Prahran Market Gets a New Mexican Breakfast Spot, With Nouns Hamburgers and More To Come

In Melbourne, going to the market is often about more than buying produce. The South Melbourne Market is as much a destination for sitdown oysters as it is for fresh fruit and veg. And what’s a trip to the Queen Vic Market without a bratwurst or a borek?

Prahran Market is home to cheese toastie haven Maker & Monger and sumibi yaki bar Wasshoi, both in the main market hall. More recently, American Doughnut Kitchen opened, while yakitori pop-up Matsuyama brough fresh energy to the market’s outdoor square.

Now, that square is set for another shake-up. Four new casual restaurants are moving into the former Mr Hoddle site, which has stood empty since the Italian restaurant closed during Covid. Your next visit to Prahran Market could look a little different. Here’s who you’ll find in the mix.

Pacho Taqueria

Ex-Fonda group chef Samir Slimane opened Pacho Taqueria, a new eatery with a focus on Mexican food, on Tuesday September 2. Slimane also co-owns Prahran Market Italian eatery Oltre, but says this new venue is a way to express his passion for Mexican flavours.

Everything – from the masa tortillas to the adobo and chipotle pastes – is made on-site. But Slimane is most excited about the birria tacos. They’re filled with beef that has been cooked in a chilli consomme for seven hours, and come as part of a birria pack with grilled corn and lemon agua fresca. There's also a morning menu of breakfast tacos and chilaquiles (Mexican breakfast of tortillas cooked in salsa). Plus, Margaritas and Mexican beers.

Matsuyama Yakitori

Matsuyama was only ever supposed to be a pop-up. But the sheer popularity of the yakitori stand meant that moving to a permanent site was a no-brainer for the team. Run by Keng-Hao “Kenny” Chiu, the new Matsuyama will bring an extra level of cool to the market with its izakaya feel.

Expected to open in October, the permanent site will have counter seating and a Japanese city pop soundtrack as you indulge in a local craft beer, chicken yakitori and pork belly skewers. Expect to also see inventive skewers such as kangaroo slathered in Lao Gan Ma cooked over charcoal.

Nouns Hamburgers

Nouns Hamburgers is a new shop from the team behind recently closed Malvern sandwich shop Nouns Deli.

The burger joint is expected to open in November. So marketgoers will soon be able to have a rest from the hustle and bustle of the stalls and tuck into a burger or simply sit down for a beer from Castlemaine’s Love Shack brewery.

Fatbuoy Lobster

Taking up the main frontage on Commercial Road, the Fatbuoy Lobster will be run by seafood veterans Con Panayides and Daimien Pritchard.

Panayides, former host of the TV series Australian Seafood Show, has run five seafood venues across the city including Gem Pier Seafood at the South Melbourne Market; and Seafood Williamstown. And Pritchard’s family has been in the fishmongering business for five generations.

Expect ready-to-eat locally-sourced seafood dishes such as king crab legs, lobster rolls, prawn boats and sashimi.