Restaurant
KENTARO
6/242 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
Find KENTARO
6/242 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout KENTARO
Tucked into Exhibition Street, Kentaro delivers seasonal kaiseki courses and buttery sashimi with quiet precision. Diners watch the counter unfold across rich clam soup, nigiri, and sea urchin, while daytime crowds lean into structured Gozen trays featuring chawanmushi and tender M9 Wagyu. Private tatami rooms provide enclosed corners for focused lunches, backed by staff who quietly adjust place settings to your dominant hand without a word. The pacing stays measured through to the final bite of refreshing dessert.
- Counter Omakase: Multi-course seasonal sushi and kaiseki progressions crafted at the counter, showcasing fresh sea urchin and rich broths.
- Weekday Lunch Trays: Daytime Gozen sets pairing nigiri or chirashi with chawanmushi, miso soup, and sides.
- Private Tatami Spaces: Dedicated partitioned rooms available for discreet business lunches and small gatherings.
What's On at KENTARO
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Dine at Kentaro
From intimate chef-counter omakase journeys to secluded tatami dining and generous midday Gozen sets.
Chef-Curated Seasonal Progression
Executive chefs curate multi-course seasonal journeys featuring fresh sashimi, clam soup, and artistic appetizers served directly at the counter.
The menu was a beautiful progression of fresh, seasonal ingredients, and we were blown away by the variety and quality.
Kai Artistic Plating & Pristine Seafood
Every piece of nigiri and sashimi is prepared with precision, showcasing pristine seafood textures and rich flavors.
The presentation alone is a work of art, starting with the beautifully crafted assorted Japanese appetizers served on a garden display, followed by melt-in-your-mouth sashimi featuring exceptionally fresh sea urchin (uni).
m Generous Daytime Gozen Sets
Generously portioned Gozen lunch sets and daytime omakase offer premium sushi paired with chawanmushi and seasonal sides at an approachable daytime value.
The sets also came with a bunch of sides like soup, salmon carpaccio, chawanmushi, tamagoyaki, and a panna cotta. Everything tasted great and was prepared well. You get an excellent quality sushi meal for a fraction of the price.
Karam Devnani Thoughtfully Crafted Accompaniments
Even traditional side dishes like chawanmushi and miso soup are enhanced with mushrooms, seafood, and rich broths, transforming accompaniments into distinct meal highlights.
Even the miso soup and chawanmushi were no ordinary sides. They were packed with mushrooms, seafood, and other tasty bits, turning what are usually simple accompaniments into highlights of the meal.
Jennilyn Yu Dedicated Private Tatami Rooms
Dedicated private tatami rooms provide a secluded setting suited for business lunches and intimate gatherings away from the main counter.
It was a business lunch, so the private room was really good to have some privacy!
Fiorella Boretti Intuitive, Proactive Hospitality
Staff proactively anticipate diner comfort, seamlessly modifying table settings such as left-handed utensil arrangements without prompting.
My husband is left-handed and the team noticed and adjusted his setting immediately without us saying a word.
Selena L
Most popular items
Signature sets and curated omakase courses
Sushi Kaiseki Omakase
We came as a group of four for the Sushi Kaiseki Omakase dinner and were blown away - this is easily one of the best omakase experiences we’ve had in Melbourne.
Selena L Nigiri Gozen
Both of us ordered Nigiri Gozen. Food was absolutely amazing and well presented.
RACHEL SUN Sashimi Gozen with M9 Wagyu
I had the Sashimi Gozen with M9 Wagyu, and both dishes impressed — the sashimi was incredibly fresh, while the wagyu was tender and melted with every bite.
Jepz Lim Tuna Tartare Uni Don
My absolute favourite was the Tuna Tartare Uni Don — it was so, so good.
groot slee
Other favorites
Accompaniments, seasonal starters, and finishing courses
Chawanmushi
chawanmushi so umami
Wulan Lestari Clam Soup
hands down, my absolute favourite was the clam soup. It was beyond sweet, incredibly rich, and had this crazy, complex flavour that I’ve never experienced before
Kai Hassun
The menu was inspired by spring, and you could really see it in the Hassun appetiser . It is full of greens, colours and beautiful little details.
June Chen Dessert
the dessert was absolutely delicious
Hằng Lê Cẩm
Beyond the menu
Meticulous hospitality details and thoughtful accommodations that elevate the omakase dining experience.
Intuitive Table Settings
The dining team observes guest dexterity unprompted and quietly rearranges place settings for left-handed diners without needing to be asked.
Dedicated Private Tatami Rooms
Small groups can retreat to traditional private tatami rooms, offering discreet seclusion for private gatherings or confidential business lunches.
Personalized Menu Adjustments
The chef accommodates guest preferences and dietary restrictions directly at the counter, tailoring courses seamlessly to individual needs.
Artistic Seasonal Hassun Displays
Appetizers like the Hassun are curated as seasonal works of art, incorporating verdant seasonal greens and garden displays to open the omakase progression.
Before you head over
Helpful advice on reservations, room options, and service accommodations to ensure a seamless visit.
Book Ahead for Lunch
Tables in the main dining area can be quite close together and lunch services get busy in this compact venue, so making an advance booking is strongly recommended.
Request a Tatami Room for Privacy
Small groups planning a meeting or private meal can request one of the venue's dedicated private tatami dining rooms for added space and seclusion.
Communicate Dining Preferences
The kitchen is attentive to personal dining requirements, accommodating dietary restrictions on request and even adjusting table settings for left-handed diners.
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