Shira Nui Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

I recently had the absolute pleasure of dining at Shira Nui for a special birthday lunch with my daughter, and I can confidently say this local gem in Glen Waverley deserves its stellar reputation. Located at 247 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley, it may not boast flashy decor or modern fittings, but what it lacks in aesthetic flair, it more than makes up for in the quality and authenticity of its Japanese cuisine.

Walking into Shira Nui, you're greeted by a simple, slightly dated, Japanese ambience. Don't let this understatement deter you; the restaurant focuses squarely where it should be—on the food. The service was top-notch, and attentive without intrusive, making us feel welcomed and valued. It's also spotless, with tables being cleaned promptly as guests depart.

The restaurant is renowned for its oyster sushi, among other delectable offerings. Given its bustling atmosphere, especially during lunch, there's a sort of reassurance that the seafood you're consuming is as fresh as it gets, and I can attest to that. The omakase is not just a meal; it's an authentic experience, especially if you're fortunate enough to secure counter seating. Hiro, Melbourne's first qualified sushi chef, crafts each piece with a skill honed over two decades. His wife, Susi, complements his talents seamlessly, both of them being Glen Waverley staples for over 20 years.

While the drink and menu options might be somewhat limited, the quality of what's offered more than compensates. You're even welcome BYO wine, a nice touch that contributes to the overall value. Speaking of which, for the sheer quality and experience, Shira Nui offers the most budget-friendly omakase in Melbourne.

If you're contemplating a visit, my advice is this: book in advance and request a seat at the counter to witness the culinary ballet that is Hiro's sushi preparation. It may not be the 'modern fantasy Japanese' establishment that's all the rage these days, but sometimes tradition trumps trends, and quality speaks louder than aesthetics. A heartfelt thank you to Shira Nui for a memorable dining experience; it's evident that the passion for the craft is still very much alive after...

I have been thinking whether I should leave this review since hubby and I were always happy with the food in the past. We haven't been to Shira Nui for many years and hubby decided to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary there (he didn't mention it's our anniversary at booking). We opted for Omakase dinner and it's a full house that night. We recognised the Chef straight away and we were looking forward to a great dinner. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the food. Like a few other people mentioned in their reviews that the fish weren't that fresh and some were marinated with heavy sauce. We could tell straight away the food was so much different to what we ate in the past. I just felt the food was oily and not as fresh as I remembered. The last photo showed the counter fridge with lots of fish inside. That photo was taken an hour before we finished our dinner and when we left there were still a lot inside that fridge. We never recall something like this in the past. That added to our question whether the fish was fresh enough. The staffs were very attentive as always. But my issue was what happened after dinner.

We got home around 8.30pm and I went to sleep around 10pm without eating or drinking since dinner. The next morning, I woke up with a really bad diarrhea and two more times during the day. Apologise for TMI next I didn't feel really sick, just had some mild stomachache but my stool had turned to green colour again, sorry for the TMI. I had two more green diarrhea for the next day. I had never been like this in my life and it's quite scary. By the weekend, everything was cleared and I went to the doctor for a test but the result was inconclusive. I don't want to accuse them but I couldn't think of what would have caused my condition. Hubby did have some stomachache but he wasn't as bad as me. Unfortunately, we just don't think we will go back again. It's such a shame that we didn't have a great experience on our...

My friend took me here for dinner. She has been visiting this Japanese Restaurant since its grand opening 10 years ago.

I enjoyed the freshness of the sashimi. You can tell the freshness when you feel the texture in your mouth. The fat in fishes released the aroma at the tip of your palate. The sushi was coped with good quality rice which gives the robust taste with carbon-hydration and fat combined. The mixed platter with sushi and sashimi in an entree size is satisfying for one individual already.

Additionally, the grilled beef "sushi" were seasoned to a perfect balance. I would recommend to people that could not eat sashimi. This is your only chance to still be able to enjoy the meal.

The grilled fish had a lovely touch of flavor because of the sweet and sour seasoning/paste mixed with soba noodle lying on the bottom. The bread crumble gave a crunchy texture and the soba noodle absorbed all the sea flavor from the fish and supplied a soft texture. The concept of the dish was the great as well. I liked it too.

Overall, the food was really great and it worthy the money you paid. However, the service was bit less welcoming. I felt that I was serviced by people that did not understand food philosophy. But it could be because I am picky about food.

This place has split the dinning time into two time slots. When you make the booking, you need to choose the time slot to dine. If you prefer a late night dinner and do not be bothered by the urgent of finishing meal in time, then go for the later time slot.

I would be interested to try the 100 AUD sushi set meal at the sushi bar. It shall be a wonderful experience and I am looking...