Tokyo Motto

THE VERDICT

If you’ve had your ear to the ground waiting to hear the rumblings of a fresh new restaurant set to shake up the scene, Tokyo Motto might finally be music to your ears.

Plastered smack-bang in the middle of the city, this cosy Bourke Street joint is bringing you Japanese culture by day and a devilish Izakaya bar by night. 

Hospitality powerhouse Spring Chee has clocked twenty-two years of experience and brought Melbourne some much-loved establishments—think Le Mille Creperie, Sugar Labo and Sweetie Moustache—a real dessert lover will know these names by heart. But unlike her other creations, Tokyo Motto isn’t all about the sweet tooths, with a menu crafted specially to bring common Japanese flavours to the heart of the city. 

A two-month journey through Japan is where Chee curated her signature golden curry sauce, infused with stone fruits and fresh bee honey; this unique combination is definitely a must-have. You can also expect OmuRice and thick-cut katsu, with sous vide pork loin that has been tightly sealed for twenty-four hours, so it’s oozing flavour, and if 2024 was the year to try something new then surely Ice Cream-ramen will tick that box.

We know how much Melbourne cherishes its cheap and delicious food and drinks and Chee has heard that request loud and clear—From 9pm onwards Tokyo Motto becomes an Izakaya hot-spot. 

Image credit: Tokyo Motto | Arianna Leggiero

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