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Restaurant

JAMES

323 Clarendon St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Recommended by 14 people

Updated

Find JAMES

323 Clarendon St, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9690 9285
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: Closed Friday: Closed Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About JAMES

Clarendon Street’s JAMES pairs native Victorian produce with sharp Korean nuance across tight, artful small plates. Local seafood meets fermented pantry staples without heavy-handed seasoning—think crisp Murray cod cut with a bright gochujang emulsion and sweet amaebi bathed in dashi buttermilk, yuzu caviar, and prawn oil. Regulars start with warm potato bread spread thick with nori butter before moving into paced tasting courses. Poured alongside a house-made yuzu soda, lunch unspools quickly, while evening tables linger over roasted koji miso custard balanced by cold yoghurt ice cream.

  • Korean-Australian Nuance: Local ingredients like Murray cod and muntries meet restrained Korean notes and house emulsions.
  • Seafood Focus: Sweet amaebi in dashi buttermilk and prawn oil, balanced by crisp Murray cod with gochujang.
  • Snack Starters: Warm potato bread served with nori butter anchors the opening small plates.
  • Tasting Menu Format: Paced multi-course lunch sets and evening tastings shaped around delicate, focused courses.
RestaurantAustralianRestaurantWine Bar

What's On at JAMES

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose JAMES

Why diners choose JAMES for innovative Korean-Australian fusion and elevated tasting menus.

  • Nuanced Korean Flavors with Local Produce

    JAMES pairs regional Victorian and Australian produce with balanced, nuanced Korean accents rather than heavy traditional seasonings.

    It's Korean fusion, but not all the dishes have a strong Korean flavor, just enough to add a unique twist.

    Sophie Soun

  • Artful Textures and Creative Execution

    Guests encounter inventive combinations of ingredients and layered textures across each course, turning each dish into a sensory surprise.

    The choice of ingredients, the combination of different texture, the execution and presentation were just unbelievable. Every bite was a surprise and I was genuinely impressed by the creativity and effort from James.

    Mashi_soyo

  • Memorable Melbourne Travel and Date Dining

    The kitchen delivers an approachable yet sophisticated dining experience that serves as an anchor for couples on a night out or visitors touring Melbourne.

    An amazing experience at JAMES for our date night. This was our first meal of the trip to Melbourne.

    Joy Kim

  • Showcase of Melbourne's Local Dining Scene

    Centrally situated in South Melbourne, the venue offers an ideal setting for showcasing the city's modern culinary scene to travelers and food enthusiasts alike.

    It’s a Korean fusion restaurant using Melbourne local products and it was a perfect lunch out to experience what Melbourne has to offer.

    Kevin Guard

  • Curated Multi-Course Tasting Menus

    Carefully structured multi-course tasting menus allow diners to explore a wide variety of delicate, chef-curated creations in one visit.

    Easily one of the best tasting menus we've had this year. Everything on the menu was fantastic

    Bru L

  • Paced Service for Streamlined Lunch Visits

    With seamless course pacing and prompt service during busy lunch hours, guests can enjoy a high-end multi-course meal without prolonged delays.

    The service was great, food came out in a timely manner as the lunch crowd picked up.

    Kevin Guard

Signature Korean-Australian fusion dishes highlighting native ingredients and balanced flavours.

  • Potato Bread

    Loved the potato bread with the marron butter, and the marron dish too!

    Bru L

  • Murray Cod

    Murray cod was one of my favourite.

    Joy Kim

  • Amaebi

    The freshness from the prawns, sweetness from the pineapple, nice kick from the jalapeño, burst of tanginess from the yuzu caviar, the umami from the prawn oil brought together with a mild buttermilk. It was heavenly amazing.

    Mashi_soyo

  • Charred Cucumber

    Heaps of people recommended the charred cucumber! It was delicious

    Mashi_soyo

Before you head over

Practical advice to help you get the most out of your dining experience at JAMES

  • Supplement the Tasting Format

    Dishes focus on delicate tasting portions rather than large communal plates; order additional dishes or add a regular menu course if you have a hearty appetite.

  • Pace Your Lunch Order

    Lunch service quickens as the room fills up, so ordering a curated lunch set alongside supplemental items keeps courses arriving in a timely manner.

  • Explore Beverage Alternatives

    The cocktail list is deliberately compact; consider exploring non-alcoholic offerings like the house-made yuzu soda alongside your meal.

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