Chowon — Restaurant in Melbourne

I recently visited Chowon, a newly opened Japanese restaurant in Kew, and it truly exceeded my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the sophisticated exterior and warm, elegant interior set the tone for a memorable dining experience.

Atmosphere Chowon blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with a modern touch. While the space isn’t large, the tables are well-spaced to offer a sense of privacy, and the bar seating adds versatility for solo diners or date nights. The ambient lighting and minimalist décor created a calm and refined setting.

Service The staff were exceptionally kind and attentive. They explained the menu with confidence and clarity, which showed a good level of expertise. Despite being newly opened, the service already felt well-organized and professional, adding to the overall positive impression.

Food The highlights of the meal were the sashimi platter and the mackerel maki. The sashimi was incredibly aged, perfectly sliced, and served at the ideal temperature. The mackerel maki had a slight charred aroma that brought out the flavor beautifully. We also tried the charred broccoli and a cucumber pickle, both of which were delicately seasoned, well-balanced and can feel full of flavour.

It’s great to see a refined Japanese restaurant like this open in the Kew area. With its impressive food, welcoming service, and stylish ambiance, Chowon is definitely a place I look forward to returning to. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy a peaceful, high-quality Japanese...

As a local and business owner I always try to support local establishments because I know how tough it is to run a business/restaurant, hence it is not often that I'd go onto google reviews to leave a review unless it's absolutely necessary! My first visit to this establishment was 10/10 food and service was spot on! However my second visit was absolutely disappointing because despite spending $90per person we were made to sit on the window bar table even though the restaurant wasn't full and had a lot of empty tables. I had asked the waitress many times if we could move to a table but she wouldn't allow it!!! Terrible service for $90 bucks per person! Will never comeback and will share my experience with other locals! To add to the bad experience, people coming in after us(without a booking) was given a table ...even the table directly behind us was used for only one single plate of nigiri(no customers) while we were squished together... what the??? Not a great establishment... you get better treatment at Maccas down the road! Chowon, I hope you take this review as constructive feedback and treat your future...

As soon as you step into Chowon, you feel genuinely welcomed. The atmosphere is beautiful and cosy, and the service is outstanding — our waitress was incredibly kind and attentive.

We were greeted with warm towels and a lovely cup of tea to start, which was such a thoughtful touch. Everything we ordered was absolutely excellent and incredibly fresh.

We had the sushi platter and the kingfish sashimi — hands down the best sashimi I’ve ever had in my life! The chef cut the fish right in front of us, and it was melt-in-your-mouth fresh and full of flavour.

The charcoal-grilled broccoli was a surprise highlight — perfectly cooked with a sauce that was seriously addictive. We also had the katsu pork, which was incredibly crispy and delicious.

Highly recommended! This restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner, and we can’t wait to come back. If you love fresh Japanese food, Chowon is a must-visit. See...