MasterChef Australia favourite Matt Sinclair is the latest celebrity chef to announce a short-term residency at Crown Perth, with the Queensland-based restaurateur heading a six-week pop-up of his Sunshine Coast eatery Sum Yung Guys commencing on September 17.
Sinclair opened the South-East Asian-inspired venue in Noosa alongside fellow chefs Jeremiah Jones and Michael Rickard shortly after appearing on season eight of the cooking series more than a decade ago.
It’s no coincidence he trails George Calombaris to the precinct, rubbing shoulders with the series’ former judge in June at the Noosa Food & Wine Festival shortly before he flew west to open GREEK by George Calombaris at the space formerly home to Bistro Guillaume.
“That’s actually how the introduction came about,” Sinclair told PerthNow.
“He sort of put us forward to the team at Perth, and then the conversation rolled from there.”
Calombaris has since praised WA’s “beautiful produce”, with Sinclair to adopt local fish or scallop alternatives where appropriate as he presents 70-80 per cent of a menu that’s already won hearts on the east coast.
Favourites include a much-loved prawn toast with gochu mayo, hiramasa kingfish with green scud chilli, coconut and laksa oil, Southern Thai yellow curry with snapper, and rich beef rendang.
Admitting he has never stepped foot out west, the chef hopes his “tropical expression” of food is well-received when the weather in Perth heats up, and encourages those curious of such flavour profiles to swing by.
“The food’s exciting — it’s hot, it’s spicy, it’s sour, it’s sweet, it’s textural, and it’s something that I hope everyone can put aside some time, make a booking, come and say g’day, especially for the first couple of weeks when I’m there,” Sinclair said.
The chef will be making his first trip to WA a family affair, setting aside time with loved ones at “non-negotiable” tourist attraction Rottnest Island in the days prior to entering the kitchen.
Confirmation of Sinclair’s forthcoming arrival comes weeks after Crown Perth revealed Michelin-starred Swedish chef Björn Frantzén would be elevating Crown Towers’ premium dining scene in 2027, unveiling his globally recognised Brasserie Astoria.
In another coup for WA, Chef Pam —the World’s Best Female Chef 2025 — will be opening Thai eatery Khao San Sek at the entertainment hub next year in a move inspired by her Bangkok venue of the same name.
Following several successful short term residencies at Crown Perth in 2026, CEO Brian Pereira said Sum Yung Guys’ arrival was yet another win for local diners.
“In just the last few months we have announced two Michelin-star chefs will bring their international flavours to Crown Perth, and Sum Yung Guys is another exciting opportunity for our guests to try something new,” he said.
“These limited-time pop-ups are also a great way to support local suppliers, showcase the best of Western Australian produce and create real economic benefits through jobs, tourism and hospitality activity.”
The Sum Yung Guys residency will take over the space formerly home to Bistro Guillaume at Crown Metropol from Thursday, September 17 to Saturday, October 24.
It will be open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday, with bookings essential via the Crown Perth website.
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