Zakura

Zakura is a Japanese suburban gem just a hop, skip and a jump from the busy surrounds of the Bondi Junction Westfield. It’s frequented by locals, and local business people, who come particularly for the good value Bento Boxes. They provide a complete eat-in evening meal for less than a twenty dollar note, and are even cheaper for lunch! Saucing from scratch elevates some of the more familiar menu choices into something special. So be sure to try the clean flavours of the Chicken Yakitori ($5.50), the rich syrupy Nasu Dengagu ($6.50) an eggplant with white miso and black bean sauce; and their Teriyaki sauce is also a winner – perhaps experience it in a Teriyaki Salmon Bento Box ($18.80). One of the more unique dishes was the Salmon Carpaccio ($7.80) topped with a zesty Zakura sauce. Sushi and sashimi fans are well catered for ‘ my own choice was the nicely presented Soft Shell Crab Roll ($11.80). The restaurant itself is quite small, but pleasantly furnished in dark wood tones, with bright and quirky art. They’re not licensed, but they’ll direct you to a reasonably close bottle shop and provide corkage for two dollars a person. Round it all off with a small serve of their mild house-made Black Sesame Ice Cream ($4.00).

Zakura
Bondi Junction Mall, 143 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
Ph: (02) 9387 6180
Japanese $-$$