This September, the Windsor end of Melbourne’s Chapel Street will welcome Tombo Den, an immersive Japanese-inspired restaurant and sake bar by restaurateur Chris Lucas.
Located next door to Hawker Hall, the intimate two-storey venue is an homage to Japanese street food, culture and interior design. Tombo Den reinterprets the energy of urban Tokyo through a moody, evocative aesthetic, in a considered nod to the endless labyrinth of late-night eating houses you’ll find throughout the Japanese capital. It’s a celebration of Lucas’ favourite dining experiences from his time living and working in Tokyo in the 90s.
Head Chef Dan Chan brings a wealth of experience to the kitchen, having worked at the Michelin-starred Yardbird in his native Hong Kong, as well being part of the opening teams at Melbourne’s Supernormal and Supernormal Canteen. Here at Tombo Den, he’s created a menu that captures the essence of Tokyo dining culture and inflects it with a Melbourne sensibility.
The lineup of considered and approachable small plates includes a raw bar selection championing premium Australian seafood, and a pared-back sushi offering inspired by the food’s more casual beginnings as a street food staple. Also showcased is an array of dumplings, rice and noodle dishes, and charcoal-barbecued seafood and meats.
“We wanted a menu that speaks equally to Windsor’s electric street culture and that vast inspiration of Tokyo street food,” says Chan. “I’m also excited to be incorporating lots of cooking over coals, something I learnt under so many great Japanese chefs in Hong Kong.”
Centrepiece of the dining experience is Tombo Den’s stunning sushi counter, with a rotating range of nigiri, handrolls and other seafood-led dishes guided by each day’s market fish selection.
Meanwhile, Tokyo-born Master Sommelier Yuki Hirose (currently Head Sommelier of Society) has curated a tight and precise list of sakes, wines and cocktails to complement the food. It’s a smart and accessible lineup that invites exploration, but avoids pigeonholing. Select options will be available by the glass and the 350ml carafe, featured alongside an eclectic curation of imported sakes hand-selected by Hirose on his most recent trip to Japan.
Stepping within, diners will find themselves transported from a gritty suburban storefront into an open-plan space with its own unique narrative. Walls feature striking AI photography by acclaimed Melbourne artist Tom Blachford, complemented by custom elements commissioned from Hiroshi Tanabe; a globally celebrated fashion illustrator who’s worked with the likes of British Vogue, Anna Sui and Barney’s New York.
The moody aesthetic continues up an imposing rear staircase to the Sake Bar and Tombo Den’s adjoining private dining space, where tailored offerings include karaoke and a ‘design your own cocktail’ experience.
Tombo Den, 100 Chapel Street, Windsor, Melbourne.
Open for dinner, 7 days
Open for lunch, Friday – Sunday
Reservations open August 22.