OMO

OMO is a Japanese-leaning cafe in Melbourne's CBD, set slightly away from the busiest streets, and it works as an easy stop for coffee, brunch, lunch or an evening meal. It also serves dessert, so you can drop in for a drink and a slice or stay for a proper sit-down feed. Both takeaway and dine-in are on offer, and the inside has a mix of table arrangements, high chairs, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance and toilet.

The food is the main draw. Locals rave about the tonkatsu, which people describe as crisp outside and juicy within, and the hambagu steak with its rich sauce. Pasta dishes, chicken porridge and onigiri turn up in the conversation too. On the drinks side, the cold brews topped with creamy foam, especially the salty shio cream version, get plenty of love, and the matcha drinks are praised for not being overly sweet. The small cakes are a favourite, with the matcha strawberry roll and black sesame cheesecake among the ones people mention, and canele also gets a nod.

The room is cosy, calm and a bit of a pause from the city rush. People often mention the helpful staff, and one local told us that when they wanted to move tables, the team helped carry their food across and didn't rush them.

It isn't flawless for everyone. We've heard one or two comments that a rice bowl felt small for the price, that a soup could have been hotter, and that the service was slow to warm up on a quiet day. The odd person felt the coffee could be stronger, though the matcha wins more fans. Overall, people keep coming back, and a few say they've been multiple times.

Opening hours run long, from early morning into the evening, but check the hours before you head in, since the menu in the app doesn't always match what's on the physical menu.