Looking for some Parramatta restaurants that align with the rapid modernity shaking Sydney’s second CBD? You’ll need to look hard. While cheap franchise venues still populate the Western Sydney hub, there are now a fair few restaurants dotted around developments like Parramatta Square and Church Street that deserve attention.
From the fantastic Lilymu to legendary spots Tamasek and Pho Pasteur, these are my favourite places to eat in Parramatta.
Note that this list is not ranked.
Jump To
The Best Restaurants In Parramatta
1. Lilymu
ESCA Group, the same team behind exceptional city restaurants AALIA and Nour, boldly entered Parramatta’s nascent dining scene a few years ago with Lilymu. Pan-Asian is the brief, shaped by ex-Mr Wong chef Brendan Fong and sous chef Bass Songphum as a hybrid of Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Given Parramatta is still very much in development when it comes to upscale restaurants, Lilymu has quickly become one of the most popular spots in Sydney’s second CBD. Those tom yum prawn dumplings have become a staple for locals while the moreish curries and signature mi goreng with black garlic and egg yolk reiterate ESCA Group’s bullet-proof reputation for inventive concepts executed incredibly well.
2. Oribu
Harry Cho, an ex-Nobu chef, has arrived to help modernise the local dining scene at Parramatta’s first Japanese fine dining restaurant, Oribu. You’ll find this one in the lush Heritage Lounge,
After a stint at Nobu, chef Harry Cho has taken his considerable talent to Parramatta’s Heritage House to open its signature restaurant. Oribu is Western Sydney’s first genuine Japanese fine dining experience, and it’s clear that quite a bit of money has been thrown at the project.
A lavish, 120-seat interior frames upscale Japanese food ranging from share plates like tempura enoki mushroom with truffle oil to signature popcorn prawns and various maki rolls, sashimi and nigiri. The prime option is a $250 omakase platter that features a 60-piece spread of well-sourced seafood; pay a bit extra and you’ll get 30 grams of black pearl caviar on the side.
Parramatta has never seen a restaurant like this, so I’d imagine bookings will be incredibly hard to come across in its opening months.
3. The Meat & Wine Co
Looking over Parramatta River, The Meat & Wine Co. is the only quality option in the area if you’re after a reliable steakhouse with a decent range of options. Taking cues from its South African DNA, the interior is smart and appropriately stylish while the food pops in the expected range of steak, ribs and burgers using well-sourced NSW produce.
I think the butter-aged southern ranged rib eye is still the best steak in Western Sydney, but whenever I head out west, it’s always the Angus beef burger calling my name. It’s consistent, satisfying and not too expensive.
4. Tamasek
If there’s just one local institution in Parramatta, it’s Tamasek. This family-run eatery has been serving Western Sydney since 1992, and is famous for its simple spread of mostly Singaporean-Malay dishes. I’ve been slurping up the laksa here since I was in high school, and maintain that it’s some of the best you’ll find anywhere in Sydney.
Consistency counts for a lot when you’re facing increasingly fierce competition from bigger restaurants. Thankfully, it’s doubtful Tamasek will ever be seen as an afterthought for Western Sydney foodies.
5. Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches
You may have to travel into the city for Sydney’s best sandwiches, but there are more than a few great options out west as well. Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches is one of the most notable of the bunch, located in the Parramatta Square precinct. You can’t miss it as soon as you get out of Parramatta Station.
Don’t let the Nutella fountain put you off. The Instagram-baiting feature may be tacky but what’s on the menu is far from soulless. We’re talking greasy made-to-order subs, nodding to American diner classics like the massive muffuletta with mortadella, ham, salami, Harvey’s olive spread, and both provolone and Swiss cheese.
6. Ruse Bar & Brasserie
I didn’t know what to expect when I first stumbled upon Ruse Bar & Brasserie. It’s big with many different sections and the service is quite slow. The food, however, is a cut above what I would have expected from Parramatta say five years ago.
Fresh produce is spun into a formless menu, pitched as all-day European brasserie dining. I wasn’t a fan of the handmade pasta that I tried but the seafood is hard to deny. The kitchen practices restraint, which is really all that’s needed when you’ve got great produce like Murray Cod served up with southern calamari, zucchini and peas, or crumbed flathead with kipfler potato, capers and smoked creme fraiche.
7. BL Burgers
While BL Burgers is by no means a restaurant, it’s hard not to give a heady nod to this extension of Bar Luca’s burger empire. The immense popularity of the Blame Canada burger, with poutine and maple bacon, really pushed the team to open up multiple venues throughout Sydney to meet demand.
Importantly, owners Sarah and James Robbins have kept the consistency intact so when you’re in the mood for some big, fatty burgers that hit the spot, there are virtually no spots in Parramatta that can compare.
8. Pho Pasteur
While Tamasek has been waving the flag high for Southeast Asia since 1992, Parramatta’s other legendary stalwart takes locals straight to the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Pho Pasteur is, obviously, all about rich, light and house-made pho.
This spot opened in the same year as Tamasek, so both have stood their ground despite the many changes that have hit Parramatta across the past few decades. The longevity is credited to nothing but good, solid consistency and reasonable prices. It’s simply some of the best pho you can slurp down outside of Cabramatta.
9. MISC
Leafy, relaxed and consistent. MISC may be simple with no particular standouts, but the food has always been satisfying and the setting genuinely feels like somewhere far, far away from any kind of city noise. It’s the kind of spot you’d go for a nice, light red and some steak. There’s nothing more to MISC, but there doesn’t have to be either. A Parramatta favourite for good reason.
How Boss Hunting Chose The Best Parramatta Restaurants
Having been raised in Western Sydney, I’m very familiar with Parramatta and have seen Sydney’s second CBD change dramatically over the years. Plenty of investment has gone into making Parramatta the soul of Western Sydney, and part of this is to prop up a dining scene comparable to Sydney CBD proper.
Over the next few years, Parramatta will be transforming completely with everything from a new five-star hotel (the anticipated QT Parramatta) to what will undoubtedly be more high-profile chefs opening restaurants on the same scale as Lilymu.
That said, this is a strange period for Parramatta. A few big-ticket openings have shut up shop like Cicciabella and Butter. As such, I have taken longevity into consideration when deciding on what Parramatta restaurant to include on this list.
Apart from that, I focus on the food and drink primarily, and then the service, atmosphere and concept. Five years ago, I wouldn’t really be dining out in Parramatta because the suburb was mostly packed with poor products and outposts for inescapable chain restaurants. Today, things are much different so I have no hesitation recommending these restaurants to both my mates and BH’s readers.
Did you find this list helpful? Check out some of our other Sydney dining content.
- Best New Restaurants In Sydney
- Best Restaurants In Surry Hills
- Best Restaurants In Newtown
- Best Restaurants In Barangaroo
- Best Restaurants In Darling Harbour
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Parramatta?
The best restaurant in Parramatta is Lilymu.
Where are the best cheap eats in Parramatta?
If you’re dining on a budget, the best cheap eats in Parramatta can be found at Pho Pasteur and Tamasek.
