Overview
As the weather heats up and Sydneysiders flock to the coast, the city's hospitality scene is giving locals even more reasons to spend spring and summer days in Bondi. The famous waterfront suburb has seen a wave of new openings in recent weeks including Spanish tapas joint Iberica, Argentinian grill house Zama and now Easy Tiger, a new Southeast Asian restaurant and cocktail bar.
The new feather in Bondi's hospo cap comes from the team at House Made Hospitality (Hinchcliff House, Bar Mammoni, Promenade) and takes over the Campbell Parade space of the crew's summer pop-up Rancho Seltzo. The limited-time seltzer bar that opened back in January has now made way for Easy Tiger. Instead of boozy slushies and falafel flatbread, the new tenant is shaking things up with a flavour-packed menu and affordable banquets.
Ex-Mr Wong and Queen Chow chef Andrianto Wirya leads the way in Easy Tiger's kitchen. The accomplished chef celebrates his Indonesian heritage throughout the menu, while weaving in dishes and flavours of Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
"While you may recognise many of these dishes, we're putting fun spins on them you might not see elsewhere," says Wirya. "Our aim was to create a menu that's affordable and exciting enough to make you want to come back for more — and that's light enough you can hit Bondi Beach for a swim after you eat."
If you're heading in for a snack, there's crispy corn larb, tiger prawn rolls, beef rendang party pies, tamarind chicken wings and Balinese suckling pig in fluffy bao buns.
You'll also find heftier dishes on the menu including laksa, crispy turmeric spatchcock, claypot chicken rice and wood-roasted cauliflower in a green curry, but the best way to approach the menu if you're hungry is to opt for the banquet. The multi-course menu allows groups of two or more to feast on five plates of their choosing, plus rice, for just $42 per person.
Leigh Griffiths
The bulk of the drinks menu is made from Bondi Brewing Co beers and seltzers, which sit next to an all-Australian wine list (there's one French champagne) featuring a couple of funky skin-contact drops, plus five signature cocktails. The Kaya Colada is a creamy pineapple, coconut and kaya jam creation, while the South Bondi Tiger is a refreshing combination of floral gin, tamarind, lime and Vietnamese mint — and calls out to be ordered when the mercury hits 30 degrees.
Boasting the capacity for 70 inside and another 30 out on Campbell Parade, Easy Tiger is an ideal group catch-up spot. If you're on the hunt for a communal space to chat over top-notch food and drinks, there are three ten-seat communal tables available inside for groups, plus another three ten-seater terrazzo high tables out front.
Easy Tiger is now open at 182 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach — operating from 5–11pm Wednesday–Thursday, 11.30am–midnight Friday–Saturday and 11.30am–10pm Sunday.
Images: Steven Woodburn.