Find matcha, wagyu skewers, sushi tacos and more at a new one-stop Japanese dining hall
Getting your Japanese fix has never been simpler, thanks to a one-of-a-kind mega venue that wraps five different venues into one. And it’s inspired by a Melbourne institution that might surprise you.
Sushi. Gyoza. Fried chicken. Matcha desserts. You can find all the current hits of Japanese food and more at Omi 380, a new all-in-one dining destination on Lonsdale Street inspired by the multipronged dining of Melbourne’s own Italian stayer Brunetti.
“[They serve] everything from breakfast until supper,” says Omi 380 owner Ven Chin, who also runs a string of fast-casual Omi eateries across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. “We thought maybe we could do something similar, but Japanese.”
Omi 380 is the group’s most ambitious venue to date, bringing five distinct offerings together under one roof for a Japanese extravaganza. Want sashimi but your pal is craving yakitori? The market hall set-up lets everyone order what they want yet dine together, with most ordering done via QR code.
The space – charcoal-toned with timber accents and decorative Japanese maple trees – seats around 100 people. “The most troublesome thing when we want to gather with friends is that most restaurants in the city are very packed and very small,” says Chin. “We’re pretty spacious for [our] price point.”
With most mains around $30, Chin positions the venue as “affordable luxury” – a place diners can enjoy for any occasion, without the pressure to rush through a meal.
Diners are greeted by a gelato bar with scoops including matcha burnt cheesecake, all made in-house. Beside it is a wall of self-serve, Japanese-inspired baked goods. There’s melon pan, a bun with a cross-hatched streusel topping; French sweets such as financiers in flavours including matcha and hojicha; and sweet potato shio-pan (Japanese salt bread). All are baked on-site.
At the back of the space, a sushi and sake bar offers three styles of rice wine – available individually or as a flight – plus sushi that goes beyond Omi’s usual takeaway handrolls. A popular order is the Sudoku platter – a segmented tray of nine kinds of sushi and sashimi including New Zealand salmon, Hokkaido scallops and abalone.
Meanwhile, the Wagyu Kitchen is the place for luxe hot pot featuring Japanese beef; kushiyaki (grilled skewers, from beef to pork belly); and rice bowls topped with wagyu short-rib, an onsen egg and pickles. There’s also plenty besides beef, including karaage chicken and grilled unagi eel.
Between the sweet and savoury counters sits a dedicated matcha bar where ceremonial-grade green tea is whisked to order. It’s featured in over 20 drinkable and edible items, from lattes to matcha-coconut cold brew and towering kakigori (shaved ice) topped with mochi, red bean and matcha jelly. Matcha powder can also be purchased in the eatery’s small retail area.
Chin’s passion for research and development (every item at Omi 380 went through extensive testing) means the offering will continue to evolve.
A ramen noodle machine is on its way from Japan, and a select group of chefs will soon train in Osaka to perfect the art of making the dough. There are also plans to extend trade to earlier mornings and late nights.
Lunch and dinner daily
380 Lonsdale St, Melbourne, omiwagyu.com.au
Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.
Sign up