First Look: Hinoki Pantry’s Shoten Brings Sushi and Japanese Groceries to Elsternwick

Hinoki Pantry on Smith Street has long been one of the most revered Japanese food hubs in Melbourne. People travel from all over the city to the hybrid grocer-sushi-bar for its selection of ceramics, kitchen tools, snacks and pantry staples. It’s also beloved for its fresh chirashi bowls, nigiri and sashimi-grade seafood. 

Expansion wasn’t always the plan. But after years of regulars pleading for something on the other side of town, owner Hayato Takasaka and his family began quietly scouting for the right site. In July, they opened Shoten (Japanese for “shop”) in Doncaster. It’s a new brand, but a similar concept delivering the same mix of Japanese pantry goods and pristine sushi that made Hinoki a city favourite. At the end of 2025, Shoten expanded, opening a branch in Elsternwick. 

“Our sushi is totally different from the Australian sushi handrolls [and] stuff like that,” says Takasaka. Shoten is more focused on quality than speed when it comes to takeaway sushi, opting for the same premium approach that its north-side counterpart does so well. While there are pre-made takeaway packs, makizushi (handrolls) are made-to-order and cut into discs, and buttery sashimi-grade fish is sliced into delicate pieces in front of you before it’s made into nigiri or used in chirashi bowls. 

On Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll also find Japanese kare pan from West Melbourne’s Kare. The soft, doughy deep-fried buns have a crunchy cornflake-like coating and are filled with Kare’s signature rich, buttery Japanese curry with slow-braised beef.

Beyond the sushi bar, grocery shelves are thoughtfully lined with everything you need to cook Japanese dishes at home. “We are different from a normal Asian supermarket. We are a specialised Japanese supermarket where you can get hard-to-find real Japanese ingredients,” says Takasaka. Find everything from traditional staples to hard-to-find specialist condiments, including shiso Genovese sauce (pesto’s citrusy cousin) and yuzu kosho (a fermented blend of chilli and yuzu peel with a bright and tangy heat). Scattered throughout the store are tiny infographic cards explaining ingredients: part guidebook, part gentle nudge to try something new.

You’ll also find home-cooking tools aplenty, along with Mino ware ceramics (handcrafted in Japan), postcards, cookbooks and textiles. Plus, a frosted drinks fridge with a rotating selection of saké and Japanese beers. 

Shoten Sushi and Grocery Elsternwick
324A Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick
No phone

Hours:
Mon to Sat 10am–6pm
Sun 10am–4pm

myshoten.square.site
@shotenau