There's been a blank spot on Flinders Lane's dining card since fancy Japanese diner Kappo closed. But now there's some news set to banish the chill from your wintery bones: a pop-up hot pot restaurant is opening in its place.
Master Den’s Poppu Uppu, is from the people behind Izakaya Den and Hihou. They've taken over the snazzy restaurant digs and given them a makeover so that from Wed Jun 20 you can gather your broth-loving crew around a pot of simmering shaby shabu and warm up from the inside.
The shabu shabu on the Poppu Uppu menu features a konbu flavoured broth, with wagyu rump, topside and sirloin 6+ for dipping. Prefer a seafood supper? The Hokkaido-style seafood nabe with miso broth comes with fresh salmon, mussels and mackeral. All about that plant life? There is a special mushroom hot pot where you add silken tofu and Japanese mushrooms at your leisure. Plus, you can always upgrade your dining experience by ordering extra fancy flourishes to be simmered in the broth. To fill in the edges each pot also comes with udon noodles.
If you're not that into soupy snacking, you could always opt for sansho pepper edamame, coffee-cured salmon sashimi, tofu and shitake mushroom rice puff tempura, or a serve of Hihou’s fried chicken to line your ribs. And if you require more liquid nourishment than a single broth pot can provide, save space for a Japanese riff on a Negroni, or imported Japanese beers. Kampai!
Master Den’s Poppu Uppu opens Wed Jun 20. 1 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000. 03 9639 9500.
https://www.masterden.com.au/. Mon-Sat 5pm-10pm.
Want more Japanese food? Here are the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.