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Restaurant

Yamato Japanese Restaurant

223 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 27 people

Updated

Find Yamato Japanese Restaurant

223 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9663 1707
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Plan your visit

About Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Homely Japanese comfort food tucked across from Melbourne’s East End theatre district—calm, unpretentious, and built for a restorative meal. Regulars duck in before curtain call for hearty teriyaki salmon bento boxes, steaming bowls of niku udon, and savoury shabu-shabu served alongside chilled bottles of sake. Towards the back, low tatami booths let you kick off your shoes and unwind beneath soft wooden partitions, while upfront counter ordering keeps the pace breezy and entirely free of weekend or holiday surcharges.

  • Traditional tatami booths: Low-set floor booths behind wooden partitions require shoe removal for an understated, traditional meal.
  • Pre-theatre convenience: Situated right across from the Comedy Theatre and Her Majesty's Theatre for quick udon and bento before curtain call.
  • No weekend surcharges: Clear-cut pricing with no extra surcharges added on weekends or public holidays.
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What's On at Yamato Japanese Restaurant

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Homely Japanese classics, traditional floor seating, and easy pre-theatre dining on Exhibition Street.

  • Dependable Japanese Comfort Staples

    Yamato prepares traditional comfort dishes such as fresh bento boxes and noodle dishes served at fair CBD pricing.

    Delicious bento boxes - crunchy salads and tender meat. Not overly expensive for Melbourne CBD.

    Darren L

  • Straightforward Dining Value

    Diners can choose classic options while enjoying upfront ordering and fair pricing without holiday premiums.

    all price are still good value for money compared to other Japanese restaurants

    Lusi Farida

  • Prime Theatre District Convenience

    Situated directly by Her Majesty's Theatre and the Comedy Theatre, the diner offers prompt service for showgoers.

    A really good option for a cheaper meal in the theatre district.

    pastelsparkles

  • Quick Pre-Show Meal Service

    Counter ordering and swift kitchen turnaround provide an efficient stop for visitors arriving close to curtain time.

    Went here for a quick dinner before the theatre. Despite being very late, the staff made sure to have our sushi ready super quickly.

    Zoe Hutchinson

  • Traditional Floor Mat Seating

    Guests can sit at traditional floor mat booths requiring shoe removal, creating an intimate Japanese dining setting.

    authentic Japanese boots that you take off your shoes and settle into the atmosphere of soft Japanese music and wooden partitions.

    Amber Ravine

  • Authentic Tokyo Diner Atmosphere

    Yamato offers an unpretentious, quiet dining atmosphere reminiscent of a classic Tokyo diner.

    Loved Yamato. It feels like a Tokyo diner. Reasonably priced, authentic, oishi!

    Matthew Boyd

Classic Japanese comfort dishes favoured for quick theatre dining and reliable city meals

  • Bento

    Delicious bento boxes - crunchy salads and tender meat.

    Darren L

  • Miso Soup

    You know the place is pretty good when the miso soup comes out piping hot, and not lukewarm like many other places.

    Darren L

  • Niku Udon

    As for the dishes, I highly recommend the Niku Udon and different types of Bento.

    CX W

  • Shabu Shabu

    We had the shabu shabu and the soup was amazing. Portion of the beef was quite generous and very tender.

    justin wong

Before you head over

Practical advice on ordering flow, seating, and timing for your visit

  • Allow Buffer Time for Theatre Dining

    Front-of-house service is frequently managed by a single staff member who handles orders, table clearing, and payments. If you are catching a show at the Comedy Theatre or Her Majesty's Theatre, give yourself extra time, as meal pacing can slow down when large theatre crowds arrive simultaneously.

  • Order and Pay at the Counter

    When you arrive, head to the front counter to place your order and settle payment upfront before taking your seat, then pick up water from the counter service station.

  • Try the Floor Mat Seating

    For an authentic Tokyo diner feel, opt for the two traditional raised floor mat tables at the back, where guests take off their shoes before dining.

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