Now Open: Astro Is the New Barangaroo Restaurant That's Fusing Tokyo's Izakayas with Seoul's BBQ Joints

At chic Barangaroo newcomer Astro, David Bae is celebrating Japanese nightlife and paying tribute to his childhood. The modern Asian BBQ restaurant takes cues from Seoul and Tokyo's food and drink scenes, and also from nostalgia — as seen in the retro theming, neon signs and sleek fitout, plus the fact that the venue is named after classic anime Astro Boy.

"As a child, I was happily glued to the TV watching Astro Boy with friends and family. Fast forward to today and I feel we are all so glued to the hustle of the rat race that we've forgotten how to balance work with fun," said Bae.

Settling into SOOT's previous space, Bae and Kolture Group's relaxed eatery — a bigger venture following the popularity of intimate omakase joint Matkim — blends the experience of izakayas with the familiarity of share-focused barbecue dining.

The CBD newbie hopes to reinvigorate casual dining with its laidback approach, which comes with a soundtrack of Japanese 'city pop' hits from the 80s. Astro's casual fare is available for lunch and dinner services, with Matkim's Executive Chef Jacob Lee leading the charge.

"I wanted to create a venue where you can unwind at lunch or after work eating incredible Izakaya style dishes, combining the communal atmosphere that yakiniku or Korean BBQ brings, while knocking down some refreshing highballs and just having a damn good time," Bae continued.

Swing by for a relaxed long lunch and take your pick from a range of donburi served with soy broth and onsen tamago. Highlights from the vast selection include the BBQ beef tongue guytan bowl, miso salmon, gochujang pork, wagyu brisket and eel.

Opt for dinner and you'll find small izakaya-style dishes from yakiniku, rice and oysters to an ora king salmon with yuja wasabi, grilled mochi and a truffle bulgogi sandwich among the menu options.

Plus, you can also finish up with a sweet treat. You'll spot two desserts — a jeju mandarin and plum sorbet accompanied by a basil granita; and charcoal ice cream with boozy chestnut makgeolli cream and truffle ice cream to pair.

For sips, there's an array of house cocktails, including a shisho-starring tipple; a boozy lychee green tea; and a fruity soju-centred sip. You can also opt for classics like highballs, sake and spirits, or mocktails if you're choosing to go dry.

Find Astro at 100 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo — open for lunch from 12–3pm and dinner from 5–10.30pm Tuesday–Saturday.