Moved into Melton West and craving Japanese without gambling on a sad takeaway box? Start with Sushi Train. This guide gives you the one pick, the backup choices, what to order, what to skip, and when the weekend parking starts testing you.
The Verdict
Sushi Train is the pick if you only want one Japanese option near Melton West, because it lands the best mix of rating, price, ease, and reliable ordering. It was rated 4.6/5 in the original test, sits in the $15-25 per person range, and is strongest for udon, which matters when you want a proper meal instead of paying restaurant money for a snack. The order is simple: get the okonomiyaki and katsu, then build around that if you are still hungry. It is also the easiest recommendation because weeknights are usually no-wait, so you can make it a normal dinner decision rather than a whole booking operation. The comparison table puts its average at $27, which still keeps it in normal local-dinner territory rather than special-occasion territory.
Tokyo Ramen is the obvious challenger, with a 4.5/5 rating and a yakitori lean, but its listed $34-44 per person range pushes it into make-sure-you-actually-want-this territory. Okami also rates 4.5/5 and is worth considering if okonomiyaki is the point of the night, but at $32-42 per person it is not the value play. Izakaya and Sakura are both solid backups, especially if sushi or udon is the craving, but neither beats Sushi Train as the default. Don’t get pulled into the dessert menu at Sushi Train or Tokyo Ramen; the original notes are blunt for a reason. Stick to mains or you will spend money in the least interesting part of the meal.
Local Reality
The practical thing about these Melton West Japanese options is that the difference is less about whether they are edible and more about how much effort you want dinner to take. Sushi Train and Tokyo Ramen are the two names to keep in your head first: one is the low-friction pick, the other is the higher-spend ramen/yakitori lane. Izakaya is the one to use when sushi is the brief, Okami when you want okonomiyaki, and Sakura when udon is enough of a reason to move. None of the original visits suggested a weeknight queue problem, which is useful if you are deciding after work and do not want to negotiate a table like it is Saturday in the city.
Weekends are where the annoyance creeps in. The original notes call out parking as tight on weekends, so arrive early if you are eating during the obvious dinner window. Walk-in is usually fine, but that does not mean rolling up at peak time with a hungry group is smart. Vegetarian options were noted across all venues, which makes this easier for mixed groups, but you still want to choose by the strongest dish rather than pretending every kitchen is equal. Skip this if you are chasing destination-level Japanese; this is a practical local shortlist, not a pilgrimage. If you are already closer to one of the backups than to Sushi Train, pick the venue that matches the craving instead of crossing the area for a marginal upgrade.
Who This Suits
If you are a tired weeknight local, pick Sushi Train and order okonomiyaki with katsu. If you are a ramen person who does not mind spending more, pick Tokyo Ramen and accept the higher $34-44 per person range. If you are bringing someone who keeps asking for sushi, pick Izakaya. If the whole point is okonomiyaki, pick Okami. If you just want a quieter udon fallback and do not need the top-ranked option, Sakura is the sensible fifth choice.
Cost is where the decision gets clearer. Sushi Train is listed at $15-25 per person in the ranking notes, though the comparison table records a $27 average, so budget the high twenties if you are ordering properly. Sakura is the cheapest table average at $20, Tokyo Ramen is listed at $24 in the comparison table but $34-44 in the ranking notes, and Okami/Izakaya sit around the high twenties to low forties depending on how you read the original price bands. The useful takeaway: Sushi Train and Sakura are the safer value calls; Tokyo Ramen and Okami need a stronger craving to justify the spend.
Timing matters more than booking. Midweek is the cleanest move because the original guide found no major queue issue and full menus were available. Friday and Saturday need more patience, mostly because parking can become the bottleneck before the food does. In warmer months, go earlier rather than turning dinner into a late parking hunt. In colder weather, Tokyo Ramen becomes more tempting, but do not let soup weather talk you into paying more if all you wanted was an easy local meal.
What to Do Next
Go to Sushi Train on a weeknight, order the okonomiyaki and katsu, and ignore dessert. If Japanese is not the mood by the time you leave home, use the broader Melton West best restaurants guide instead.
Price Comparison
| Venue | Avg Per Person | BYO | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sushi Train | $27 | Yes | Yes |
| Tokyo Ramen | $24 | Yes | No |
| Izakaya | $29 | Yes | Yes |
| Okami | $28 | Yes | Yes |
| Sakura | $20 | Yes | Yes |
Original Venue Notes
1. Sushi Train
Rating: 4.6/5 | Price: $15-25 per person | Best for: udon
A local favourite that consistently delivers. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: okonomiyaki and katsu
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
2. Tokyo Ramen
Rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $34-44 per person | Best for: yakitori
A local favourite that consistently delivers. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: katsu and okonomiyaki
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
3. Izakaya
Rating: 4.3/5 | Price: $26-36 per person | Best for: sushi
Worth the trip if you are in the area. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: ramen and katsu
Skip: nothing, it is all solid
4. Okami
Rating: 4.5/5 | Price: $32-42 per person | Best for: okonomiyaki
Worth the trip if you are in the area. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: sushi and udon
Skip: the dessert menu – stick to mains
5. Sakura
Rating: 4.2/5 | Price: $23-33 per person | Best for: udon
Worth the trip if you are in the area. Usually no wait on weeknights.
What to order: ramen and sushi
Skip: nothing, it is all solid
What to Know Before You Go
- Best night to visit: Midweek for no queue and full menu
- Booking recommended? Walk-in usually fine
- Parking: Can be tight on weekends – arrive early
- Dietary options: Vegetarian options at all venues
All venues visited and verified in 2026. Prices and hours may change. Check venue directly before visiting.
