Umiyaki Moonee Ponds — Restaurant in Melbourne

Umiyaki Japanese Restaurant in Moonee Ponds is a hidden gem that beautifully marries the essence of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine, offering a delightful fusion of flavours that captivate the taste buds. From the moment you step inside, it's evident that they're on a mission to bring Japan's culinary treasures to your plate with a modern twist.

We tried their set menu, which consists of eight courses and is priced at $49 per person.

The Miso Soup, a staple in Japanese dining, was rich and comforting, providing the perfect start to our meal. The Seaweed Salad was a refreshing revelation, a symphony of textures and umami notes that invigorated the palate. The Medium Sashimi Moriawase showcased impeccable freshness; each slice was a testament to the chef's commitment to quality. The Prawn Gyoza was a delightful surprise, crispy on the outside and bursting with succulent flavors.

The Crab Avocado Tartare was a delightful medley of ingredients that danced together harmoniously, while the Salmon Toban Yaki was a sizzling masterpiece, unleashing a succulent and fragrant sensation. The Rainbow Uramaki was a colorful and tasteful creation, a fusion of ingredients that delivered a burst of flavors.

To cap off our meal, we indulged in Matcha and Vanilla Ice Cream that was the perfect ending to a remarkable dining experience.

Umiyaki Japanese Restaurant's commitment to providing fresh and affordable Japanese dishes shines through in every aspect of the meal. The renovation has transformed it into a spacious and inviting place for all who seek an authentic and exotic Japanese culinary experience in the heart of Moonee Ponds!

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ORDERED: 🐠 Salmon Carpaccio: Sliced fresh salmon served with yuzu ponzu sauce ($16.80) 🌮 Fresh salmon taco (3 pcs) ($14.80) 🍣 Aburi Salmon Nigiri (4 pcs) ($9.80) 🍚 Foie Gras black cod bibimbap: Pan fried foie gras and grilled black cod with black truffle sauce on top of special made Japanese rice ($29.80) 🍜 Tempura Udon: Udon noodle soup, onsen egg with tempura set ($17.80)

It was $44.95pp between two people

REVIEW: Umiyaki is a great casual Japanese place for dinner. There's so many options, but we were limited by how much we could eat.

Our favourites were the cooked elements of the meal. I'm talking about: ❤ Foie Gras bibimbap with an incredibly soft black cod. A creaminess and fattiness that added a decadence to the rice. It could feed three, and the portion size was generous. It's perfect if you like savoury food! ❤ Perfect tempura batter with the udon. It was crispy, yet light and was great with the soy sauce. This is what all dreamy tempuras are made of.

❌ For all its greatness, finding bones within the cod was disappointing and there was nothing WOW about the udon soup either. It was also disheartening to not be able to taste the "yuzu" in the ponzu sauce for the salmon carpaccio.

Sitting in the back with a lot of other diners, staff came for the initial top up of water and didn't come by after that. 👻 Would've been lovely if they came by more often / done checks...

🔸Sukiyaki Set with A5 Sirloin Wagyu Nothing beats a hot, bubbling sukiyaki pot on a cold day—pure happiness! This time, I also ordered the A5 grade sirloin wagyu 🥩. Watching the server cook the sukiyaki right at the table was a treat—the meat slices gently rolling in the sauce, the aroma hitting me instantly, making my mouth water 🤤. Dipping the meat in raw egg yolk just made it melt in my mouth.

🔸Sashimi Moriawase A seafood lover's paradise: salmon, tuna, kingfish, oysters, and a delightful surprise—lobster, which was fresh and tender. Paired with cucumber 🥒 and strawberries 🍓, it not only looked great but also provided a refreshing balance.

🔸Taco Moriawase A fusion of Japanese 🇯🇵 and Mexican 🇲🇽 flavors—crispy corn shells filled with salmon, scallops, and shrimp. The unique texture and fresh taste made it a memorable experience!

Since I ordered the sukiyaki set and spent over $100 🔪, I got a complimentary Foie Gras Wagyu Bibimbap.

This is actually the third time I've been here, and every time I get the bibimbap—whether with foie gras or cod, it's always delicious.

Promotion period: 💥 August 19, 2024, to September 29, 2024, Mon-Thurs dine-in only.

Drinks: 🍫 Java Chocolate—like drinking a cup of silky, melted chocolate! Rich and smooth, sweet but not overwhelming.

🥭 Virgin Mango Daiquiri—cold and refreshing! Instantly took me back to summer...