Menya Sandaime makes Australian debut

South Korean restaurant chain Menya Sandaime is to open its first restaurant in Australia – in the Melbourne CBD.

The chain has chosen a prime site on Russell St in the Victorian capital’s CBD, according to Savills Australia Victorian retail director, Michael Di Carlo, who brokered the deal, with colleagues Jeremy Marmur and Jock Thomson.

Menya has taken a 10 year lease on the 93 sqm site.

Menya Sandaime specialises in Japanese ramen dishes and chose Melbourne for its Australian debut due to the city’s reputation as a multicultural community with a well developed appreciation of foreign foods. Its website says it adheres to strict Japanese traditions in preparing its food, including brewing meat broth for at least 24 hours.

“Melbourne has the second biggest population of Koreans in Australia but also a community which loves food and especially Asian food.

“The location near Chinatown, QV and Lonsdale St attracts strong pedestrian traffic to the many food and beverage operators in the area, [thus] was a very good fit,’’ Di Carlo said.