From the ultimate ramen burger to Sydney’s most requested dessert, a guide to food and drinks in Sydney, Australia from Amy Cai.
They say food leaves an impression of a place that lasts far longer than its sights. Sydney is a city graced with an iconic Opera House and a stunning coastline of renowned beaches – but did you know it also harbors one of the world’s fastest growing food scenes?
As a relatively young city, Sydney has attained a vast variety of different food cultures from the colorful legacy left by its people’s multicultural roots. Here are just a selection of the up and coming highlights that shape our vivid cultural landscape.
The rise of Asian food markets
Sydney has some of the world’s widest offerings of authentic Asian flavors, a testament to our country’s strong multicultural narrative. Over the years, our love for Chinese, Japanese and Thai flavors has spawned modern remixes, creating an Asian fusion genre to which nowhere else in the world compares. A recent trend seen in the past few years has been the building of new food courts to the style of Southeast Asian food markets with a contemporary twist. For the uninitiated, head to the suburb of Chippendale, just a stone’s throw away from the main city area. Nestled in the Kensington Street precinct is Spice Alley, a series of authentic Asian food stalls sprawled in a painted laneway.
Even more impressive is the suburb of Chatswood, with a staggering total of five food courts (all located in its central hub) filled with Asian eats. The two most recent, Hawker Lane and the District, were both erected in the style of Asia’s laneway food stalls.
My personal favorites here are the juicy lamb cumin kebab sticks and the ramen burger, the latter of which makes for a truly delightful photo op.
Reinventing industrial roots
Once Australia’s largest industrial area, the neighboring suburbs of Alexandria and Roseberry have been redrawn in recent years to now accommodate one of Sydney’s most popular food venues. Having brunch at the Grounds of Alexandria is the new rite of passage for every foodie or Instagrammer who claims to know Sydney’s food scene. This delightful venue has become one of Australia’s most Instagrammed spots, sitting just under the likes of our Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Nearby in Roseberry, you’ll find what is commonly regarded as Sydney’s most famous dessert place – Black Star Pastry. This small, unassuming bakery has a wicked signature dish that has amassed a huge cult following over the years. Made with a layer of fresh watermelon in its center and dressed with a bed of strawberry and rose petals, the strawberry watermelon cake has a reputation as Sydney’s most requested cake not just because of looks – it tastes simply divine as well.
Dining with a view
Sydney stands as one of the world’s most beautiful modern cities. The truth is, we have the best of both worlds – up close, our city is a fusion of urban and Victorian architecture. From a distance, we are a city built around calm harbors and rich bushland. It’s no surprise then that Sydney’s finest restaurants come with the best views money can buy. One of the coolest spots for late night hangout in the city is O Bar and Dining, situated on the 47th floor of a circular building. The floor is designed to constantly turn at an unnoticeably slow pace, exposing guests to a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city.
Walk along the wharves of Darling Harbour, and you’ll find an endless chain of classy restaurants with a direct view of the water. Waterside dining here in Sydney is such a common luxury for most of us locals, and you would be surprised by how affordable some of our most popular restaurants are. These restaurants offer the best seats to watch the fireworks scheduled every week along the Harbour – booking a table gets especially competitive when it comes to catching a view of the sparks that go off on New Year’s Eve.
Being in Sydney will quickly have you realizing that there’s no such thing as a place with no good food – there can only be good places waiting for you to discover their best food. So put away your plans to sightsee Sydney next time you’re here and join us in sampling our city’s diverse food districts at any hour round the clock. We have way too many plates on our hands for you to miss your share.
About the author:
Amy is a journalism and law student hailing from the gorgeous city of Sydney. When she’s not buried behind her textbooks or filling her Pinterest board with armchair travels, she’s off exploring different worlds and taking amateur pictures along the way. Read about her adventures in L.O.U.D by Amy, her blog, and follow her on Instagram @amyyyycai.
