First Look: a Former Kisume Chef Opens Andzero, a Japanese-Inspired Cafe in Glen Waverley

Reki Reinantha’s vision for Andzero was to create a local meeting spot that stood apart from the typical Melbourne cafe. “I wanted to offer the community something different,” the co-owner and chef tells Broadsheet. “There won’t be any avo toast or poached eggs on our menu.”

Reinantha previously served as a sushi chef at Flinders Lane fine diner Kisume for six years. Joining him in the kitchen is chef Ida Bagus Palguna, whose resume includes a stint at Cumulus Inc. The pair recently made a splash with Hawthorn’s Sachi, a casual pop-up specialising in chirashi bowls and nigiri sushi, and have now turned their talents to this charming neigbourhood cafe in suburban Glen Waverley.

The sandwiches are a highlight, with options including crisp chicken katsu, Wagyu cheeseburger, or a dashi egg and cheese roll, each served on fluffy white rolls and available all day until sold out. Teishoku, a Japanese-style rotating set meal, is available from 10.30am. Expect seaweed salad, fresh fruit, macaroni salad, miso soup, an onsen egg and soba noodles served alongside your choice of protein (its most popular sets include the chicken karaage with curry aioli, and the unagi and dashi scrambled egg set). You’ll also find three different types of homemade onigiri.

Plus, as of November 2024, Andzero is doing a set menu dinner service from Thursday to Saturday – but be sure to arrive early, as it’s first come, first served.

The specialty coffee program by Five Senses is overseen by head barista Belle Lee (formerly of Ondo), and includes Five Senses’ take on viral drinks such as the Mont Blanc and strawberry matcha. Pastries are another drawcard, with a mix of in-house creations and viennoiserie from Yarraville’s Cobb Lane Bakery. The house cream cheese garlic bread made from brioche dough has been an instant hit.

The atmosphere inside the 22-seat venue is modern yet homey. Reinantha and his team completed the fit-out themselves, with light wood, terrazzo surfaces and a palette of white and peach creating a warm, welcoming space to hang out.

Reinantha is already planning his next move, with plans to relocate Sachi into a new home in the CBD. But for now, Andzero is where his heart is. “When I arrived in Melbourne, I lived first in this area,” he says. “I said one day, when I can open my own restaurant, I want it to be in Glen Waverley.”

Andzero

696 High St Road, Glen Waverley

Hours:

Mon to Fri, 8am–3.30pm
Saturday 9am–3.30pm
Thurs to Sat 5.30–9pm
Sunday 9am–3.30pm

@andzero.melb