China Diner | Double Bay

The verdict

China Diner has been a mainstay on the Bondi food scene since 2014 and now they’ve moved slightly (yes, only slightly) closer to the city, setting up shop in Double Bay. The fit out is comfortable with an American diner feel—from the sprawling cocktail bar where you can sit and watch the cocktail magic happen, to the cosy booths designed for really settling in.

As with their O.G. restaurant in Bondi, the menu here is packed full of traditional Cantonese dishes, each with their signature modern spin courtesy of Executive Chef Jack James Steer. Think crispy pork bao with apple and carrot kimchi and sriracha mayo, or chicken and sesame ‘Chiko’ spring rolls dipped in a sweet blood plum sauce.

Fans of their Bondi joint will be pleased to know that a few old faithfuls have made the cut, but when new additions include chicken and sweet corn soup topped with a truffle foam, who would complain?

The cocktails are a similar story, each with a subtle nod to the diverse flavours of Asian cuisine—like the geisha loca which mixes Havana Club with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Yuzu Sake mango and cassia, or the Bondi cherry blossom, with Campo de Encanto pisco, Apricot Sake, Cherry Heering, lemon and egg white.

China Diner is the place to head for a mid week catch up (sit at the bar), or date night (head straight for those booths, obvs) or for a cheeky dinner this Friday night.

Image credit: Domenic Loneragan