Hareruya Pantry

After seeing this viral trending mochi gelato all over social media, we decided to go and see what the hype was about. My partner decided to sample as I’m not a matcha fan personally. Staff were very accommodating and explained the ordering options pleasantly. We’ll definitely be back.

Unless you are a fan of Japanese sweets already, some of Hareruya’s sweet offerings may come across as a bit of acquired taste. I tried akashiso-flavoured gelato in a rice cracker with daifuku. The flavours were nice, the textures intriguing, I quite enjoyed it, but wasn’t in love with it. But I was in love with all the care and attention to detail, it was fun to try!

Went to Hareruya Pantry for “just a taste” and left questioning my self-control. We ordered the Strong Matcha, Mikan & Coconut, and Mixed Berry & Yuzu, all crammed into a one-litre tub that should legally come with a warning label. The strong matcha does not lie. It’s bold, earthy, and tastes like it could judge you for drinking weak matcha in the past. The mikan & coconut is a plot twist — bright Japanese citrus meets creamy coconut and somehow they become best friends. The mixed berry & yuzu is sharp, refreshing, and hits like a tiny citrus slap that keeps you going back for more. The real danger? It’s so light. No sugar bomb, no heavy aftertaste, no “I need to lie down now” moment. Just clean, refreshing flavours that trick you into thinking it’s totally reasonable to keep eating. And eating. And eating. If you enjoy authentic Japanese flavours and testing the limits of your willpower, Hareruya Pantry delivers. One litre sounds generous. It is not.

Very adorable and chill gelato place. There are a few chairs for seating. Many gelato flavours to choose from. This place is known for their mochi cover. You can try before deciding which one to buy. Only 1 staff when I was there. Would come next time to try their drinks.

One of the only two gelato shops in Melbourne that I ate twice,the other one is on Tasmania. First of all, who thought about the idea of the daifuku skin is a genius. You def have to order it since it is even the same price as without it!! Secondly the flavors are not bad at all, I ensure that all the flavors ending in cha won’t get wrong. Besides we just ran into the Valentine’s Day so there was a special flavor, it’s dark chocolate with crunchy cookies idk what exactly it is but it was delicious as well. Overall, it’s no. 2 on my pocket list.

Really cute spot for gelato! They get really busy after the dinner rush, so best to go before, so you don’t have to wait in line. They have quite a small seated area inside as well. I tried a few different flavours (like strong matcha and mirin apple pie) before deciding to go with the hōjicha chocolate daifuku gelato (AUD $6.80) which wasn’t too bad. The strong matcha was very strong imo 😅 The mochi wrapped around it was nice but not as thin and soft as I’ve had it before at another gelato place. I also got their hot matcha latte with oat milk (AUD $7). It was ok but just like their gelato, the matcha taste wasn’t too strong.

Harerruya Pantry offers amazing Japanese-style ice cream with a smooth, delicate texture that isn’t overly sweet. I especially recommend the matcha flavour, which has a rich, authentic tea aroma and a perfectly balanced taste. It’s refreshing, high quality, and a must-try for matcha lovers.

The matcha slushie cooled me right down on this super hot day - exactly what i needed! Perfect if you like your matcha icy COLD and sweetened, but still punching a good matcha hit. Honestly became abit too sweet for me after halfway but still a really satisfying matcha drink. And I was helped by such a friendly person behind the counter who talked me through the slushie and gave me a try before I committed myself to it. Thank you for a wonderful start to my day!