Izakaya Yamato - Melbourne, Victoria

Kaki fry (oysters) breadcrumbed skewer 3.30 each

Torikawa (chicken skin) grilled skewer 2.30 each

Nankotsu (soft bone) grilled skewer 2.30 each

Hotate (scallop) grilled skewer 3.30 each

Hotate (scallop) breadcrumbed skewer 3.30 each

Takoyaki (octopus dumpling) 5.30

Ika (squid) grilled skewer 3.30 each

Kisu (silver whiting) breadcrumbed skewer 2.00 each

Tebasaki (chicken wing) 3.30 each

Would we go back? We had a fun time at Izakaya Yamato and were pleasantly surprised at the range of Japanese delicacies they had on offer. We were having an early dinner, but could well imagine what the atmosphere would have been like at a later time - filled with happy customers drinking beer with friends and enjoying tasty kushiyaki and kushiage! Exactly what we plan on next time we revisit.
Time and date of visit: 5 pm Saturday 1 August 2015

Izakaya Yamato
Shop 2, 377 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9602 2991
Open Monday to Friday 11 am - 2.30 pm and 5 pm - 11 pm, Saturday to Sunday 5 pm - 1 am

Kokoro Ramen - Melbourne, Victoria

Rice Croquette - Breadcrumbed deep fried rice with pork, cheese and red ginger $6.5

Curry Ramen - Kokoro's limited serve ramen, mixed with our original recipe curry and tonkotsu broth. Noodle: chijiremen (thick, curly egg noodle), flavour: curry, served with: egg, corn, spring onion, bean sprouts, karaage, chashu, nori $18.0

Curry Ramen - Kokoro's limited serve ramen, mixed with our original recipe curry and tonkotsu broth. Noodle: chijiremen (thick, curly egg noodle), flavour: curry, served with: egg, corn, spring onion, bean sprouts, karaage, chashu, nori $18.0

Clay Pot Ramen - Kokoro Ramen Winter Special. Noodle: chijiremen (thick curly egg noodle), flavour: miso +touch of spicy oil, served with: spring onion, naruto fish cake, bean sprouts, bamboo shoot, chashu pork and half-boiled egg $15.0

Clay Pot Ramen - Kokoro Ramen Winter Special. Noodle: chijiremen (thick curly egg noodle), flavour: miso +touch of spicy oil, served with: spring onion, naruto fish cake, bean sprouts, bamboo shoot, chashu pork and half-boiled egg $15.0

Revisit verdict? We've always liked Kokoro, though it's been a while since our last visit, and we took note of how much the menu has grown. While the two ramen variations we tasted didn't blow us away, they fit the brief and were hearty and tasty on that winter's evening. Kokoro is a place I'd quite happily return to - for the casual self-serve atmosphere and consistently chewy noodle and gooey eggs.
Time and date of visit: 5:30 pm Tuesday 23 June 2015 

Kokoro Ramen
157 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9650 1215
Open Monday to Friday 8 am - 10:30 pm, and Saturday to Sunday 11:30 am - 9 pm

Menya Sandaime - Melbourne, Victoria

Oi Ocha 3.00

Gyoza - Pan-fried Japanese dumplings. Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. Take a bite of this savoury, juicy goodness! 4.8

Menya sandaime - not your typical Japanese ramen! 11.8, plus Tamago - extra boiled and marinated egg 2.0

Would we go back? Bang a gong, we are on! The battle for Chinatown ramen supremacy has officially begun. If memory serves me right... within a small radius ranging from Lonsdale to Bourke and Exhibition to Swanston streets, we've now got contenders like Kokoro Ramen, Fukuryu Ramen, Hakata Gensuke, Mr. Ramen San, Ajisen Ramen, Ramen Ya and new kid on the block, Menya Sandaime! The South Korean restaurant chain has opened up the first 24 hour ramen joint in Melbourne. When we visited, our judges thoroughly enjoyed the stock flavour, noodle texture, oozy eggs and overall experience. They remarked that they would happily return at any hour to try the other ramen on the specialised menu. So who takes it? Whose cuisine reigns supreme? Chairman Kaga is still chewing on the verdict but warmly welcomes the surge of quality ramen in Melbourne.
Time and date of visit: 5.00 pm Tuesday 9 June 2015

Menya Sandaime
225 Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9654 0989
Open: 24 hours, 7 days

Gypsy & Pig - Melbourne, Victoria

Hot Pot udon noodle in soup with sliced kurobuta scotch fillet and egg with kurobuta eye fillet sushi roll (crumbed) $25.00

kurobuta eye fillet sushi roll (crumbed)

Hot Pot udon noodle in soup with sliced kurobuta scotch fillet and egg

pickles and salads

Revisit verdict? Words simply cannot describe just how delicious and perfect this lunch special was on a chilly day in May. It was exactly what I wanted - chewy noodles in a comforting broth, tender pork full of flavour and a scrumptiously oozy egg. YUM. The sides were a lovely accompaniment too!
Time and date of visit: 12.30 pm Wednesday 13 May 2015 (see our previous visits)

Gypsy & Pig
Shop 3, 391 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9640 0731
Open for lunch Monday to Friday 11.30 am - 2.30 pm and for dinner Tuesday to Saturday 5.30 pm - 10 pm

From the kitchen, Wednesday 1 July: Katsu curry

Katsu curry

Hakata Gensuke Ramen Professional - Melbourne, Victoria

Black tonkotsu ramen noodle, hard noodle texture, normal taste with spring onion and flavoured egg $16.00

Black tonkotsu ramen noodle, hard noodle texture, normal taste with spring onion and flavoured egg $16.00

God Fire ramen noodle (2 chili strength), hard noodle texture, normal taste, with spring onion and flavoured egg $14.00

God Fire ramen noodle (2 chili strength), hard noodle texture, normal taste, with spring onion and flavoured egg $14.00

Revisit verdict: Warning - the God Fire ramen is SPICY, even at just 2 chili strength! Take the friendly staff advice and go easy on your first attempt at this hot (but delicious) noodle soup.
Time and date of visit: 6:30 pm Friday 3 April 2015 (see our previous visit) 

Hakata Gensuke Ramen

168 Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9663 6342

Open 7 days, for lunch 12 pm - 3 pm and for dinner 5 pm - 9 pm

Hakata Gensuke Ramen Professional - Melbourne, Victoria

Cold Green Tea $2.5

Chicken Karaage $5.0

Hakata Gyoza $5.0

Signature Tonkotsu Ramen Noodle $13.0 with ‘Normal’ noodle texture and ‘Normal’ taste, seaweed $1.0 and flavoured egg $2.0

Would we go back? Hakata Gensuke certainly does a good job of transporting you to Japan. It looks and sounds like a ramen franchise store, with triple the staff. As for the ramen... I really liked the broth, the egg was nice and gooey, and the meat was cooked well. The karaage and gyoza were nice sides, though I'm not sure we'd order them again... I think I'd rather save space for some extra noodle (though the 'normal' noodle texture was still a bit soft for me), or the fried rice when it's available! So yes, I'm definitely keen to revisit and try some of the other flavours. We highly recommend getting here early, or be prepared to wait in line!
Time and date of visit: 5 pm Wednesday 20 August 2014 

Hakata Gensuke Ramen

168 Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (03) 9663 6342

Open 7 days, for lunch 12 pm - 3 pm and for dinner 5 pm - 9 pm