Sakedokoro Namara — Restaurant in Melbourne

We had an amazing dining experience at Sakedokoro Namara, a cozy and authentic Japanese spot tucked away in North Melbourne. The restaurant is quite small with limited seating, which actually adds to its charm — it feels intimate, personal, and perfect for a relaxed evening out.

We ordered the Chef’s Omakase set for $70, and it was truly a journey of flavour and craftsmanship. Every dish was beautifully presented and thoughtfully paced, showcasing the chef’s skill and passion. Each bite felt fresh, balanced, and incredibly satisfying. If you appreciate quality Japanese cuisine, the Omakase is absolutely worth it. it might be enough for 2 people including 1 extra dish on the side.

We also tried the chirashi don and the teriyaki chicken don, and both were excellent. The chirashi was vibrant and fresh with a generous variety of sashimi, while the teriyaki chicken was tender, sweet-savory, and comforting — a great balance of homestyle flavour and refinement.

The staff were friendly and attentive, making the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. You can tell this is a place run with love for the food and respect for tradition. Just be sure to book ahead due to the limited space, bookings recommended, it...

✨ Authentic Japanese Saké ✨

Sakedokoro Namara aims to bring the authentic Japanese saké bar experience to Melbourne, from the wonderfully curated selection of saké discovered during the owner’s travels to the design of the bar itself reminiscent of the ones in Japan.

For a more intimate private dining experience they also have tatami rooms designed by Eijiro Fukuda, a Japanese architect living in Melbourne. The warm wooden tones, natural tatami floor, paired with the ‘Kumiko’ woodwork dividers, offer a soothing atmosphere.

Check their socials for different menu specials and saké events!

Featured: 🍶 Omakase sake flight $38 🍶 Flavoured sake flight $40 🍱 Chef’s omakase 9 tapas $67 🍢 Tsukune skewers $15 🐙 Tako flitter $13 🐙 Takowasa (fresh octopus with wasabi) $7 🦑 Shiokara (Izakaya style salt marinated Hokkaido squid) $8 🍛 Japanese vege curry $16 🍲 Chirashi don $30 🍲 Unagi don $32

Our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the staff’s explanations of the saké flavors enhanced our understanding and appreciation. The group favourite was the Chestnut saké, it has chestnut puree and sweetness, and tastes like...

I mistakenly booked this bar thinking it's a proper dining restaurant experience. Please know it's more of a bar and the food is secondary to the alcohol menu. The food portions are very small and meant to be complimentary small tapas dishes to the alcohol. So do not expect to get your tummy full here. Me and my partner spent a little under $300 here for mostly food and a little sake on the side. I don't think the food is worth the money. The ingredients were not fresh, especially the seafood sashimi scallops etc were not fresh quality. The beef ox tongue was undercooked and therefore tough to chew, we did not end up finishing the serving. On the positive notes the server serving us was very friendly and helpful and customer service seems good. The place is cozy, clean and ambient, a good place for drinks. I just don't recommend their food. It may just be my mistake I thought this place is a restaurant hence my...