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Just Open: Wasshoi Yakitori Bar, Prahran Market

Sofia Levin
Sofia Levin

Grilled pork belly at Wasshoi Yakitori Bar.
Grilled pork belly at Wasshoi Yakitori Bar.Supplied

Wasshoi, a sound of encouragement and celebration made at Japanese festivals, is what you're likely to hear from Prahran Market shoppers who have stopped in for a bite at the market's newest foodie entrant.

Technically Wasshoi Yakitori Bar – which opened on Tuesday – isn't a yakitori bar as "yakitori" traditionally denotes only chicken. Wasshoi is grilling pork belly, chicken skewers, and soft tofu and chicken-mince patties over coals, and is more accurately described as a sumibi bar.

Ever-cheerful head chef Ikuei Arakane (Kin San) often chats with customers mid-grill. Compared with his previous cooking experience in large kitchens (Koko, Taxi, 100 Mile Cafe and The Glass House in Tasmania), the open-kitchen 29-seater is something new for Kin San.

Wasshoi Yakitori Bar at Prahran Market.
Wasshoi Yakitori Bar at Prahran Market.Supplied
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Wasshoi is licensed, too, serving Kirin on tap and sake. For the abstainers, there's lemonade-like yuzu juice.

The Japanese pitstop has been designed so that shoppers can catch up for an informal bite and beverage while passers-by inhale the scent of charcoal-sizzled morsels.

Wasshoi is essentially an open kitchen framed by stools and a timber benchtop. Assorted wood panels line the exterior, a blue sake flag suggests the drink of choice and the glass panels surrounding the grill directs smoke to the rangehood and doubles as a display cabinet.

Pork belly on the grill.
Pork belly on the grill.Supplied

According to Kin San, it's easy to get carried away in the middle of the day at Wasshoi. "Not too much drunk when shopping," he warns with a signature grin.

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Open Tue and Thu–Sat 8am–5pm; Sun 10am–3pm.

Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Road (enter via Elizabeth Street), South Yarra, 8290 8220, prahranmarket.com.au

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Sofia LevinSofia Levin is a food writer and presenter.

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