En Izakaya in Balaclava, Victoria, Australia | Japanese restaurant

En Izakaya

Locality: Balaclava, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 9525 8886

Address: 277 Carlisle street Balaclava 3183 Balaclava, VIC, Australia

Website: http://enizakaya.com.au

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• Restaurant
• Japanese restaurant
• Asian restaurant
• Sushi Restaurant

25.01.2022 Kotas philosophy for En Izakaya? Pretty simple really. Enjoy their time enjoy our food enjoy our beers enjoy our wines and enjoy each other. Its almost Christmas its time to celebrate with friends. At En Izakaya, weve created the perfect izakaya experience at the bar, or dining at the table whether youre two friends or 20!... Please, come in with your friends, & celebrate the holiday season with us. => https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

24.01.2022 >> We are planning to offer En Izakaya meals delivered to your home by our by our staff. Once again, we wish you, your families and friends the best during this difficult period. You will be aware of the restrictions that the government has introduced on the restaurant industry, in response to the corona threat.... As a result, until these restrictions change, we can no longer provide in-restaurant dining. On a (slightly) more positive note, we are now planning to offer a suitable version of the En Izakaya menu, delivered to your home by our staff. Of course this is being planned following the expert advice provided by our health officials and government departments. Given this, we are spending this week closed, as we plan this next phase for us at En Izakaya. We anticipate that we will be beginning this service late next week, but please stay tuned for an update from us. If you have any questions at all regarding any of this, please contact me directly on [email protected] Please take care everyone, and thank you again for your ongoing support. Best Regards Andy, Kota and all staff.

24.01.2022 Flavours of Winter It might be cold outside, but inside at En Izakaya, Kota has put together a stunning warm and hearty winter menu. You have to try our Beef Cheeks & Beef Oyster Blade dishes, cooked for more than 5 hours, plus our famous Pork Belly, braised for 8+ hours. They're soft and melt-in-the-mouth. So book now and see you soon! http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

23.01.2022 The second of this weeks Anniversary Specials - Blue Swimmer Crab Omelette with Japanese Mushrooms and Ponzu Sauce. Why did Kota select this as one of his favourites? "I've brought this back because it is used to be one of my favourite dishes - the softness of the egg, together with the sweetness of the blue swimmer crab just works perfectly.?... Dont miss out - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/

23.01.2022 The Party has Started. 10 Special Dishes Over 10 Weeks To Celebrate 10 Years!! You are going to love this weeks 10th Anniversary Special - our famous Wagyu Beef Tataki, Marinated and Served with Japanese Shiso & Tosazu Jelly. Grade 9+ wagyu, just melts in your mouth - paired with Japanese Shiso leaf, and a citrus onion based dressing - so the taste of the wagyu just cuts through with the vinegary flavour. Dont miss out - for more details and to book ... => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/ See more

23.01.2022 The celebrations havent finished yet! 10 Special Dishes - over 10 weeks - to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. For his next two Special dishes, Kota has selected his personal favourites - so, we'll let him tell you all about the first of them ... Sake and Soy Marinated Grilled Piece of Cod, with Squid Tempura and ... Sesame Spinach. "This used to be one of our customer's favourite dishes and she has been begging me to put it back on - so, we've brought it back for a limited time. The mouthfeel of the cod is very tender, and it just falls apart in the mouth, while the tempura squid counter-balances the softness with a bit of a crunch. " Dont miss out - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/

22.01.2022 ** En Izakaya Takeaway Service Available This Weekend Sat 13 Feb & Sun 14 Feb ** With the changes to Government COVID regulations, this weekend Sat 13 Feb & Sun 14 Feb we are offering Takeaway Service from 5pm. => You can order your takeaway by calling : 9525 8886... We are closed Mon - Wed as usual. Stay safe everyone. Kind regards Andy & Kota

20.01.2022 -- En Izakaya Takeaway Menu Service is Back!! --- tonight, Thu 9-July -- -- You can still enjoy the En Izakaya experience at home -- Dear Friends, Thank you all for your very kind messages and words of support and remember, please stay safe .... We are pleased to finally announce that from tonight, Thursday 9-Julyl from 5:00pm, we will begin our "En Izakaya - Takeaway Menu Service" - once again. We are providing this new takeaway service, strictly following the expert advice provided by our health officials and government departments. -- How Our Takeaway Service Will Work -- (i) We are open for takeaway, Thursday to Sunday, for dinner from 5:00pm. We are closed Mon to Wed, are not open for lunch and our lunch box is not available. (ii) Our menu includes From the Garden, From the Sea and From the Paddock dishes. We have included the takeaway menu below, and you can also visit the website and view the menu. We have tried to include all your favourites, but please understand if one of our regular dishes has not been included as a take-away. We are not serving dessert at this stage, Our takeaway menu is >> https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ (iii) To order, please call us on 03 9525 8886 and have both your order and your credit card ready (payments will be credit card over the phone only). (iv) Order pick-up will be contactless and will be just inside the entry point of the restaurant. Please take care everyone, thank you again for your ongoing support and we look forward to once again sharing the En Izakaya spirit. Best Regards Andy, Kota and all staff.-- PS - Our new takeaway menu is: >> https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

20.01.2022 There's a reason we all love winter here at En Izakaya. Everyone (including Kota) has been talking about our Winter specials menu - but you MUST join us and try our local Gippsland beef cheeks - braised for 5 hours, together with red miso, mirin and sake. Don't forget to book and we'll see you soon. => www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu

20.01.2022 Spring, summer or any time, our tuna sashimi is one of the most popular dishes at En Izakaya. Spring, summer or any time, our tuna sashimi has been a favourite at En Izakaya for 10 years and you can see why. In Spring, our yellowfin and bluefin tuna comes from South Australia or coastal New South Wales, with a leaner flavour with a firmer texture. Welcome to Spring at En Izakaya, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!... http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ See more

19.01.2022 It's rare that we get the chance to host "Japanese craft beer brewing royalty", so when the founder & head brewer of leading Japanese craft beer brewer Coedo, dropped in to visit, we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about the craft beer trends in Japan. PS - a perfect match with our Izakaya style food, So book now => https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

19.01.2022 -- En Izakaya Seated Dining Now Available -- -- Begins Thursday 4-June from 5:00pm for dinner -- -- Thu to Sun for dinner from 5:00pm -- Dear Friends,... We're Back! En Izakaya is back and open for seated dining tomorrow, Thu 4-June from 5pm. To begin with, we'll be trading Thursday to Sunday from 5pm for dinner. Bookings are available either by booking online, or by calling us on p: 9525 8886. Click here to view our menu and make a booking ==>> www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ Our takeaway menu is also still available. We look forward to seeing and serving you all again. Best regards Andy and Kota

19.01.2022 For all of our friends over the Easter and Passover Holiday Period. Over this period, we are closed Good Friday (19-April), but open all other days (Sat, Sun & Mon) for normal lunch and dinner service. We look forward to you joining us over the break. => www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

19.01.2022 -- En Izakaya Takeaway Menu Service Still Available -- -- Thursday to Sunday, for dinner from 5:00pm -- Dear Friends, Thank you for all the support for En Izakaya and our take away service. ... We have received such positive feedback which has been quite humbling really! We are in the process of finalising details for dine in re-opening, and will provide more information in due course. In the meantime, our take away menu is still available Thursday to Sunday from 5pm. We have added to the menu for a very limited time: **Braised free range Otway Pork Belly flavoured with soy, mirin & honey then flamed. ** Our takeaway menu is >> https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ ** To order, please call us on 03 9525 8886 and have both your order and your credit card ready (payments will be credit card over the phone only). ** Order pick-up will be contactless and will be just inside the entry point of the restaurant. Thank you all again! Andy & Kota. PS Dont forget, our takeaway menu is: >> https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

19.01.2022 Spring and summer in Melbourne is snapper season - with our snapper coming from our beautiful Port Phillip Bay, just down at Mornington. With a slightly sweeter taste, it's one of Kota's favourite fish at En Izakaya. You just have to visit us again to see why. Welcome to Spring at En Izakaya - we look forward to seeing you soon!... http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ See more

18.01.2022 Why do I love Spring and what have I got planned for our menu ? "Exciting time for me ... very exciting. Because everything is fresh, everything comes into the market nice and fresh." ... Spring means markets filled with fresh, flavoursome produce - amazing seafood, freshly picked, local vegetables - all featured in our unique izakaya style menu. Welcome to Spring at En Izakaya, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

17.01.2022 To All Our Friends, We wish you all a safe and Happy Holidays Christmas and New Year Thank you so much for your support throughout the year. Our trading hours over the holidays are as follows:... => Thu 17-Dec Sun 20-Dec (inclusive) OPEN from 5pm => Mon 21-Dec Sat 26-Dec (inclusive) CLOSED => Sun 27-Dec Thu 31-Dec (inclusive) OPEN from 5pm => Fri 1-Jan Thu 14-Jan (inclusive) CLOSED => Friday 15th January RE-OPEN from 5pm Best wishes for you all, Andy, Kota and the En Izakaya team

17.01.2022 At En Izakaya - it's all about the food - (and the drinks and the friends!) Our "From the Sea" menu, is a beautifully balanced range of seafood dishes to share. Yellow fin tuna, Hamachi kingfish, Snapper & Atlantic salmon, are just some of the wide range of whole fish available at En Izakaya.... An innovative & modern approach, including our famous ... > Hamachi Kingfish Carpaccio - with Pickled Turnip & Miso Vinaigrette Dressing > Deep Fried Prawns, with Yuzu, Soy & Lemon Infused Eggplant > California Roll Filled With Tuna, Prawn, Avocado, Wasabi & Flying Fish Roe > Tuna Sashimi, served Laced With A Spring Onion, Soy And Wasabi Dressing Please, grab your friends and join us. >> www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

16.01.2022 In case you forgot, an izakaya is a Japanese tavern a place to drink and eat with friends. Maybe that's why at En Izakaya, our kanji character can be translated to drinking party. Recently we had Kohei Harada from Coedo Brewery COEDO Australia drop by, and give Kota the inside word on their unique styles of Japanese beer - created to perfectly match our vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes. Please drop in and join us for a Coedo - Kanpai. => http://www.enizakaya.com.au/drinks-menu/

16.01.2022 At En Izakaya - it's all about the food - (and the drinks and the friends!) Why are our sushi and sashimi creations, melt-in-the-mouth legendary? Our freshly caught tuna has just arrived from South Australia and Coastal NSW. ... Our tuna at En Izakaya, is identified and hand selected for its quality, texture and deep, rich flavour. Our Head Chef, Kota Ogawa has very specific requirements. Ony the most delicate yellow fin and blue fin tuna is selected. Our tuna sashimi is prepared by expert knife skilled chefs and served laced with a spring onion, soy and wasabi dressing - with pistachio for crunch. Please join us. >> www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

14.01.2022 Our 10 year Anniversay celebrations are almost over - 10 Special Dishes - over 10 weeks, will finish Sunday 26 May - so don't miss out For the last of his Anniversary Special dishes, Kota has two very special selections ... Seared bonito tataki topped with grated white radish & spring onion - laced with a soy and citrus (ponzu) dressing.... Bonito is a very famous fish in Japan, almost always served tataki - they are very seasonal in Japan and in Australia. Ths special thing about this dish is most of the bonito takaki you see in Australian Japanese restaurants are frozen from Japan, while we are using a fresh local product. Dont miss out - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/

14.01.2022 Brilliant news! En Izakaya has just been reviewed by The Age/Good Food - Dani Valent and while we shouldn't give it away ... (you MUST read her review) ... ... we can only agree when Dani suggests "You could say that En was ahead of its time, offering modern Japanese food for sharing in a smart but convivial setting," or "Seared momen tofu and miso eggplant is a must-order ... every single table succumbs to the succulence " :-) Come in and see for yourself what all the buzz is about!

13.01.2022 Spring, summer or any time, our tuna sashimi has been a favourite at En Izakaya for 10 years and you can see why. Our yellowfin and bluefin tuna comes from South Australia or coastal New South Wales and in spring it has a leaner flavour with a firmer texture. Kota prepares it by curing it soy sauce, paired with a slightly tangy, spicy wasabi sauce and pistachio for texture. Kota recommends pairing this with our aromatic Dassai Junmai Daiginjo sake. => Book now to enjoy our Spring - www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

13.01.2022 Update for all our En Izakaya clients and friends - we are trading normally for the foreseeable future. We hope you and your families and friends are all well. Just a short note to update you on our plans, during this period of uncertainty.... At En Izakaya, we intend to remain open, serving you all, with our normal hours of operation as follows: OPEN WEDNESDAY to SUNDAY Wednesday & Thursday : Dinner 5:30 pm to 10pm Friday to Sunday : Lunch 12:00 pm to 4pm and Dinner 5:30 pm to 10pm We are committed to taking a calm and balanced approach, as we continue to service you, our valued customers, together with strictly following the expert advice provided by our health officials and government departments. With this in mind, and to further reassure you, we have taken a whole range of extra precautions, which include: >> Hygiene and Health En Izakaya has always followed strict hygiene, cleaning and quality control procedures. To further boost this, we have now increased the frequency of our cleaning and sanitation of all contact surfaces. All staff members also have an increased focus on their personal hygiene practices, including the high-frequency and thorough washing of their hands using anti-bacterial soap and water - including after handling cash. In addition, no staff member has recently returned from overseas travel. >> Seating Arrangements/Adherence to Social Distancing En Izakaya has a normal dining capacity of 40 guests. We have now decreased our table capacity so that all tables have a social distance of 1.5m. >> En Izakaya Menu Available as Take away Also a reminder, that all dishes on our menu are available as take-away. You can call through your order on 9525 8886 during our normal trading hours. If you have any questions at all regarding any of this, please contact me directly on [email protected] And thank you again for your ongoing support of us at En Izakaya and of your ongoing support of all local businesses during this period. So, click below to make a booking and we look forward to seeing you soon >> Book Now www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu Best Regards Andy, Kota and all staff.

13.01.2022 -- En Izakaya Takeaway Menu Service Now Available -- -- Beginning Thursday 16-April from 5:00pm -- Dear Friends, We wish you, your families and friends the best during this difficult period and we thank you all for your very kind messages and words of support.... We are pleased to finally announce that on Thursday 16-April from 5:00pm, we will begin our "En Izakaya - Takeaway Menu Service". We have been working hard over the past few weeks, to develop this takeaway menu - including most of your favourites - and can't wait to once again, serve you our famous En Izakaya flavours and dishes. We are providing this new takeaway service, strictly following the expert advice provided by our health officials and government departments. -- How Our Takeaway Service Will Work -- (i) We are open for takeaway, Thursday to Sunday, for dinner from 5:00pm. We are closed Mon to Wed, are not open for lunch and our lunch box is not available. (ii) Our menu includes From the Garden, From the Sea and From the Paddock dishes. We have included the takeaway menu below, and you can also visit the website and view the menu. We have tried to include all your favourites, but please understand if one of our regular dishes has not been included as a take-away. We are not serving dessert at this stage, Our takeaway menu is >> https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ (iii) To order, please call us on 03 9525 8886 and have both your order and your credit card ready (payments will be credit card over the phone only). (iv) Order pick-up will be contactless and will be just inside the entry point of the restaurant. -- Home Delivery Service -- We are still planning on offering a home delivery service, within the next week or two, but we are still finalising details - so stay tuned for an update please. If you have any questions at all regarding any of this, please contact me directly on [email protected] Please take care everyone, thank you again for your ongoing support and we look forward to once again sharing the En Izakaya spirit. Best Regards Andy, Kota and all staff.-- PS - Our new takeaway menu is: >> https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

12.01.2022 We all love Pumpkin Soup when it's cold outside. But this Winter, Kota has put his unique modern Japanese twist on a dish we've all grown up with. Come in and try his unique Pumpkin Soup, flavoured with white miso. A new En Izakaya winter favourite! Check out our menu and book here => www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

12.01.2022 It's Our Anniversary - En Izakaya is Turning 10 and You're Invited to Help Us Celebrate - the celebrations begin Monday 11-March. Beginning March 11, in celebration and & to thank you all - were doing something special. Over the past 10 years, weve had a lot of dishes that have been great customer favourites, that you've all asked us to feature again. So in celebration, for the next 10 weeks, were bring back 10 of these favorites and featuring them as specials :... => 10 specials, in 10 weeks to celebrate 10 years! For more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/ See more

11.01.2022 >> We are getting closer to our new En Izakaya takeaway and home delivery meal service. At this stage, we are planning to begin our takeaway and home delivery meal service as soon as possible after the Easter/Passover period. We still have a few details to finalise, but we look forward to once again bringing you the flavours and service that have made En Izakaya such a favourite to you all. ... Please take care everyone, and thank you again for your ongoing support and for your support of all local businesses during this challenging period. If you have any questions at all regarding any of this, please contact me directly on [email protected] Please stay tuned for our new En Izakaya takeaway and home delivery menu update. Best Regards Andy, Kota and all staff.

10.01.2022 It's our 10th Anniversary, the celebrations have started and we don't want you to miss out!! 10 Special Dishes Over 10 Weeks To Celebrate 10 Years. Kota's latest addition for his next Anniversary Specials is again, mouth watering and unique to the En Izakaya style. Sake Soy Marinated Orange Roughy - Coated with Red Miso and Yuzu and Topped with Bonito Flakes. Dont miss out - for more details and to book ... => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/ See more

10.01.2022 Perhaps two of the greatest izakaya pairings that you've ever experienced? The unique approach of En Izakaya's fresh, seasonal taste, texture & aroma - paired perfectly with Coedo's exciting fresh, craft beer styles We hosted "Japanese craft brewing royalty", the founder & head brewer of Coedo - and asked him for his recommendations when eating some of our most popular dishes - our Seasonal Tempura Asparagus and our Soy Marinated Tuna. ... The perfect summer combination - join us and experience it for yourself. => https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

08.01.2022 It's Our Anniversary - En Izakaya has Turned 10 & Celebrations have STARTED. To celebrate, Kota has brought back his (& your) favourite dishes of the last 10 years & for the next 10 weeks, & featuring them as specials. => 10 Specials - in 10 Weeks - Celebrating 10 years! The next of our Anniversary Specials available this week is ... * Pan Seared Duck Breast on Wombok & Shiitake Laced with Japanese Black Vinegar * Dont miss out - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/ See more

07.01.2022 It's the last week of our 10 year Anniversay Specials - 10 Special Dishes - over 10 weeks, will finish Sunday 26 May. Make sure you don't miss out - you don't want to have to wait another 10 years! So what's Kota's last special dish ... ... Wagyu beef nigiri sushi prepared 4 ways salt, spicy yuzu paste, ponzu, and sweet soy This dish looks great and tastes great - each one of teh wagyu sushi comes with a different sauce - salt, yuzu paste, ponzu and sweet soy, Served as sushi, you can taste the sweetness of the fat in the wagyu. Don't wait another 10 years - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/

07.01.2022 It's Our Anniversary - En Izakaya is Turning 10. => Celebrations Begin Monday 11-March. So to celebrate, Kota has identified his (& your) favourite dishes of the last 10 years, & for the next 10 weeks, were bring back 10 of these dishes & featuring them as specials. => 10 specials, in 10 weeks, to celebrate 10 years!... The first of our Anniversary Specials is * Sardine Tempura Wrapped in Shiso with Umeboshi Plum * Dont miss out - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/

07.01.2022 We all know that spring means beautiful fresh seasonal ingredients, and stunning new flavours and dishes. But, I asked Kota Ogawa, our head chef - what had the greatest influence on the his menu at En Izakaya - "was it the chef, or was it the ingredients?". You'll never guess his response (or perhaps you will!!) Welcome to Spring at En Izakaya, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!... http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ See more

06.01.2022 Asparagus Tempura - En Izakaya's Flavours of Spring Spring brings our menu beautiful fresh seasonal flavours, and Kota Owawa has integrated these into a range of stunning dishes. Local Victorian asparagus - sweet, tender and really juicy. Served as tempura, with lemon and salt on the side. => Book now to enjoy our Flavours of Spring - www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

05.01.2022 For our head chef, Kota Ogawa, the inspiration for his Spring menu, comes from not just the fresh, seasonal ingredients and flavours, but also the significance of what Spring means in Japan. Kota tells us, "that hanami is the traditional Japanese custom of appreciating the beauty of nature and welcoming spring through the stunning cherry blossom festival." "The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years, where it represents t...he fragility and the beauty of life. " "So, with the arrival of spring, friends, family - everyone - gathers under the blooming cherry blossoms for food, drink, music, friendship and the stunning sakura cherry blossoms. Celebrations that begin in the day and last often, well into the night. " "This inspires me to create fresh, exciting & unique menu flavours. Perfect for friends, families, everyone to share - celebrating well into the night." Welcome to Spring at En Izakaya, and we look forward to seeing you again! http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

04.01.2022 Kota’s philosophy for En Izakaya? Pretty simple really. Enjoy their time enjoy our food enjoy our beers enjoy our wines and enjoy each other. It’s almost Christmas it’s time to celebrate with friends. At En Izakaya, we’ve created the perfect izakaya experience at the bar, or dining at the table whether you’re two friends or 20!... Please, come in with your friends, & celebrate the holiday season with us. => https://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

04.01.2022 Spring means markets filled with fresh, flavoursome produce. Kota Ogawa has been to the market, to select these beautiful broad beans - small and tender - just for you. He will serve them as salmon & broad bean tempura, with salmon cream on the side - perfectly paired with our craft tap beer from Coedo, Japan. => Book now & enjoy our Spring - www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/

03.01.2022 Spring means markets filled with fresh, flavoursome produce. Our head chef Kota Ogawa has just been to the market, to select these beautiful broad beans - small and tender - just for you. Sweet, tender and juicy local Victorian asparagus are also just arriving at the markets. Kota is preparing these as tempura, with lemon and salt on the side. Welcome to Spring at En Izakaya, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!... http://www.enizakaya.com.au/our-menu/ See more

01.01.2022 Over the last 10 years, Andy say's that he's often asked "Why an Izakaya?", "What was your inspiration", and "What are the secrets to 10 years of success?" - so, after 10 years, he's finally agreed to let us in on the secret! Dont miss out on our Anniversary Celebrations - for more details and to book => click here http://www.enizakaya.com.au/enizakaya-10-year-anniversary/