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Restaurant

Chooka’s

1 Ballarat St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

Recommended by 48 people

Updated

Find Chooka’s

1 Ballarat St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

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HoursMonday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Chooka’s

Tucked off the street in Brunswick, Chooka’s rolls out generous, made-to-order omusubi alongside cold noodles and matcha. Customers head straight for the shaded courtyard—roaming neighborhood cats included—to unpack rice balls packed with spicy takana, unagi, or thick cuts of spam. Pair one with a cold somen set or a dirty biscoff latte.

  • Oversized omusubi: Stuffed generously to order with savory fillings like spicy takana, unagi, salmon roe, and spam.
  • Courtyard setting: Shaded tree-lined patio seating shared with resident cats and whimsical feline tableware.
  • Japanese-leaning drinks: Creative cafe drinks spanning iced yuzu matcha, banana cinnamon matcha, and dirty biscoff lattes.
RestaurantJapaneseRestaurant

What's On at Chooka’s

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Guests Choose Chooka’s

Why diners visit Chooka’s for comforting omusubi, craft drinks, and courtyard calm.

  • Made-to-Order, Substantial Omusubi

    Hearty, freshly assembled rice balls come in generous portions with fillings ranging from classic salmon roe to spicy takana and spam.

    Made to order onigiri is delicious. I got salmon roe, it was filling.

    Nik Ranger

  • Creative Japanese-Inspired Specialty Drinks

    Alongside traditional matcha, the cafe crafts inventive creations like dirty biscoff lattes and flavored matcha drinks that arrive quickly.

    Cool range of drinks, dirty biscoff latte was very good I had to get it twice.

    Alex Turton-Peet

  • Tranquil Courtyard Under the Trees

    The outdoor garden area offers a peaceful setting beneath shady trees, accompanied by friendly visiting felines.

    Sitting outside under the beautiful trees is beautiful year round!

    Laura Wood

  • Cozy Studio Ghibli Atmosphere

    Intimate cafe details, cute cat spoons, and a warm neighborhood energy provide a cozy Japanese aesthetic.

    Studio Ghibli vibe - limited space - helpful staff.

    Trinh Dau

  • Nostalgic Japanese Cafe Experience

    Homestyle comfort dishes and authentic flavours evoke fond memories of neighborhood cafes in Japan.

    Dining here made me feel like I was back in Japan.

    Sophie

  • Serene Escape from the Daily Rush

    Tucked away from urban noise, the setting offers a peaceful pause to catch up on reading over warm comfort food.

    Quaint little cafe tucked away from the hustle and bustle.

    Sally Yu

Generous, freshly prepared rice balls with classic and inventive fillings

  • Unagi Onigiri

    Favourite was definitely unagi - loved the flavours and how soft it was.

    Hanmo Li

  • Spicy Takana Omusubi

    my favourite omusubi (the spicy takana) is better than any I've tried in my 3 visits to Japan.

    Laura Wood

  • Spam Omusubi

    The spam おむすび break my common stereotypes of japanese omusubi

    Xiang

  • Yuzu Miso Onigiri

    Our absolute favourite was the Yuzu Miso one

    Alina Stechert

Other favorites

Inventive matcha creations and cozy specialty beverages

  • Dirty Biscoff Latte

    dirty biscoff latte was very good I had to get it twice.

    Alex Turton-Peet

  • Banana Cinnamon Matcha

    the banana cinnamon matcha was insane

    Alina Stechert

  • Hot Chocolate

    Hot chocolate came with a cute cat design and cat spoon!

    bianca

  • Iced Strawberry Matcha

    I got an iced strawberry matcha with oat milk and it’s exactly what i wanted!

    Jess

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful details that make a visit to Chooka’s uniquely memorable

  • Cat Art & Cat Spoons

    Beverages such as hot chocolate arrive styled with custom cat latte art and paired with miniature cat-shaped spoons.

  • Resident Courtyard Cats

    Patrons can relax in the serene outdoor courtyard shaded by trees, accompanied by friendly resident cats roaming around the tables.

  • Generous Made-to-Order Omusubi

    Rather than standard grab-and-go rice balls, omusubi are pressed fresh to order in generous portions with fillings like spam, unagi, and sakura.

  • Clearly Labelled Vegan Onigiri

    The cafe clearly denotes vegan choices across the onigiri menu, including options like Yuzu Miso.

Before you head over

Practical tips on timing, portion sizes, and dietary options for visiting this Brunswick cafe.

  • Beat the Lunch Rush for Seating

    With fewer than 10 tables across a compact indoor area and courtyard, seating fills up quickly during peak lunch hours. Arrive early or visit just after the rush to secure an outdoor table under the trees.

  • Plan Portions Around Sizable Omusubi

    The spam onigiri and multi-piece sets are notably oversized and filling. If ordering substantial options like spam or the multi-omusubi tasting plates with somen, consider starting with one or two items before ordering extra.

  • Check Dietary and Allergen Details

    The menu clearly marks vegan onigiri choices like yuzu miso, but staff may not be able to confirm strict gluten-free or coeliac compliance, so verify specific ingredient boundaries before ordering.

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