Barbora Sterba Choi and Arron Choi have spent the past four years bringing their own brand of creativity and flavour to the Wollongong bar and restaurant scene by drawing inspiration from their Czech and Chinese backgrounds.
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Despite the COVID-19 lockdown the couple have been busy this year. They welcomed a baby daughter just before temporarily closing their two Crown Street eateries in June.
Moominn and Uncle Bok's reopened last week just as they were finalising plans to take over management of a third restaurant, founded by Mr Choi's parents in 1988.
Fujiyama Teppanyaki is still owned by Mr Choi's mother Louisa Choi and business partner Allan Zhao and will reopen in Fairy Meadow at 5pm on Friday.
"With Moominn and Uncle Bok's now more established we can give Fujiyama a refresh," Mr Choi said.
But the traditional elements the restaurant has become famous for over three decades remain, including the interactive teppanyaki cooking experience.
"We are giving the restaurant a fresher look," Mrs Sterba Choi said.
"But it will still be an authentic Japanese experience where the chef cooks your meal directly in front of you and you are involved in the preparation of the food. We will still have the egg and rice catching and the unique dining experience. It is exciting for people of all ages."
In July they had started a refresh of Uncle Bok's when the opportunity to take over management of Fujiyama presented itself. With it reopening on Friday six new positions have been created.
Fujiyama Teppanyaki will be open every night from Tuesday to Sunday as well as lunch on the weekends.
Meanwhile Mr Choi said Uncle Bok's renovation has created more of a distinction between it and Moominn.
"It is now more Asian focused and Moominn has a more European/Czech focus," he said.
"We have amazing staff. That is what's allowed us to do everything."
Moominn opens 5pm daily from Monday to Friday and from 12 noon on the weekend.
Uncle Bok's opens at 5pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 3.30pm on Sunday.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
