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Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0, Geelong, AU-VIC

Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0

4.4 (57)
$40 and under
Japanese
Shop 3, 6-8 Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong, AU-VIC 3220

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A photo of Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0 restaurant

Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0

4.4
$40 and under
Japanese
Geelong West

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
  • Great for outdoor dining
Michael Bong didn’t come to Japanese cooking along the obvious route – he’s Korean, for one – but now that he has, he’s certainly making the most of it. Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar on Little Malop Street in the centre of Geelong is a tribute to the corner bars of Tokyo, with a focus on the charcoal grill and the skewered mates that come off it. That results in top-notch pork belly, beef and chicken thighs for the meat-eaters and salmon, prawns and scallops for the fish fans as well as beancurd and vegetables for the vegetarians. Aside from the grill, there is also an astounding array of sushi and sashimi dishes, octopus pancake balls, salt and pepper squid, alongside dessert options and a long cocktail menu that befits all the best, boozy backstreet izakaya joints in Japan. Take trip into Geelong town centre for a Japanese meal to remember at Tomodachi on Little Malop Street – just remember to book your table before you arrive, as they do get crowded.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $40 and under
  • Cuisines
    Japanese
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Mon–Thu 9:30 am–3:00 pm Fri–Sun 9:00 am–4:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Michael Bong

Concierge
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What 57 people are saying

Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0 reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on all time ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.1Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseEnergetic

57 Reviews
  1. Ann

    Fiji1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 16, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was our first time and wanted to book this branch for the view. Didn’t disappoint! There weren’t a lot of people since it was raining. We had peaceful time with family. We get to enjoy the view and food. It was a great experience and would love to come and try it again.

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  2. Justine

    Victoria4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on January 4, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was great. Beautifully presented and delicious. Service was slow and inexperienced. The restaurant wasn’t busy when we visited but it took way too long to get a drink and staff weren’t offering to serve further drinks. Worth coming back for the great food. Just don’t expect to be wowed by great service.

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  3. ca

    Melbourne2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on January 1, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Food ok , service can be improved . Prefer little mallop

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  4. Nicole

    Victoria1 review

    2.0

    Dined on November 9, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Was quite awkward, I walked in and wasn’t greeted even though it was empty. I then mentioned I had a table for Nicole booked for 6pm (I was there at 5:58pm) and they didnt seem to understand and just pointed at a table so I wasn’t sure if I was in the right table or not. My friend ordered the curry ramen which the server herself seemed confused to what she ordered even though it was clearly on the menu. When she got her curry ramen, it was inedible, the noodles at the bottom were uncooked and clumped together, the curry hadn’t even seeped through to the bottom of the bowel. Very disappointing

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  5. Manuel

    Victoria1 review

    5.0

    Dined on January 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the better restaurants to have a date with your special someone. We had the All You Can Eat dinner and it was totally worth it. Very delicious and authentic Japanese foods that satisfied our cravings, especially for salmon sashimi. We'll be back.

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  6. Gillian

    Melbourne5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on December 25, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Went there for lunch on Xmas day and we waited for an hour to get our food. When we placed the order, no one gave us a heads up about the waiting time. Clearly the cafe was short staffed, however it's not an excuse especially the 15% holiday surcharge was added to the bill. Food quality was ok but there was a lack of authentic Izakaya atmosphere.

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  7. Rolf

    Victoria2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We like some of the Japanese food; my particular liking is for the Sashimi - the raw fish. But starting with our first course: the oysters, tasty, but pricey. My Panko prawns were huge - I would have preferred a spicy condiment with them, the mayo does not do them justice. My wife likes the pancakes, but prefers the vegetable variety that Sushi-Sushi offers; this one tasted more like an egg one. The main course of Sashimi included scallops which I had never come across before, all three choices tasty, but for the price I think the portion is too small. However, we appreciated the advice of the waitress for our selections. Normally I would have a beer - Japanese on tap, very good idea - but found a dry chardonnay much more complimentary. A very small, but unusually flavoured dessert rounded off our meal. We had a suitably enjoyable anniversary celebration, albeit rather pricey. Luckily, the waitress had brought us some cushions, the bench seat is hard, and too small for bigger people.

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  8. Holly

    Victoria1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous, genuine Japanese food. Outstanding and attentive service by super-friendly staff. Great value, well priced. We'll be back!

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  9. Michael

    Victoria2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful food beautifully presented, wonderful service

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  10. Dan

    Victoria27 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on November 1, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We visited for the first time and had a great experience. It’s a small venue and was clearly busy given all the tables were dirty even though the venue wasn’t full. Our table was quickly cleaned and the service was quick and very friendly all night. We loved the menu choice and easily found dishes we all wanted to share, ordering on the QR code was simple and we were surprised payment wasn’t taken in the app but at the till afterwards. The food was good, hot and very tasty. We thought the value was good too. I even got a birthday ice cream surprise at the end! Thanks, we will be back!

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $40 and under
  • Cuisines
    Japanese
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Mon–Thu 9:30 am–3:00 pm Fri–Sun 9:00 am–4:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Michael Bong

FAQs

Yes, Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0 is a popular choice for date night. Guests praise the beautifully presented, authentic Japanese food and the branch’s view, creating a romantic setting. Expect a lively, casual-izakaya vibe with shareable plates, sushi and charcoal-grill items; booking ahead is recommended as it can get busy. If you want a quieter table with the view, aim for an early seating on a weekday or call to request a preferred spot.

For a quieter, smoother experience, aim for weekday early dinners (Mon–Thu) or earlier brunch times. Guests report weekends and holiday periods can be busy and slower service on peak days; rainy days have been noted as quieter. If you want the view and a relaxed table, booking ahead and choosing an earlier timeslot helps.

Tomodachi is a small, casual izakaya-style venue with close‑set tables and bench seating rather than separate private rooms. Guests mention bench seats (sometimes helped with cushions from staff) and a compact layout that can feel busy when full. There’s no indication of private dining rooms or large separate event spaces, so book ahead if you want a particular table or the best view.

Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0 serves brunch and dinner: Brunch, Mon–Thu 9:30 am–3:00 pm, Fri–Sun 9:00 am–4:30 pm. Dinner, Mon–Thu 5:00 pm–8:30 pm, Fri–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm. It's a good idea to check current hours or call ahead for special days and holiday openings.

Tomodachi offers a genuine, back‑street izakaya atmosphere with beautifully presented Japanese dishes and a lively, casual vibe. Guests report authentic flavours, good value, and a great view on some nights. Note that it can be noisy or feel a bit takeaway-style when busy, and service pace varies during peak periods. Overall it’s warm, energetic and well suited to shared plates and social dining.

Generally yes, families and celebrations with children are common, and guests have enjoyed birthday visits. The menu leans toward authentic izakaya dishes (sushi, sashimi, skewers), so there isn’t mention of a specific kids’ menu; ordering small share plates or milder dishes works well. For younger children, consider an earlier seating and call ahead to discuss seating needs.

There’s no explicit mention of an official waiting list, but guests report waits for food and busy periods, especially on weekends and holidays. The restaurant recommends booking ahead; expect possible waits during peak times and holiday surcharges on some days. If you want to avoid queues, reserve a table and arrive early.

Busiest: weekend evenings and public-holiday periods, guests report long waits and crowded service on Sundays and holiday days. Quietest: weekday early dinners or rainy days; several guests found off-peak times more peaceful. Plan accordingly and book if you prefer a quieter table or want the best service pace.

Weekdays (Mon–Thu) are the best choice for a calmer experience and quicker service. Guests frequently mention busy weekends, holiday surcharges and slower service on peak days, so an early weekday dinner or brunch will usually give you the best balance of service, choice and atmosphere.

They have been open on at least some public holidays, a guest reports dining there on Christmas Day. Holiday openings and any surcharges (guests mentioned a 10–15% holiday surcharge in some cases) can vary, so call ahead to confirm hours and fees for a specific holiday.

Portion sizes are mixed depending on the dish. Many guests found mains and share plates satisfying and well‑priced, while some sashimi portions and premium items (like oysters) felt small for the price. Expect shareable plates typical of an izakaya, order a few dishes to sample. If you’re unsure, ask staff for portion guidance when ordering so you can plan a shared feast.

Casual dress is appropriate, the restaurant describes its dress code as casual, matching the relaxed izakaya dining style. Come comfortable but tidy for an enjoyable meal.

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Make a reservation

A photo of Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0 restaurant

Tomodachi Izakaya & Bar 2.0

4.4
$40 and under
Japanese
Geelong West

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
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