Wabi Sabi Salon

Japanese restaurant · Collingwood

Wabi Sabi Salon

Japanese restaurant · Collingwood

Level 1/94 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia

Highlights

This cozy Japanese retreat on Smith Street invites you to relish fresh sashimi and bento boxes in a charming, relaxed atmosphere adorned with quirky decor.

Level 1/94 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia Get directions

wabisabisalon.com.au

@wabisabisalon

A$20–40 · Menu

Reserve

@onthegrid

"Wabi Sabi is a Japanese world view representing beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" – a beautiful concept though Wabi Sabi Salon's cuisine is far from imperfect or incomplete! Nestled in a busy Smith St location, it is a small and unassuming Japanese restaurant that never disappoints. Locals love the lunch time take away sushi options – some of the best I've had in Melbourne (no sushi after-taste from cheap fish, this is the real deal), or sit down lunch specials such as their famous bento boxes, pictured below. Try the crumbed salmon, it's incredible." - Studio Fellow

On the Grid : Wabi Sabi Salon

test

@onthegrid

"Wabi Sabi Salon, Collingwood Abbotsford by Studio Fellow. Wabi Sabi is a Japanese world view representing beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" – a beautiful concept though Wabi Sabi Salon's cuisine is far from imperfect or incomplete!Nestled in a busy Smith St location, it is a small and unassuming Japanese restaurant that never disappoints.Locals love the lunch time take away sushi options – some of the best I've had in Melbourne (no sushi after-taste from cheap fish, this is the real deal), or sit down lunch specials such as their famous bento boxes, pictured below.Try the crumbed salmon, it's incredible."

Melbourne

test

Chloe Tae

Google

The food was truly delightful and offered excellent value for the generous portion sizes. The lady with long hair and a warm smile who served us was both gracious and attentive, providing exceptional service. We highly recommend this place and look forward to returning.

Nina Lin

Google

The presentation of the food was impressive, but unfortunately, the taste didn’t quite meet my expectations. Being a half Japanese, the rice was a letdown — it should have been distinct, chewy, and firm, as you’d expect from well-prepared Japanese cuisine. Instead, it was overly sticky, soft, and almost mushy, which really affected the overall experience. Given that rice is such a key component in Japanese dishes, I was hoping for better quality in that area. On a positive note, I really loved the atmosphere here. The restaurant has a lovely Japanese-inspired style that’s warm and inviting, making it a great place to chill and enjoy a meal. If they improve the rice, it would be an even better experience!

Natasha Sudirgo

Google

A quaint japanese restaurant just a few minutes outside of CBD. One of my friends brought me here to get ramen for lunch; We both ordered the Tan Tan Ramen and the Shoyu Ramen 🍜✨ The Tan Tan Ramen was creamy and very flavourful with minces of chicken and veggies. They're not too spicy either, just enough to envoke flavour. The Shoyu Ramen was lighter in taste but still flavourful. It's served with whole chicken and veggies too, a good option if you can't eat anything spicy. I think the portion and quality matches the price, they were big and tasted delicious. The atmosphere was relaxing and the staff were really attentive in serving us, they gave us water right away as soon as we were seated and took our orders from our seats. I especially like the design for the sitting spaces attached to the wall. Overall, it was a great dining experience.

Alicia Chan

Google

This cool, retro Japanese-inspired spot on Smith Street, Collingwood, specialises in Japanese Teishoku. The interior is a nostalgic treasure trove of Japanese toys and trinkets, creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere perfect for a casual meal with friends. Each set ($32–$37) features a main dish of your choice alongside a variety of daily side dishes. The presentation is impeccable, with vibrant plates that are pleasing to the eye. The pumpkin and agedashi tofu stood out among the side dishes and complemented the dishes well. The pork spare ribs were tender and generously portioned, though the fish fillet felt a bit small in comparison. While the food itself is not outstanding, it’s the restaurant’s unique ambiance and aesthetic that truly shine. Conveniently located on Smith Street with easy tram access, it’s a fun and visually delightful spot to catch up with friends or enjoy a low-key night out.

Mitsuki Harry

Google

Wabi Sabi was a vibrant restaurant fulled with dozens of happy customers. The food was Devine with a unique eating experience like taishoku (collection of small tasters with main, rice and miso soup). Not only was the meat cooked to perfection it just melted in your mouth releasing a plethora of flavours. There really was an option for all with the fish tasting extremely fresh and released all flavours present. Presentation also added to the experience with a collection of individually selected ceramic plate with not a single one being the same. Overall a memorable experience and probably one of the best Japanese in Melbourne. Highly recommend anyone looking for a funky Japanese restaurant.

Jenny Seo

Google

NOT RECOMMENDED. I was absolutely disappointed at their service in this evening. A girl staff was very RUDE since we walked in. I longed for visiting this restaurant so mush as the foods and atmosphere seemed very good. Overall, average food qualities but pretty nice Japanese vibes inside and garden. It can be a small serve for males. Aside from the foods and atmosphere, they made customers feel very ashamed when the customers asked something to them with very bad table services. I won’t revisit this place again as there are many other options in Collingwood and Fitzroy.

bunny bb

Google

amazing atmosphere and food! interior is gorgeous and the tables out the back are amazing to eat at. food was great, sashimi was fresh and sides were all very delicious!! i recommend booking since it can get quite busy.

Caitlynn Z

Google

I really like the atmosphere here, felt very homey. It was perfect to hangout with friends for a dinner :) We sat in the back, I liked that. Felt very private. Not the next Japanese food I had in town, but for a quick dinner place it's not bad. I did notice the price was a little more than other Japanese restaurants I've been too. With that said, I would definitely come back since it's very close to work, and the place is very good for hangout.