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Restaurant

Izakaya by Tamura

343 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Recommended by 78 people

Updated

Find Izakaya by Tamura

343 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 417 921 527
HoursMonday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Saturday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Izakaya by Tamura

This Smith Street izakaya captures Tokyo dive-bar energy with late-night ramen, charred yakitori, and house-brewed lager. Downstairs buzzes with front-bar chatter, clinking yuzu highballs, and post-gig crowds slipping in for rich bowls of iekei or curry ramen. Upstairs offers a mellow retreat for sharing plates of crispy chicken karaage, tender negima skewers, and steamed gyoza over bottles of sake. Taps pour Tamulager—a crisp house collaboration brewed with Stomping Ground—while rotating takoyaki setups keep things lively at the counter.

  • Late-Night Ramen: Rich bowls of iekei and curry ramen served late into the night for post-gig dining.
  • Rotating Pop-Ups: Features rotating kitchen specials alongside Sunday yakitori promotions and takoyaki counters.
  • House Craft Brew: Pours house-exclusive Tamulager brewed by Stomping Ground alongside curated sake and whisky highballs.
  • Two-Floor Layout: Split layout features an energetic pub-style front bar downstairs and a quieter lounge upstairs.
RestaurantJapaneseBar

What's On at Izakaya by Tamura

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Spend Your Evening at Izakaya by Tamura

Authentic izakaya hospitality, house-brewed lager, and comforting late-night ramen in Fitzroy.

  • Comforting Late-Night Ramen & Beer

    Open late for post-show dining, Izakaya by Tamura dishes out rich, comforting bowls of ramen paired with craft beer long after nearby kitchens have shut.

    A fantastic spot for a late-night bite after an event.

    Francesca wong

  • Dedicated Vegan & Dietary Options

    The venue offers dedicated plant-based fare like house specialty vegan ramen and vegetable small plates, making mixed dietary group dining seamless.

    The vegan ramen is the best we have ever had

    Mitch C

  • Bespoke Celebrations & Mini-Takeovers

    Groups can reserve the downstairs bar or gather upstairs with tailored banquet menus, custom welcome drinks, and vinyl setups managed directly with the team.

    Fumi and Taka arranged a great space, helped us tailor a menu plus a welcome cocktail and enabled us to bring our own mixer and vinyl for the night

    Charlotte Webb

  • Two-Level Venue Versatility

    The split-level layout balances an energetic front bar downstairs with a peaceful lounge upstairs, accommodating vibrant parties alongside relaxed dining.

    This was great for us and still allowed for diners to eat upstairs in the (uber-cool) lounge if they wanted a more peaceful evening.

    Clifford Moss

  • Charcoal Skewers & Highball Evenings

    A pairing of freshly grilled yakitori skewers, specialty yuzu highballs, and quick bar hospitality creates an unpretentious, memorable evening out.

    Amazing date night! Can’t wait to go back. Food was amazing.

    Cai T

  • Exclusive Stomping Ground 'Tamulager'

    Izakaya by Tamura pours its exclusive house rice malt craft beer, 'Tamulager', brewed locally with Stomping Ground to complement skewers and ramen.

    the house beer 'Tamulager' is an excellent and sessionable beer that goes well with Japanese food.

    David McGrath

Customer-favourite noodle bowls, charcoal-grilled skewers, and signature izakaya dishes

  • Ramen

    They have a great variety of ramen options, and every bowl we tried was absolutely delicious. The broth was rich and flavourful, and the ingredients were fresh and well-prepared.

    Francesca wong

  • Yakitori

    I also tried the Mune and Negima yakitori, which were chunky, tasty, and had a nice bit of char that added great depth to the flavour.

    Yos William

  • Japanese Fried Chicken

    Highly recommend stopping in and trying the JFC (Japanese fried chicken).

    Dean Barber

  • Vegan Ramen

    The vegan ramen is the best we have ever had, the music is always so funky, we love the atmosphere, and the staff are so cool and friendly.

    Mitch C

Other favorites

Signature highballs, collaborative house craft beer, appetizers, and desserts

  • Tamulager

    the house beer 'Tamulager' is an excellent and sessionable beer that goes well with Japanese food.

    David McGrath

  • Yuzu Highball

    Matched perfectly with a Yuzu highball, what better for a light meal on a warm night in Melbourne.

    David McGrath

  • Gyoza

    omg those gyoza and the chicken.. BIG hits.

    Clifford Moss

  • Soy Sauce Ice Cream

    Finishing with dessert of Matcha cake and soy sauce ice cream superb

    Lynda German

Beyond the menu

Curated hospitality touches, custom party details, and distinct house brews at Izakaya by Tamura

  • Custom Event Cocktails & Vinyl Setups

    Organisers planning milestone celebrations can arrange customized welcome cocktails, tailored banquets, and plug in their own vinyl records or mixer to soundtrack the event.

  • House Brewed 'Tamulager' Collaboration

    The bar features its own collaborative house rice malt draft beer, 'Tamulager', brewed alongside local brewers Stomping Ground to complement izakaya dishes.

  • Surprise Pop-Ups & Skewer Specials

    Guests enjoy surprise pop-up food stalls on-site, including fresh takoyaki counters and dedicated Sunday yakitori promotions.

  • Dedicated Vegan Ramen & Izakaya Plates

    Plant-based diners can enjoy dedicated vegan ramen alongside diverse vegetable small plates like miso eggplant, kanpyo, and agedashi tofu.

Before you head over

Practical pointers on seating vibes, house pours, and dietary options

  • Pick Your Vibe Across Two Levels

    If you are planning an event or dining during lively weekend sessions, downstairs hosts mini-takeovers and DJ sets while the upstairs lounge offers a calmer dining atmosphere.

  • Order the House Collab Craft Tap

    Pair skewered chicken or rich ramen bowls with the venue's exclusive Stomping Ground 'Tamulager' rice malt house craft beer brewed specially for the food menu.

  • Explore Dedicated Vegan Options

    Those with plant-based dietary preferences can easily join mixed groups, featuring a dedicated vegan ramen alongside vegetable dishes like miso eggplant and agedashi tofu.

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