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Restaurant

Aoba

279 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144, Australia

Recommended by 22 people

Updated

Find Aoba

279 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern VIC 3144, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9509 3399
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 8:30 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 8:30 PM Friday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 8:30 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 5:30 – 8:30 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Aoba

A twelve-seat Malvern counter serving honest Japanese home cooking without the pretension. One chef handles every order single-handedly—frying pork gyoza, carving pristine sashimi, and plating generous bento sets at remarkable speed. Regulars gravitate toward the shareable multi-dish dinner platters, accompanied by crisp croquettes and house-made black sesame ice cream.

  • Solo-operated dining: The chef cooks, plates, and runs front-of-house entirely on his own without sacrificing pace.
  • Twelve-seat room: Cozy indoor capacity of roughly a dozen seats, evoking the feel of a Tokyo side-street diner.
  • Generous set feasts: Platters for two and daytime bento sets paired with made-from-scratch black sesame ice cream.
RestaurantCoffeeCafeRestaurant

What's On at Aoba

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Aoba

Why Malvern locals cherish this intimate, chef-operated Japanese gem

  • Substantial, Authentic Home-Style Japanese Dishes

    Every meal is freshly prepared with hearty portions, from authentic curry and juicy chicken karaage to generously packed bento boxes at modest prices.

    Hard to find decent affordable and authentic Japanese food these days but this place delivers. Very generous sized bento boxes are only $22!

    Mark Eggins

  • High-Quality Fresh Sashimi and Made-from-Scratch Mains

    Carefully prepared sashimi and multi-item sets showcase high culinary standards, pairing prime fresh fish with rich house-made miso and sides.

    Everything tastes so fresh and high quality especially their sashimi. Phenomenal. Great little gem serving delicious Japanese food with lovely owners.

    michelle chen

  • Transports Diners to a Traditional Japanese Eatery

    The intimate, cozy dining room recreates the familiar warmth and nostalgia of visiting a neighborhood eatery tucked away in Japan.

    Being in here feels like you’ve been transported back to Japan!

    Benjamin

  • Heartwarming Hospitality and Comforting Charm

    A welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere and dedicated hospitality make guests feel like they have stepped into a private home for a comforting meal.

    It felt walking into someone's house for a home-cooked meal. The vibes was amazing and the owner was super friendly.

    Daniel Ding

  • Intimate Setting for Relaxed Date Nights

    With an intimate indoor capacity of roughly 10 to 14 seats, the cafe provides a charming and unhurried setting for couples to share generous dinner platters.

    The atmosphere in the cafe was really lovely and it ended up being the lovliest place to have a date with my partner.

    Pearl Dare

  • Abundant Sharing Platters for Two

    Substantial combination platters provide a generous variety of dishes crafted specifically for two guests to share together over dinner.

    Definitely enough for 2 people with such a great variety. And on our visit (Saturday dinner date night) it was just the husband working at the cafe..I was in awe of how quick he got our platter out!

    Samantha Ignalaga Huang

Signature Japanese plates and generous sets prepared fresh to order

  • Dinner Set for 2

    We recently ordered the dinner set for 2 and I can honestly say it was amazing.

    michelle chen

  • Sashimi

    Had a don and sashimi and the sashimi was fresh and expertly cut and tasted amazing.

    Tom Saxon

  • Aoba Box

    I had the Aoba Box (bento) with kara age chicken for dinner and it was delicious. The meal was reasonably priced and very filling.

    Sarah Strugnell

  • Chicken Karaage

    Excellent chicken karaage, sashimi, agedashi tofu, everything!

    Brinda Pandiyan

Other favorites

Traditional Japanese starters and homemade sweets to accompany your meal

  • Pork Gyoza

    We had the pork gyoza, the chicken teriyaki and the Ladies Lunch. All were delicious and I must say was the best tofu and miso soup I've had.

    Sarah North

  • Agedashi Tofu

    Excellent chicken karaage, sashimi, agedashi tofu, everything!

    Brinda Pandiyan

  • Black Sesame Ice Cream

    Best black sesame ice cream, so creamy with a gelato texture, hubby enjoyed the green tea ice cream and we both liked the taiyaki.

    Samantha Ignalaga Huang

  • Taiyaki

    Best black sesame ice cream, so creamy with a gelato texture, hubby enjoyed the green tea ice cream and we both liked the taiyaki.

    Samantha Ignalaga Huang

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful personal touches and craft details from Aoba's intimate dining room

  • Dedicated Solo Chef Hospitality

    Chef Shingo personally oversees both cooking and front-of-house hospitality, greeting guests with warm, humble attentiveness and genuine gratitude throughout their meal.

  • Scratch-Made Japanese Desserts

    Desserts feature house-crafted green tea and black sesame ice creams prepared with a distinctive gelato-like creaminess alongside traditional warm taiyaki.

  • Brisk Fresh-to-Order Turnaround

    Even during busy seatings, the solo operator serves expansive multi-dish dinner platters and piping hot sets in roughly twenty minutes.

  • Attentive Seating Coordination

    In the intimate 12-to-14-seat room, the chef personally and thoughtfully coordinates seating changes in advance to ensure comfortable dining transitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much seating is available, and should you arrive early?

Aoba is a very compact, intimate eatery with indoor seating for around 10 to 14 diners alongside a couple of outdoor street tables. Because space is limited and it frequently fills up, visiting early is recommended.

What is the service style like?

Meals are prepared and served by a single owner-chef running the kitchen and front of house solo. While service is typically fast and efficient, guests should expect a personal, one-person operation rather than dedicated floor waitstaff.

What are the popular dishes to order?

Popular highlights include the multi-dish dinner platter for two, seasonal bento sets like the Aoba Box, and traditional daily lunch sets featuring mains like teriyaki chicken, katsu curry, or fish alongside varied sides. House-made green tea and black sesame ice creams are also served.

Does Aoba serve alcohol?

No. The restaurant does not serve beer, wine, or cocktails.

What payment methods are accepted?

Please be prepared to pay with cash, as customer reports note the restaurant operates on a cash-only payment policy.

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