Sushi, sake, karaoke, and charcoal-barbecued seafood and meat cooked by a Yardbird alumnus.

You mightn’t be able to sing for your supper at Chris Lucas’s new Japanese-inspired restaurant and bar, but you can certainly sing during it. Hot on the heels of opening a second Chin Chin inside Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, Melbourne’s busiest restaurateur has announced he’ll be bringing the late-night flavour and mystique of Tokyo’s izakayas to the Windsor end of Chapel Street. It’s called Tombo Den, and it’s slated to open this September – karaoke and all.

Billing itself as an intersection of Tokyo dining culture and Melbourne sensibilities, Tombo Den further explores Lucas’s fondness for Japanese street food, with dumplings, noodles and barbecued seafood and meats figuring heavily on the menu. Dan Chan, a chef with experience at Supernormal and Hong Kong yakitori landmark Yardbird, has signed on to make the dream a reality. “We wanted a menu that speaks equally to Windsor’s electric street culture and that vast inspiration of Tokyo street food,” he says. “I’m also excited to be incorporating lots of cooking over coals, something I learnt under so many great Japanese chefs in Hong Kong.”

Kisumé sushi masters Toaki Kyo and Carlos Lopez will make the move south to head up restaurant’s sushi counter, where they’ll busy themselves carving the morning’s market catch into nigiri, hand rolls and other seafood-led dishes.

Tokyo native and master sommelier Yuki Hirose joins the team from stablemate Society, adding a collection of hand-selected sakes he snared in a recent trip to Japan to the restaurant’s drinks program. “It’s been a really exciting project creating the full beverage program for Tombo Den,” says Hirose, whose wine lists you might’ve had the pleasure reviewing at Kisumé, Grill Americano or Society. “Even more so given the restaurant’s Japanese influence. Being able to tap into my passion for sake is a bonus.”

And what of the singing? At the time of writing, it looks as though you’ll need to find yourself in one of the restaurant’s private dining spaces to belt one out – you have between now and September to recruit your backup vocalists, and reservations are open from 19 August.

Tombo Den, 100 Chapel St, Windsor, open for dinner Tue-Sun and lunch Wed-Sun, tomboden.com.au, @tomboden   

By Frank Sweet