Taste Buds Galore: Hako

310 Flinders La
Melbourne 3000
VIC Phone: (03) 9620 1881
Website: www.hako.com.au

This week I had lunch with 3 of my friends who I hadn't seen in a while, Chantel, Patches and Madeline. Chantel told me she felt like eating Japanese food, so we decided to go to Hako. I believe Hako has now become the default catch up lunch destination for Chantel and I.

I really like the simplicity of the decor.

The good thing about Hako is that you can trust it for a good solid simple but authentic Japanese meal. I really like the lunch menu they offer as well. It may be a little more pricey than some other Japanese joints in the city, however the food delivers.

Complimentary Edamame (Soybean)

Nabeyaki Udon - tempura, vegetable, egg and noodle soup in a hot pot $15.5
Madeline ordered the udon. The thing that caught my attention was the already soggy tempura. I don't know about other people, but whenever I used to order Nabeyaki Udon, as soon as it arrived I'd take the tempura out and put it on the side to keep it as crisp as possible.

Hako set - six different dishes carefully selected and prepared by the chef served with steamed rice and miso soup, 8 serve per day $30

The only other time I came to Hako, both Chantel and I ordered the Hako set. Because it was so good the first time I had it, I wanted to give it another go. I mean... the individual dishes change!

Miso SoupI love this. Not all Japanese restaurants here know how to make good miso soup. It had the right amount of ingredients, neither was it overly salty or watered down.

Rice

Deep fried soy marinated chicken with egg salad

Prawn tempura

I had forgotten to tell the staff that I had crustacean allergies. But how can you resist this prawn tempura when it is placed in front of you? So I did the probably not so smart thing and decided to take an allergy tablet and eat it anyway! Was it worth it or what.

Minced Pork and Potato croquette
Probably the most average dish, bar the salad.

Scallop sashimi
Very fresh indeed.

Terriyaki Beef

Salad

salmon - a box with grilled salmon ginger teriyaki and light salad $15.8

Salmon ginger terriyaki

Eggplant

Light Salad

I have yet to go to Hako for dinner, but I think it's one of the great places to go for lunch when you work in the city. Food doesn't take too long to arrive to you, so you can definitely fit it within your 1 hour break.

One of the downsides to Hako I believe is the portions of the meal. The first time I came here I had to have 2 bowls of rice with my Hako set to fill me up and I don't even eat that much in comparison to many other people.

P.S. It is a good idea to make a reservation, the place isn't very big as you can see, and is quite popular among city workers.

Pricing: nothing is over $32

Entree: $5.8 to $13.8
Bento: $15.8
Hako Set: $30
Lunch Set: $19 to $21
Main: $12.5 to $20.8
Sashimi/Sushi: $15.8 to $32