The Australian restaurateur behind Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's favorite pancake breakfast has jokingly offered to make the famous ricotta hotcakes at the new prime minister's residence.

Bill Granger, owner of the Bills restaurant chain, said in a videoconference call this week that he was excited to hear that Suga, who is a regular at the eatery's Yokohama store, is Japan's new prime minister.

"I trust someone who enjoys their food, and especially enjoys their pancakes," Granger said, adding that as a fellow lover of sweets, he felt he had found a "kindred spirit" in Suga.