MELBOURNE | Walk down Lincoln Square South in Carlton, and you’ll often notice a line outside Hareruya Pantry. The hole in the wall Japanese lunch and snack spot has been continually popular since opening in 2022, and now there’s a second location to get your fix. It’s located in CBD laneway Somerset Place, and I recently popped in to grab some photos for What’s on Melbourne.
Hareruya Pantry is owned by Kantaro Okada, who’s behind behind several of this city’s Japanese gems including Le Bajo, 279, Leonie Upstairs, and Sebastian Kakigori. Needless to say, Kantaro knows his stuff, and his commitment to quality and attention to detail continues at his new spot. Like its sibling, Hareruya CBD is a minimalist, small venue. Enter through the white noren curtains and you’ll be greeted with a counter, a few small tables and low seats.
On the menu, you’ll find all of your favourite Hareruya goodies. There’s assorted premium bento boxes and hiyashi chuka (cold noodle salads), nikuman (steamed pork buns), shokupan sandwiches, and pastries like matcha cookies and miso brownies. It’s all made fresh each day in the Carlton kitchen, using the best quality local and Japanese ingredients.
Lattes, available in coffee, match, houjicha, and chocolate, with your choice of milk are top notch. You can also find milk-brewed teas, freshly squeezed orange juice, and my favourite, a refreshing yuzu tea jelly soda.
Hareruya’s signature gelato makes an appearance of course. Classic flavours like strawberry, matcha, and black sesame, along with rotating seasonal flavours like Christmas spiced crumble, and soy Kuromitsu raisin. You can get your scoop in a cup, wrapped in mochi skin as a daifuku, or sandwiched between rice wafer crisp as a monaka.
Keep an eye out for the special collaboration gelato flavours. Last month saw Hareruya collaborate with Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo’s fashion label Comme Des Garçons for two flavours. Past collaborators include the Australian Open, Tokyo Lamington, and more.
Hareruya Pantry (CBD)
27 Somerset Place
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 10:30am to 10:30pm