Where to eat in Maroubra
A local's guide to good food
I venture to Maroubra for two reasons: a semi-regular pilgrimage on the Coogee to Maroubra coastal trek; or a fortnightly grocery shopping trip to the town centre. For reasons I outline below, I usually arrive at my destination in a state of starvation and on the lookout for a quick, casual bite. There are two small establishments in the area that I find myself returning to time and again – this article is written solely for the purpose of singing their praises!
Where to eat on the Coogee-to-Maroubra Coastal Walk
Everyone knows and does the Coogee-to-Bondi coastal walk but did you know that you can continue walking south from Coogee all the way to Maroubra, and then further onto Little Bay? The ambitious may even reach La Perouse in Botany Bay–which, be warned is a 13-15 km trek! Most of the path winds along the coastline, although some of that coastline crosses a golf course, a shooting range, and even a historic cemetery for smallpox victims – I digress but on account of its isolation, ancient gravestones and plentiful wildflowers, the Coast Hospital Cemetery is a peaceful and beautiful place to visit, especially for people who like old, historic cemeteries.
The Coogee to Maroubra stretch is 5 km long, so it is enough of a distance to walk up an appetite, especially if stopping to swim in the gorgeous rock pools along the way or planning to explore the headlands further to the south. So where does one stop to eat?
Maroubra is the least developed of all eastern beaches, which many would say is its charm. But it also means that there isn't a whole lot of choice for eating out. I for one always opt for The Grumpy Baker.
Located on Marine Parade, The Grumpy Baker is one of the first cafes you encounter if heading down from Coogee towards Maroubra Beach. This makes it the perfect stop for a quick takeaway to enjoy down at the beach, on the cliffs, or in the park right opposite.
I go there for their pies although I hear that they are also famous for their sausage rolls. The pies are cooked until they are crisp and golden brown, so they don't have the raw chewy, doughy taste that you get at some bakeries. The second virtue is the filling: it is delicious. My go-to pie is their mushroom pie. Even those who usually go for the meat option will appreciate this vegetarian alternative. I've tried their exotic chicken and lamb varieties as well but keep reverting back to the mushroom.
Another virtue of The Grumpy Baker is that they have good, strong coffee and a decent selection of sweet pastries and treats. Our standard order tends to be two pies (with tomato sauce), extra hot coffees and a pastry to share. Once we have our bounty, we head over to a quiet spot on the cliffs to enjoy the feast while watching out for whales (October is the best month for this).
Where to eat in Maroubra town centre
Even though we live in Coogee, it is easier for us to cut through the backroads and go grocery shopping at Maroubra's Pacific Square shopping centre. Their underground car park very conveniently accommodates our van while hosting our favourite grocery store, Aldi, as well as a variety of other speciality food retailers.
Grocery shopping is, however, not something I particularly enjoy–even Aldi's ever changing middle-aisle does little to reduce the drudgery. It is a chore that I attend to only when the fridge and pantry are almost bare. This means that the day we head to the supermarket, there is generally nothing left to eat at home, and we arrive at our destination starving.
Shopping on an empty stomach is a big no-no, so being the responsible adults that we are, we have grown accustomed to eating out before heading into the tempting aisles – and there is one place we have been going back to for the past five years: Sushi Union.
Sushi Union is a small, 'hole-in-the-wall' kind of establishment run by three people. There is a Japanese male chef who does the bulk of the cooking. He has a young apprentice and a lady who tends to the front of store duties. She knows us and our order by now – and usually greets us with 'Salmon Donburi'?
She probably thinks it a boring order, as they are famous for their ramen, but we have not come across another restaurant with this dish, nor one that cooks it so well, nor one that has such a generous portion at such a reasonable price! It is so good, in fact, that when I first tasted it, I felt compelled to leave my first five-star (or any star) Google review for a restaurant.
For the standard option, the salmon is first marinated in a teriyaki-type sauce and then cooked to delicate perfection over live coal that gives it a charred finish with a beautiful smoky flavour. They also have the option to add chilli to the dish (an option we always take), so the end result is a sweet, smoky heat that is simply divine.
They also have the salmon available with noodles in a Japanese style stir-fry. One can opt for either the classic udon or my favourite, ramen noodles. Yaki Ramen with Chilli Salmon is the variant I mostly opt for while my partner sticks to the classic, Chilli Salmon Donburi.
This dish can be cooked with chicken and other proteins, which is also good, but the salmon variant is the best. The final touch that elevates the whole experience is their traditional service. In true Japanese style, the chef and his apprentice will serve the meal themselves. One bite and we find ourselves transported across the oceans to traditional Japanese restaurants hidden in the labyrinth streets of Tokyo.
Eat and be merry
This is obviously not a comprehensive guide to Maroubra cafes and restaurants – I have not gone to every restaurant and cafe in the area. Rather, it is intended to share two gems we serendipitously discovered and keep going back to. We would love to see these small businesses continue to thrive so, firstly, we can selfishly continue to enjoy eating there, but also because it is nice to see the good guys winning. On that note, these are personal recommendations and not paid endorsements – the owners have no idea that this blog exists. Do give them a go when you are next in the area.
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Written by Reeta Dhar. Cover Art by Darren Pryce
Written and Illustrated at Coogee, Australia
First published by Vitalis Magazine in October 2026
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