Menya Ramen

Menya Ramen is home to the gyoza pizza. But fear not. It's not some gruesome hybrid; just a gargantuan serve of superbly juicy pork dumplings, crisped on one side and served in a pull-apart circle with a sharp vinegar-soy sauce. Order it to go and they'll even package it in a pizza box. The owners run a string of Japanese cafes around town. This one, in a lane near Melbourne Central, teems with students, shoppers and backpackers, their heads bowed over satisfying, inexpensive rice dishes topped with crumbed pork and curry sauce, tempura prawns and the like. Others slurp soupy ramen and various fixings, including roasted pork, prawns and bamboo shoots.