Brisbane’s LONgTIME may be nestled down an unassuming laneway in Fortitude Valley, but that hasn’t stopped the restaurant from collecting an army of devoted fans. Now the team behind the contemporary Thai venture have turned their attention to expansion, welcoming a sibling in the form of fellow Valley resident hôntô.

LONgTIME owners Tyron Simon, Frank Li, alongside chef Nathan Lastevec and Bianca Marchi have introduced the Japanese eatery into a similarly grungy Valley backstreet. Much like LONgTIME made a twist on Thai cuisine, the group will be doing the same to Japanese fare. The restaurant has partnered with Tokyo native Kogi Ohori for a local interpretation of the traditional; a menu  divided into Raw, Bites, Bigs and Greens, designed to mix and match among your party. Think snapper karaage, paired with sweet and sour cucumber, papaya pickles, alongside pork and bamboo dumplings, with balsamic citrus ponzu and burnt chilli sesame oil.

An elaborate booze menu accompanies, ranging from Japanese whiskey to sake, with a few cocktails thrown in for good measure. There are also more than 100 bottles of wine to choose from. For those who prefer a tipple to a nibble, hôntô also hosts a separate bar dubbed ÔÔ, perfect for whiling away the time until your table becomes available.

hôntô is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5.30pm till late.

hôntô
Alden Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
honto.com.au