In good company: Pachinko
Japan is having a moment – and everyone’s getting on board. Visitor numbers soared in 2024, with Aussie travellers flocking to experience the country’s world-famous cuisine. Fortunately for the people of Launceston (settled and visiting), the next best thing can be found right on our doorstep, within a neon-lit nook of the Quadrant Mall.
Pachinko is a delightful little hideaway treating patrons to far-flung flavours in close quarters. Intimate by design, it’s a place for cosy catch-ups amid glowing lanterns and the gentle clink of sake glasses from the bar. It’s very Tokyo alleyway – no passport required.
Owner and manager Xiaolin Luo, Lyn for short, is a rising star in Tasmania’s hospitality scene. Her goal? To share amazing food with the community around her. She began her Pachinko journey as a loyal customer, regularly popping around the corner from her café business Cake O’Clock for a hearty lunch or social dinner.
“I really loved the restaurant,” she says.
“I like the izakaya style of dining. It’s not like sushi – it’s more like bar food. Not like a bar with dancing, but more for afterwards. You can have a meal, a little drink, and share with friends.”
When the venue announced its closure in 2023, Lyn couldn’t bear to say goodbye. It was the perfect time to take the next step in her career, and keep a local gem ticking along.
“The previous owners were very nice,” she says. “I felt very sad. I thought, maybe I can try to run the restaurant, because loved what Pachinko was doing in Launceston.”
A leap of faith
Lyn arrived in Australia when she was 15, finishing school in Hobart before moving to Launceston to study architecture at the University of Tasmania. But when she graduated into a COVID-affected job market, she found herself rethinking her future.
“It was hard to survive,” she recalls. “It was hard for everyone. All the shops were shut. Everyone’s plans changed, and so did mine.”
Lyn turned to hospitality, launching her own cafe with the support of community.
“I thought, maybe I can create my own business and see how it goes,” she says. “I have a lot of friends in Launceston, and they helped me open the business.”
On the menu
At lunchtime on Fridays and Saturdays, Pachinko serves up steaming bowls of tonkotsu ramen in a rich and creamy pork bone broth. It’s the real deal, topped with soft-boiled egg, fresh spring onion and whatever extras your tastebuds desire.
By night, between Tuesday and Saturday, dinner at Pachinko is a foodie’s paradise, offering a variety of small plates intended for sharing.
“You can try a lot of different things,” Lyn says. “That’s what we want.”
The seasonal menu celebrates local produce, with quality meat and veg sourced from trusted Tassie suppliers. Other ingredients are sourced straight from Japan wherever possible, so authentic flavours are assured: expect complementary moments of zingy ginger, creamy mayo, and salty soy. The sesame-sprinkled fried eggplant is an unlikely favourite you’ll want to try, and the moreish okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) might just steal your heart. Just be sure to leave room for dessert.
For a refreshing finale, consider the yuzu sorbet with berries and homemade jam. Sweet tooths might opt for a choccy-drizzled ice cream sandwich. Both are excellent.
Feeling indecisive? Lyn says the ‘Feed Me’ menu is a popular choice: “Our chef will give you good options for an easy-going time,” she says. “We will take care of you. And if there’s something you can’t eat, just let me know and I will change it for you.”
The bar presents a selection of top-notch tipples, including premium Japanese sake and standout local wines. The options are always changing, and always handpicked the Pachinko team based on what they love.
“We can’t put everything in there, so that’s why we change it up,” Lyn says. “When we sell out of something, we’ll get something new.”
Pachinko people
The name Pachinko comes from a classic Japanese arcade game, a nod to the restaurant’s playful spirit. As with the name, Pachinko’s interior remains largely unchanged under Lyn’s ownership. A large table caters for groups up to seven, while the bar offers comfy perches for peckish lovebirds and those dining solo. Several two-seater tables are ideal for laidback bites and banter between friends.
“Most of the time, it’s smaller groups of people,” Lyn says. “Customers will come in for a nice date night. It’s very chill. Older people love it too – they can come and have a drink and a chat, and after that they may go to the cinema.”
Heading up the kitchen is Sebastian, a young, talented chef from Melbourne who shares Lyn’s passion for Japanese cuisine. Tending front-of-house is Kenny, a welcoming waiter and knowledgeable sommelier. Kitchen hand Anna doubles as the venue’s resident artist: for Easter, she brightened the windows with a vibrant mural of eggs, bunnies and blooms.
“Anna is a college student and I knew she was doing very well in art,” Lyn says. “I asked, ‘Would you like to try to do the painting for the window?’ Everyone said she did a lovely job. After that, people were booking her for paintings, including the chocolate shop [Gourlay’s]. If you walk past, you will see the window painting there is by her as well.”
No place like home
For Lyn, Pachinko is about more than food – it’s about connection.
“I want to have a good relationship with customers,” she says. “Sometimes customers will say, ‘I’m not sure what to order,’ and I’ll say, ‘Don’t worry, you can try anything you’re interested in. After that, you can decide what you want.
“It’s not just about serving food. We are happy to share our stories with customers, and they can share their stories with us. Very easily we will become friends, and I’m happy about that. That’s how we meet people in Launceston.
“I always listen to feedback from my customers as well. If something isn’t doing well, we’ll change it.”
Reflecting on her career thus far, Lyn credits the supportive business culture in Launceston for much of her success.
“A lot of tourists come to Pachinko, and we tell them they have to go to the chocolate shop, or try a drink from a particular winery,” she says. “When some customers come here, it’s because they were recommended by a different owner. Particularly in the Quadrant Mall, everyone is lovely. A lot of the business owners are my customers.
“The people from council were very nice also. When I took over the shop, there were a lot of things I didn’t know. They answered my questions and even came to the shop to tell me how to go through the processes.”
After closing time, Lyn’s top spot for wind-down drinks is nearby bar Saint John Craft Beer. “It’s a very nice place to relax and have a chat,” she says.
What's next?
Whether you’re a fan of Japanese food or simply looking to fill your belly and catch a vibe, Pachinko is a winning choice. And there’s more to come – perhaps something a little unexpected.
“We are working on an exciting pop-up, so keep an eye out,” Lyn says.
Stay tuned via Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
In good company is a series of interviews undertaken with local small business owners and their employees to help the public learn more about their favourite Launnie businesses, how they came to be and what drives them. They're usually posted to our social media first, and those posts will be linked at the end of the interview so that you can share them if you'd like to. So settle in and scroll on to hear tales from beyond the counter, and maybe even discover somewhere completely new ... Wherever these interviews lead you, we're sure you'll find yourself In good company.
- The Launceston Central team