Hattori Hanzo

Very disorganised atmosphere – staff didn't know what they were doing. All dishes ordered were drenched in extremely salty sauce. It was like eating a bowl of salt. Tasteless and inedible. The Crunchy Vietnamese Salad tasted and smelt precisely like old socks. It all had to be sent back. Stark contrast from older reviews when esteemed chef Pim Wangweerawong (ex-chef at BangPop) was in charge; it seems he has left. It is an insult to Japanese cuisine. We couldn't leave quick enough. It was a very awkward, unpleasant experience from start to finish.

Food tasted great but serving sizes were small for the price, I wouldn't recommend the 'YES CHEF' banquet. We had 5 of us that got the banquet, and received the equivalent to 5 entrees, 3 mains and 4 desserts. What we received would have been cheaper to just buy straight off the menu. Staff were disorganised and looked frazzled, I had to ask 3 times for a simple pineapple juice (took over an hour to receive this) Indoor seating was very loud like a town hall, outdoor was much nicer. Ordered food at 8pm, received entrees at 9:20, mains at 10pm and deserts were shortly after. Gave feedback to manager and was told they have never received bad feedback about the banquet portion sizes, she gave us a extra dessert as we left.

Friendly service, but not much else to get excited about. Like dining in a loud cave, you'll spend a lot of the evening trying to follow the conversation. The food is OK but took well over an hour after ordering for even the entrees to come out. With so many amazing restaurants in Melbourne it's hard to make a strong case to come back.

Staff are welcoming and friendly. The menu is a random mix of options that feels broad and just a nod in the direction of Asia, but nowhere in particular. Cocktails always look good and I like the restaurant decor. I want this place to be great but sadly the food disappoints. The Pad Thai I ordered last night was the worst I’ve ever had. I’ll give it another go but with a different option from the menu next time.

Not sure why people are writing bad reviews as this place is amazing! The wait staff were very friendly and professional and made the time to chat to us about origins of some of the dishes etc. The food was suberb, absolutely delicious and a good size for the price! My partner and I have nothing bad to say about this place, we left with full bellies and smiles on our faces. Can't wait to come back with the family! Do yourself a favour and order the shared plate for dessert and a cocktail! Yum!