Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar - Northcote — Restaurant in Melbourne

Shimbashi Soba is a gluten free, dairy free & nut free, cozy Japanese restaurant that specialise in soba noodles. They offer vegetarian and vegan options and they are eco-friendly!

We got to try so many of their dishes, including some from their winter menu (❄️).

This is what we had: Karaage Chicken ($17) - The boys really liked this one. Super hot & crispy chicken. Salmon Sashimi ($16) - The salmon was fresh and you can taste and feel the quality. ❄️Salmon Carpaccio ($17) - This was honestly my favourite, the carpaccio had a zesty flavour and I loved the pickled radish and ginger with it. The sauce was really good and I really liked this one. ❄️Wasabi Mayo Tempura Prawn ($23) - You can definitely taste the wasabi but it was not too strong. The prawns were coated and fried nicely and just coated in the wasabi mayo. Salmon Sushi Roll ($19) - This was a hefty bite and was so yummy. It wasn’t typical sushi rice, it had purple rice. Red Dragon Warm Soba ($28) - I loved the broth of this one, it just felt so homey. It was not spicy to us even though there were 3 chillies on the ranking scale. ❄️Roasted Duck Soba ($29) - this was also very delicious, the duck pieces were super tender and was really yum. Tempura Bowl ($27) - I liked how the tempura was battered and it was super light and crispy. This came with purple rice as well & was really good. There was a little miso soup on the side.

Momo Negroni ($18) - This cocktail was STRAIGHT UP ALCOHOL. Like omfg, this got me tipsy. Sake tasting - we got to try 3 different sakes which were super strong & cool.

We also had a scoop of hojicha & a scoop of matcha icecream for dessert. I definitely liked the hojicha taste a bit more.

Overall, they serve such fresh and delicious food that we will definitely be back! Staff are super accommodating and friendly. Accessibility wise, it is easy to get into and out of & they have 3 stores you can go...

As soon as we entered we felt transported back to the cute quaint restaurants of Japan. We ordered their sake tasting set, which increases with complexity with every shot. The rikhaku sake was our favourite, subtly sweet with the rice wine aroma . We started with the miso fried eggplant which was so tender and coated with a sticky miso sauce. We also tried their winter limited menu — the duck soba is a must order, it was so flavourful and rich in umami. The toronto mushroom soba is also a must try, it was so thick and rich with the earthy mushroom tones. The salmon tasted so fresh and the salmon bowl was our favourite! Every dish was so flavourful - yet felt healthy, light but hearty. We loveeed their roasted Japanese tea ice cream, especially with the roasted buckwheat which gave it a unique crunch and was not too sweet! We did find that the matcha flavour could be a little stronger. We love the vibes and the dishes of this place and definable worth the trip if you want to be...

Shimbashi Soba & Sake Bar in Northcote is a cozy spot that feels like a little slice of Japan. Their soba noodles are something special—they make them fresh every day using traditional methods and top-notch buckwheat from Japan. What really makes their Northcote venue stand out, though, is the summer menu. It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for warm weather dining.

The place has a laid-back vibe, ideal for a casual meal yet still feels like a treat. They’ve got a fantastic selection of umeshu (plum wine) that pairs beautifully with their dishes, adding a sweet and tart contrast that enhances the flavors of the noodles. The staff is friendly and really knows their stuff, ready to recommend the perfect umeshu to go with your meal.

If you’re into authentic Japanese noodles and looking for a spot to chill and enjoy some tasty bites, Shimbashi in Northcote is definitely worth checking out. Their summer menu alone is a great...