Kenzan Japanese Restaurant reviews . (Restaurant) in Melbourne (Victoria).

Kenzan Japanese Restaurant

457 Reviews

290 Comments

Restaurant

Japanese restaurant

Collins Place, 45 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Description

Here you'll see all the information of Kenzan Japanese Restaurant, Restaurant in Melbourne (Victoria)

Kenzan Japanese Restaurant it's a Restaurant and next to this lines you'll see the hours of service, busiest hours, website, phone and real reviews done in Internet

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Situation

Service hours of Kenzan Japanese Restaurant

Busiest hours

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Comments of Kenzan Japanese Restaurant

C. C. R.

It was such a pleasure treat to dine in here celebrating a family member's birthday. This place is different from other Japanese restaurant in its style. It still preserves a traditional taste instead of fusion. I ordered a set menu with minimum of two. Started with a hearty miso soup and followed with a dumpling. Then sushi and sashimi platter was as great and the beef and rice. The great food taste, the attentive as well as knowledgable staff assistance, and its easily access location, have completed my dining experience. Its ambiance has recalled my memory of having kaiseski during my travel in Japan back then. I definitely would like to come back here for another extraordinary dishes.

A. L.

When it comes to sushi & sashimi, Kenzan is still one of the best around town. But surprisingly, service has deteriorated somewhat compared to few years ago when I was last here. Full house on a weeknight..yes, but there’s still an expectation of service standards when you’re paying these sort of money. Rushed service, with poor attention to details. Pandemic-related staff issues??? Time will tell.

C. C.

Celebrated my birthday here, restaurant was chosen by my boyfriend. Fish was fresh, but i wasn’t greatly impressed by the small variety of fish that could be chosen from. The butterfish was talk of the town according to other reviews, but we did not find it as amusing as it was portrayed. Very proper and formal restaurant, staff were polite and nice. 📷 Sushi and Sashimi Platter (Medium), Unagi Nigiri, Grilled Butterfish marinated with Special Miso

D. C.

Just had lunch there! Can not wait to give the reviews. When some chef starts fusion tries to make modern Japanese cuisine, but Kenzan still keep pure and traditional Japanese cuisine! Watching sushi chefs working is like a show, the young chef’s wrist works like an artist making sushi, and that’s not just a show, he made good sushi! And the kitchen team made delicious salmon and eel as well, that salmon skin is been crispy than cook with sauce, that mix texture is surprising me a bit, but if the salmon can cook a little less will be perfect for me! The Lady waiter is super friendly and helpful! The young girl style is a bit hurry maybe was too busy. As a chef I would love to say that is the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne!

K. H.

Super yummy food, kind, professional and attentive staff, and beautiful food presentation and restaurant decor :) also accepting of a last minute booking. On their website, I wish they had a normal online booking system though.

T. A.

I tried the sashimi and the fish was fresh, rice was well done!! The prawn dumplings and the tempura prawns 🍤 algo recommend! The tempura batter was perfect, light and crispy as it should be. Also I tried a roll with prawns and avo but e prawns has a strong seafood flavour that I didn’t enjoy much, But the fish selection it was just perfect! Friendly and nice staff! And good environment. I really had a good time here 🥰 About dessert, I loved the texture of the shiratama! Green creme brûlée feels weird when you try the first time but then became addictive 😅 After 4 you can park for 10 aud (flat rate) just next to the restaurant! Amazing

C. J.

For a grilled eel lover to know if a Japanese restaurant is authentic or not, from my personal perception is to see if they voluntarily give you SANSHO also known as Chinese pepper which gives u an unique fresh aroma and spicy numbing sensation when an Unagi with rice is being served. In Melbourne many Japanese restaurants don't give you sansho even I asked the waitress they even don't know what's that. Been many times, unlike some weird Japanese restaurant it's quite a traditional one. Unagi with rice is very nice, although I can tell Unagi itself is still a frozen one, it's quite tender and rich in flavor. When I was in Japan an authentic high end Unagi restaurant sells more than $200 for a freshly grilled eel. So I don't expect I can have anything similar in Australia.

S. M.

This is a long standing Japanese institution in Melbourne's dining scene and we went here for nostalgia. We had the chef's banquet which I felt is reasonably priced for the quality and quantity of food in the CBD.... however, my companion felt that its a little on the expensive side. Fresh and delicious sashimi and sushi. The teriyaki salmon option as the main was delicately flavoured and the salmon cooked very well. Service was friendly and attentive with water and tea levels being monitored. The only thing to note is that the ambience is perhaps not what you would expect for this price point. Its a busy restaurant and the noise levels can be a little high unless you are perhaps in one of the private dining rooms.

J. A.

Is the best sushi I have tasted in the city tasty and full of texture and flavour, the place is fancy and you feel welcome from the very beginning, the waitress are kind, pretty and always with a smile, the music have the perfect volume. Definitely I'll be back!!!

M. C.

One of the favourite authentic Japanese restaurants located right next to Sofitel in CBD! Their Sashimi and sushi plater is one of my all time favourite, so fresh and delicious, well presented as well! Don’t forget the Green tea Cream brûlée for dessert! Price are reasonable and their manager provides an exceptional customer service!

P.

Eel bento was good but still overpriced. Environment and the services were just fine.

J. A.

Is the best sushi I have tasted in the city tasty and full of texture and flavour, the place is fancy and you feel welcome from the very beginning, the waitress are kind, pretty and always with a smile, the music have the perfect volume. …

G. L.

Pleasantly surprised with food quality and services. Portion of unagi was more than sufficient for us. Restaurant was very well patronised the evening we were there, yet dishes were serve according to our pace instead of rushing through to achieve higher turnover.

T. T.

great CBD spot for delightful Japanese food. love coming here for the sukiyaki and a glorious sushi fix. bonus points for excellent service.

S. M.

This is a long standing Japanese institution in Melbourne's dining scene and we went here for nostalgia. We had the chef's banquet which I felt is reasonably priced for the quality and …

A. F.

After 18 months of lockdown it was a pleasure to visit Kenzan again. The restaurant is as good as it ever was. Flawless food, great service and a wonderful atmosphere. There are no menu highlights - all of the food is impeccable. Kenzan is a classic late-80’s Japanese economy restaurant - the type that spread across the world wherever Japanese companies went. These restaurants brought with them all the best parts of Japanese food culture for their expat audience. They ended up becoming institutions in their adopted homes and we are all the richer for them being here. You must give Kenzan a try.

M. C.

One of the favourite authentic Japanese restaurants located right next to Sofitel in CBD! Their Sashimi and sushi plater is one of my all time favourite, so fresh and delicious, well presented as well! Don’t forget the Green tea Cream …

S. K.

We were very much looking forward to our dinner but unfortunately our visit was not that great. Service was very slow and our wait staff was neither friendly or attentive. Food was subpar as well. We had a few entrees and sukiyaki beef, all taste very average. Might give it another try for their sushi next time.

B. W.

Great spot for Japanese food. Food is all fresh.

J. R.

We had a fantastic experience recently at Kenzan. From the moment we stepped in till we left, food was super tasty, the waitress was very attentive and every one was super organised and friendly. Teriyaki beef was a full score paired with perfectly steamed white rice, now that's a benchmark. We've been to many Japanese restaurants and this is one of the best.

T. T.

great CBD spot for delightful Japanese food. love coming here for the sukiyaki and a glorious sushi fix. bonus points for excellent service.

A.

Love this place! Great atmosphere for mid-high range Japanese restaurant. You will be look at $70-80 per person. What absolutely need to order is the butter fish with miso marinate in entry. We finished all the way to dessert and decide to order one more dish of this...

P.

Eel bento was good but still overpriced. Environment and the services were just fine.

C. Z.

We were there for my birthday trip to Melbourne. My favourite Japanese restaurant in Australia so far! The food is delicious and extravagant! The customer service is the best. They provided a warm towel for customer to fresh up and start the meal. The cold noodle was a free treatment. The tempura is extremely delicious 😋 I didn’t even get the change to take photos because my husband was eating it😂 For those who love Umeshu Japanese plum wine, all the umeshu wines on the menu are fantastic! Because I tried all of them 😆 We will definitely comeback when we come to Melbourne next time! Highly recommended!

M. T.

Very authentic Japanese food. Delicious and generous portions. The atmosphere was ok as it was a bit noisy but the food made up for that all good. Price was not too bad for its portions. Will definitely visit again. Highly recommended place to eat.

Y. Y.

Very traditional Japanese food. We order the recommended banquets. Sashimi is fresh and good. Love the shrimp dumplings. All reminds me of the time spending in Japan. The staff for booking is quite friendly and he called me to advise the availability. I will return to try more sashimi next time.

J. L.

Service is normal but food is outstanding！One of the best in Melbourne. Salmon is too sweet personally speaking. Fried chicken is phenomenal.

V. M. L.

I love Japanese food and this place has a wonderful variety of dishes. Delicate in flavours and textures, the sushi and sashimi combined dish was the star of the night. Salmon was tender and fresh, tuna was perfectly fine and beautiful. Food was fantastic! One little tiny thing which disappointed us was our waitress, who did all the service from the same spot. As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to serve from the left: that is, changing cutlery, laying down food, and serving drinks, so you will be less likely to interrupt customers movements as you serve.

R. D.

I'm sitting here now. I've paid around $35 or so for the lunch sashimi platter and got three types of sashimi - mostly salmon. I'm at the sushi bar so am watching plate after plate of sushi with five or six different types of fish go out. It's disappointing. The nihonshu and wine is very good.

A. T.

Had the lunch set here, excellent food and amazing service.

k. C.

Kenzan Gozen Bento Box - sashimi (tuna/salmon) fresh and expertly cut, tempura - light, not oily, crispy, miso soup on the salty side which I dilute with green tea, rice fluffy not gluggy, sushi pieces well balanced vinegar sauce.

k. y.

It was delicious and authentic japanese cuisine. my father is Japanese chef and I think I know what Japanese food is. atomosphere and quality of food is great and purely Japanese people working there.

P. C.

Nice location on the lower level on Sofitel building, Wilson car park underneath which is convenient. The restaurant itself it's nice and tidy, lots of different types of sashimi and sushi you can choose from. A bit overpriced, two people can spend up to A200 or more. Therefore not suitable for regular visits unless you are in a good shape financially. Toilet is clean and tidy but a bit old-fashioned.

L.

The quality of the food is definitely high and all very delicious. Highly recommend their unajyu! Staff are well mannered and friendly. Been here twice and will go back in the future.

D. E.

The teriyaki salmon was good but expensive. Atmosphere and service were good. Definitely worth trying at least once.

A. K.

The food was amazing!!! The food is authentic and I really enjoyed it. The staff and service are also very very good and friendly. The food is expensive but because it’s so good I thinks it’s worth a try at the very least.

W. L. P.

Traditional Japanese served by Japanese. Light fluffy rice, sushi vinegar just right, tempura light and fluffy and not heavy nor oily

T. M.

Excellent chawan mushi, delicious butterfish and superb sushi/sashimi in understated surrounds. Impeccable service as always.

B. W.

Great spot for Japanese food. Food is all fresh.

A. B.

This place had some of the freshest sushi I’ve ever tasted in my life. Being a sushi fan, I’ve been to many sushi restaurants but this is hands down the best I’ve been to so far. The staff are very friendly and kind and the food is so fresh and of very high quality. Don’t expect a cheap night out at this place. What you pay for is what you get. Top quality at a top quality price. I totally recommend this place for any sushi fan.

T.

Fantastic Japanese restaurant sushi and sashimi are great. Service is top notch.

R. M.

A great Japanese restaurant with awesome service

L. J.

Finest quality, exceptional, authentic Japanese food. Excellent service. Highly recommended.

R. H.

Great food menu and wine list, beer a little less expansive. Floor staff brilliant, good numbers when busy, very attentive. Food gets to your table quite quickly given how busy it was when we dined there (Friday night). Can't believe I haven't been before.

F.

I would absolutely recommend Kenzan Japanse Restaurant!! The food was delicious and super fresh and the service was impeccable. 5 stars definitely deserved!!

P. I.

Excellent food, service is impeccable. Maybe just need to improve dessert.

S. C.

I went for dinner here last night and ordered the teriyaki chicken. The teriyaki was cooked really well and appropriate amount of sauce coating the chicken and not drowning the dish. I've given an average review because I cant justify a plate of teriyaki chicken with two pieces of broccoli and half a bowl of rice being $40. It was way too expensive in my opinion. However, there may be other items on the menu which feel better priced for the item.

b.

Expensive but good quality food and ambiance

M. P.

We went to for Friday lunch. It was very busy and noisy. I ordered sushi main, I enjoyed very much. The grilled salmon & white fish were delicious . My friend ordered lunch box, she said tempra was bit heavy and no daikon and ginger for tempra as authentic Japanese tempra menu must have them with dipping sauce . But overall was ok.

K. S.

This is most authentic Japanese restaurant in Melbourne! Amazing food and service!

C. K.

Have been to Kenzan for 2 birthdays now. This is a phenomenal Japanese restaurant. The sushi is really fresh and the ambiance of the sushi bar, where the chefs slice and torch the fish right in front of your eyes, is exquisite. Cannot recommend enough.

W. Z.

Friendly environment to dine with friends. Loved the food there.

A. V.

Saturday night. Too busy and noisy, understaffed. Service was friendly, but not personal. The Sushi/Sashimi plate was delicious as was the miso soup. I will have to try another day and time to go back, as food was good.

A. T.

True Authentic Japenese food on Collins St. Been to Japan couple of times and I can assure you that the experience is awesome and japanese. Had a massive combo of Sushi and sashimi. Great fresh taste and the sushi was done to perfection.

J. C.

Services are nice, food are well presented, taste are ok for the price.

j.

The unagi over rice I was served was definitely smaller than the one that was posted by another reviewer not a long time ago. However, it was good quality and was enough for me because I was not starving at the time.

Z. D.

Come back here multiple times and still enjoy it. Service was just right, ambient is excellent and foods are top notch. They provide consistent services and foods quality every time I visit. Will come back

E. W.

Awesome authentic Japanese cruisine, they served fresh food, great service and environment. Will be back, it’s worth for money.

J. L.

Love Kenzan. Staff are so professional and polite. Food impeccable.

D. S.

It's always absolutely spectacular ! Please try the Sukiyaki....it's 👌🤤

J. H.

Their sushi is AMAZING! So good and so fresh! if you're looking for a nice and clean restaurant with a relaxing vibe and delicious food, this is it! Wonderful staff, they were very friendly and attentive. I wish I could remember the waitress' name, she was so great. We will definitely come back!

N. S.

After a late finishing business meeting we decided to drop in unannounced for dinner. Whilst the restaurant was quite full they still managed to find us a table. Kenyan never disappoints. Dinner was fantastic. The service was first class and always friendly and attentive.

K. C.

Their sushi is AMAZING! So good and so fresh! if you're looking for a nice and clean restaurant with a relaxing vibe and delicious food, this is it! Wonderful staff, they were very friendly and attentive. I wish I could remember the waitress' name, she was so great. We will definitely come back!

Y. H.

High quality sushi and fish, but no miso soup or any other small dishes provided despite the expensive price.

K. O.

Fantastic. Best Japanese food I have had in a long time. Prices were good too.

J. b.

it is closed. But it is worth the effort. The service is excellent, equal to many much more expensive places. The range of sakes is also very good and tasting is encouraged. The food is delicate and full of flavour. The pork belly was aromatic and lightly seasoned, the smoked eggplant, served cold, a triumph.

H. T.

The food comes out quick with supreme quality. Service was excellent and friendly. Dined here to celebrate a birthday and would definitely come back.

S. T.

Beautiful sushi as always. If you love a good cawamushi, this is the place to go. Very attentive staff and authentic Japanese vibes.

K. C.

The salmon was really great. best salmon i ever had for awhile. The staff said to me i can just stay an hour but another good staff said to me dont mind him then explain that because we have some reservation we need to let the customer know. That's the difference of good staff vs inexperienced ones. Over all experience was amazing the food was great and we tried most of it and the desserts was great as well

V. V.

Fish is very fresh and delicious. Customer service is unacceptable. The lady didn't look like she wanted to provide customer service to us. When paying the bill, we found out we could make the exact amount so she didn't need to give change. Guess what? She threw the bill back to us. I think they should have a meeting and provide better training in customer service. However, the food is good.

A.

Kenzan is a restaurant that fully reflects the Japanese cuisine. While it is on the higher end ($60+ for a main), the food is delicious and is served beautifully. If you find yourself in the city and want some Japanese food, this restaurant is a great place to dine.

S. N.

A top quality classical Japanese food experience here every time. My family and I love to come here when we visit Melbourne always arrive here without a reservation (our bad, I know) and they always find us a table even when it is busy (because they are so awesome). The friendly staff make it easy to relax and take your order and the food is consistently delicious and perfectly balanced. I mean the generous serving of the most tasty salmon and the way it is cut, prepared and they portion of rice it comes with is just right. I feel full without feeling that I have over ate. Miso soup, Mmmmm so good!

E. R.

Amazing food, amazing service, amazing quality , one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve ever been to and it’s kid friendly

C. E.

We had our Christmas dinner here with 5 people and ordered the banquet with sake. Very accommodating for individual dietary needs, impeccable service and food that leaves you smiling

J. L.

Came here with a group of 9 one night and we were offered the private tatami room. The ambience was very authentic. We went for the recommended set dinner, good spread of dishes and the sushi was really good. I have to say this would have been 4 stars if the staff and kitchen knew how to handle some special considerations. For a place with a hat and the price they commanded, we expected a little better hospitality.

M. C.

Great food in a more traditional setting. They will cater to groups, solo diners and quick meals. Fresh, friendly and comfortable.

M. R.

Excellent Japanese food as you would expect from a Good Food Guide One Hat Restaurant. Nice selection of dishes that you would expect (sushi, sashimi, tempura, shabu shabu etc.) and staff are friendly and attentive. Has conventional seating as well as a sushi bar area so that you can watch the chef prepare the delicious fish. In addition as a recommendation for private dining, I’d ask recommend for a business dinner or lunch as well.

V. R.

Friendly, attentive service. Quickly arranged for the 3 of us to get a table that was easily accessible for my wheelchair using friend. While it's a traditional old school menu, the food is of good quality. That it was nearly fully booked reflects on what a predictable (in the best sense) restaurant this is.

P. C. K.

We've come here consistently for special occasions over the years. I find the food to be fantastic with the sushi and the oysters to be my favourite dishes. You can't go wrong with any of the sushi sets that you choose as they are all absolutely outstanding. The tempura unfortunately is not the best with a heavy and oily batter that kind of falls apart. The portions and the choice of vegetables for the tempura could be better. Sweet potato, carrot and bean seem to a bit uninspiring since other places serve eggplant, pumpkin, and asparagus. The waitstaff are friendly but I find the standard of service to have dropped significantly. Small things such as forgetting to bring water, forgetting to explain what the sushi types are things we have noticed recently. Nothing major, but we find that the professionalism has dropped. Also, I find the constant cleaning and packing before closing time to be extremely distracting. When you have two or three waiters cleaning and removing things around you and everyone is rushing around to clean, it makes you feel rushed and kills what should be a great experience. One thing that has stayed the same is how insanely rude and unfriendly the restaurant manager is. I have seen him on a number of occasions and he has been consistently rude. He chooses to be friendly with select customers and he is unbelievably rude with others. He does not greet you when you enter the restaurant even though he has made eye contact with you. Also when you leave he just looks at you and gives you no acknowledgement. Definitely not welcoming. I think he would be the worst part of the restaurant. The reception area needs a lot of work. For the amount of money you spend here, you would expect a bit more. Five years ago it was a 5 star experience but sadly it is now 3 stars.

J.

Always come here when I pay a visit to Melbourne. The dining setting is similar to fine dining - without the cost that comes with it. Staff are very polite and helpful, sashimi is fresh and delicious, and great value for money. Also love the soba noodles all the guests get at the beginning too.

M. R.

This place is consistently good. The food quality and service is excellent. It is straightforward and reliable. Its a bit dark, and gets busy with business lunchers. There is a bar eating zone, and tatame areas, as well as conventional general seating, with padded chairs. It gets a bit noisy.

S. H.

My go to Japanese restaurant. Excellent service and perfect food!

R. V.

I really liked the food here and for the price it was excellent. High quality sushi and sashimi. Simply the best tuna I have had in a while. Each piece was perfectly uniform, you can tell their attention to detail is on point. Would definitely would go back.

N. K.

Too good, authentic, traditional Japanese cuisine. Great sushi and sashimi, love the attention to detail. One of the very favourite. NOTE: I ONLY write reviews for experiences I really enjoyed and sometimes even cherish.

F. T. V.

Very nice food and very nice service. Make great effort to accommodate for food intolerance's. The price is moderately high for what it is. But, it is very, very nice. The only thing that could be improved is the price/serving size as it's so delicious!

M. H.

Excellent sashimi and sushi, professional table service but off hand welcome from front desk staff

E. H.

We went there for my boyfriend's birthday and were surprised by the quality of the food as well as the kindness of the staff. We were lucky enough to get our private Japanese room with no booking and felt transported to Japan. I'd definitely recommend that place to anyone willing to experience a traditional Japanese diner.

N. L.

The service is great. The food was okay. I was there for date night...there are better places around and for that price.

K. H.

Great place with good food. Definitely worth a visit, rates very highly on somatic which is why I went. Food lived up to the ratings, service was extremely friendly with authentic Japanese Wait staff. Selection of Sake was plentiful, overall a great restaurant.

J. T.

My sister and I especially like to have lunch at Kenzan when we're feeling nippy for Japanese food. While the overall price for everything is relatively expensive, we happily pay because the quality of the food you receive is excellent, in addition to the portions being quite large. The presentation of the food is lovely and the staff are very friendly and hospitable as well. If you're looking to have lunch here, especially for parties larger than 2, booking is almost imperative because this restaurant is busy busy during the lunch hour, from the moment it opens till almost closing time.

A. L.

Great fresh sushi. SUSHI was definitely made to order and is very tasty. service was great.

S. S. E. C. w. B.

Nice foods and amazing service.

D. L.

The food is always fresh and beautifully presented. Sushi bar is outstanding. The staff are well trained courteous and attentive. I've been many times. The experience is always positive.

S. C.

Just the best Japanese place in Melbourne.

C. S.

We had the sushi and sashimi platters to start us off with. It contained some prawn sushi, some kingfish sushi, some salmon sushi, some tuna. The standard stuff and nothing exquisite. To me it just tasted like sushi. I love the free little bite they give at the beginning of the meal. Once it was soba noodles in dashi, another time it was a lovely seaweed salad.

B. G.

Amazing food and wonderful service and atmosphere. If you're looking for a great Japanese dining experience, you can't beat this place.

R. L.

Delicious sushi, nice environment, polite staff. Keep up the good work guys!

K. L.

Best tuna sashimi I have tasted in my life! The teriyaki beef was also amazing.

P. S.

One of Melbourne's best Japanese. Best service. Great wine list. Excellent menu and, for one of us with celiac, very good gluten free options.

C. 1.

This is the third time I have been here but mostly because my children like it. For me, the place is ok and the quality of the food is very good but I think a little overpriced. If you like Japanese, it’s great food but expect to drop some cash.

C.

The quality of the food served in the seafood lunch box was excellent but for $40, I would expect someting more than sashimi and tempura. It needs something new , more creative food.

S. K.

Wheelchair accessible! Very fresh salmon sashimi. Lovely chawanmushi but beware as it is very hot! We were sat down quickly and given hot towels to wipe our hands. Service was attentive.

p. f.

Went there last night and thought the food was very good quality although overpriced given the quantity. had tempura and my son indicated that in Canberra a similar serve was $ 16.00 not $35.00 for the main he is right this component of the meal was definitely overpriced because there were only two prawns in the approx. 6 - 7 pieces they need to lift there game in this department

S. T.

Great service and atmosphere. Fresh quality ingredients. We went for a lunch. Bento box options are good. Prawn dumplings tasty and great. Salmon teriyaki cooked perfectly and teriyaki sauce was authentic in taste and texture. Miso soup is tasty. Sashimi was fresh though I feel the cutting needs more attention in general it was super thin that they split in two and were super small 3.5 - 4cm by 2.5cm. So definitely the smallest sashimi pieces I've had in 30 yrs of japanese dining. Over all I highly recommend a visit. I will be definitely returning.

D. D.

This is one of our favourites in Melbourne - well worth the trip from Adelaide! The best food, service, wine list, we could eat this every day for the rest of forever. Just perfect!

I. A.

An absolute stalwart when it comes to Melbourne Japanese restaurants. Large Sashimi/Sushi 🍣 is a standout. Staff and service is what you would expect. Bookings on Friday lunch well advise

C. R.

Great sushi bar great service if bit of a language barrier with some wait staff...highly recommended

R. N.

This place has really nice sushi and sashimi.

F.

This is an authtic Japanese restaurant with an excellent selection of very good Japanese cuisine. In fact this is a close as you can get to real Japanese food outside Japan. Prices are moderate and if you love Japanese cuisine a visit to this restaurant is a must.

I.

Good service nice staff I had my birthday here except we had to leave early because the table was booked by someone else and they refused to move them

M. M.

Best Authentic Sushi in Melbourne

B. D.

We had a wonderful evening enjoying all the sushi and sashimi we could eat. The wait staff are lovely. The food was magnificent. We'll be back.

J. R.

A refined and classic Japanese restaurant in Melbourne with a great selection of whiskeys. When I went for lunch the clientele was mostly business people, a few tables with Japanese sararimans, and also John Denton, the architect of Melbourne's 'cheese sticks'. Great quality but a bit overpriced for the experience it offers.

h. s.

Kenzan to me is pretty much all about quality and consistency. Nailed it every time over the past few years. Exceptional environment, professional service and delicate Japanese food.

C. R.

After reading several reviews about Kenzan I decided to give it a try during my visit to Melbourne. First of all, the fish is indeed fresh, so freshness is not an issue at this place. The main issues I found are: - The selection available is not that great. For example, no UNI? No SHIRO MAGURO? No SABA? You kidding me right? - The California Roll was below average. The avocado was past its prime, ripe point. Mushy and with an aftertaste. - Come on people, ice in the water I do not think most people should have to ask for that. Or simply for water. Overall, price wise, it is really not that much different from any decent Japanese restaurant around the globe (I am comparing it to the Japanese restaurants I have tried in California, New York, Miami, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Reykjavik, Valleta, Tokyo, Taipei, Sao Paulo, Rio, etc - so pretty much everywhere around the globe). Certain pieces are indeed WAY above average for pricing. ONE single Sushi Piece of Toro, $12. Yes, you are not reading this wrong. $12. Sure it was GREAT Toro, but not EXCELLENT. VERY GOOD indeed but definitely NOT worth $12. For one person I spent $89 but I indeed ate more than I should have. Expect prices in the $55-$65 per person for a good dinner. Would I recommend this place? Sure, it is worth trying it. Is it the best place I have ever been? No and more than that, there are SEVERAL other places around the globe, with more reasonable prices, that put Kenzan to shame. I am sure Ogata Kenzan is not proud at all of having his name on this restaurant.

M. A.

Amazing food and very nice setvice...we order udon sushi and shashimi platter, california rolls and mixed tempuras and everything was deliah ...perrrrfection!!!! A must go place....

D. W.

Consistently great quality. Good value although not "cheap". Great service & great staff in a quality atmosphere. Kid friendly for early sittings. Our weekly family Japanese treat.

T. C.

One of the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne.

B. B.

Had a bit of trouble finding it but the serve staff were very attentive, the food was delicious (loved the eel), nice intimate atmosphere :)

J. H.

The food here is great, but be prepared to pay for it. You get service as expected for a pricey joint. We went here for our wedding anniversary and had a good time.

A. P.

Great food, excellent service, sashimi is the best, love this restaurant

T. E.

Sushi, Sashimi platter so nice, medium perfect for 2 peeps, Samurai cocktail Yum

T. Y.

The foods were delicious and also excellent services

A. P.

Amazing service! The food was delicious, traditional Japanese dishes with premium quality fish.

J. N.

Great food, and fantastic service. I always leave a tip here because I'm so impressed. If you're ever here, definitely recommend getting the fatty tuna!!

M. S.

Absolutely faultless. We have been regular diners here for many many years and are exceptionally looked after by Boeing and the staff. It is always a pleasure to dine at Kenzan.

K.

Regular come here for work lunches. Great spot for meetings and the food goes down easily. Staff are very friendly

S. B.

The best authentic Japanese in Melbourne and also one of the oldest as well. No cheap knock offs here this is the real deal

S. R.

Went to Kenzan last week. Lunchtime was extremely busy so booking is a must. We had the set menu, food was really good however a little on the expensive side.

G. N.

Exquisite Japanese food, service a bit slow. However, if you are a regular. You will get a prompt service. Is better if you make a booking

K. W.

The best Japanese restaurant I have ever been to in Melbourne.

M. H.

Food it's great! Just the wasabi on the sushi without notice... it wasn't a very pleasant surprise.

R. W.

Food is good, and the restaurant was very crowded during weekend, unexpected noisy.

V.

I've been going to Kenzan for 25 years. Always authentic, always top quality food, excellent service. Still a favourite after many other local restaurants have been & gone.

H. m. g. t. 2. s. w. a. v.

Very tasty and fresh sashimi, the price might be bit high for a daily meal but actually worth the service food and vibe

r. j.

But..$40 chicken teriyaki is ridic..very very expensive.. great service..

K. T.

Nice food and sake, if there is more umeshu on the menu that would be awesome. Definitely is one of a choice of traditional Japanese food.

E. T.

Food is very good but it seems overly expensive. It doesn't provide a huge menu selection, which was a real bummer. Of note is that it's really not great for vegetarians. :(

T. G.

Exceptional service and delicious food. Our go to with our family on a week night.

M. Z.

Perfect!

B. S.

10/10 for quality, service and value. It was an absolute pleasure dining here.

A. L.

Really good sushi up to real premium Japanese sushi standard. One of my favourite Japanese restaurants.

D. L.

Always a pleasure dinning out a this Melbourne Institute. Kenzan Japanese food seldom if ever disappoints!

W. F.

Subtly stylish and authentic Japanese restaurant. Food is fantastic, and prepared to perfection.

P. M.

The banquet is not really worth that price, food quality is bit worse than the a la carte ones

R. G.

Authentic food and service, price to suit the locality. Fresh ingredients, although limited range on the menu. Worth the trip.

M. S.

Classic Japanese. Excellent food and nice ambiance. Good wines. Always a favorite.

T. F.

Delicious, fresh, the beef sushi was fantastic and the prawn dumplings were the hero of the dish. Yum yum yum!!

L. O.

Great food, service & venue. Melbourne favourite, another try it at least once, we will be back again.

S. F.

Definitely the best Japanese restaurant Melbourne can offer - always a great experience - and 35 years old!

T. N. N.

Good experience. I didn't order drink but the food is good...

s. s.

I was there only once, however the food was amazing. Prices runs a bit high but worth the money spent

A. D.

Amazing food. Amazing service. Beautiful space. Perfect.

M. P.

Excellent food and service. Consistently good Japanese restaurant

p. k.

Has been our regular go to japanese for what feels like a lifetime , always top shelf but so are the prices!

K. M.

One of the best places to get ramen in Melbourne

K.

I've been coming here since I was little, and I love this place. Its a little on the expensive side, but the service is great and I never leave unsatisfied. Definitely recommend it!

J. C. L.

The food here are delicious and authentic Japanese. Nice environment too.

L. C.

delicious Japanese delicacies! really enjoyed what is served to my table as my choice of food!

K. K.

I've been here twice and on both occasions loved the bento box. Bit of everything. Flawless service here too.

A.

Good environment, friendly staff, will come back.

m. a.

Felt like I was back in Japan. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and delicous food!

Z. Y.

Absolutely sensational food! Tried a few different things and they were all delicious. Will be back!

G. S.

Great Japanese Food and exceptional service. Highly recommended

K.

The food was fresh, delicious, and authentic. Very nice atmosphere.

W. R.

Perfect food and service. Really enjoyed the variety of different flavours...

M. K.

Good food. Good service. Not cheap, but you receive aforesaid food and service.

J. M.

Excellent quality and service

R. P.

Great food. I like the box set options on the menu.

V. M.

This restaurant never fails. There’s a reason why it’s an iconic Melbourne institution.

P. M.

Good lunch spot for business meetings. Food was delicious and service was fast.

S. I.

Spent $130 here for one person, and i didn't want to eat anything else for 2 days.

M. I.

Excellent service and one of the best sushi in Melbourne.

P. M.

High quality Japanese with great service. Didn't expect to find something this nice where they're located.

K. L.

Great food and good service. Quintessential Japanese in Melbourne!

T. M.

Was a 5 star at the miso, then everything else came. Too nice for words.

R. H.

Busy! What do you expect at lunchtime Great staff, always a enjoyable experience!

T.

Authentic Japanese. Amazing fish, service and atmosphere!

m. w.

Excellent excellent service (very accommodating and attentive), great food.

P. G.

Premier Japanese dining experience in Melbourne.. the best

M. R.

The fatty tuna was superb.

C. S.

Always reliable. Good Food. Lovely staff.

J. B.

It's a good mid price Japanese dinning restaurant.

V. K.

Simply authentic Japanese. Amazing food.

R. B.

Simply irresistible dinner matched by professional authentic service.

D. H.

this restaurant is inviting and welcoming! food is amazing!

S. A.

Jeez what an experience, thank you so very much....yum!

N. H.

Elegant service, great food, not too noisy.

C. c.

The food is fresh and the staff are friendly!

S. K.

We normally brings clients there, Japanese team with good service.

M. T.

Great quality sushi, albeit a bit overpriced

M. W.

Really nice place for lunch. Great food and great service.

K. O.

Fresh Sushi, exceptional service by polite staff

C. S.

Traditional beautiful menu and a selection of sake!

K. W.

Great Japanese restaurant to have a great time with family and friends.

H. S.

Quality Japanese cuisine and friendly staff..

T. T.

Good Japanese lunch box. Very nice

A. C.

Their teriyaki dishes with rice are amazing

C. L.

Tasty, fresh, great service. Well worth the price.

B. F.

Amazing food and nice ambiance!

M. P.

Friendly staff. Wanna visit again.

B. M.

Great traditional japanese food and nice venue

S. S.

Authentic Japanese food and service, but expensive.

B. H.

Excellent as usual

F. Y.

Love this place! Fantastic food and service!

L. C.

Delicious fresh food and great service!

A. M.

Authentic food and experience. Just like Tokyo.

R. T.

Superb food! I look forward to returning soon.

P. M.

Very helpful staff and delicious food

J. K.

Our go to for good basic Japanese food in Melbourne!

K. R.

A Melbourne institution. Great reception day and night and very authentic Japanese.

R. T.

My best Jap Rest in Mel for more than 10 years.

J. J.

One of the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne👍👍👍

F. N.

Expensive but nice food. Need booking

P. M.

A truly great bento box at lunch time

A. G.

Very pricey, small portions, nothing special...

M. H. L.

Very pleased with the service and food selection.

K. W.

beautiful Japanese food and service. what else can I say

J. B.

Awesome food. Awesome service.

F. J.

Authentic food, great atmosphere

D. H.

Great Food - both takeaway and sit-in

A. F.

Great local staff friendly food great

K. L.

Two Melbournites raved about Kenzan. A hidden gem.

S. D.

The sushi here is always fantastic

B.

One of my favs and go to for work lunches

W. A.

Bustling, delicious Japanese restaurant with attentive service

杨.

eexpensive but nice sushi

J. W.

Good food however poor service

S. S.

High quality food with great service.

D. H.

Terrific in all ways

R. F.

Very nice experience!

J. H.

Fantastic Japanese food!

T. N. F.

Very good food and service

A. L.

Very Good dining experience

S. s.

Amazing food amd place

M. H.

Great tasting sushi

G. D.

Delicious

F. C.

A whole new level of Japanese dining.

M. L.

Just walked on for an enjoyable lunch

S. K.

beautiful foods and the best service.

B. K.

Best in Melbourne. Amazing!

P. R.

Best sushi in Melbourne

T. S.

Great food and service

F. S.

Excellent lunch options

R. M.

Very nice place......but expensive

A. S.

Amazing food and wine

B. N.

Great place and food

L. F.

Amazing food

R. L.

Best Japanese sushi

R. B.

Loved it!

S. M.

Very enjoyable meal

F. L.

love the chirashi here

A. U.

Best Japanese in the CBD

J. D.

Classic, epitome, bona fide

D. S.

Excellent

H. T.

Pricy. Excellent waitresses

R. B.

Always sensational

J. F.

Great Sukiyaki

R. S.

some nice place

J. W.

Authentic!

s. a.

great place

E. L. D.

Institution.

C. S.

Great food and super nice sushi chef sit at the bar and have a great night

B.

(Translated) The ingredients are fresh and delicious, and special points are selected. Special menu for the day. Worth to taste! (Original) 食材新鮮好吃、特別要點選 當日特別菜單 值得去品嚐！

H. G. I.

(Translated) Authentic Japanese food, fresh sashimi, good service and good environment. (Original) 正宗日本菜，刺身新鮮，服務好，環境好。

T. K. K.

(Translated) A genuine Japanese restaurant! It is a rich atmosphere that can be used for business meetings and dates with a quality that is not strange even in Japan with a Japanese owner. I think the average price is around $ 100 per person for meals + drink price. It's a little expensive, but it's a Japanese restaurant with a high level in Melbourne. (Original) 正真正銘　和食レストランです！ 日本人オーナーとのこと、日本にあってもおかしくないクオリティーで　ビジネスミーティングやデートにも使える　リッチな雰囲気です。 値段は1人あたり食事が$100前後＋ドリンク代金　が平均かと思います。少々高めですがメルボルンでは断トツ　レベルの高い　日本食レストランです。

プ.

(Translated) I heard that it was delicious, I went ... but the big Toro was dry and not good enough. . . Vinegar rice is normal or only slightly watery, probably because I expected too much ... It was a little disappointing. (Original) 美味しいと聞いて、行ってみたが…大トロがドライでイマイチだった。。。酢飯は普通か少しだけ水っぽく、期待し過ぎたせいか…少し残念でした。

S. S.

(Translated) One of the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne I think. It is amazing that Melbourne will have this quality. Of course it is slightly expensive, but I think it's more than a price. (Original) One of the best Japanese restaurant in Melbourne I think. メルボルンでこれだけのクオリティが得られるのは驚き。もちろんちょっと高いけど、値段以上のものだと思う。

A. Y.

(Translated) Quite Japanese, I like it. Oysters and raw wagyu are quite authentic. (Original) 挺日本的，喜欢。生蚝和生和牛都蛮正宗。

L.

R.

N. N.

(Translated) Speaking of Melbourne sushi, you can't miss it. (Original) メルボルンの寿司といえばここは外せません。

G. A.

(Translated) Fantastic selection of chef's sushi ... (Original) Fantastica la selezione di sushi dell chef...

S. S.

P. B.

(Translated) Excellent!!!!! Fresh products!! And good price / quality ratio (Original) Excellent!!!!! Produits frais!! Et rapport qualité/prix correct

E. C.

z. b.

O. S.

N. S.

T. W.

H. K.

K. M.

H. T.

M. G.

J. Z.

N. F.

T. C.

N. H.

h. T.

G. W.

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