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Restaurant

Hinoki Japanese Pantry

279 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Recommended by 57 people

Updated

Find Hinoki Japanese Pantry

279 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9417 4531
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Hinoki Japanese Pantry

Step past grocery aisles in Fitzroy for made-to-order sushi with a fish-to-rice ratio that outclasses typical takeaway. Regulars place an order at the register, then browse green tea bags and Japanese ceramics while chefs slice each order from scratch. Nigiri arrives topped with thick cuts of fresh seafood draped over seasoned rice—far more neta than grain. The kitchen piles chirashizushi bowls with sweet scallops and sea urchin, or assembles party platters that cater informal weekend spreads. Walk your box over to a nearby park with a side of ginger salad.

  • Generous Cut Nigiri: Thick slices of fresh seafood like sea urchin, squid, and salmon served with a generous fish-to-rice ratio.
  • Made-to-Order Counter: Every platter and nigiri box is crafted to order on-site or available via pre-order pickup.
  • Japanese Grocery Pantry: Browse shelves stocked with imported green teas, sauces, snacks, and ceramics while your order is prepared.
RestaurantJapaneseTakeaway

What's On at Hinoki Japanese Pantry

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Hinoki Japanese Pantry

Freshly sliced sushi made to order alongside a curated Japanese pantry in Fitzroy.

  • Generous Fish-to-Rice Ratio

    Chefs craft generous nigiri and rolls with high seafood proportions rather than carb-heavy fillers, offering outstanding restaurant-grade sashimi for takeaway.

    They give you more protein than rice, which is the opposite of what a lot of places do. You’re not dealing with huge rice balls and tiny slivers of fish here

    Christopher Wu

  • Made-to-Order Freshness

    Orders are sliced and prepared fresh upon ordering, maintaining supreme texture and quality compared to refrigerated grab-and-go sushi cases.

    The platters are all made to order (you can order them online via Hinoki's website) so you can guarantee that they are all fresh.

    Anastasia V

  • Crowd-Pleasing Entertaining Platters

    Hinoki's party-sized sushi and sashimi platters provide a standout centerpiece for feeding dinner guests and hosting family gatherings.

    Hinoki fresh platters are always impressive looking, tasty and a crowd pleaser when we are hosting friends for a meal!

    Natalie Costanzo

  • Authentic Catering for Family Gatherings

    The high-grade quality and authentic preparation satisfy Japanese culinary expectations for celebratory home meals and group catering.

    My Japanese family was super happy with the quality and still able to take away for our holiday meal!

    Yui Rom

  • Browsing Authentic Pantry Shelves

    Waiting for freshly made orders doubles as an opportunity to discover rare regional seasonings, snacks, and imported ceramics.

    Love browsing the shelves packed with things I tried when I was on holiday in Japan.

    Katrina Walsh

  • Specialty Grocer and Sushi Hybrid

    The hybrid grocer model pairs skilled on-site sushi slicing with shelves stocked with specialty pantry staples and homewares.

    The pantry selection is also fantastic, offering a curated range of Japanese ingredients and specialty items that make it feel like a little hidden gem for food lovers.

    N C

Freshly prepared sushi and sashimi crafted to order for takeaway and entertaining

  • Sushi platters

    Hinoki fresh platters are always impressive looking, tasty and a crowd pleaser when we are hosting friends for a meal!

    Natalie Costanzo

  • Chirashi bowl

    The chirashi bowl was a standout—it’s a great way to try a variety of fish, with nice additions like scallops.

    Christopher Wu

  • Aburi salmon nigiri

    Fresh made sushi to order, the aburi salmon nigiri was delicious.

    Ben Dale

  • Sliced squid nigiri

    Favourite was surprisingly the sliced squid; it was very fresh with a pleasantly soft chewy texture

    Barry

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful touches and authentic craft that elevate Hinoki Japanese Pantry beyond standard takeaway

  • Traditional Wasabi Binding Technique

    Sushi chefs apply traditional culinary methods, using a subtle hint of wasabi directly between the fresh sliced fish and sushi rice to bind them together authentically.

  • Pantry & Ceramics Browsing While Waiting

    While waiting for freshly rolled sushi orders, guests can browse curated pantry aisles featuring specialized Japanese ingredients, imported bancha teas, and authentic ceramics.

  • Made-to-Order Platter Crafting

    Catering and celebration platters are assembled fresh to order on the spot or via scheduled web booking rather than pulled from pre-chilled cases.

  • Precision Closing-Time Pick-Up Freshness

    Scheduled pick-up orders are timed with precision so that the seasoned sushi rice maintains its optimal texture and does not harden before collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you dine in at Hinoki Japanese Pantry?

Hinoki is strictly a takeaway operation with no in-store dining tables or customer restrooms. Visitors frequently take their sushi orders to nearby parks or back home.

Should you order sushi in advance or walk in?

Placing orders online ahead of time is strongly recommended, especially for platters and peak hours, as walk-in orders can face long queues and wait times of 20 minutes up to two hours.

Is the sushi made fresh or pre-packaged?

Yes, sushi and sashimi are made fresh to order by on-site chefs, known for generous cuts of fish and a high fish-to-rice ratio rather than pre-packed shelf items.

Is there parking nearby?

Free street parking is available in the surrounding area along Smith Street and neighboring streets.

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