If you’re a Chapel Street Precinct local, you’ll know Toko. The sophisticated Japanese haunt that was the perfect go-to if you had someone in need of impressing. If you know her well, you’ll be a little sad to find out that Toko’s packed up and moved on out of Greville Street. But don’t shed a single tear just yet! While Toko is no more – her kid sister has taken over the spot, and boy, Tokosan is a whole lot of fun.
Like most kid siblings, Tokosan is all attitude. Think neon lights, (what new restaurant doesn’t have at least one neon?!), quirky vending machines, a karaoke booth, a huge street art mural and sweet DJ tunes. The food has taken a huge leap from delicate sashimi to what is best described as Japanese pub food. But from what we hear – the Kill Bill themed cocktail menu is the true star of the show.
Matt Yazbek, the genius behind both Toko and Tokosan made the decision to focus on a more laid back approach to dining after experiencing the gradual evolution of the food scene around Chapel Street.
“Toko Melbourne opened two years ago at a time when Southside dining was still finding its identity,” says Yazbek.
“Times have changed, and fast-casual is where the customer demand is. Tokosan was our answer. She’s a little outrageous, enjoys karaoke and DJ beats, and is definitely the life of the party.”
And he’s not wrong. The dining scene on Chapel Street and the surrounding areas, especially in Windsor, is booming. The punters are drawn to the area for the booming beats, multi hued lights and punchy cocktails rather than the tradition of sommeliers and white table cloths.
Pork Ribbies – grilled pork ribs, sticky sweet teriyaki sauce, with a jacket potato, tofu, and sour cream; Kill Bill Chicken Roll – katsu chicken, slaw, Monterey Jack cheese, jap-mayo, katsu sauce. Sushi is an obvious feature on the menu – but the $20 all you can eat Temaki Tuesday is a well received surprise!
142 Greville Street, Prahran
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