Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

ima Asa Yoru

1 Duckett St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

Recommended by 27 people

Updated

Find ima Asa Yoru

1 Duckett St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9989 2309
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About ima Asa Yoru

Brunswick queues up for coal-fired morning trays that strip away all the stiff formalities of traditional dining. Mornings revolve around balanced teishoku sets—think flaky miso-glazed barramundi, crisp chicken nanban, dashi-rich soup, and a wobbly onsen egg. Regulars bypass standard cafe staples for fresh oysters splashed with ponzu and spring onion oil, or skewered chicken char-grilled over coals with a sharp kick of yuzu kosho. Tables can book out and choice cuts sell out early, but the timber-lined dining room stays remarkably calm under soaring ceilings. The adjoining grocery pantry stocks imported essentials to take home.

  • Coal-Fired Teishoku Sets: Wood fire and coals char market fish, skewers, and chicken alongside dashi-forward miso soup and pickles.
  • Airy Timber Space: High ceilings, generous window light, and warm timber create a calm room that accommodates strollers and groups.
  • Connected Japanese Pantry: An adjoining grocery store lets diners pick up Japanese cooking ingredients and imported snacks right next door.
RestaurantJapaneseBrunchRestaurantCafe

What's On at ima Asa Yoru

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose ima Asa Yoru

Thoughtful charcoal cookery, balanced teishoku trays, and a welcoming light-filled hall in Brunswick.

  • Traditional Japanese Teishoku Sets

    Teishoku trays combine grilled fish with dashi-rich miso soup and traditional sides for a balanced morning meal.

    The Japanese breakfast teishoku is delicious.

    Yos William

  • Woodfire and Charcoal Grilling

    Dishes cooked over wood fire and hot coals yield distinct smoky depth across grilled fish and skewers.

    The smoky / charcoal taste was wonderful!

    D. Li

  • Airy Architectural Atmosphere

    Light-filled interiors with soaring ceilings and expansive windows offer a calm dining environment.

    spacious, high ceilings and nicely spaced between tables.

    dontwaitdate

  • Integrated Neighborhood Japanese Pantry

    Adjacent retail pantry and grocery market allows diners to explore curated Japanese ingredients and provisions next door.

    Just next door is a cute Japanese pantry store and cafe too which you should check out

    Koi

  • Accommodating Group Dining

    Flexible seating and thoughtful staff accommodate large gathering parties and impromptu group celebrations.

    birthday lunch with about 14 people and the staff managed to accommodate us all.

    Claude Armiger

  • Thoughtful Setup for Families

    Proactive service caters to families with young children through high chairs, pram clearance, and swift kid meals.

    Also went to extra effort to make sure we were in a space of the restaurant where there was space for prams.

    Amanda Liesegang

Traditional set meals and signature mains cooked over coals

  • Japanese breakfast teishoku

    The Japanese breakfast teishoku is delicious.

    Yos William

  • onigiri set

    We had the japanese breakfast with the grilled fish, the onigiri set, the adegashi tofu set, chicken namban and oyster.

    Chanelle Lai

  • chicken Nanban

    The chicken Nanban was also tasty and the portion was generous. It was very tender and juicy with a slightly crispy batter which was coated with a sweet and tangy vinegar sauce, and topped with a creamy tartar sauce.

    Barry

  • tonkatsu set menu

    Visited for early lunch and ordered the weekday tonkatsu set menu, as well as a side of grilled market fish and the chicken Nanban. The tonkatsu set included the pork cutlet, cabbage salad, pickled vegetables, rice and miso soup.

    Barry

Other favorites

Complement your meal with handcrafted drinks, sides, and house sweets

  • matcha ice cream and coffee jelly

    The matcha ice cream and coffee jelly were the best of the best. Honestly the best ice cream I’ve ever had.

    Yui

  • nasu dengaku

    The nasu dengaku was soft and rich, with the perfect balance of sweet and savoury miso.

    Yui

  • houji-cha latte

    a houji-cha latte (delicious)

    Anndy Edwards

  • strawberry Japanese green tea

    The strawberry Japanese green tea really lifted my mood and helped me forget about the weather outside.

    Naeb S.

Beyond the menu

Distinctive hospitality touches and thoughtful operational care at ima Asa Yoru

  • Proactive Family Accommodations

    Staff call guests in advance to coordinate high chair availability, allocate seating with ample space for prams, and prioritize bringing children's food out early.

  • Impromptu Large Party Hospitality

    Kitchen and service teams smoothly welcome and seat impromptu celebrations of up to 14 guests with dedicated, hospitable care.

  • Traditional Wood Fire & Coal Cookery

    The team prepares authentic Japanese dishes using exclusively wood fire and coals, introducing deep, artisan charcoal flavour to morning sets.

  • Adjacent Japanese Pantry & Grocery Integration

    Patrons can transition directly from sit-down teishoku dining into the connected Japanese grocery pantry and cafe next door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I make a reservation before visiting?

Table bookings are strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during busy brunch rushes. You can reserve ahead, and staff can also accommodate large groups or arrange family seating with high chairs when notified in advance.

What dishes are recommended for first-timers?

The menu centers around traditional teishoku breakfast and lunch sets served on balanced trays with miso soup, rice, and seasonal pickles. Customer favorites include the wood-fired grilled fish, onigiri sets, and the popular chicken nanban with house tartar.

What are the Sunday daytime hours and order cutoff times?

On Sundays, ima Asa Yoru is open only for morning and daytime service until 3:00 PM, with last orders closing at 2:00 PM. Weekend lunch items like popular fish specials can sell out early, so arriving well ahead of closing is advised.

Where can I park nearby?

Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood, alongside an open parking lot situated just behind the venue. Because these spots fill quickly during peak dining hours, consider arriving early.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues