When you step off of High Street and into DenDeke, you're immediately transported into a buzzy and dimly lit izakaya akin to what you'd find in Japan in the '70s. Red leather banquettes border deep red walls covered in vintage movie posters, and blackboards with hastily written specials are propped up against the bar. It's casual, intimate and downright fun, bringing a taste of Japan's renowned late-night bar culture to Melbourne.
Run by Keisuke Nakamura (ex-Ichi Ni Nana, Nihonshu) and Aaron Au (ex-Golden Monkey, Nihonshu), DenDeke slings classic izakaya dishes and an impressive range of sakes, umeshu, Japanese beer, wine and spirits.
The menu is designed for sharing and is split into sections like otsumami, featuring small appetisers like edamame, kimchi and vegetable crisps; sushi, including prawn tempura rolls and seared Wagyu rolls; cold dishes, featuring tuna or Wagyu tataki and kingfish ceviche; and hot dishes, including Japanese comfort food like charcoal-grilled mackerel fillet and agedashi tofu. Curry rice bowls are also available; you can choose between chicken, vegetable or pork katsu curries.
Dining with a large group can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare, but not at DenDeke. To make things a bit easier, the crew here has designed two group options: the DenDeke Selection, which is a tasting platter for two people featuring a variety of favourites at $75, and the Help Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, where you can inform the DenDeke staff of your budget and dietaries, and they'll select a variety of dishes for you.
If you're after a tipple, you'd be remiss not to check out the vast selection of sake here. With a similar alcohol content to wine (and a similar range of flavour profiles, ranging from dry, sweet, full-bodied and clean-nosed), sake is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed warm, chilled or at room temperature.
Chat with your server about what might match your dishes best, then order by the glass, carafe or bottle. You'll also find shochu (a Japanese spirit made from sweet potato, barley, brown sugar or rice), umeshu (a Japanese fruit liquor), cocktails, Japanese whisky and a range of beers on the menu.
