Ocha Japanese Restaurant provides Hawthorn and it's surrounds with premium, modern Japanese cuisine using locally and internationally sourced produce. Our Sushi and Sashimi is unlike anything you've ever experienced - soft, delicate and flavoursome. The Ocha staff team are all passionate about Japanese food and are dedicated to providing you with an experience to remember - not only with new tastes but company too.
If you want a little lesson in the importance of texture and freshness in cooking, go to Ocha. Come grab a bite to eat from a specially designed bar menu and a glass of French Burgundy.
If you want a little lesson in the importance of texture and freshness in cooking, go to Ocha. Come grab a bite to eat from a specially designed bar menu and a glass of French Burgundy.
Services
The RestaurantFocusing on the important things in life - family, friends and the domestic theatre of great food. For more than 20 years we have been tempting Melburnians with contemporary Japanese flavours meticulously prepared from the freshest ingredients. Our menu encourages shared dining whereby traditional techniques are combined with playful imaginative touches to create tastes and textures both approachable and memorable.
The spaces can be used together or independently to accommodate up to 65 seated guests or 100 guests for a standup function. The space is available 7 days per week (surcharge on Sunday and public holiday). Our set menu starts at $65pp. We work with you to accommodate all dietary requirements, Ocha favourites and seasonal produce.
For all other times, days or any other special requests please call the restaurant on (03) 9853 6002. Friday and Saturday nights have 2 sittings; 1st sitting 6pm until 7.45pm and 2nd sitting 8pm until 10.30pm. If you book in the 1st/early sitting, we will require the table back by 7.45pm to properly sanitize your table.
Reviews (18)
Shalini Sinnan
Jan 09, 2022
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Marco Fedi
Jan 07, 2022
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Unfortunately, not the Ocha it used to be. Not the high class Japanese restaurant it used to be. Mediocre service, Oysters ordered as an entree but served as a main. Slow service despite being half empty and more upsetting charged an additional 35 dollars (luckily we realized before paying). Apologies accepted but still not you would expect from this type of restaurants. The food is still delicious though.
Marta Tesoro
Dec 08, 2021
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Tiffii C.
Dec 06, 2021
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Lil' Kym
Mar 19, 2021
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Timinmelbourne
Nov 24, 2020
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I grabbed a range of dishes from here. The last time I was here was pre lock down.
The food was tasty, I enjoyed the variety and the different flavours.
The sushi was fresh, the miso eggplant great except the sauce was sweet.
But overall it was solid and definitely worth a visit.
Great service at this restuarant which also has a separate take away section.
Precious review early 2020
The food was delicious. I tried some Katsu Chicken, vegetable tempura, vegetable and water chestnut gyozas, sushimi, Unagi (eel) sushi, a pork Katsu slider, a grilled salmon slider. Phew hahaha but I shared these
The food was tasty, I enjoyed the variety and the different flavours.
The sushi was fresh, the miso eggplant great except the sauce was sweet.
But overall it was solid and definitely worth a visit.
Great service at this restuarant which also has a separate take away section.
Precious review early 2020
The food was delicious. I tried some Katsu Chicken, vegetable tempura, vegetable and water chestnut gyozas, sushimi, Unagi (eel) sushi, a pork Katsu slider, a grilled salmon slider. Phew hahaha but I shared these
John Koo
Oct 30, 2020
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Alice
Jan 07, 2020
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The food were amazing, especially the hot large dishes. We booked for a 6 pm dinner and were asked to have the table returned at 7:30 pm,but there was a long waiting time, the last main course arrived at around 7:20 pm, then the staff told us that unfortunately they do need the table back so couldn't serve us desserts. Though the staff was very polite, it would be better for the restaurant to ensure they are able to serve all three courses.
Two S.
Dec 20, 2018
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3.0. I was a big fan of the old Ocha in Kew. It was a tiny venue and it was often hard to get a booking there. But, it had real atmosphere including an air of exclusivity. The new Ocha has been in larger premises in Hawthorn for some time and it continues the modern Japanese food tradition of the old venue.
There's plenty to like here. The food is good, sometimes very good, and the bar and table service is terrific. But, I had a couple of issues with our experience here. One, the place is a bit noisy when it's full. Two, and more troubling, we had to wait an eternity before any
There's plenty to like here. The food is good, sometimes very good, and the bar and table service is terrific. But, I had a couple of issues with our experience here. One, the place is a bit noisy when it's full. Two, and more troubling, we had to wait an eternity before any
Mel T.
Jun 26, 2017
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The food here is always amazing. Everytime we come the taste is very consistently great. One of our favourite Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. The service is usually good. Recommended to book in advance to secure a spot. It can get very busy. Recommended dishes: sashimi platter, oysters, scallop, zucchini flower, salmon, agdashi tofu. They also have very good desserts. Also look into the entertainment book for a discount. Highly recommend place to try.
Mike D.
Feb 09, 2016
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Hard to fault the wonderful food but their BYO policy lacks bottle. Buried in the wine list preamble is '...bring your own wine, that is completely fine with us. We only charge you 7.5 per person to cover glassware, decanting etc.'
Ocha charges $7.50 PER PERSON regardless of how much wine you bring and drink. Imagine the very different services that might be received by diners at Table 1 and Table 2.
1. Table 1: three diners with ONE BYO bottle of wine. Three diners receive the following services: open bottle; pour 5 glasses of wine; wash 3 diner's glasses. Ocha charges $22
Ocha charges $7.50 PER PERSON regardless of how much wine you bring and drink. Imagine the very different services that might be received by diners at Table 1 and Table 2.
1. Table 1: three diners with ONE BYO bottle of wine. Three diners receive the following services: open bottle; pour 5 glasses of wine; wash 3 diner's glasses. Ocha charges $22
Cliff B.
Mar 19, 2015
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Went here for a special dinner earlier this year, and thought it fantastic value for money. More expensive than normal Japanese, sure, but well worth it for a sometimes splurge.
We're just getting into Japanese lately, and wow, what an introduction. Went one of their banquet options to really throw ourselves in there, and there were just so many delicious dishes, too many to go through. Let's just say that we can credit Ocha for single-handedly making sashimi fans out of us - never had it anywhere close to as good as this (but as I say, we're just getting into it).
Minor quibble
We're just getting into Japanese lately, and wow, what an introduction. Went one of their banquet options to really throw ourselves in there, and there were just so many delicious dishes, too many to go through. Let's just say that we can credit Ocha for single-handedly making sashimi fans out of us - never had it anywhere close to as good as this (but as I say, we're just getting into it).
Minor quibble
Scott M.
Dec 14, 2013
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I love seafood. I love Japanese food. The fact that the latter contains much of the former means that finding a really good Japanese restaurant in any city I am visiting or live in is an absolute must.
Unfortunately, most of the properties in the CBD of Melbourne are either too touristy or too tiny to have hit my "sweet spot" for fantastic Japanese dining experiences (Nobu is way up there though, if you can get in!).
Last night I finally had the chance to try out Ocha, somewhere that was on the periphery of not only my radar, but, Melbourne. Yes, I'm a bit of a CBD snob, and
Unfortunately, most of the properties in the CBD of Melbourne are either too touristy or too tiny to have hit my "sweet spot" for fantastic Japanese dining experiences (Nobu is way up there though, if you can get in!).
Last night I finally had the chance to try out Ocha, somewhere that was on the periphery of not only my radar, but, Melbourne. Yes, I'm a bit of a CBD snob, and
Rach B.
Jun 22, 2013
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Is it expensive for a regular dinner? Absolutely. Is it expensive for fine dining? Not really. I found myself saying to my partner the other day, 'I can't wait until our next excuse to go to Ocha', and realised I needed to post a review.
The food is creative yet accessible, It's always busy, but they maintain good service with knowledgeable and helpful staff that make you feel as though they're not too busy to take the time to serve you. Although I've just been here once, every single dish we had [there were many] was outstanding, so I feel I can recommend with surety
The food is creative yet accessible, It's always busy, but they maintain good service with knowledgeable and helpful staff that make you feel as though they're not too busy to take the time to serve you. Although I've just been here once, every single dish we had [there were many] was outstanding, so I feel I can recommend with surety
Janelle G.
Feb 16, 2013
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So on our second visit to Ocha we were definitely. To disappointed and found the service and quality of the food to be just as the first visit, excellent.
We start with the scallop hollandaise and this has got to be my fav dish. It literally melts in your mouth with the scallop being prepared to perfection. Had the dynamite roll which had a beautiful balance of flavor. The teppanyaki fillet was delicious and also melted in your mouth. We also had a prawn that was lightly coated with tempura batter and again, so tender it melted in your mouth.
All in all this is one of our favourite restaurants
We start with the scallop hollandaise and this has got to be my fav dish. It literally melts in your mouth with the scallop being prepared to perfection. Had the dynamite roll which had a beautiful balance of flavor. The teppanyaki fillet was delicious and also melted in your mouth. We also had a prawn that was lightly coated with tempura batter and again, so tender it melted in your mouth.
All in all this is one of our favourite restaurants
Lauren D.
Sep 15, 2012
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So, Ocha isn't my normal type of place. I'm more into your bar/restaurant hybrid, where cocktails and food are equally weighted, and 30-somethings rule the roost. Ocha is definitely not that place - it's been my parents' go-to restaurant for the past 12 years, so it's a bit of an older crowd. But after going with them last night I remembered why they love it; it's that place where the food AND service are consistently excellent.
Wait staff are extremely efficient, perceptive, cheerful and obliging, super knowledgeable and helpful if you get stuck deciding how much
Wait staff are extremely efficient, perceptive, cheerful and obliging, super knowledgeable and helpful if you get stuck deciding how much
Emma P.
Feb 11, 2012
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Celia M.
Oct 23, 2011
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For a long time it was hard to find exciting Japanese food in the Eastern Suburbs. I remember the first time I ever went to Ocha I had heard good things, but wasn't expecting the innovative cuisine that followed.
Ocha boasts an enormous menu, and generally I have found that the smaller items are more impressive than the large.
Favourites include the gyoza ($13.50), the soft-shelled crab roll ($16) - it is phenomenal, and I never go past the crab tempura with seaweed salt ($22 for an entre size, $33 for a main).
Ocha is the perfect destination to have some beautiful seafood so make sure
Ocha boasts an enormous menu, and generally I have found that the smaller items are more impressive than the large.
Favourites include the gyoza ($13.50), the soft-shelled crab roll ($16) - it is phenomenal, and I never go past the crab tempura with seaweed salt ($22 for an entre size, $33 for a main).
Ocha is the perfect destination to have some beautiful seafood so make sure
