Ippudo branches out to Chippendale

Chippendale's star remains on the rise, with Ippudo opening there next month and a decision to be made in the coming weeks whether the suburb will be home to a spin-off from Bowral's Biota Dining.

Ippudo, which successfully opened in the CBD a few years ago, launches at Central Park in October, one of an expected influx of Japanese operators at the development.

Biota owner-chef James Viles confirmed a decision will be made in the next fortnight on his own Chippendale plans.

Viles has been looking for a suitable Sydney site since 2011, but as we revealed last August, it'll be a bar not a restaurant.

The restaurateur wants to focus on cocktails based on botanicals. "We've been cellaring stuff for the last few years," he says.

If it proceeds, the Chippendale venture will be housed in a standalone building near the old Clare Hotel site.