Aokuma

Japanese$

This venue is one of Good Food’s 100 Essential Melbourne Cafes and Bakeries of 2026.

Tucked in a quiet pocket of Hawthorn, Aokuma brings a sense of calm to Japanese comfort food. The menu centres on set meals – rice bowls, udon, shokupan toast or onigiri – accompanied by rotating sides and condiments. Matcha is a staple, served traditionally without milk or sugar in ceramic bowls, or layered into drinks like banana milk topped with matcha foam.Advertisement

Must order: Ochazuke, a comforting rice bowl finished with genmaicha tea and dashi, reflects the venue’s focus on tea.

Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

Last visited: May 2026