Shujinko Elizabeth Street

For steaming bowls of ramen Tokyo-style, Melburnians seek out the glowing red and yellow sign of Shujinko on Elizabeth Street. This inner urban restaurant exudes a traditional vibe with diners cosying up side-by-side with friends in intimate surrounds, to drown out cold days with classic Japanese inspired soups and gyoza dumplings, all freshly made in house. Tuck into street food starters like takoyaki – authentic octopus balls topped with tuna flakes, or perhaps deep fried karaage boneless chicken; before a main of black ramen with 12-hour slow cooked Tonkotsu pork bone soup with spicy sauce, black shellfish and fish powder, vegetable toppings and grilled pork belly. Don’t forget to order a side of crispy pan fried pork dumplings and seaweed salad, washed down by a cold Asahi beer.