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Restaurant

Wabi Sabi Salon

Level 1/94 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Recommended by 47 people

Updated

Find Wabi Sabi Salon

Level 1/94 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9417 6119
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:30 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Wabi Sabi Salon

A climb above Smith Street leads into a nostalgic Tokyo apartment packed with paper lanterns, retro trinkets, and simmering broths. Regulars gravitate toward the multi-dish teishoku trays—pairing mains like fresh sashimi or pork belly wrapped asparagus with bowls of rice, miso soup, and up to six housemade vegetable osozai. Plant-based diners bypass usual menu compromises entirely, digging into a dedicated vegan line-up featuring nutty, sesame-laced tan tan ramen alongside crispy panko-crumbed tofu curry katsu don.

  • Multi-dish teishoku sets: Generous set meals pair choices like grilled fish, wagyu, or agedashi tofu with rice, miso soup, and up to six seasonal vegetable side dishes.
  • Thoughtful vegan dining: A dedicated plant-based roster features rich sesame tan tan ramen and crunchy tofu curry katsu don crafted without seafood broth.
  • Retro izakaya charm: Paper lanterns, retro Japanese knick-knacks, and an alleyway-style path through to the back create a transportive Tokyo retreat.
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What's On at Wabi Sabi Salon

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Wabi Sabi Salon

Balanced Teishoku sets, nostalgic Tokyo vibes, and thoughtful vegan dining on Smith Street

  • Multi-Dish Teishoku Trays

    Wabi Sabi Salon sets up complete traditional meal sets combining a chosen protein or vegetable main with miso soup, steamed rice, and an array of homemade vegetable side dishes.

    Each set comes with a side of homemade vegetables, miso soup and rice.

    K

  • Abundant Homemade Osozai Sides

    Trays are complemented by diverse house-made osozai sides like deep-fried tofu, pickled cucumbers, and steamed pumpkin with yuzu dressing.

    They offered us 6 sides to go with the main dish, plus a bowl of rice and some miso soup.

    Nanling Liu

  • Transportive Tokyo Atmosphere

    Stepping past the lanterns and through the narrow interior creates an immersive, nostalgic feeling reminiscent of Tokyo backstreets.

    Once we set our foot here, it feels like we’re lost in Japan!

    Follow IG: Melbourneinfood

  • Nostalgic Izakaya Ephemera and Garden Walkway

    Eclectic decor complete with retro toys, lucky cats, paper lanterns, and a walk-through path leading to a back garden elevates casual dining.

    The interior is a nostalgic treasure trove of Japanese toys and trinkets, creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

    Rachel Lightbody

  • Effortless Mixed-Dietary Dining

    Extensive plant-based recipes allow omnivores and vegans to share dinner tables effortlessly with balanced options for everyone.

    great place to go if you have a mixture of dietaries and are wanting somewhere that is always going to be good.

    Rachael Martin

  • Purpose-Built Plant-Based Depth

    With dedicated mains like creamy tan tan ramen and agedashi tofu sets, plant-based diners enjoy full culinary depth without seafood dashi compromise.

    Finding a restaurant that puts real effort into its vegan menu isn't always easy, but this place absolutely delivers.

    Kino

Beloved Japanese classics and signature house sets

  • Vegan Tan Tan

    The Vegan Tan Tan was the standout for me.

    Kino

  • Tofu Curry Katsu Don

    The Tofu Curry Katsu Don was also fantastic.

    Alexandra S

  • Sashimi Set

    Got their sashimi set and it was so perfect.

    shelagh kratz

  • Asparagus Wrapped in Pork Belly

    I got the asparagus wrapped in pork belly and it was so delicious, it came out so quickly and was so delicious.

    Jodi Rubinstein

Other favorites

Specialty beverages and savory izakaya starters

  • Housemade Yuzu Soda

    Housemade Yuzu soda is yumm too.

    Enoki N Daisy

  • Chilled Sake

    Loved the Sake that was served chilled and definitely hit the spot.

    Swayne Rodrigues

  • Vegan Dumplings

    Vegan dumpling was served boiled style. They come with spicy sauce, and it was good.

    Yurie Kimura

  • Lightly Torched Scallops

    Lightly torched scallops: so good!

    Hanmo Li

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful dining nuances and atmospheric touches that elevate the experience

  • Carefully segregated vegan preparation

    Plant-based broths and katsu dishes are crafted with clean separation, giving sensitive diners complete confidence with zero fishy aroma or flavor contamination.

  • Japanese side street back passage

    Pass through the hidden back garden to discover an alleyway decorated with paper lanterns and neon light boxes modeled after a Tokyo side street.

  • Bespoke six-dish osozai side spreads

    Teishoku meals are served with up to six distinct homemade vegetable osozai, including steamed pumpkin with yuzu spicy mayo dressing, tofu, and seasonal pickles.

  • Nostalgic retro toy and trinket decor

    The dining room is decorated like a nostalgic Tokyo apartment, featuring shelves of lucky cats tucked into wooden beams and retro Japanese toys and trinkets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I make a reservation before visiting?

Booking ahead is strongly recommended. The dining room fills up fast—even on weeknights—and walk-ins may face wait times or limited dining windows if an upcoming table is reserved.

Are there dedicated vegan and vegetarian options?

Yes. Wabi Sabi Salon offers an extensive dedicated vegan menu, including vegan tan tan ramen, agedashi tofu teishoku, tofu curry katsu don, and dumplings, prepared without seafood or fishy flavours.

What comes in a Teishoku set meal?

Teishoku is a Japanese set meal centered around a main dish (such as pork belly, teriyaki barramundi, chicken karaage, or tofu) served alongside rice, miso soup, and several distinct homemade vegetable side dishes (osozai).

Is there outdoor garden seating available?

Yes. In addition to the indoor dining room, there is an outdoor back garden area with communal seating decorated like a Japanese side street.

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