New Bondi poke venue, Fishbowl

In February, Good Food reported the Japanese-influenced Hawaiian poke craze was headed Sydney's way and fine-dining chef turned burger-preneur Warren Turnbull was poking around Bondi for poke sites. Now Bondi has cemented itself as the beachhead for the raw-fish invasion with several new start-ups planned.

Nathan Dalah opens Fishbowl this month in the Pacific development on Campbell Parade, while another venture, from Bondi Best's Pier-trained chef Joel Best, is circling a site on Glenayr Avenue. "It's perfect for Bondi. Healthy, quick and not expensive," Best tells Good Food.

Dalah describes Fishbowl's interior brief as "like the Bondi skate bowl" and the food as more Japanese-leaning, Los Angeles style poke.

"We'll be using sashimi-grade fish and mixing it to order," he says. Coincidentally, Turnbull also looked at the site where Fishbowl is opening. Turnbull, who led Sydney's recent burger charge with Chur Burger, has cooled a little on his poke launch. "Now everyone's jumping in I'm not so sure. I'm looking at something different. Something that was cool a while ago," he says.