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Restaurant

Robata Melbourne

2 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 34 people

Updated

Find Robata Melbourne

2 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9989 3575
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:30 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Robata Melbourne

Robata Melbourne channels Tokyo night energy onto Exhibition Street, searing skewers over open binchotan coals with casual fine-dining finesse. Under suspended lightboxes and neon signs, counter stools look straight into the roaring hearth. The food arrives paced for dinner dates or quick bites before curtains rise at nearby theatres. Regulars call for the juicy chicken meatballs paired with cured egg yolk, buttery scallop sandos, and seared salmon slicked in tangy mustard miso. Even set-menu banquets adapt with ease—the floor staff steer coeliac, vegetarian, and halal requests with confident ingredient knowledge. Drinks lean sharp and deliberate, from crisp draft Asahi and sake flights to hojicha mochi doughnuts resting over sweet mascarpone and bitter coffee syrup.

  • Charcoal-Grilled Robatayaki: Skewers like tare-glazed chicken meatballs, pork belly, and wagyu sizzle over an open charcoal hearth right before counter seats.
  • Confident Dietary Adaptation: Floor staff navigate coeliac, vegan, and halal dining requests with ease, modifying set menus without hesitation.
  • Paced Pre-Event Dining: Dishes move seamlessly for show-goers heading to nearby East End theatres or sporting matches at the MCG.
  • Sake Flights & Pairings: Curated sake flights with tasting notes, draft Asahi, and citrus-forward cocktails round out the late-evening Tokyo energy.
RestaurantJapaneseDessertRestaurantBarCocktail Bar

What's On at Robata Melbourne

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Robata Melbourne

Distinctive charcoal robatayaki, precise dietary care, and seamless pacing for city milestones.

  • Front-Row Charcoal Grilling Experience

    Guests seated along the kitchen counter get a front-row view of chefs grilling yakitori, wagyu, and seafood over open charcoal.

    Sitting at their bar watching them make our food was amazing. Their food was grilled with superb charcoal which gave the food a tremendous smokey flavour which was what yakitori is all about.

    Nick

  • Vibrant Neon Tokyo Ambiance

    Neon light installations and suspended lightboxes bring a dynamic Tokyo izakaya energy tailored for celebratory milestone dining.

    The hyper-modern interior comes straight out of a sci-fi film, filled with neon signs and suspended lightboxes from the ceiling

    Stelly

  • Proactive Coeliac & Dietary Modifications

    Floor staff possess comprehensive allergen awareness, adjusting set and tasting courses on the fly so coeliac and intolerant guests dine without hesitation.

    Sophie is Coeliac, so dining out can sometimes be stressful, but Sofian made the entire experience effortless. He was knowledgeable, confident and took the time to guide us through the menu with excellent gluten free recommendations.

    Jaime G. Cerda (Abcerda)

  • Transparent Multi-Diet Accommodation

    Servers readily outline preparation methods and menu adaptations to accommodate vegan, vegetarian, and halal requirements.

    The food was excellent, as I have halal requirements. The staff clearly explained how the food was cooked, so we knew how it was prepared.

    Anis Armanto

  • Seamless Pre-Theatre Dinner Timing

    Situated at the top of Exhibition Street, the dining room provides prompt pacing so patrons make curtain calls without feeling rushed.

    Everything was delicious, staff were so friendly and made sure we got to our show on time. Fantastic service and atmosphere!

    Jaybro

  • Prime Match-Day Dining by the MCG

    Convenient proximity to the MCG and Melbourne Olympic Parks sports precinct makes the venue a dependable stop for an elevated pre-match meal.

    If you’re looking for somewhere to go before an event at the MCG you won’t go wrong giving Robata a try.

    Wayne Gould

Signature charcoal-grilled robatayaki and beloved customer favorites

  • Chicken Meatball Skewer

    My personal standout was the meatball skewer. Incredibly juicy, perfectly seasoned and easily one of the best skewers I’ve had.

    George Slavchev

  • Black Opal Wagyu Short Rib Skewer

    No complaints here - just juicy, tender, and fatty wagyu short rib coated in a delicious sweet and savoury soy glaze. My favourite skewer!

    Stelly

  • Seared Salmon with Japanese Mustard Miso

    Their signature dish and an absolute must-try! The salmon melts in your mouth and the mustard sauce is delicious!

    Stelly

  • Chicken Karaage

    Chicken karaage was absolutely delicious!!! Incredibly juicy chicken thighs coated in such a crunchy batter paired with a creamy nutty sauce.

    Jasmine D

Other favorites

Accompaniments, drinks, and sweets to complete the izakaya experience

  • Mochi Donuts

    Super warm hojicha flavoured mochi donuts, which were perfectly chewy and pillowy at the same time, coated in a crunchy sugar coating sitting on top of a sweet mascarpone, a bitter sweet coffee syrup with shards of crunchy chocolate!!

    Jasmine D

  • Sake Flight

    I ordered a sake flight which was a great way to try a few different varieties and included tasting notes.

    Stephen Ragell

  • Kipfler Potato

    Crispy and moreish potatoes with the most addictive mentaiko mayo sauce - absolutely delicious, albeit on the heavier side!

    Stelly

  • Yuzu Gin Cocktail

    Be sure to order the Yuzu Gin cocktail to round out the evening; it’s the perfect citrusy complement to the menu.

    NinaBelle Travels

Beyond the menu

Personalized gestures and attentive floor touches that elevate dining at Robata.

  • Custom Anniversary Dessert Writing

    Couples celebrating milestones receive thoughtful custom piping and celebratory writing on their desserts to mark the occasion.

  • Pre-Theatre Curtain Coordination

    Waitstaff seamlessly coordinate with the kitchen when guests run behind schedule, pacing orders to ensure they reach nearby shows on time without rushing their meal.

  • Attentive Coeliac & Allergy Guidance

    Front-of-house staff proactively break down recipe components and provide tailored gluten-free and allergen substitutions for coeliac diners without stress.

  • Chef-Led Menu Input at the Counter

    Chefs at the robatayaki counter actively solicit direct table feedback and creative ideas from guests to inform continuous menu development.

Before you head over

Practical advice for booking, timing, and menu modifications at Robata Melbourne

  • Navigate Dietary Constraints with Confidence

    If you have coeliac, vegan, or halal requirements, let your server know right away. The front-of-house team knows the ingredients thoroughly and can guide you through tailored recommendations or adapt tasting menus without hassle.

  • Flag Pre-Show and Stadium Deadlines

    Heading to the theatre or games at the MCG or AO? Alert floor staff upon arrival; the kitchen and waitstaff will actively pace your courses and coordinate timing so you make curtain call or kickoff.

  • Request Kitchen Counter Seating

    For an immersive, high-energy dining experience, request counter seats overlooking the open kitchen to watch skewers, steaks, and robatayaki grilled over hot charcoal.

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