The hunt for great sushi and ramen in Melbourne's CBD

Reviews by SUNNY LIU

SUSHI

SUSHI HOTARU
118/200 Bourke St, Melbourne
Verdict: Affordable sushi that’s worth the wait.

This sushi train never disappoints the hard core sushi fan. At $3 a plate, it provides an amazing variety of choices. Take a plate from the rotating train, or order hand rolls that are freshly made just for you.

Sushi Hotaru specialises in nigiri, raw fish or scallop on top of rice. Their made-to-order hand rolls always come with crispy wraps and warm rice.

Sushi Hotaru is a gem that hides among the many restaurants in Chinatown, although always with a long queue.

Beware if you go there during peak eating hours, as you can expect to wait for at least 20 minutes. However, it is always worth it!

Top picks: Scallop nigiri (often runs out during peak hours), soft shell crab omelette hand roll, salmon/eel cream cheese roll, seared salmon & scallops roll, flying fish roe gunkan.

SUSHI HUB 
55 Swanston St, Melbourne
Verdict: A creative combination of take-away and sushi train 

The newly opened Sushi Hub sits at a busy location on Swanston St with that delicious smell of sushi that makes walking past impossible.

It has a combination of takeaway sushi rolls and a sushi train, with a creative menu perfect for both “grab-n-go” and sit-down meals.

Although it can be hit or miss, the sushi sandwich does sound appealing. The inari (rice wrapped with deep fried tofu) that comes with jellyfish, lobster salad or seaweed is full of chewy goodness.

The price of the sushi train ranges from $2.80 to $6.80 per plate, so your bill adds up if you can’t resist taking every plate that comes past.

Top picks: Jellyfish/seaweed inari, seared salmon/scallop nigiri, sushi sandwich.

SAKURA
61 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Verdict: Top-notch sushi but not ideal for those with a thin wallet.

This small sushi bar has a lot to offer. The warm décor and the round tables give a family dinner atmosphere.

The menu is an elegant selection of good quality sushi. The highlight is the seared salmon and scallop varieties.

One of the perks of sitting by the sushi train is watching how the sushi is made, a scene reminiscent of MasterChef.

If you are tired of eating seafood, then the beef burger and marinated beef chunks are the choice for you. The marinated beef is soft while the small burger is a great fusion of eastern and western flavours.

The price ranges from $3.80 to $6.80 per plate. The fresh seafood and the beef cooked to perfection is great value for money.

Top picks: Grilled salmon/scallop nigiri, scampi nigiri, calamari special, beef burger and takoyaki.

RAMEN

HAKATA GENSUKE
168 Russell St, Melbourne
Verdict: Authentic ramen with rich layers of flavours.

 The quality of ramen in Melbourne has improved thanks to Hakata Gensuke.

This restaurant not only provides the most authentic ramen, but it also comes with the most Japanese-style service.

The waitresses always happily greet customers with a loud “irasshaimase”, and the whole store echoes with the welcome greeting.

The highlight of the ramen is the pork broth, which is never too salty to be drunk by the spoonful. This traditional pork stock is cooked with pork bones to add an extra layer of flavour.

If you want to spice it up, God Fire will be the perfect choice. The soup can be chosen in different degrees of spicy. No matter how much you ramp it up, the pork broth will never lose its original flavour.

Top picks: Signature Tonkotsu, God Fire, and black Tonkotsu

SHUJINKO 
225 Russell St, Melbourne
Verdict: Late-night ramen fix with a unique taste.

The ramen comes in unique fragrant Yuzukosho (pepper chilli), but the original taste of the soup still punches through.

The eggs are cooked to perfection. The egg white is a little pickled, and the yolk melts into the flavour of the soup. The chewy, carefully sliced grilled pork is the stand-out topping.

The deep bowls of noodles are immensely satisfying. For $15 you can easily fill your stomach.

As Shujinko is open 24 hours, it is the place to get your late night ramen fix.

Top picks: Shujinko ramen, Tsukemen, and Yaki ramen

FUKURYU RAMEN 
Level 1, 22-26 Corrs Lane, Melbourne
Verdict: Quick lunch with a friendly atmosphere.

Tucked in a narrow hidden laneway, this small restaurant may not be appealing in its décor and location. However the quality of the ramen will not disappoint.

Loud and giggly Fukuryu staff greet you in the same delightful manner as most Japanese restaurants.

This Chinatown ramen bar is all about efficiency. Within eight minutes of ordering, a good portion of ramen was on the table.

This is a great place for a quick lunch on a small budget.

For people with a palate for spices, the Red Dragon ramen will blow you away.

Top picks: Signature Tonkotsu, Tam Tam Ramen, Red Dragon ramen and Shoyu ramen.