Hareruya Pantry 2.0 is down the narrow alley of Somerset Place in the CBD. It’s the second outpost of Kantaro Okada’s popular Carlton shop of the same name, which opened in 2022. Hareruya is beloved for its takeaway bento boxes, nikuman (steamed pork buns) and mochi-wrapped gelato in Japanese flavours like shirogoma (white sesame), ichigo milk (strawberry milk) and matcha.

The entrance has a billowing, traditional Japanese noren curtain emblazoned with the words, “Bringing sunshine to your day”, a nod to the takeaway shop’s name – Hareruya is Japanese for “sunny shop”. This new location largely has the same goods customers loyal to the Carlton shop know and love. It’s bentos by day, ice-creams by night.

Soft, pillowy shokupan is baked daily at Okada’s Le Bajo Milkbar before being sliced and filled with classic egg mayo and tuna mayo fillings to make the store’s signature sandos. Bouncy steamed buns are filled with moreish red bean paste with pumpkin custard; pork and noodles; or tomato, cheese and pulled pork to create the “pizzaman” nikuman. Bento boxes are switched up seasonally and are a feast for the eyes and tastebuds, with multiple components including sashimi, brightly-coloured vegetable pickles and tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette) all delicately arranged into the compact boxes.

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While the convenience-store-inspired spot has standout savoury lunch options, most people know Hareruya Pantry for its gelato, the popularity of which surprised the team when they opened the Carlton store. There’s a dedicated gelato space in the city, with 12 flavours to Carlton’s eight.

There are plans to have exclusive flavours, including experimental options such as black cacao and cream cheese, and collaborations with brands (the team recently created a limited-time black sesame with dark caramel crunch as part of a collab with Commes des Garçons).

Given the pedigree of the store’s neighbour, Blue Doors Coffee, drinks at this location are focused on tea. Milk-brewed teas (tea brewed directly in milk rather than water) such as soy milk genmaicha and oat milk oolong are creamy and fragrant with a hint of sweetness. For a lighter tea-based drink, the yuzu jelly tea soda has a fresh, zesty fizz with bite.

Hareruya Pantry CBD
27 Somerset Place, Melbourne
No phone

Hours:
Daily 10.30am–10.30pm

hareruya.com.au
@hareruyapantry