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Restaurant

Ajisai Japanese Restaurant

167 Martin St, Brighton VIC 3186, Australia

Recommended by 29 people

Updated

Find Ajisai Japanese Restaurant

167 Martin St, Brighton VIC 3186, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9557 4666
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Ajisai Japanese Restaurant

Ajisai Japanese Restaurant delivers authentic, unhurried dining anchored by fresh sashimi, crisp tempura, and warm personal hospitality. Run by a dedicated husband-and-wife duo on Martin Street, the dining room moves at its own gentle rhythm—supported by a diligent robot assistant shuttling plates straight from the kitchen. Locals return for generous platters of salmon sashimi, crumbed fried oysters, and crackling crispy pork belly paired with house-selected sake.

  • Husband-and-Wife Hospitality: A dedicated husband-and-wife team prepares the kitchen menu and personally welcomes regular diners.
  • Robot Runner Support: Dishes glide smoothly from kitchen to table aided by a tabletop service robot.
  • Fresh Sashimi & Share Plates: Fresh salmon cuts, mixed platters, and beef tataki served at modest suburban prices.
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What's On at Ajisai Japanese Restaurant

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Guests Choose Ajisai Japanese Restaurant

Discover why locals cherish Ajisai for authentic flavours, personal hosting, and a relaxed dining experience.

  • Authentic Quality at Suburban Value

    Diners consistently praise the authentic Japanese preparations, fresh sashimi, and exceptionally reasonable pricing.

    Fantastic authentic Japanese food at a very reasonable price-point considering the quality of delicacies served.

    Karen Rooke

  • Fresh Sashimi & Balanced Flavours

    The menu features standout fresh salmon sashimi and traditional dishes prepared with meticulous attention to detail.

    Their salmon sashimi is some of the best I’ve had in Melbourne and is very reasonably priced.

    Danielle Goldin

  • Delightful Robot Service Assistant

    An autonomous robot runner assists staff with transporting dishes directly from the kitchen to tables, adding charm to the meal.

    They also have one of those robot waiters that brings your food over to you. It just helps to carry everything as the staff will also come over and serve it.

    Luke

  • Calm Atmosphere for Conversation

    The dining room offers a calm, unhurried environment where guests can comfortably converse without elevated background noise.

    Service a little slow but it gave us time to talk and enjoy the ambience.

    Sara Hardie

  • Heartfelt Husband-and-Wife Hospitality

    Operated by a dedicated husband-and-wife team who run the kitchen and dining room with personal care and attentiveness.

    Owned, managed, and run by a delightful, polite, young at heart Japanese couple.

    Peter

  • Warm, Welcoming Sanctuary

    Proprietors recognize repeat guests and ensure diners feel immediately welcomed and cared for throughout their visit.

    The owner paid great attention to all the diners' needs and made people feel like home from the time stepping in the restaurant.

    Mandy Fung

Signature dishes loved by locals and regulars

  • Crispy Pork Belly

    The pork was a standout! Never have I had such crackling that melted in your mouth.

    Corinne

  • Salmon Sashimi

    Their salmon sashimi is some of the best I’ve had in Melbourne and is very reasonably priced.

    Danielle Goldin

  • Salmon Avocado Rolls

    what a beautiful tray of salmon avocado rolls there was. I couldn’t resist even though I wasn’t hungry, so I brought the pack home and having it for dinner as I’m writing this.

    Cassie Osman

  • Porterhouse Wafu Steak

    porterhouse Wafu Steak (main). The food was excellent, as was the service and they have a small but very reasonably priced wine list.

    Kevin H

Other favorites

Delicate starters and traditional Japanese share plates

  • Beef Tataki

    beef tataki which again was fresh and tasty and well presented

    Corinne

  • Agadashi Tofu

    The agadashi tofu is the absolute best !!

    Danielle Goldin

  • Crumbed Fried Oysters

    crumbed fried oysters (delish way to have them other than tempura and not oily at all)

    Corinne

  • Gyoza

    We had beef tataki, gyoza, combination teriyaki, and the marinated chicken. All delicious.

    Nick Ter-kuile

Beyond the menu

Memorable hospitality gestures and distinctive nuances observed by guests

  • Musical Robot Assistant Delivery

    Tables are assisted by a novel automated runner that transports dishes from the kitchen, even serenading birthday celebrants.

  • Hands-On Proprietor Hosting

    Operated solely as an intimate husband-and-wife duo who welcome patrons by name and prepare each dish by hand.

  • Familiar Regular Recognition

    The floor hostess personally recognizes returning guests across visits, creating an immediate sense of home.

  • Conversational Acoustic Comfort

    A calm, intimate dining room intentionally spaced so patrons can converse easily without raising their voices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I make a reservation before visiting?

Yes, booking a table is strongly recommended. The restaurant is a small, intimate venue run by a husband-and-wife duo, and it frequently gets busy during dinner service.

What is the pace of service and dining experience like?

Meals are prepared with care by a two-person team and may take some time during peak hours, so dining here is best enjoyed when you are not in a rush. Service is supported by an entertaining autonomous robot assistant that delivers dishes to tables alongside the host.

Are there vegetarian-friendly dishes available?

Yes, Ajisai accommodates vegetarian diners with options such as agedashi tofu and teppanyaki tofu on the menu.

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