Updated: 3 June 2025

Friday
12pm – 3pm5pm – 9:30pm
83A Smith Street, Fitzroy
Features
tick-imageDeli
tick-imageJapanese
tick-imageNotable Vegetarian Options

Japanese deli Obanzai Mama puts traditional grandma-style cooking on display, serving mostly vegetarian dishes in the former Neko Neko space. It’s run by Tomoya Kawaski (behind Wabi Sabi Salon) and is fitted out with kitschy vintage furniture belonging to Kawasaki’s grandmother.

Obanzai refers to a meal of Kyoto-style side dishes mostly prepared using seasonal vegetables and seafood. At Obanzai Mama, there’s a variety of nourishing options available for both dine-in and takeaway. The bento-style meals come in three sizes – grid four, grid six and grid nine – allowing you to mix and match small dishes such as daikon salad and simmered eggplant and hira-ae (a delicate salad of mashed tofu and spinach).

The menu also includes five changing onigiri, with grilled salmon remaining a staple. Or go for the dashimaki tamago katsu sando – a fluffy Japanese rolled omelette that’s breaded, fried and layered onto soft shokupan with a house-made mayonnaise.

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