Living near the city in Melbourne’s northern suburbs allows my family to explore some of the city’s fantastic cafes such as Ima Asa Yoru. Recently, our son received an early Christmas present—a mountain bike with a gear system that has expanded the distance he can comfortably ride.
During my husband’s conference trip, I found myself solo parenting and wanted to maximize father-son time while incorporating some exercise.
I was aware that Ima Asa Yoru had relocated from Carlton to Brunswick, and since its reopening, we hadn’t visited. Today presented an opportunity to enhance my son’s fitness.
We followed the Upfield bike track, conveniently located near Ima Asa Yoru, and close to a playground, which came in handy as we had to wait 40 minutes for a table.
The cafe has a small takeaway shop a few doors down, where we shared an onigiri to sustain us until our table was ready.
Ima Asa Yoru offers an online booking system for tables, though reservations need to be made weeks in advance to secure one. The best approach is to turn it into an afternoon outing, exploring Brunswick’s streets and the shops on Sydney Road while waiting. Another tip is to arrive at 2 pm, after the lunch rush but before the kitchen closes.
Now, about the food:
Ima Asa Yoru’s menu surpasses that of another popular Japanese cafe in the city, which I won’t name. Their signature items include onigiri and onsen egg. You can opt for the classic teishoku, a traditional Japanese set meal with rice, miso soup, pickles, and your choice of fish or eggplant. The menu also features new dishes like chirashi—a bowl of seasoned sushi rice with kingfish, tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), and rice puffs. Another enticing option is mazesoba, a dry noodle dish with minced pork, vegetables, and a perfectly cooked onsen egg.
Oh and don’t forget to check out the drinks menu.
