SOY Japanese Restaurant

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  7     

Lovely little casual eatery by the sea. I came with girlfriends recently and we were all surprised by how innovative and fresh the food was. The staff were very polite, when I accidently spilled my wine (and smashed the glass on the floor - of course), they replaced it free of charge with a smile, will be back.

May 11, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

One of my new favourites. Interesting twist on traditional Japanese food and a great view. Everything about this place sits well with me and I expect to be back many times over.

Apr 10, 2012 

6.5 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  5     

Lovely little restaurant, however, the food and wine list lets it down considerably. We had prawn 'gyozas' which are wonton wrappers deep fried, not proper gyozas. The beef tataki was ok but needed more yuzu dressing. Vegetable tempura was terrible. The batter was soggy and undercooked and, let's face it, tempura is about the batter! Soft shell crab roll was ok but have had a lot better.

The wine list further lets it down terribly. Out of 9 white wines, five are sauvignon blanc. For sauv blanc hater like myself, there were no other options for a dry white by the glass only an overly sweet and badly structured pinot gris and a terribly made chardonnay. It's unfortunate because it's a lovely spot and the staff are friendly. Not recommended if you know and love your food.

Apr 07, 2012 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

We have been getting take away from here since it opened and always enjoyed it, so last night we ate in, we were a group of 6 and it was Great. Lovely friendly service and delicious food.

Mar 02, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

We live in Bondi and consider this one of the great additions to the restaurant scene. The staff are great, the service good, the foood is excellent and it is a very refreshing atmosphere. Definitely a place to visit again. We have been there four times.

Jan 08, 2012 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

Fabulous food. Great service. Definitely going back.

Dec 08, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  9     

Best Japanese in Bondi. I've really enjoyed every meal I've had there (going on about 4 now) and I've recommended it to a number of friends who have all also enjoyed it.

The food is both interesting and consistently good. The service is moderate to alright depending on who you get. Great floor manager (Head waitress, whatever) but some of the normal staff are a little forgetful.

But it's not something that worries me too much. It's not rude service, it's just not the best.

Nov 16, 2011 

3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  3     

We had to wait over 10 minutes to be seated, there was tables free but no one had bothered to clear them. We then had to wait again for menus, we witnessed other diners complaining about the wait for their food, we should have left then but we stayed. Only one vegetarian meal on the menu and it arrived Cold my partners food arrived in little stages (first chicken, few minutes, then rice, few minutes, then miso) no one at all apologized for keeping us waiting. Several diners while we were there got up and left because they were over it.

Response from Management:
Hello miss, 



First, we apologize for giving you a bad experience in SOY. 
I remember that you came last Sunday lunch when Bondi's scupture by the sea. 
We are really sorry for many people who came that day. 
We truly apologize again. 
Please come to SOY another time. You will be very special guest. 



Ps. We have more vegetarian menu! Just that time, we run out many things. We still learn a lot so will be better. Thank you so much and sorry again.

Nov 06, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Absolutely fantastic dining experience. Loved the food so tasty and fresh. Everything was spot on and I can't wait to go back and bring my hubby this time.

Nov 05, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  3     

I was very disappointed with my food experience at SOY. We ordered about 5 dishes and only really liked the gyoza. The other dishes were pretty ordinary.
The service was terrible. We were the first to arrive at the restaurant, it took 50 minutes to just bring out the first dish, edaname beans. And then even longer to bring the other dishes.

They forgot to bring the miso soup, we had to ask for it. They brought out all the mains and then we wondered where the rice was that we had ordered. When we asked after the rice, the waitress said she wasn't sure when we wanted to have it and that's why it had not come out. We wondered when they were planning to bring it out, right at the end as dessert? It did not make any sense. We asked for the beef wagyu to be taken back and cooked through because one of our party was pregnant. They took it away and brought it back looking exactly the same. They didn't bother with the request.

We also asked for another dish of gyoza, as this was the one impressive dish we had. They told us they had run out but we were the first to arrive at the restaurant when it opened at 6pm. So we wondered how the gyoza could run out after just one serving.

I would not recommend this place. Apart from the nice ambience and views, there is little to recommend.

Sep 29, 2011