Beloved Malayasian restaurant closes on Sydney's waterfront after 23 years

The Malaya, the beloved South Asian restaurant overlooking the Sydney Harbour, will close on King Street Wharf after 23 years.

Operators Isabella, Duan and Givie Wong announced they will have their final service on March 29 before reopening in Harry Seidler’s Grosvenor Place on George Street in April.

They say the move “brings up full circle” as the restaurant was first founded on George Street in 1963 by Wong Tai See, a seaman who migrated from Hong Kong to Australia in the 1940s.

“In many ways, it’s a homecoming,” they said in a social media statement.

The Malaya spent years serving generations of students, journalists, police and professionals in the CBD before Wong’s son, Lance, followed the city’s development to King Street Wharf in 1996.

Today, the restaurant is run by the third generation of Wong’s family; his grandchildren Isabella and Duan.

“While we’ll miss King St Wharf—our home for over two decades—we want to take a moment to thank you, our guests, for making it such an incredible part of our journey,” the operators said.

“We look forward to welcoming you in for a few more memorable meals before we say goodbye.”