Bondi Beach is in for a taste of Soho. Chotto Matte, the internationally renowned restaurant brand known for its Japanese-Peruvian cuisine and high-energy dining, will make its Australian debut on 22nd November.
The 250-seat Bondi restaurant will pair Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with bold interiors, cocktails and DJs, bringing Chotto Matte’s signature blend of dining, art and nightlife to Sydney for the first time.
Founded in London’s Soho in 2013 by Australian-born chef and restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, Chotto Matte has since expanded to cities including Manchester, Toronto, San Francisco and Riyadh. Now, it’s bringing the brand home.
“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,” Zdesar says.
“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.”
A global restaurant brand finds its Bondi home
Before founding Chotto Matte, Zdesar spent almost a decade as European Director of Nobu, helping shape his approach to contemporary Japanese dining.
Local owner Rafi Assouline has also spent years working towards the Sydney opening. After discovering Chotto Matte in London in 2018, he knew Bondi was the right fit but waited for a location that matched the brand’s scale and energy.
“I first experienced Chotto Matte in London back in 2018 and immediately felt there was something about it that would resonate in Sydney,” Assouline says.
“I knew I wanted it to be in Bondi, in a large, landmark space that could really match the energy of Chotto Matte.”
Inside Chotto Matte’s Japanese-Peruvian menu
At the heart of Chotto Matte is Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese culinary traditions and Peruvian ingredients that emerged more than a century ago as Japanese immigrants adapted their cooking to Peru’s local produce.
In Bondi, Group Executive Chef Jordan Sclare will work alongside Zdesar and Head Chef Jay Choi to bring the brand’s signature dishes to Sydney while celebrating Australia’s exceptional produce.
The menu will centre on a dramatic two-metre robata grill, alongside sushi, sashimi and ceviche. Highlights include Nikkei Sashimi, Pulpo and Pollo Den Miso, with three dishes created exclusively for Bondi.
Essential Peruvian ingredients, including aji amarillo, aji panca, chulpi maiz and choclo, will be sourced directly from Peru. Tasting menus will offer diners a broader introduction to the restaurant’s signature flavours.
Sclare has worked with Zdesar since the original Soho flagship opened in 2013, with a career spanning The Savoy, Nobu London and Gordon Ramsay’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Chelsea.
Choi brings international experience from La Folie in San Francisco, The Clove Club and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in the UK, and Sydney venues including Barangaroo House, ARIA and Toki.
Bold interiors, art and DJs bring the Chotto Matte energy
Chotto Matte’s Bondi outpost will bring its signature visual style to a distinctly Sydney setting. Long-standing design collaborator Andy Martin, whose work with the brand dates back to its original Soho restaurant, will lead the interiors.
The interiors boast a colourful, expressive space combining recognisable Chotto Matte design elements with artwork and details created specifically for Bondi.
As with its international venues, the experience will extend beyond the food. Cocktails, music and DJs will bring a nightlife edge to lunch and dinner, creating a restaurant that blends Japanese-Peruvian cuisine with art, design and entertainment.
Chotto Matte opens at 140 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach on 22nd November 2026, trading seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Reservations open 21st October.
