Rebecca & Steven
Humans of Woodlea

Rebecca & Steven

Meet Rebecca and Steven, the husband-and-wife duo, dishing up modern Japanese cuisine in Melbourne's West.

From their humble beginnings as international students, to becoming successful restaurateurs and proud homeowners at Woodlea, Rebecca & Steven have made their mark on the local food scene for over a decade.

 

You may recognise these welcoming faces, Rebecca and Steven. Two ambitious people who turned their dreams and hard work into reality.

In 2012, Rebecca and Steven set their sights on Caroline Springs to plant their culinary roots, opening the doors to Izumi

This traditional Japanese restaurant quickly became a favourite to the local families, dishing up mouth-watering bento boxes, steaming bowls of ramen, and other noodle delights. 

 

 

“Everything we make is all from scratch. From the ramens, to the dumplings and hot pots. The broth for the ramen can take up to seven hours to perfect. We pour a lot of love into every dish.”
– Rebecca & Steven

 

Izumi’s impressive authentic food selection keeps customers coming back. Rebecca sees her restaurant regulars as family.

“You watch them get married, have kids, and then their kids start growing up, some of them have even started calling me Aunty Rebecca. They love the food, and they come in all the time for birthdays and special occasions.”

In 2023, Rebecca and Steven relocated Izumi to a new spot after their lease ended. But with the loving support from the local patrons and their true entrepreneurial spirit, they saw this as an opportunity to refresh and reinvigorate the beloved restaurant.

Rebecca says when they told customers they were temporarily closing the restaurant, they received cards from local kids, expressing the restaurant will always be their favourite.

“You get very emotional, all of these people are thinking of you and they really care,” said Rebecca. “And when we found a new location, they were very excited to hear we were re-opening.”

 

With hearts full of excitement and anticipation, in 2019 Rebecca and Steven set off to find their new dream home somewhere close by to the restaurant. During their search, they came across Woodlea. 

According to Rebecca, it was love at first sight when they drove through the community and looked at the houses. “We had never had the experience of building a house. Loving a new challenge, we decided to buy the land and build,” said Rebecca.

In 2021, Rebecca and Steven took a massive leap and expanded their restaurant business with Izakaya Rin, a modern Japanese tapas spot. The premium eatery specialises in succulent Wagyu beef, fresh seafood, and an impressive drink selection. 

From humble beginnings in Tasmania to running two authentic restaurants in Caroline Springs, Rebecca and Steven have truly made their mark on the local food scene, while building a beautiful life in Woodlea.

As they continue providing local families authentic Japanese flavours, they hope to retire in the next 10 years.

Visit their restaurants

Izakaya Rin: www.izakayarin.com.au

Izumi: izumics.com.au