Restaurant in Bondi Junction
A tiny 18-seat Bondi Junction kaisen counter where ex-Josh Niland chef Tom Tse turns dry-aged fish into precise, build-your-own seafood rice bowls.
This is one of the more interesting Japanese openings to land near the beach in 2026, and the reason to go is the fish itself: chef Tom Tse honed his craft under Josh Niland and brings that dry-aging obsession to a tight, deliberate donburi menu. We'd choose this when we want something considered rather than casual — an 18-seat room built around a single idea done carefully, with dry-aged bluefin at its centre. It's a short walk from the Bondi Junction interchange, which makes it an easy, grown-up detour before or after the beach.
The kaisendon is the signature — a build-your-own bowl over koshihikari rice with dry-aged bluefin tuna (akami, otoro and mince); look also to the aged-fish donburi and blistered mackerel with the crisp-fried sides.
Intimate, counter-focused and deliberate — an 18-seat room built around the fish.
Local tip: With only 18 seats and a chef pedigree that draws a crowd, treat this as a book-ahead or off-peak spot rather than a walk-in — and come for lunch when the dry-aged bowls are the whole point.
Worth knowing: It's a narrow, single-minded menu in a very small room — go for the dry-aged donburi, not for variety, groups or kids.
Hours, prices and menus change — always check the venue’s own site before you go. Spotted something out of date? We keep this directory current; details reflect our last check.
Mexican · Bondi Junction
A colourful, cacti-filled rooftop Mexican restaurant and bar atop The Eastern in Bondi Junction, big on tacos, mezcal cocktails and an 80-strong tequila list.
Best for: Rooftop margaritas and shared Mexican plates with a group
Italian · Bondi Beach
The hatted, ocean-front Italian fine-diner perched above the Bondi Icebergs pool, serving hand-rolled pasta and seasonal seafood with the best beach view in Sydney.
Best for: Milestone celebrations and long lunches with a view
Modern Australian · Campbell Parade
A Bondi institution since 1993 where chef-owner Sean Moran serves a daily-changing, produce-driven three-course choice menu above a panoramic sweep of Campbell Parade and the beach.
Best for: A special-occasion long lunch or unhurried dinner with a view