Behind a nondescript door, on a small street between St Kilda Road and Kings Way, lies Tempura Hajime. Like many of its counterparts, Tempura Hajime is housed in rather petite surrounds. This is not the place to go if you are booking a raucous hens' or stag night, but if the thought of a well-crafted set menu served in intimate surrounds sparks your interest, then it's worth adding it to your "must experience" list.
Once inside, a short hall opens out into a reception area in which pre-dinner drinks are served. Beyond this space is a stylised dining room. A central counter comfortably seats 12 and allows diners an unobstructed view of the master sushi chef doing his thing.
The selection on offer is not extensive, but it will impress lovers of fine Japanese food. Diners will more than likely have a little Atlantic salmon sashimi pass between their lips, possibly even some shaved daikon with dipping broth, lemon and salt. Each meal is prepared according to the speed at which you consume. The prices would possibly make your grandmother swoon but are not at all outrageous if you are in the mood to treat yourself a little.
Katherine Hartmann
Open
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Breakfast
Lunch
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Dinner
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Late
Tue-Fri noon-2.30pm Mon-Sat 6pm-late
Japanese
Set menu $72 per person
Payment accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, American Express and EFTPOS
Licensed with bar. Wine is available by the glass.
This venue accepts bookings. It is essential to make a reservation ahead of time.
All reviews and ratings are the expressed opinions of our users, and in no way reflects the opinions of yourRestaurants, its staff and its affiliates.
Posted by:
johnny_dust
|
9 October 2009, 12.24pm
Fantastic - The best tempura I have eaten
I went to Tempura Hajime yesterday for dinner and I must say it was fantastic. I have eaten quite a bit of tempura both here and in Japan and this rates with the best I have eaten. The set menu consisted of entree with sashimi, various vegetable, fish and meat infused tempura, salad, tendon (tempura on rice) and dessert of panacotta with muscat sauce. The tempura was all of the highest quality, not oily and very delicious. I liked the tuna wrapped around avocardo with mayonaise on top and the king george whiting as my favorites with the sweet potato tempura running a close third. The set menu cost $72 and drinks were around $8 for a beer, $10 for a cocktail, $15 for a small 150ml sake bottle. The total bill came to just under $200 with 3 beers, sake and a cocktail.
Overall a great dining experience, fantastic service and superb tempura. I will definetaly be back.
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Visit: Fri 9 October 2009
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Posted by:
gb00
|
10 June 2008, 3.40pm
There's only so much tempura you can eat
Dinner here meant the set menu which used to be $60 per head (including dessert but not drinks) but which has now gone up to $72 per head. The space was a very small and brightly lit room which could be quite cosy although a little draughty on the night we went. The tempura was of very good quality. The service was discreet and attentive. The meal started off with a sashimi entree served with a vegetable side dish. This was followed with about 10 (or more??) different types of tempura including sweet potato, prawn, tofu, fish, scallop, and asparagus to name some. The chef would watch our progress as we went through each dish and would then cook the next course accordingly, presenting each tempura on the dish in front of us with a brief description of it. Unfortunately, it s very difficult to eat so much fried food and not feel sickly. And so it was that 5-6 tempura dishes in, we were feeling a bit queasy and just wanted something different. As part of the set menu, we were also served a small side dish of salad, a complimentary shot of apple schnapps, and dessert (yoghurt with Cointreau). These together with the rice that accompanied the final tempura dish were welcome contrasts to the fried food. We left very feeling very full, but not altogether satisfied. Overall, this was a worthwhile dining experience although not a rave; and I would recommend it with reservation.
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Visit: Tue 10 June 2008
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