Elka is a seafood hub by Elisa Tran, who belongs to the family behind longstanding Footscray fishmonger D&K Live Seafood. The venue’s name combines Elisa’s nickname, El, with the Vietnamese word for fish, cá, and sits just across the road from D&K.

The menu is full of sushi bar classics: spicy salmon maki, aburi scallops and tuna belly nigiri, all with a pared-back approach. Rice is delicately seasoned, fish is elegantly garnished, and spice maki rolls are light on dressing. The menu also offers a selection of rice bowls. Chirashi, or “scattered sushi”, features a mix of fish, flash-poached oysters, braised abalone, scallops and seasoned sushi rice, served with a box of seaweed.

Elka also showcases a dry-ageing method that improves the texture and flavour of the fish, and it goes so well with nigiri shoyu, house-made soy sauce. Brewed weekly and adjusted to complement the seasonal changes of the fish. The sweeter and milder taste allows the seafood flavours to sing.

Walking in you’ll find a unique wave wall feature that mimics a fish scale pattern. Running parallel to the undulating wall is the bright white sushi counter, which displays the day’s offerings. With minimal indoor and outdoor seating, Elka is best-suited for takeaway. Inside, treat yourself to Japanese drinks like Calpis water, grape soda and canned coffee at the Japanese vending machine.