ima Asa Yoru

ima Asa Yoru brings a thoughtful slice of Japan to Nightingale Village in the heart of Brunswick. By day, the mood is calm and sunlit, with a focus on traditional comfort and quiet precision; by night, the energy lifts into a modern izakaya groove, complete with sake, ice-cold beer and a low hum of jazz. It is laid-back, design-conscious and grounded in the neighbourhood it calls home.

Mornings and afternoons revolve around teishoku, those beautifully balanced sets that prize seasonality and restraint. Expect grilled market fish beside steamed rice, miso soup and pickles, with daily okazu, an onsen egg and even a briny whisper of oyster. There is a satisfying rhythm to it all, a sense of craft that rewards unhurried dining.

As evening falls, the menu leans into sharing and charcoal-kissed flavours. A crisp, juicy menchi-katsu meets a glossy lick of tonkatsu sauce, while a chicken thigh skewer arrives lacquered in tare and brightened with yuzu kosho. To finish, think refined comfort: vanilla panna cotta lifted with yuzu curd, chocolate crumb and almond praline, or a hojicha crumble cake with kinako custard and vanilla bean ice cream.

Casual yet assured, the room welcomes both reservations and spontaneous walk-ins. Drop by for asa or settle in for yoru; raise a glass, follow the jazz, and let your appetite do the talking.