Shujinko Elizabeth — Restaurant in Melbourne

The Location

With the sheer number of amazing competitors a customer must walk past, the mere fact that it had the power to draw us through its doors is a statement in itself.

The Service

When I (as part of a group of three) made a last minute decision to partake in some sake drinking by sipping my partner's cup, the waitress (who was busy clearing a nearby table) instantly and seamlessly produced a third cup for me to drink from without interrupting the flow of our moment.

The Food

The ramen was to die for. I got the truffle ramen and the depth of flavour in the broth alone blew us all away. Each individual ingredient was mind-blowing. I have never tasted a more flavoursome and pleasantly textured mushroom. We kept having the impulse so share our meals with each other because they were such uniquely scrumptious flavour combinations. In an era of instant gratification, the unadulterated sugarless green tea was enjoyably grounding. The sake made my partner, who comes from a family of viticulturists and wine-makers, remark that she now understood the meaning of wine pairings. It was so freshly aromatic that it suggested aniseed, and it's subtlety and other sessionable characteristics saw me playfully declare my desire to order a few more bottles.

The Parco Effect

We left the restaurant floating, this lunch forming the beginning of what became an immensely joyous evening for all of us. It even caused me to reconsider the opinion of those who see Japan as culturally stunted in its reliance upon the stolen cultures of its Asiatic neighbours. A culture capable of producing such refined gustatory art is of undeniable extreme sophistication.

Hats off to the team at Parco. This experience has filled me with excitement for my upcoming trip to Japan. I give them a well-deserved five stars...

Let me preface this review with the fact that I love Shujinko, I rate it highly and regard it as one of my favorite Ramen go-to’s in Melbourne. Walking in I thought if it’s something Shujinko’s serving up then sign me up… and then I walked in.

The staff were uninterested straight off the bat. Whilst they seemed nice they were more interested in their own loud conversations that ruined the music-less restaurant atmosphere and took me away from my own thoughts and end of day wind down and filled it with Aerospace Engineering and their dreams of crafting engines from the very works of Fibonacci himself. As time passes I forget I’m actually out for dinner by myself trying to enjoy a moment as their conversation is interrupted by one of the chefs telling them to put some music on. Finally I thought I’m saved, but I thought too soon and the music has made no difference… Thank god my ramen is finally here.

As my Ramen sit in front of me I quickly check my receipt for what I’d ordered. Whilst I’d ordered the Black Truffle Ramen what I had before me was more a bowl of oil than soup. Yes it had strong truffle flavors and the Ajitama were cooked to perfection but that is as good as it got. I must admit I gave in and ate the perfectly al dente ramen noodles but I could not go past the constant coat of oil that surrounded my mouth.

Whilst i can see they’re aiming for a contemporary twist to the Shujinko classics they’ve unfortunately missed the mark, leaving an oily aftertaste in my mouth rather than the usual delicious bowl of Shujinko Ramen I’ve grown...

Delicious Late Dinner at Shujinko – Great Experience

My friend and I stopped by Shujinko on Swanston Street for a late dinner with no booking. We were seated within 5 minutes, even around 8 PM, which was great for a walk-in.

The interior is neat, simple, and felt clean. Tables are quite close together, and we were seated in a booth with another couple nearby. It felt a bit tight but not uncomfortable, as the atmosphere is relaxed and meals are served efficiently. The noise level was low, and conversation was still easy.

Service was polite, professional, and quick throughout our meal.

We ordered:

Edamame – A generous serving, simply seasoned with salt. Great to share and perfect as a starter, especially since we were quite hungry.

Shujinko Ramen – A delicious and comforting bowl of their signature Tonkotsu pork broth, served with grilled pork belly, bok choy, bean sprouts, spring onion, and a marinated egg. The broth was subtle and well-balanced. I didn’t finish the bowl (portions are generous), but I’m still thinking about it.

Black Ramen – My friend ordered this variation with a spicy shellfish-based seasoning. She enjoyed it, though mentioned the flavor felt slightly different from what she remembered, but still very satisfying.

Hot Green Tea – A simple and warming finish to the meal, perfect for a cool night.

Overall, a great experience for a casual, late-night ramen spot. The food was fresh, portions generous, and the service smooth. Would definitely return.

Thanks to the team...