is a sublime breath of fresh air in the top end of town on Collins Street. It's different to many other Japanese establishments and is a twist (and shout) on the usual focus of sushi and sashimi. It hums with a youthful, colourful and eclectic creativity, depicted by a large The Beatles Japanese Tour poster. Purple Peanuts Japanese Café buzzes at lunchtimes with the local office workers pouring in to this eatery. Conversation is loud due to the amping crowd and the cement floor. Eating in is a great way to enjoy the ambience but take away is also hugely popular - with limited tables but lines of people out the door. Menu options are displayed on large paper sheets on the wall. The creativity and value are amazing. Come here for a curry, prawn chicken and vegie burgers, sushi (including with brown rice), teriyaki chicken, and great salads. The potato salad looks great with Japanese mayo instead of the normal. The chicken burger is stunning with chicken marinated in soy, sake, sesame and ginger. A great flavour profile. The burger was substantial, the fillings sensational and the bread was super fresh. Funky décor includes the hefty octopus monster in the corner and The Beatles Japanese tour poster. This place has a ticket to ride! Large windows usher in natural light. The ambience is heightened by funky music, only drowned out by the loud conversation. Friendly staff regularly clean tables and they bring your meal (for dine in) to cool timber tables and funky stools. A great option is to sit outside at a table on Collins Street. The open kitchen adds to the theatre. There's almost as much action behind the counter as in front of it. read more

I love this place. It has the best Japanese food this side of the CBD. It is always packed, and with good reason as it offers excellent Japanese food. I get annoyed when a cafe offers all the Asian cuisines. Guys, pick a cuisine and be ace at it. Don't try and cover the whole continent. I digress. Purple Peanuts does excellent hand rolls (with brown rice), onagiri balls and the best chicken teriyaki ever. Juicy, plump and delicious, and comes with a side salad and the option of brown rice. When I am this side of the CBD, I always swing past here for lunch. Get in early if you want a seat, otherwise you're standing out the front like a hooker with your tasty morsels of food. read more

We visited the purple peanut japanese cafe in February and absolutely loved it. They offer typical japanese food beyond sushi and sashimi such as curry rice, Gyudon, teriyaki, soba items and onigiri. I too recommend trying the panna cotta - we had a sesame and mango one that we adored. The staff is very friendly and the food arrived very very quickly. I think the cafe closes at about 8 or 9 pm on weekdays so watch out for that if you're going for a late dinner. This recommendation was written by Katrin S. If you enjoyed my recommendation, I'd appreciate a "helpful" or "cool" given. read more

This Japanese café does the job in delivering great Japanese dishes. I went here on a Thursday night, wasn't too busy but busy enough. We secured a 5 seater and each ordered our dishes. They were sent out to us very efficiently. The ambiance is just like your average café, although it was a bit cold as they left the door open with a plant weight. Try the Chicken soba noodle curry! read more

Purple Peanuts is packed during weekday lunch hour and the queue does go out the door. Don't be put off though, service moves quickly and tables seems to move around reasonably quick too. The biggest trouble you have here is to decide what to get.. Sushi selection at the front counter offers white and brown rice selection and don't miss the deep fried sushi triangle or ball ( tuna or vegetarian). Comes drizzled with your choice of sauce and is a crowd pleaser. There is cool and amazing selection of cold dishes on your left, my favourites include the Tuna tataki and spicy salmon sashimi (all served beautifully, generously and just super tasty) Up on the board is your selection of made to order dishes, from hot- like japanese curry, chicken teriyaki, soup and cold selection. Yes if you are around the area you must come here to get lunch! read more

Great ''modern' Japanese restaurant with healthy options in the middle of the city. Love their brown rice option for sushi and meals, and they have a variety of salads and beverages too, including Kombucha! Affordable and good portion size. Place is a bit small with limited seating, though they do takeaways. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Amazing place for a quick Japanese dish! Used to come here every day when I worked in the city. Still amazing read more

Flavoursome, light and cheap lunch, definitely one of my favourite Japanese places to eat! You walk in, order and pay first at the counter, then they give you a number and you choose to sit wherever you want. I usually get the tsuke don, with no rice and a miso soup. Big portion of a salad and very fresh salmon. I'm not too big of a fan of salmon because I think it's too fishy sometimes, but I love the way they marinade their salmon, which takes away the fishiness and enhances the fresh flavours of the dish. I always make a little extra time to come by here and eat on my way to Southern Cross Station towards the airport for a quick lunch. It never disappoints! read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Tsuke don, no rice! - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Dropped in here for a quick bite to eat at lunch time with a friend. Super busy and we were nearly put off by the ordering queue in this tiny restaurant. Glad we persisted as the service was super fast and efficient. Ordered some California Rolls and the Beef Curry Soba Noodles. Self serve for cutlery, selection of condiments and water. Manage to find a seat inside which was cozy, but comfortable. Food came out really fast, which was convenient, tasty and fresh. Have to say that dishes that others were eating looking really, really good! Keep this place in mind when you want a hit of Japanese down the business end of Collins. read more

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Expectations certainly led to ambiguity and disappointment after my visit to Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe on Collins Street. There has been a fair amount of hype and positive press about this place in recent times. It is certainly popular as there is a queue out the door and every table, both inside and out was taken. I wasn't going to let that turn me off so I persevered. After getting toward the front of the queue, I was shouted at by one of the staff who asked me to order. It was a vexed situation as I had reviewed the menu on the wall and nothing looked so exciting that I wanted to order it so I was waiting to see what they had on display in the glass case, where the queue terminated as sweaty legal tender was exchanged at the terminus for the food and beverage, in this "cash only" funky cafe. Ultimately I ordered a few sushi rolls - two spicy tuna rolls and one Japanese lobster roll along with a small cup of potato salad. What I liked about the rolls is that the cafe doesn't try to deceive you. In a fair amount of cases you will see sushi rolls with a fair amount of fish sticking out on one side however after you purchase it, you are disappointed that the fish doesn't occupy the whole roll. This dodgy tactic isn't employed at this cafe. The tuna wasn't exactly spicy and I wouldn't consider the addition of a strip of red capsicum a qualifier for the title. The Japanese lobster roll was bland and just okay. It certainly wasn't worth waiting in the queue for. My highlight was the potato salad as there were fresh and crunchy vegetables in it and was generally worth the money. Not discounting the food fully as there are some value for money items on the menu and there is a reason why the place is so popular that a queue forms down Collins Street to get in however my gripes with the place is that there is no air conditioning, it is loud and you have about the same chance as getting a table as you do winning the Lotto. In fact, I retreated to a food court north of the cafe just so a seat could be secured. I may have to strategically return to this place in the off hours (if there are any) so that the crowds that can be likened to those at Southern Cross station are off doing something else and a more positive experience can be had. read more

A small place Across the southern cross station this place is super busy in lunch hours ..... A typical Melbourne cafeteria to experience Always stopped here for a quick to go spicy tuna sushi rolls tastes so good read more

Great spot for a quick lunch on weekdays. Had the Yasai Curry Soba, curry and fried onigiri. For dessert, they have a selection of sweets on their cooling fridge. Mostly matcha flavoured dessert. read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Yasai Curry Soba - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This is one of my all time favourite Japanese places. Amazing and simple food with a good mix of classics dishes with some Western style items, balanced well with a bit of salad and pickles depending on what you order. I'm still trying to pick a favourite because they're all delicious. In the fridge you'll find drinks(alco and non), smaller items, sashimi packs, deserts. Two items I love are the matcha shake which is balanced really well. Not ridiculously sweet but still a good grade of matcha. And matcha chocolate block. It's rare to find someone who uses a good grade of matcha in a proper way. The shop itself is a bit Japanese retro with old posters and nick-nacks around. Limited tables inside so get in early but there a few outside or around the side in the alley. I just wish my company had more job sites in the area so I could come here more often. Gozaimasu! read more

Most businesses lose out by being in the West end of the city, I'd say. You get the office traffic, but you don't get the evening traffic or the students, anything like that. Given the crowds Purple Peanuts attracts over lunch and the size of their shop, it's probably the only thing preventing a sushi riot. And, really, this sushi is actually worth rioting for. They do a great spicy salmon, a tasty Japanese lobster and nice versions of all the standard versions. And they do them in both white rice and brown rice versions, which is a nice touch. Depending on when you're there you might have to contend with a queue, but they tend to move it along pretty quick. I've not tried any of their menu dishes, but the word on the street is that they more than meet the standard the sushi offers. read more

I love their origini grill rice ball. Yummm~~~! The curry menu it's also good, low-moderate, peppery-like spiciness. Their salads are good, loved their creamy potatoes salad, sesame veggies salad or rice salad. They have new noodle salad but I found that it was a bit salty. Their green tea panna cotta it's a bit bitter, but my daughter loved it. Overall, pretty authentic little busy Japanese take away, be there before 12pm to avoid office lunch time crowds! read more

Food was amazing, atmosphere was fantastic and service was excellent. I had the pork and it was so delicious. Definitely recommend!! read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

This place has gone downhill on a service front. Don't waste your time here if you're in a rush! To save the hassle and have an equally good meal, if not better, head around the corner to Brim CC. read more

Food terrible! Not sure why the good reviews. Stay clear of the chicken curry. Food also very cold. Very westernised

Lovely little place. The Sushi is very good for the price. Buttery Fish texture! They also have brown rice sushi! Brown rice costs $1 extra.

I was in Australia and NZ for 3 weeks as part of a conference and vacation and I can honestly say that the lunch I had a Purple Peanuts was the best meal of my trip. We unexpectedly ended up in this area after looking for a store and I used yelp and saw place. Most of the reviews are spot on in that this place is the best bang for your buck and the food being absolutely delicious. This place doesn't look like somewhere I would normally walk in to but I'm glad I did based on the yelp reviews. It was always packed with people and the take away looked beautiful. I had the buckwheat soba noodle soup with tofu and a matcha shake and a fried onion ball with sesame sauce (sorry don't remember what this was actually called). and everything was delicious. The buckwheat soba noodle soup had tasty bites of mushroom, potato, and zucchini and the noodles were so soft. The broth was beyond perfect. After I finished drinking the soup it felt like someone reached in to my stomach and gave me a big hug. The flavors of the onion ball were amazing. After we finished eating we went back and got another one. Matcha shake was amazing. Wish I could go back! read more

Purple Peanuts Japanese Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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I love Purple Peanuts so much! Shunted along at the end of Collins St, Purple Peanuts is a good, authentic-food haven in the CBD, and is an untapped treasure (that being said, there's still a line out the door at a lunchtime - but I'm surprised it's not longer). Everything you'd expect in Japanese fare, their menu is split into hot and cold food, and there's a ready-to-go bar too stocking sushi, salads and onigiri. If you close your eyes and block out the city-sounds, lifting morsels to your mouth, you could almost think you were in Japan, the flavours are perfect! Though, as authentic as they are, they have some modern/australian twists! They serve roll-sushi with both white or brown rice, and the rice options both go for the onigiri as well, which is fried until golden-crispy crunchy on the outside, and slathered with your choice of sauce (I recommend sesame - it's like goma, you won't regret it)! Their salads are akin to those you'll find in the good organic/trendy cafes throughout Japan - lots of brown rice, japanese potato salad, broccoli salad with tofu dressing - nom! Free help-yourself white picked ginger and more shichimi togarashi (7-flavour chilli) than you can poke a chopstick at the self-serve station, and nab yourself a cup of their delicious miso to warm you up on a chilly winter's day. Practicalities: They are cash-only, and there is the aforementioned line although it moves quickly. Aim to arrive 11:45am and you might even be rewarded with one of their rare and cosy sunny seats along the window so you can eat in comfort away from the bustle of the line. read more