I really recommend. One of the best in melbourne!�
Mayche Baylon Ornos-Java
+5
Love the food especially the Char grilled salmon! The desserts are great as well!
Awsome food great drinks and top quality service �
Super good n yummy food. Will come back for more. ���
Everything was soooo good. Will definitely come back. Really good food and service. Staff is very friendly.
Amazing food and service.. highly recommend this place for Japanese food lovers. Would definitely come back.
Have been to this little place quite a few times and never seems to disappoint. Well worth a visit and not expensive at all. The staff are very friendly.
This is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in the South. It’s affordable and authentic with so many great veg options. I love the agedashi tofu, nasu dengaku and classic curries, which come in several vegetarian variations. I recently tried the veg okonomiyaki which is fresher and lighter than most as well as the delicious udon and veg gyoza soup. What I’m trying to say is that everything is worth a try at this cute eatery.
Full venue when we came in. The wait staff took nearly half an hour to take our order (even drinks), I was growing quite inpatient and nearly left. However after they took our order our meal came out quite quickly.
Ordered quite a lot from sushi, sashimi, dumplings, agedashi tofu, veggie stir-fry and veggie curry. I wanted the hot pot but that was a Winter only item. Anyway, it was all very tasty, only meal that let me down a bit was the veggie stir-fry as it was mostly just bean sprouts and cabbage. It could do with some Asian greens and mushrooms but the sauce on it was tasty although on the sweet side.
All in all I would come back.
Came here with the eatclub voucher and it was really worth it and tasty. Only thing was they were understaffed so it took so long to take the order, get the food etc
Came here on a Groupon- so amazing value for money. Takoyaki was disappointing and very soggy and under cooked. Edamame had sesame seeds which I feel elevated the dish significantly. Salmon salad was amazing and very tasty. Mains were stock standard but filling. Sake was on a bed of ice which was very interesting. Mochi was underwhelming and the skin way too thick and chewy :( otherwise amazing experience!
I hadn't heard of Matsuri but saw it on Groupon and decided to give it a go. Definitely glad I did! It was such good value.
The restaurant itself is quite cute, it's small and is decorated nicely with fairy lights and lanterns. Staff are attentive too.
We got so many dishes with the voucher, but the highlights for me was the Salmon Salad and the Chicken Katsu Curry.
I'll be back again next time to see what else they have to offer!
Used the groupon and came here with my bf, the atmosphere and deco was pretty nice floors a bit sticky tho.
The lighting was not photo or ig friendly at all, very dark at night on the lower level hence the flash.
Greeted and seated, the groupon provided a 6 course meal + drinks per person, most of the course were shared items so i would not say its 6 courses per person which the title misleadingly suggests. With the groupon it was relatively worth and was able to try a bunch of menu items without breaking the bank.
The items we were able to try was:
- Edamame
- Eggplant tempura
- Sashimi salad (very very little sashimi, cost a bit much on its own if not for groupon, but tasted very good)
- Takoyaki (very nice)
- Beef udon and Chicken Yakiniku (both very yum)
- Small Mochi icecream for desert (the name said desert platter- which was misleading imo)
+ warm sake each (very nice)
Staff seemed to be lacking on the night we went, was not greeted out— sounds conceding however it was just something I expected from a 4~ restaurant.
Wont be coming back anytime soon as the location is a bit in the middle of nowhere (pt-wise).
Joanne | Melbournecitay
+4
Overall score: 17/25 or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
in 5 words: affordable healthy Japanese in prahran
*
Review: this is quite a cosy Japanese place. The score is more reflective of how value for money this place is. Portions were big! My partner bought a voucher and we had a 5-course meal here. I was very satisfied!
First up was the takoyaki - it was full of flavour and I loved the accompanying bonito flakes. The cold soba noodle salad was delicious thanks to the sesame oil sauce. The chicken katsu curry don lacked potatoes, but the yummy curry sauce helped me finish the entire dish!
Some areas of improvement though - too much batter on the tempura and they didn’t provide enough sauce (and the Friday dinner crowd was so huge that the staff forgot to bring extra dipping sauce). The teriyaki chicken don was not as great - the chicken meat was a bit dry and there wasn’t enough flavour. Having said that, I’ll still be back because this place is really value and dishes were quite healthy (nothing was too oily!)
*
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lincoln L ► Lincolns Scholarship House
+5
A small, locally owned Japanese restaurant. The food here is absolutely amazing and packed with great flavour. The staff are friendly, professional and accommodating. I always have a fantastic experience here. Highly recommended!
Just discovered this place last week. Has great ambience with wood and lanterns and the food was delicious! We had the prawn tempura sushi roll, which was so fresh and tasty, the grilled chicken dish also a winner and the udon ramen with veggies which had a great broth. Definitely shall be back to taste more of the menu!
Been there with a friend. Not lots restaurant in this street so we decided been here. The eel and udon are really yummy, a large size of fried chicken in this nice price. Only one thing the bowl of miso soup smells like a rag (only the bowl not the soup) that’s the reason why they can’t be 5 stars.
We received a Groupon voucher as a gift which included 7 dishes and a drink. The service was fairly attentive but did forgot to give us one of our dishes.
I will rate the dishes from 1-7 to my preferences.
1. Matsuri Popcorn Chicken - Well cooked and great flavour
2. Sashimi Salmon - Good texture and tasted fresh
3. Soba Salad - Great flavour and quite filling
4. Takoyaki - Cooked well, classic favourite
5. Edamame - Was okay, could be a little overcooked
6. Icecream Mochi - Mochi relatively hard, overall concept was good
7. Miso Soup - Quite salty but did not have any tofu
Overall experience = 4/5
The set menu for two was really good. Great selection and variety with each course.
The mochi ice cream dessert was something I’d definitely have again
We found this place through a Groupon voucher - $20 per person for a 5 course meal with drinks! All the food was delicious and plentiful, and the service was lovely as well.
First came the Edamame, which was served warm and salted. Always a good starter to snack on!
We then had the Soba Salad with Matsuri Sesame Dressing. A light and refreshing dish! The soba was perfect in texture and the dressing was so addictive!
The Takoyaki came next. This was surprisingly one of the best takoyakis we’ve ever had in Melbourne! The outside was very crispy, and you could really taste the octopus in the centre!
Then came the Tempura - consisting of prawn and various vegetables - which was a table favourite. The tempura was cooked very well - very light and not too oily. It was crispy and the batter was not too thick either.
Finally, we selected our mains. I had the Grilled Chicken Curry - the taste was quite average but the portion size was very big. However we also each got a serving of miso soup which was delightful.
I’m glad we found this little restaurant! The Groupon voucher was definitely well worth it, and my expectations were exceeded. Would recommend giving this place a try if you’re in the area!
Friendly staff and excellent services. Group of us enjoyed the atmosphere and nice food. Five-Dish Japanese Izakaya-Style Dining + Drink from Deals. com.au worth for money. We will be back again.
We already think this place is a gem and we took friends who agreed. Every dish was excellent, loved the octopus gyoza, soba noodle salad, agedashi tofu, grilled beef and the ice-cream dumplings were very yum! Relaxed atmosphere, great service and great value for money. We'll be back with more friends!
Loved matsuri, The food is super fresh and delicious. The popcorn chicken is👌🏼. Staff and the vibe were also on point.
Would recommend for sure
Came here with family via a Groupon deal. Considering the price, everyone was pretty impressed with the food and was decently full by the end. Waiters were really friendly and attentive too.
Delicious Japanese food and great atmosphere. Staff are lovely, and so helpful with vegetarian recommendations. Delicious sushi rolls and agedashi tofu, and some yummy desserts. Also Japanese beer on tap is a bonus 🍻 Look forward to seeing what these guys do next!
Delicious fresh food, wonderful atmosphere and spectacular service made for a pretty close to perfect night dining out. We came with a Groupon voucher but I would definitely come back even without, which is the highest compliment I give!
Found this place through groupon and decided to give it a try. The spicy pork belly was tasty with a decent serving size. Lovely staff as well. The place was nice and cosy. Overall a great place to hang out with friends! I'll be back!
I went to Matsuri with my friends on Sat night. It was bit busy but staff were friendly and food was really nice. We ordered Edamame, Gyoza, Tempura and Spicy Pork was so nice as well as Popcorn chicken. You must try the Chargrilled Salmon Roll!!! I def go back to have it again. It was cold weather so we also ordered warm sake, was good choice. Then we had fallen ice cream with matcha cheese cake, were soooo good too. I recommend book earlier to make sure you can have table prepared especially on the weekend.
Like stepping into a cute cosy corner of Japan for lunch. Really welcoming vibe in there not pretentious.
Well balanced bento (perfect yakiniku beef, clean miso, sesame salad w/edamame and yummy lil pickled side dishes) lots of healthy Japanese "tapas" and fresh sushi too! Coming back for dinner asap!
This place is cozy and the staffs are very friendly. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Chapel street, this is just a short walk from chapel st to high street. Can't get enough of the char grilled salmon rolls. I order it everytime, dine in or takeaway and the quality never changes. I also had veggie tempura and chicken skewers which we're very tasty. The tiramisu motchi for dessert is a must try as well. If you love matcha, they have ice cream & cheesecake. If you just want to chill,have great japanese food or beer, you must try this place! Don't forget though to book in advance on Friday & Saturday nights as it can get very busy!
This place was DELICIOUS! Every meal that came out was so tasty. Quick, friendly service and reasonably priced. The eggplant dish is a must. I don’t often get over this side of town, but I would return.
I came for a dine and noticed new management came in. They are very accomodating and asks the customer, especially a local like me, of recommendations and suggestions with regards to the menu and the service (which is a plus!!) It is great that they consider their customer. Nice people. Great food. Excited to come back again and refer to my friends!!!
Not sure if this is the same Matsuri others may rave about. I noticed on Yelp someone said the original Japanese owners had sold out. We thought it was good, but far from great. I'd recommend the Unagi (eel), which was well prepared and a generous portion (for eel). $5 Japanese beer is a good thing too. But our other mains weren't fantastic, and the little bowls of rice that arrived with our mains were room temperature at best, which was jarring with the hot eel fresh off the skillet. We were the only people eating so it wasn't like they were juggling lots of orders. Gotta get your don sorted a little better if you want to be quality Japanese.
Matsuri has seemed to have been here for years and as a local have sadly never been. Dinner was terrific. Goyza, sushi and udon with veg. The service was exemplary and the fresh food shined. More veg dishes please but yummo.
The vegetable udon noodles are pretty good here. I have been eating them on and off for the past 4 years and they have been fairly consistent. The staff are polite and lovely.
I was introduced to this gem by a friend who lives locally and is Japanese. You wouldn't realise it walking by but it's an absolutely delectable discovery and authentic to boot. The gyouza and dipping sauce were the standout but the sushi was also delicious and fresh. It was very busy but the service was still friendly and efficient. The pricing was quite reasonable also. Absolutely delightful
Great little hidden restaurant, either for few drinks and a meal with friends or quick bite to eat. Sushi is always fresh, never run out of edamame like some Japanese restaurants we have been too. That creamy sesame dressing is delishious!
This place amazing
Great food
Good atmosphere
Good price
Been coming here for almost 3 years
And i've never had a bad meal.
I will come back again😘
Food 1.5 = hmmmm I'm on the fence ... The wagyu beef Hamburg was really yummy! Really good patties! 😋The chicken dish was nice too but tempura set was baddddddd .. Very oily! Good tempura shouldn't be oily (the paper underneath is to show that tempura isn't oily - this one is oily wet sheet ☹️)
Decors 1 = very nice eastern feel & look
Service 1 = friendly service
Wow! This place is so good!
All 4 of us were very impressed by the quality and quantity of the food, entrees and mains.
We also enjoyed the variety of dishes in the menu with many tasty options to choose from, including vegetarian.
Every was well priced with decent service on a fun Friday night.
Definitely recommend and hope to come again!
This place is amazing! My friend and I went here and we were so impressed with the menu that we couldn't decide what to eat. So we ordered all the entrees, yes the whole lot hahaha
The waitress was concerned and tried to talk us out of it, telling us there would be too much food. But she didn't know how hungry we were.
The food was delicious, and the entrees kept coming, and we managed to eat the lot except for some rice, hahaha.
The bill was very reasonable too, given the amount of food we ate and the service was very good.
I can highly recommend this place and we'll definitely be back! Enjoy 😄
Was staying in Windsor for a couple of nights and was feeling a walk to find some good food. I happened to walk past this place with a friend and we thought why not. We made the right decision, the food was absolutely yum and the service was just as good. The food is also reasonably priced. I'll be coming back here again for sure.
Matsuri is a great little stop for a good Japanese feed, there's plenty of variety on the menu and the food usually comes out pretty quick, the staff are friendly and the price is right!
I noted that this place is usually always busy. I have been here twice and I really liked this place. I remember on my first time we ordered takoyaki, edamame, and sushi. I have to say that I had better takoyaki somewhere else. I don't think I will ever order that here again. The second time, we had some tempura, sushi and udon. It was good. The service was also pleasant. I will come back again for sushi!
Each dish I had was ahhhhhhmazing!!!!
The vegetarian gyoza was quiet complex for a veg dish!
The kaarage chicken was a modern twist on what I find a staple of my Japanese order...... Did I love it? Absolutely!!! Crunch, verses great chicken with a sweet twist, accompanied by a garden salad with the traditional mayonnaise....
The veg pancakes were BEYOND!!!!! I actually had a mouth orgasm!
The service, ok, but it was a no muss no fuss approach which is sometimes refreshing!
Good atmosphere and great service. We ordered Tempura prawn and veggies, potato croquette and okonomiyaki. All were quite tasty and would order again. For main we ordered a beef dish (can't recall the name) but it came with a serve of rice and miso soup. We found parts of the beef dish salty and peppery. Probably wouldn't order that dish again but would come back to try other dishes.
Food was grate will come back very soon. Could not believe I didn't find this place earlier. Service good food did not take long at all even though the place was almost full
My local Japanese take away spot. After visiting Japan I found this place really good for your traditional Japanese dishes such as Takoyaki, Gyoza and karage. Don't expect to be blown away it's not a fine dining restaurant it's just delicious food at good prices that taste the same as you would find everywhere in Japan.
I have been here at least half a dozen times and every time I got the food is absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the soba noodle salad, it's a hit every time. On my last visit they accidentally overcharged us and then caught us as we were about to leave to give us a refund. I was really impressed with their honesty.
I eat here at least twice a month the food is amazing and so is the service. I have tried most things on the menu and what I have tried so far have all been tasty, pleasing on the eye and a joy to the tastebuds.
The waitresses are always so friendly and welcome you with a smile.
The menu is traditional Japanese and there are some Matsuri specials that you can't go past. One of these is the Spicy Tofu & Advocado served with Nori. You wrap the tasty filling in the crisp Nori - amazing!
Love this place. The food is yummy, delicious and great price. Been many times and will keep going. The vege dumplings are amazing!
Favourite local Japanese joint. Service and food are always great. Love the take-away bento boxes.
LOVE IT!. I am in love with this place. I travel 30ks to get here for dinner. They have amazing vegetarian options. Agadashi tofu is delicious (every other japanese place has not been able to replicate this successfully) and spicy avocado tofu is wonderful. Every meat eating friend I have ever brought here has also been very happy with their meal.
Best vegetarian experience! .... Best vegetarian experience!
I come all the way from Ferntree Gully for Matsuri! The agedashi tofu is crisp and full of flavor. I also love the spicy avacado tofu rolled in seaweed. I have never been somewhere that does tofu so well. Will always come back!
Delicious!!. We came in tonight and had a fantastic dinner - everything was outstanding.
We had an entree of the chicken karrage which was so big it could have been a main. Fresh fried chicken with one of the nicest fresh salads I've had out ever. Just the salad alone was to die for.
The mains was the beef and chicken sizzling plates with lots of cabbage, sweet and salty sauce and broccoli. Just so perfect. The rice was perfectly cooked and all of the waitresses were fabulous. Super friendly and the food was out fast and it was fresh.
A quick walk from home so this will be a regular for sure. With sparkling water and a beer the price was $55. A bargain for such great food and service.
What a fantastic local Japanese restaurant. Great service, tasty dishes, and fantastic prices...I would highly recommend the pancakes and the pork noodle soup with vege gyoza.
What a great find this was.... unassuming little Japanese cafe that serves delicious dishes, beautifully presented at a reasonable price....will be back soon!
I love this place. Very high quality, authentic Japanese cuisine. Lovely staff. Can get a bit squashy inside as they're so busy, but it's no problem.
Splendid!. Had a booking for a special birthday dinner and the food quality was good and fresh. Service was good and decor is tasteful with nice restaurant interior.
Best Japanese!. A favourite in Melbourne!
Love the food. Great Value and fresh!
Amazing food, fast and friendly service and really well priced! Awesome experience!
Great weeknight dinner place! BYO which we love and food always fresh and delicious! Service quick and friendly. Very reasonably priced. Great for groups also.
Great gyoza. The gyoza is handmade here and delicious and the service very friendly
So happy with this find! Matsuri offers fresh and interesting dishes. Was so happy with our Chicken Katsu curry, and the deepfried king prawns were amazing. Also, the pork gyoza was delicious.
The only negative I have to say is the service was quite slow. However, it sort of adds to the charm of the place!
Definitely going back soon!
Appetising cuisine, accomodating service, attractive prices, absolutely must visit. Delicious and innovative cold salads and hot mains; generous portions make a value for money meal; warm service, modern yet quaint ambience and byo round off a wonderful dining experience.
Everything was delicious, beautifully presented & served with a smile! Loved it, will be back.
Great food lovely presentation a must to try.
Service is great and the ambience of the place is spot on. Food is excellent. Love love love the prawn gyoza's!!! Highly recommend it!
Holiday on High. Neutral tones, natural timber, polished concrete floors and funky light shades all combine to form a pleasant dining room. The front of the restaurant is fitted with concertina doors set back slightly from the footpath, creating a small al fresco dining space large enough for a pair of tables.
The menu at Matsuri appears to cover all bases offering up an impressive variety of dishes. Judging by the endless stream of plates appearing from the kitchen, salmon sashimi, tempura sets and yakiniku dishes on sizzling platters are crowd favourites.
A serve of chicken gyoza were perfectly cooked; crispy on one side, soft on the other. The fact a second serve was ordered should be a pointer that the juicy filling within was highly regarded.
The salmon sashimi was perfectly fresh if not the most premium I’d ever encountered.
The yakinuki beef was tender and extremely appetizing. All the yakinuku dishes are designed as sets accompanied by a small rice and miso soup, so bear in mind if you’re wanting to share and order extras accordingly.
The grilled scallop salad was pleasing. The salad itself was pretty standard, but the scallops had a lovely smoky flavour and were cooked flawlessly.
The only disappointing dish the entire evening was the spicy teriyaki salmon which comprised tiny pieces of parched salmon in a forgettable sauce.
Matsuri has quite a decent range of sake available at moderate prices. Unfortunately the wine list is rather dreary, however they only charge $2 per head corkage, so if you’re not into sake, bring a bottle.
Overall, I rate Matsuri amongst the better suburban style Japanese restaurants I’ve visited.
Fantastic little local Japanese. The food was sensational , service great, just a terrific simple little local Japanese.
Food was wonderful, but the service was average. Would have had another drink, or dessert if they had asked.
Staff are excellent, food is excellent, vibe is excellent!
Authentic Japanese. Have lived in the area for over a year, and always noticed how busy this place was. Finally got a chance to go, and it didn't disappoint! Food was delicious. I was in Japan a couple of months ago, and the food at Matsuri was just as good. Had some Gyoza, tempura and Kushiyaki. Highly recommend. Good value for money too.
Great value for money. I tried Matsuri on a recommendation and was not disapointed. Service has never missed a beat and food is always very fresh and very tasy. Wonderful value for money. This is a restaurant to be enjoyed any ay of the week with family or friends- I would avoid taking business clients as I wouldn't want to ruin Matsuri's lovely atmosphere.
No need to travel to Japan no more to experience traditional cuisines and the rich culture, this place will make you believe you are really there. Flavours that will leave your tastebuds hanging for more, at reasonable prices. Although the quantity was small, the quality of the food and friendly service makes it all worth while. 11.3/10 highly recommend
Turning Japanese... Food = 3.5/4
Service = 2/2
Value = 2/2
Ambience = 1.5/2
Total = 9/10
Very impressed by this local japanese restaurant.
sushi and fried pork were delicious!
cannot believe i have lived in area for over a year and only just got around to dining at this place!
Yum!. The food was delicious!! Great price, authentic tasting food & BYO for only $1.50 corkage per person! Awesome! Not to mention a good selection of Japanese drinks. Will definitely go back so I can try something different from the menu!
Fresh!!. Liked the fresh hand rolls. Fast service. Appears authentic. However slightly more $ than I would expect to pay.
Great little find!. Fresh hand rolls. Slightly more $ than I would expect to pay, however will definitely going back as are best hand rolls I have had!!
Matsuri. 5 star restaurant
one of the best i've ever been - great style, mood, service and friendly kind ppl. Plus tastes awesome!
Just perfect for family dinner and large space upstairs is good for any parties. I personally recommend Kyoza and rolls. luv them so much
EXCELLENT QUALITY / VALUE. Must have been here a twenty times, the food is very reliable and well presented at excellent prices. The staff are lovely in true Japanese style. BYO is a plus and the red bean ice-cream is a must try ! Places like this set the standard for a quick Japanese meal or group dinner !
Quick service, delicious!. My partner had been pestering me to visit Matsuri for a while so tonight we finally got around to it. The decor is lovely and modern and everything was immaculately clean. It was fairly empty as it was late on a sunday night but the waitress was super attentive and made sure we had everything. She helped me pick out my meal as i was not familiar with much of what was on the menu.
I ended up having deep fried crumbed chicken thigh which came with a salad, rice and miso soup (i think it was the chicken katsu?). My partner had a grilled chicken dish. The dishes arrived very quickly and they looked and tasted amazing. I'm not a huge fan of chicken thigh but it was so delicious! Even the miso seemed better than most miso soups i get at other places.
We quickly devoured our meals and were very full by the end! I haven't had such an enjoyable restaurant experience in a while and it was very reasonably priced too. I was very impressed with Matsuri and I'll definitely be visiting again.
Delicious fresh food.. Although, quite alot of deep fried panko crumbed items.. Choose wisely (^-^)/
Not terribly exiting, but still hit the spot. Was a hoping the tofu wakame salad would be like kaiso but alas, it was not. I didn't dislike it, but the search for amazing Japanese in Melbourne continues.
delicious and tasty food with a good selection to choose from! dishes were all presented well and staff were incredibly friendly. the soup was lukewarm when served but given how busy it was and how quickly the food was served I cant really fault it and still enjoyed the dish! mochi icecream for dessert was a perfect way to finish the meal
Really enjoyed the Japanese cuisine here, had so much taste and was of a high standard. The staff were also so friendly but possibly just rushed off their feet a little!
Highly recommended.
Such a warm atmosphere Japanese fine dining with a cool design!
All staff were very friendly welcoming n vibrant. Absolutely I'm willing to come back and recommend to all. Crispy chicken, Agedashi tofu with decent sauce as well as etra special salmon sushi were breathtaking! Every food was month watering full of rich flavours well priced!
Can't wait to go back again 😆
Ups u gotta try dessert as well!
I luv ice cream dumpling!!!!!!
This is one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in the South. It’s affordable and authentic with so many great veg options. I love the agedashi tofu, nasu dengaku and classic curries, which come in several vegetarian variations. I recently tried the veg okonomiyaki which is fresher and lighter than most as well as the delicious udon and veg gyoza soup. What I’m trying to say is that everything is worth a try at this cute eatery.
Had our lunch at Matsuri, good restaurant with nice interior design.
Food were:
1. Edamame - suprisingly good
2. Mixed vegetable tempura - can be a little oily, but tastes okay
3. Takoyaki - very nice
4. Soba salad - this is a bit plain for me
5. Mains:
- curry katsu - the curry is not that good
- beef yakiniku - the beef is a bit chewy, but it taste good
6. Ice cream mochi - they gave vanilla and strawberry flavors, not really fan of this dessert
Happy to go back but not for the curry and salad.
Delicious six course meal, great flavours and variety of choices, warm cosy venue and prompt friendly staff/service - dessert share platter was extra yummy; very highly recommended.
This is a beautiful Japanese restaurant, incredible atmosphere, surroundings and impeccable service. The food is absolutely divine. I highly recommend it. Thanks Beverley Cook, great referral!
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