Sonny Chiba brings modern Japanese to Armadale

Sleepy Armadale is having a dining shake-up. Fine diner Amaru is about to be refurbished; Zia Rina's Cucina was re-imagined by two young chefs last year as casual, modern Italian Rina's 3143, and now contemporary Japanese has come to Beatty Avenue with Sonny Chiba.

Named for the martial arts actor and singer, the restaurant takes over from a French patisserie and brings sushi, sashimi, prawn sangas and cocktails to the table.

The restaurant and bar is owned by Armadale local Daniel Russo who previously opened Balaclava pizza joint Argy Bargy, and was a partner in the Saint Hotel.

Chef Jun Ha Park (ex Nobu and Sake) is serving tuna tataki, nigiri and plates of sea bream dressed in jalapenos and avocado from a central sushi bar. The broader menu offers booze-friendly snacks such as curried beef doughnuts with yuzu and coconut, fried chicken or mushroom tofu and poached prawn sandwiches on milk bread, plus bigger plates including a 500-gram rib-eye.

Wines steer modern (skinsy things and low-intervention gear) and there is a bracket of sake and umeshu and fruit-driven cocktails.

Private dining rooms upstairs and a rear terrace with retractable roof are set for parties big and small.

Open Tue-Sun 5pm-late, 14 Beatty Avenue, Armadale.