A Bold New Chapter in Melbourne’s Japanese Dining Scene

QT Melbourne has unveiled its latest culinary statement with the opening of Yamagen Melbourne in Portland Lane, introducing a bold, contemporary Japanese dining experience led by acclaimed Culinary Director Adam Lane.

Known for shaping Japanese dining experiences that balance technical precision with theatrical flair, Adam Lane brings a career forged in hatted restaurants and Michelin-recognised kitchens, including formative roles at Tetsuya’s, Saké and Nobu London. His leadership has earned industry acclaim, including Queensland Hotels Association Chef of the Year and multiple Best Restaurant awards, cementing Yamagen as one of Australia’s most awarded Japanese dining destinations.

At the helm in Melbourne, Head Chef Yosuke Hatanaka brings decades of Japanese culinary expertise, shaped by Michelin three-star kaiseki training at Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo. His cooking blends classical Japanese discipline with confident performance, supported by Sous Chef Misaki Maniwa, a Japanese-trained specialist in omakase and refined seafood with experience across Melbourne’s leading modern Japanese dining rooms.

The front-of-house experience is led by Venue Manager Christine Vu, whose career spans hatted-calibre restaurants and Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star luxury environments, complemented by Sommelier Andrew Lam, an internationally experienced wine, sake and whisky expert formerly of Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Together, the team delivers a refined yet dynamic dining experience designed for interaction, theatre and discovery.

Yamagen reimagines Japanese technique through a distinctly Melbourne lens, pairing premium Victorian produce with robata-fired dishes, refined sashimi and one of the city’s most impressive whisky collections. Designed by Luchetti Krelle, the venue features a central chef’s bar and an intimate private dining space crafted in collaboration with Japanese knife house Tanto, elevating craft, ritual and performance into a multisensory dining journey.

Address: Yamagen Melbourne, 6 Portland Lane, Melbourne VIC

Opening hours: Tuesday–Thursday 5:30pm–10:00pm, Friday–Saturday 5:30pm–11:00pm