The globally renowned Nikkei restaurant opens a spectacular 250-seat Bondi Beach restaurant this November, bringing Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, art, music and late-night energy to Sydney
From Manchester and Soho to Toronto, San Francisco and Riyadh, global restaurant brand Chotto Matte is making its Australian debut this November, opening a spectacular 250-seat restaurant in the heart of Bondi Beach.
Opening on 22 November, Chotto Matte Bondi Beach will introduce Sydney to the brand’s distinctive take on Nikkei cuisine, the meeting of Japanese culinary techniques and Peruvian flavours. The experience extends beyond the plate, with bold art and design, cocktails, music and the high-energy atmosphere for which Chotto Matte has become known internationally.
The opening marks a homecoming for Australian-born chef and restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, who founded Chotto Matte in London’s Soho in 2013 following an international hospitality career that included almost a decade as European Director of Nobu.
“Opening Chotto Matte in Australia feels like I’m bringing the brand home to Sydney, a real milestone and full circle moment for the next chapter in the brand’s international story. Bondi has a vibe that feels very Chotto Matte, and I’m excited to introduce what we’ve created to a city and dining culture I know and love,” said Zdesar.
For local owner Rafi Assouline, the Australian opening has also been years in the making, waiting for the right location before approaching Zdesar with the opportunity to open in Bondi Beach.
“I first experienced Chotto Matte in London back in 2018 and immediately felt there was something about it that would resonate in Sydney. But it was never about bringing the brand here for the sake of it. I knew I wanted it to be in Bondi, in a large, landmark space that could really match the energy of Chotto Matte, so it became a waiting game until the right location came along,” said Assouline.
The art of Nikkei cuisine
At the heart of Chotto Matte is Nikkei cuisine, born from the meeting of Japanese culinary traditions with the ingredients and flavours of Peru. Its roots stretch back more than a century, when Japanese immigrants in Peru began adapting their cooking to local produce and ingredients. Over time, the two culinary cultures became intertwined, pairing Japanese techniques and a respect for exceptional seafood with the bold flavours, citrus and chillies of Peru.
Chotto Matte’s culinary identity has been shaped by Group Executive Chef Jordan Sclare, who has worked alongside Zdesar on the brand since opening its Soho flagship in 2013. Sclare’s career has included The Savoy, Gordon Ramsay’s three Michelin-starred restaurant in Chelsea, six years at Nobu London, Buddha Bar London and Aqua Kyoto.
For Bondi, Sclare has worked with Zdesar and newly appointed Head Chef Jay Choi to retain the signatures of Chotto Matte while taking advantage of Australia’s exceptional produce. Three Bondi-exclusive dishes will join Chotto Matte signatures, with essential Peruvian ingredients including aji amarillo, aji panca, chulpi maiz and choclo, sourced directly from Peru.
The kitchen will centre around a dramatic two-metre robata grill, alongside sushi, sashimi and ceviche. Signatures will include Nikkei Sashimi, Pulpo and Pollo Den Miso, while tasting menus will offer the full Chotto Matte experience.
Leading the Bondi kitchen day-to-day, Jay brings an international career spanning Michelin-starred restaurants and includes La Folie in San Francisco, The Clove Club and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in the UK, and Barangaroo House, ARIA and Toki in Sydney, before joining Chotto Matte in 2026.
A Chotto Matte made for Bondi
Just as the menu combines Chotto Matte signatures with Australian produce, the restaurant itself has been conceived specifically for its Bondi setting.
The design has been led by Chotto Matte’s long-standing London-based design collaborator Andy Martin, whose work with the brand dates back to its original Soho restaurant.
Internationally, Chotto Matte venues share recognisable design signatures while responding individually to their locations, an approach seen from the Tokyo-inspired Soho flagship to the vibrant rooftop in San Francisco overlooking the city.
In Bondi, the result will be colourful, expressive and relaxed, bringing together globally recognisable Chotto Matte elements with art and details created specifically for Sydney.
Music and DJs will form part of the restaurant’s identity, continuing the interplay between dining, cocktails, art and nightlife that has characterised Chotto Matte since conception.
Chotto Matte Bondi Beach will open 22 November 2026, trading seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Reservations open 21 October at www.chotto-matte.com/sydney
Website: www.chotto-matte.com/sydney
Address: 140 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach New South Wales 2026, Australia