Meet Tokyo Tina: Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah's New Chapel Street Sister
The family is growing.
Melbourne's beloved sister-duo, Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah, are about to welcome a new culinary family member: Tokyo Tina. Moving away from the Vietnamese delights preferred by her siblings, Tokyo Tina will bring the best of Japanese street food to the Windsor end of Chapel Street — opening today.
Solidifying the group's status as the monarchs of modern Asian cuisine south of the Yarra, Tokyo Tina will be a 100-seater restaurant spilt into four distinct dining areas meant to embody Tokyo's diverse and ever-changing culinary identity. We're talking a holding bar, an elevated dining room with both snuggly booths and open dining tables, as well as a double shopfront meant for on-street dining on Chapel.
So what can we nosh at Tina's? Think Izakaya and think modern — sake cured ocean trout with a chilled wasabi infused cucumber broth, teriyaki glazed ox tongue yakitori, and hot and cold soba bowls (picked Nashi, shredded woodear mushroom and Australian Wakami dressed with spicy ginger soy). Ramen's on the menu as well, with delectable-sounding dishes like the 'new Hokkaido' bisque inspired broth infused with miso, picked Australian blue swimmer crab meat, pickled bamboo, dressed with chilli oil and finished with corn.
You're going to need something cold and frosty to wash it all down, and Tokyo's no stranger to an innovative cocktail. Designed by Saigon Sally’s head bartender Michael Forbes, Tokyo Tina's drinks menu features Japanese style cocktails with a whisky focus, alongside sake plum wine and shochu, as well as a sizeable beer menu.
Tokyo Tina opens from Friday, February 6 at 66a Chapel Street, Windsor. Open for dinner seven days, 5pm until late, with lunches on offer from March.