Japanese Food

Japanese food rewards care, balance and close attention to detail, and that is the approach at Uosan in Malvern. Led by head chef Andy Nakayama, the kitchen combines traditional Japanese cooking skills with the experience he has developed across more than 20 years in Tokyo and 10 years of creation in Melbourne. The menu brings together sushi, sashimi, soups, entrées, salads, cooked main courses, sushi rolls, udon noodles and desserts, giving diners several ways to enjoy Japanese dining in one visit.

Uosan is located at 111 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, in a newly renovated restaurant described as stylish while maintaining a warm, home-like feeling. The restaurant welcomes local diners as well as guests travelling from surrounding suburbs such as Camberwell, South Yarra, St Kilda and Toorak. Although Uosan is firmly based in Malvern, its location makes it a convenient choice for people exploring dining options across Melbourne’s inner south-east.

What Japanese food means at Uosan

Technique first, flavour forward

Andy Nakayama’s cooking is shaped by his long experience in both Tokyo and Melbourne. His approach combines traditional skills with modern dining influences while maintaining an old-fashioned Japanese sense of precision. At Uosan, that philosophy is reflected through the range of dishes on the menu and the care given to each part of the meal.

Sushi and sashimi sit alongside grilled seafood, teriyaki, tempura, beef, chicken, duck, tofu, vegetables, rice and noodles. This allows guests to experience different sides of Japanese food without being limited to one type of dish. Some may focus on seafood, while others may prefer cooked plates or a combination of several menu sections.

The aim is not to overwhelm the table with unnecessary complexity. Instead, Uosan presents familiar Japanese dishes through Andy’s own contemporary approach. The variety of the menu allows each guest to choose a meal that suits their preferences while still sharing the wider dining experience with others.

A menu that makes planning simple

Uosan’s menu is divided into clear sections: Soup and Entrée, Sushi and Sashimi, Appetisers and Salad, Main Course, Sushi Roll, and Udon Noodles and Desserts. This makes it easier to understand the range before ordering and gives diners several ways to structure their meal.

A lighter dinner may begin with soup or an entrée before moving to sushi, sashimi or a cooked main course. A broader shared meal may include appetisers, salad, sushi rolls, tempura, seafood, meat and noodles. The menu also works well for mixed groups where one person prefers raw seafood while another wants chicken, beef, vegetables or rice.

There is no single required order. Guests can begin with a cold dish, move to something warm and finish with noodles or dessert. Others may prefer to make a main course the centre of dinner and add smaller dishes around it. The menu gives the table enough choice to keep the meal simple or explore several categories.

From the hot kitchen

Uosan’s main-course menu includes a broad selection of cooked dishes. Teriyaki is available with chicken, salmon or fresh barramundi, served with teriyaki sauce and vegetables. These options allow diners to choose between poultry and seafood while staying within a familiar preparation.

Tempura is available in vegetable and mixed selections. It can be ordered as part of a shared table or enjoyed alongside sushi, sashimi and other cooked dishes.

Wafu Beef Steak features Angus eye fillet served with wafu sauce and vegetables. Teppanyaki chicken or eye fillet beef is also listed, served on a sizzling plate with onion, vegetables and yakiniku sauce.

The menu includes Hokkaido Scallops Yaki with yuzu soy sauce, Black Cod Misoyaki, Salmon Saikyoyaki and Unagi Kabayaki. Other published seafood choices include Tiger Prawn Mayo, calamari, whiting fish and soft shell crab.

Chicken Katsu Curry provides another cooked option, while Charcoal Duck expands the poultry selection. Vegetables and Tofu Itame offers a combination of vegetables and tofu, and diners can also choose fried rice or steamed rice.

These dishes show the variety available beyond sushi and sashimi. Guests can explore grilled, fried, glazed and miso-based preparations while keeping the meal within the broader character of Japanese food.

Sushi, sashimi and sushi rolls

Sushi and sashimi have their own section on the Uosan table menu, while sushi rolls are listed separately. This gives diners several ways to include seafood and rice dishes in their meal.

Sushi and sashimi may become the focus of dinner, or they can be combined with appetisers and cooked main courses. A table may begin with sashimi before moving to black cod, scallops, teriyaki or tempura. Another group may prefer sushi rolls alongside salad, rice and a selection of hot dishes.

People looking for Japanese food in Malvern can therefore explore both raw and cooked dishes within the same restaurant. Uosan’s website does not advertise a separate sushi bar, so the offering is accurately described through the published table menu.

Guests should review the current menu before visiting, as individual dishes and availability may change.

Soups, entrées, appetisers and salads

The lighter sections of the menu give diners several ways to begin. Soup and Entrée provides the opening category, while Appetisers and Salad adds further choices before sushi, sashimi or the main courses.

These sections can be used to create a gradual meal. A guest may begin with one smaller dish before choosing a larger main, while a group may share several appetisers and salads across the table.

The lighter menu categories also help add variety. They give diners another option when they want something between sushi and a cooked main course or when they prefer to build dinner from several smaller plates.

Udon noodles and desserts

Udon noodles and desserts form the final section of the Uosan menu. Udon can be selected as a warm part of the meal or enjoyed as the main focus for diners who prefer noodles.

Dessert provides another way to finish after sushi, sashimi, tempura or one of the cooked main courses. Some guests may choose noodles before dessert, while others may finish after the main course.

This flexibility is consistent with the rest of the menu. Uosan does not require guests to follow a fixed dining sequence. Diners can choose what suits their appetite, the occasion and the number of people at the table.

Andy Nakayama’s contemporary approach

Head chef Andy Nakayama brings more than 20 years of experience and exploration from his chef life in Tokyo, followed by 10 years of creation in Melbourne. Across that time, he developed his own sense of contemporary Japanese cuisine.

His approach combines traditional Japanese cooking skills with modern dining trends, supported by a strong belief in precision. Familiar categories such as sushi, sashimi, tempura, teriyaki and udon are presented alongside dishes including Black Cod Misoyaki, Hokkaido Scallops Yaki, Salmon Saikyoyaki and Wafu Beef Steak.

Andy’s work is supported by the Uosan kitchen team and the restaurant’s passionate, warm-hearted floor staff. Together, they contribute to the full experience, from the preparation of each dish to the way guests are welcomed and served.

A renovated restaurant in Malvern

Uosan is located at 111 Glenferrie Road, Malvern. The restaurant has been newly renovated to feel stylish while maintaining a warm and home-like atmosphere.

This setting supports the restaurant’s approach to contemporary Japanese dining. The renovation provides a comfortable place for guests to explore the menu, while the food, chef and service remain the central focus of the experience.

Uosan serves dinner from Tuesday to Sunday, from 5:30 pm until 10:00 pm. Lunch is closed, and the restaurant is closed on Monday.

How nearby suburbs fit your night out

Uosan is based in Malvern, but it also welcomes diners travelling from surrounding suburbs. Its Glenferrie Road location makes it a practical destination for guests planning dinner from different parts of Melbourne’s inner south-east.

Camberwell restaurants and nearby Japanese dining

Camberwell offers a broad range of dining options, but diners do not always limit themselves to one suburb. Guests from Camberwell can travel to Malvern to explore Andy Nakayama’s menu and the different styles of Japanese food available at Uosan.

Uosan remains a Malvern restaurant throughout the experience. The Camberwell reference describes where some guests may be travelling from, not the restaurant’s physical location.

South Yarra dining plans

South Yarra is another nearby dining area, and guests may compare restaurants across several suburbs before deciding where to eat. Uosan gives South Yarra diners the option of travelling to Malvern for sushi, sashimi, cooked seafood, meat, vegetables, rice and noodles.

St Kilda and an evening in Malvern

Diners visiting St Kilda earlier in the day may choose to finish the evening in Malvern. Uosan provides a dinner menu that can be kept simple or expanded across several courses, depending on the occasion.

Toorak and the wider local dining area

Toorak forms part of the wider dining landscape surrounding Malvern. Guests from Toorak can consider Uosan when they are looking for contemporary Japanese food led by an experienced chef in a nearby suburb.

Planning an effortless visit

• Location: 111 Glenferrie Road, Malvern

• Hours: Dinner Tuesday to Sunday, 5:30 pm–10:00 pm

• Closed: Lunch and Monday

• Menu: Soup and Entrée, Sushi and Sashimi, Appetisers and Salad, Main Course, Sushi Roll, and Udon Noodles and Desserts

Guests can review the current table menu and use the booking option on the Uosan website before visiting. Checking the menu is recommended because selections and availability may change.

A simple guide for first-time diners

One approach is to begin with soup, an entrée, sushi or sashimi. The table can then move to a cooked main such as teriyaki, tempura, black cod, scallops, chicken katsu curry, beef or duck.

Sushi rolls can be added alongside the other dishes, while udon noodles or dessert can complete the meal. Another option is to share several smaller dishes across the table so everyone can explore more than one part of the menu.

The menu supports both simple and more extensive dinners. Guests can order according to appetite and preference without needing to follow a fixed course structure.

Hospitality without unnecessary hype

Uosan’s story is grounded in clear details: Andy Nakayama’s experience in Tokyo and Melbourne, the Malvern location, the renovated setting, the published dinner hours and the range of menu categories and dishes.

The restaurant does not need exaggerated promises to explain what it offers. The menu itself provides a clear picture of the experience, from sushi and sashimi through to cooked seafood, chicken, beef, duck, vegetables, tofu, rice, tempura, udon noodles and desserts.

The kitchen and floor teams work together to provide a warm and welcoming dinner service while keeping the focus on the food and the people sharing the table.

Why Malvern works for Japanese food nights

Being located in Malvern gives Uosan a clear place within Melbourne’s inner south-east dining scene. Local residents can visit directly, while guests from Camberwell, South Yarra, St Kilda, Toorak and other surrounding areas can travel to one defined destination.

Uosan brings together Andy Nakayama’s experience, traditional Japanese skills, contemporary dining influences and a varied menu. Diners can explore sushi, sashimi, appetisers, salads, seafood, chicken, beef, duck, vegetables, tofu, rice, noodles and desserts within the same visit.

For those looking to experience Japanese food in a newly renovated Malvern setting, Uosan welcomes guests for dinner from Tuesday to Sunday at 111 Glenferrie Road.