Akasiro

Random google map find. No booking, we took a chance and was lucky they had table for two spare for dinner. Cozy little place, great atmosphere. Tapas menu wasn't that complex, but sufficient enough with amazing choices and great selections for vegetarians. Very decently priced (I would suggest they could probably charge a little more. Fabulous service, all authentic Japanese (not the mass commercialised 'Japanese restaurant' run by Chinese.) Will definately go back again.

I’d been looking for somewhere authentic desperately and FINALLY I found it!! The food presentation was amazing! The taste was palatable. The dishes were cooked from scratch for sure. The staff were thoughtful. The vibe felt like I was in Japan! The dim light made it feel cozy and the background music didn’t disturb us. Price was good considering how high the quality was.

Haven’t gone since before COVID & we were so happy to come back to such a wonderful menu! Although more pricey than usual, you pay for the quality and the unique local flavours you get. One of a kind & definitely continues to be one of my favourite Japanese restaurants - perfect for date nights!! We ordered: Karaage; Agedashi Tofu; Edamame; Steak; Eggplant; Barramundi Favourites: ALL OF THEM! But a definite stand out is the barramundi cooked to perfection, so soft!!

Great little Japanese place with excellent lunch options! The karaage is always a solid choice.

THE BEST Japanese place in Melbourne at this price point! This doesn't come lightly considering all the places I've reviewed here. They open for dinner! Tapas are homely, delicious, with surprising combination! Authentic and cozy atmosphere with super homely japanese food

Delicious and beautifully presented lunches, but a bit pricey. Recently started doing a dinner tapas menu. Beautiful food! I've tried most of the dishes now and they're all delicious!

Lovely cosy restaurant serving authentic Japanese food. We didn’t have a reservation on a Saturday night but were quickly seated at the bar where we could watch the chefs work. Everything we sampled was amazing. The standout dishes were the sashimi, kingfish, and salmon mushi. Service was very attentive and friendly. I’ll definitely be back to try more!

A Japanese restaurant ran by a Japanese family. Very friendly and welcoming. Not sure about dinner but for lunch they have ready-made bento and Japanese curry (karaage, tonkatsu, hamburg). Lovely familiar taste of Japanese curry. They do give enough curry to cover all the rice nicely. Karaage was made hot and tasty. A very simple but delicious meal.

Lovely meal at Aka Siro! It was my last day in Melbourne, the brother and I ventured to Collingwood to visit the restaurant that we've always been curious about, Aka Siro - A quaint Japanese eatery situated on the quiet corner of Peel St. and Cambridge St.. We arrived just a little after 1 pm and judging from the long queue of people willing to stand outside in the cold, you could definitely size up the popularity of Aka Siro. The restaurant has a petite physicality with half of its seating capacity dedicated to the bar seating, and the other half to tables/dining areas. The menu was equally limited, but all seems very tempting. We ordered several dishes to share: * Karaage Curry: This was a foolproof plate of curry. The chicken was deliciously crispy and tender, the curry was also very hearty! * Nizakana Teishoku: Fish fillet braised with soy, sake and ginger. Fresh and tender fish, but the flavor was nothing too special. * Gyu-Teki Teishoku: This dish was freaking delicious!! The beef was tender, succulent and juicy, the house made sauce was very delicious and addicting. We love every bite of this. Aka Siro certainly satiate our appetite for traditional Japanese cuisine. The food was authentically Nippon, the space was cozy and homey, the service was also hospitable. The Price, on the other hand, was more on the higher side of the scale (each costing between $ 17-22) especially when you witness the (tiny) portions, but the overall flavor was on point!! Aka Siro was well worth the travel! Tip: RSVP is recommended & cash only.

Had dinner at this lovely Japanese restaurant in Collingwood. Very good authentic Japanese cuisine. It's the second time we've been this trip. It's a small place and is always busy so make sure you make reservations ahead of time. #maneklady #manekeats #manektravels

A friend recommended Aka Siro for homecook Japanese. This is as authentic as it can be. Super comforting and something different from a typical sushi, ramen or curry type. If I lived in Melbourne, I'd be a regular.

DELICIOUS!!! This is my favourite Japanese restaurant in Collingwood! It is authentic, fresh and hits the spot every time! My favourite lunch dishes are: Kara-Age Curry (Japanese fried chicken curry), Kara-Age Teishoku (Crispy chicken thigh fillet marinated with soy and ginger), Gyu-Teki Tesishoku (Australian Scotch beef steak) and the Chan-Chan Yaki Teishoku (Grilled salmon, Chinese cabbage and beanshoot)

As we approached the restaurant we were greeted with a mellow reggae tune playing and a delicious smell. It was a perfect vibe to be introduced before entering for a lazy Sunday lunch. Aka Siro is decked out in a traditional Japanese minimal style with everything in its place but with little pieces that make it feel homey, like homemade lemonade marinating in glass jars lining the shelf. The staff are all Japanese and friendly with a respectful and sincere vibe that I find is common in all good Japanese restaurants. I may save the food for last but the miso and ginger fish was melt in my mouth and the salmon was good with a interesting sauce on top. They also have a daily changing side dishes that we sampled and were spot on. I am happy to find a Japanese restaurant next to my house that is not the typical 'Australianified' Japanese. Everything was delicious and great care was put into sourcing quality ingredients from the type of rice used to the dishes the food is served on. Try this restaurant, but not on a weekday night because they are closed. I made that mistake the first time :)

Very good. My favourite restaurant. Very tasty, reliably consistent, friendly staff. Run, don't walk!!!

Fantastic meal in a quaint little restaurant!! one of the best meals I've had in Melbourne. We made a booking 2 hours before on a Saturday evening - easier than I thought it would be! The hostess initially tried to seat us next to another couple at the bar, when the two other bar areas were completely empty. Luckily switching to a more open area was easily achieved. When the restaurant is full, it gets a bit cozy! Price was decent - we each got drinks, and ate to our hearts' content without even room for dessert ($6/dish), all for $75 total. Everything we ordered was good - salmon sashimi, oyster, and quinoa cabbage salad starter was refreshing, the salmon was cut into huge pieces which was a little difficult to eat for me, but overall delicious. The marinated eggplant starter was fantastic. We loved the karaage, the steak was amazing, and the pork belly stir fried with kimchi was marvelous. Got a bowl of bonito/tofu/spring onion rice between the two of us to go with the main dishes. So good, will definitely be back and recommend to everyone.

Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum Yum yum yum yum The tuna melts in your mouth the atmosphere is just like being in Japan. The staff are great I'd give it 10/5 if I could

Aka Siro, located in the heart of Collingwood feels like Japan. The food tastes like food from Japan, and there are actual Japanese people serving you. My dining companion had an Okonomiyaki esque omelette with pork belly while I had a salmon stew. They were both extremely delicious and reasonably priced. Come here for a taste of Japan. Note: Cash only. The closest ATMs are on Smith Street.

Hands down one of the best Japanese places I've eaten outside of Japan. I'm from San Francisco and there's a lot of delicious Japanese food there, but this place trumps any I've been to in the Bay Area. I ordered sashimi, pork belly, and an amazing salad with fried lotus root on top. Top notch service, and perfect recommendations from my server. I don't think anything would've disappointed me to be honest. Keep it up Aka Siro, you're killing it!!

Reminds me of being in Japan stumbling in a small laneway restaurant. Food is delicious and authentic along side the super friendly staff!

Ever been to one of those places where everything feels right immediately? Form the person who greets you at the door to the ambience of the place right to the menu (that really inspires you) right down to the tea cup they use? Well, Aka Siro is one such place. Great (and authentic) Japanese fare at reasonable places. You could tell that the indredients used were fresh and of rather superior quality - none of that pseudo-Japanese stuff that is ubiquitous around town (here's looking at you Don Don and Shuji Sushi!). After you have your meal, don't forget to head across to Minanoie for a nice caffeine (and hispter accessories) fix!

Absolutely love it here! Best Japanese food I've ever had. No sushi. Wish they were open more often!

great ambiance, efficient cool but not cold staff, reasonable prices and the food is really very good. Fresh, crisp, clean - good home-style Japanese. Nice to finish off with a gelato up the road from Messina on Smith St too.