Udon Izakaya Tanukiya

Udon Izakaya Tanukiya is a Japanese restaurant in Collingwood, Melbourne, built around freshly made udon and the relaxed, social style of an izakaya. Its approach sits between fast food and formal dining: the restaurant describes udon as a refined everyday experience, with carefully prepared noodles, Japanese technique and a connection to Melbourne’s food culture. The menu is structured for both daytime meals and longer evening visits, making it suitable for a work break, a casual catch-up or a quiet meal alone.

The udon is the centrepiece. Tanukiya describes its noodles as silky and firm, served with a daily-made dashi broth designed to provide clean, gentle depth without overwhelming the noodles. The menu includes both individual bowls and kamaage sets, where udon is served with hot dipping broth and an accompanying dish. Standouts include the Tanuki Udon, topped with tempura crumbs and spring onion; Kitsune Udon, paired with sweet-simmered inari tofu; and Tan Tan Udon, which combines a creamy, savoury sesame and chilli-style broth with optional heat levels. The Wagyu Niku Udon adds wagyu beef and an onsen egg to hot udon in dashi broth.

At dinner, Tanukiya expands beyond noodles with izakaya-style plates intended for sharing and lingering over drinks. The selection includes Agedashi Tofu, seasonal vegetable tempura, Karaage Chicken, Wagyu Tataki, Roast Duck, sashimi and sushi. There are also ochazuke dishes, including salmon served with warm rice, tea and dashi. The drinks menu is designed to work across the day, from casual daytime pours to relaxed evening meals with small plates and conversation. Vegetarian choices are identified on parts of the menu, including the vegetable tempura kamaage set, agedashi tofu and ume and cucumber maki.

The venue presents itself as modern and considered, with thoughtful design and Japanese hospitality shaping the experience. Its stated inspiration is the spirit of Fitzroy—relaxed, expressive and quality-driven—while the supplied venue listing places Tanukiya in Collingwood. The website does not provide detailed information about the room or its seating, so the clearest reason to visit is the food: carefully made udon at lunch, then a broader Japanese menu for dinner. With a 4.7 Google rating from 56 reviews, it is a natural fit for solo diners, informal catch-ups and groups wanting to share small plates around a substantial noodle-based meal.