Sizzler Returns To Australia, Reviving A Pre-2000s Buffet Icon At Sydney Airport
Imagine this.
It’s the mid nineties. Sizzler is in its prime—endless salad bars, complimentary cheese toast, mountains of sizzling steak, and a buffet line that felt like the VIP lounge of the fast-food world. For a generation of Aussie kids, it was practically a rite-of-passage: all-you-can-eat ribs, prawn cocktails, and enough soft-serve ice-cream and jelly to make a dentist weep.
Looking back, there was definitely something undeniably satisfying about Sizzler’s formula. Families could grab a table without worrying about breaking the bank and kids were semi-allowed to run riot between courses (in a civilized buffet way) with a cloud of cheese bread in sticky hands. The world felt simple.
Then the pandemic hit.
Sizzler Australia closed all of its restaurants, leaving behind only the memory of a very particular kind of suburban experience. The real “all-you-can-eat” ethos had been banished. For those who grew up with a fondness for the slightly kitschy but genuinely comforting buffet model, it was a cultural gap not easily (and never again) filled.
When Is Sizzler Opening In Sydney?
While the news of Sizzler returning to Australia has definitely struck a few chords, it's been announced that the rite-of-passage buffet will hit the ground running in 2027.
Where Is Sizzler Opening In Sydney?
More importantly, where is Sizzler opening, you ask? You can expect this one right near the beaming heart of Sydney Airport, opening inside the pending NH Collection Sydney Airport hotel. It's the first branded NH Hotel in Sydney from Minor Hotels, set for completion in 2026. The $55 million build will take place at 102-106 Robey Street, with the creative team from Bates Smart at the helm of design.
The idea is 90+ hotel rooms, a lobby restaurant and bar with all-day dining options.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Is Opening Its First-Ever Australian Location
In our humble opinion, Sizzler’s return arrives at a pretty interesting cultural moment. The appetite for nostalgia dining is clearly back on the table—and not just in buffet form.
Brought to life in California 1996, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is the first and only casual restaurant chain based on a motion picture property that now spans multiple locations across the US and the globe. Their next port of call? Australia, with the first-ever Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. set to open in Brisbane this year.
You can expect themed details and a whole lot of nostalgia in the family-friendly spot, which will be dropping anchor in Sandgate—a perfect fit for the coastal and seafood-driven burb. The venue will offer a fully immersive experience inspired by Forrest Gump with the likes of ping pong tables, the iconic Jenny boat, and an official merch store. After all, you can’t visit Bubba Gump without grabbing a hat (and yelling ‘run, Forrest, run’).
The playful menu will be serving up high-quality seafood and casual American comfort food with an Aussie twist. As for drinks, there are all the usual suspects like beer, wine and spirits, plus a vibrant cocktail menu with the option to purchase the thoughtfully designed glassware it’s served in as a keepsake.
Let’s just say—we’re welcoming all of the above with open arms (and very full plates).
We’ll keep you posted.
Image credit: RegionalQueenslander