Two of Australia’s best chefs, Chase Kojima from Sokyo and Victor Liong from Lee Ho Fook, have gone rogue, ditching their respective Japanese and Chinese cuisine for an experimental fusion of the two. “Victor and I set out to curate something new and cool; we challenged each other to reach new creative heights. Our menu depicts what Chuuka is to us – a respectful synergy of our opposing cultural heritages and culinary skills – and we’re thrilled to be launching it into the Sydney food scene,” Kojima said.

Food will be ultra-luxe with plenty of fun, quirky twists. A dedicated raw bar will shuck and slice to order while a first-of-its-kind caviar service will see premium fish eggs served with small savoury sides. Expect high voltage flavours from Eastern Rock Lobster wok fried in a punchy seaweed broth to tempura chicken drenched in a sticky yuzu sweet and sour sauce.

Not just an afterthought, desserts will sit front and centre of the Chuuka menu. A premium frozen yoghurt service will essentially be a make-your-own sundae bar, which will combine freshly churned sorbet and ice cream with squirts and sprinkles, from yuzu and ginger jam to coffee jelly and matcha milk crumbs. Yoghurt puddings with Okinawan brown sugar will give spoons a workout, or for something small and sweet, try the brown sugar ice cream mochi.

The cocktail list has been inspired by the five Chinese elements. Barrel-aged and hickory-smoked shiso umeshu will inform the wood cocktail, while hot chillies, mango and Dom Bénédictine liqueur combine to make fire. Water will draw on the fresh and light flavours of iced tea with Suntory Roko gun, black tea, ginger and lemongrass.

It’ll be a race to nab the final tables at The Star’s new Chinese-Japanese venue, Chuuka, by renowned chefs Chase Kojima and Victor Liong. To celebrate their first cup, they’ll be putting on a five-course sharring menu, which will include sashimi platters, steamed Murray cod with shallot and coriander, wok-fried wagyu, crab omelette, and purple yam ice cream, along with a glass of Moët & Chandon on arrival ($135pp). Suite 62-64, Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont. chuuka.com.au.

Chuuka is located at Jones Bay Wharf, lower deck 19-21, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont. The venue is open Tue-Sun for lunch (12pm – 3pm) and Tue-Sat for dinner (5:30pm – 11pm). For more details or to book, head to chuuka.com.au.