Hanoi Hannah in Elsternwick is moving to bigger digs nearby

Almost three years after creating an appetite for sparky Vietnamese street food in Elsternwick, Hanoi Hannah is moving to bigger premises just down the road.

Co-owner Simon Blacher says they outgrew the 55-seat Hanoi Hannah Kiosk, opposite the Classic Cinema at 267 Glen Huntly Road. So when they looked over former schnitzel and grill house Maxy's International at 306 Glen Huntly Road, Elsternwick, they realised they'd found Hanoi Hannah's new home.

They've spent the past few months sprucing the place up, and hope to open about May 1, with seating for 100, an outdoor dining area and a bar. "It will allow us to deliver a better offering and make a proper go of it," says Blacher.

The bigger kitchen means a broader menu – expect dry-aged roast duck and steamed fish, along with pho cuon (lemongrass beef with rice noodle sheets), a hit at the Richmond restaurant Hanoi Hannah New Quarter.

And the bar and late licence means they can put more emphasis on Vietnamese-charged cocktails.

Meanwhile in Windsor, Blacher's Commune Group, which also owns Tokyo Tina, Neptune Food & Wine and Impala, is finalising plans for its new flagship Hanoi Hannah restaurant, where smoke and fire will scent the air.

Building is expected to start soon at the former warehouse at 223 High Street, Windsor, aiming for a mid-year opening date.