Bowls, bento and bubble tea – Kira Kira is the southern end’s newest Japanese snack spot
Kirra’s vibrant dining scene has scored a fresh new grab-and-go Japanese eatery, dishing up premium sushi, top-notch bento boxes and fresh don buri bowls just a few sandy footsteps from the suburb’s golden beach. Kira Kira is the latest venture from Franz Zdesar, the owner of Kirra’s modern-Mexican dining spot Agave Rosa and the founder of Mermaid Beach Japanese restaurant, Project Tokyo.
The Kira Kira concept may be smaller in scale than Franz Zdesar’s previous projects, but it represents the fulfillment of one of his biggest dreams – a vision that took root over 20 years ago when he first experienced a sushi hand roll. Decades later, the planets aligned. A former kebab shop, located just a block away from his beachside restaurant Agave Rosa, became available – and it was the perfect spot for Franz to finally bring Kira Kira to life.
Having spent his formative years in the kitchen at London’s Nobu, Franz knows top-tier sushi. And it’s that premium level of quality that he is aiming to bring to the grab-and-go sushi game.
“This isn’t your usual sushi bar where you’ll find ordinary sushi rolls,” explains Franz. “We’ve got a fresh take on classic rolls that everybody loves, alongside specialty sushi rolls with sashimi-grade salmon and tuna,” he said.
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“Everything we do, we aim for the best quality. The premium-grade rice. The best nori sheets we can get. The best hiramasa kingfish. We buy the best we can get, and for us it’s those little things that make everything perfect.”
Along with a cabinet brimming with freshly made classic sushi rolls and specialty hand rolls, Kira Kira also serves a menu of made-to-order Japanese delights, including bowls, boxes and handmade gyoza. The bento boxes arrive loaded with rice, gyoza, a classic sushi roll, a Japanese salad and crispy lotus chips, with your choice of protein – including chicken teriyaki, crispy tempura tofu and sirloin steak.
There’s also a selection of hot don buri rice bowls, with toppings like melt-in-your-mouth pork-belly katsu, crispy salmon and vegetable tempura. For a lighter, vibrant bite, there’s a selection of colourful raw bowls topped with sashimi-grade tuna, salmon or kingfish and drizzled with a sesame-onion dressing. Kira Kira’s bubble-tea bar also serves a range of fruity flavours, topped with your choice of jelly and popping pearls.
Kira Kira is now open. Head to The Directory listing for its opening hours and contact details.