If you ever needed evidence that Sydney is a delightful melting pot textured with a rich variety of identities, look no further than the city’s dining scene.
From zeitgeisty hatted establishments with esteemed pedigrees to your humble everyday local, the Harbour City truly has something for everybody.
And as a recent thread posted in Reddit’s r/foodies_sydney perfectly illustrates: you don’t necessarily need bells & whistles; a wave of industry acclaim; or bank-breaking prie fixe prices in order to be considered a god-tier dining destination. Much more important are fresh produce; mastery of flavours; and a dedication to craft.
In the words of Anthony Bourdain: “Food is everything we are. It’s an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from the get-go.”
Check out some of the aforementioned Reddit thread’s top picks for best-kept dining secrets in Sydney below.
Miss Ary (Strathfield/Mount Druitt)
“This is a Korean food truck set up in some dude’s backyard in Mount Druitt. Delicious.”
u/drovingcc
Cuisine: Korean
Address: 66 Durham Street, Mount Druitt NSW 2770
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Saturday (11 AM — 2 PM; 4 PM — 8 PM)
Berlin Food Bunker (Ryde/Ermington)
“It’s a food truck and it’s literally on the side of a car wash place but the owner is from Berlin and they serve genuine Berlin-style doner and currywurst.”
u/mrbrocc
Cuisine: German
Address: 1206 Victoria Road, Melrose Park NSW 2114
Opening Hours: N/A
Hot Dumpling (Epping)
“Absolutely zero service or ambience but all the dumplings are made to order. Their chive and egg pockets are also really good. Yet to find a better place for boiled/pan-fried dumplings in Sydney.”
u/ar15700
Cuisine: Chinese
Address: 72 Beecroft Road, Epping NSW 2121
Opening Hours: Monday — Saturday (11 AM — 8:30 PM)
Kabul (Merrylands)
Cuisine: Afghani
Address: 186A Merrylands Road, Merrylands NSW 2160
Opening Hours: Monday — Sunday (11 AM — 10 PM)
Kubota Japanese Restaurant (Petersham)
“Their menu is not extensive, but they keep their consistency and quality well.”
u/Salad_OnTheSide
Cuisine: Japanese
Address: Shop1&2/98-106 Audley Street, Petersham NSW 2049
Opening Hours: N/A
Ayam Goreng 99 (Kensington)
Cuisine: Indonesian
Address: 464 Anzac Parade, Kingsford NSW 2032
Opening Hours: Wednesday — Sunday (12 PM — 8 PM)
Ken’s Sushi Bar Dining (Bexley North)
“They have the best value for Japanese food without compromising on its quality and size. Make sure to call and book as they do get busy.”
u/beljon
Cuisine: Japanese
Address: 3A Shaw Street, Bexley North NSW 2207
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Saturday (11 AM — 2 PM; 5 PM — 9 PM), Sunday (5 PM — 9 PM)
Tuong Lai (Cabramatta)
“Awesome food and good people.”
u/eggssell
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address: Shop 3/66-68 John Street, Cabramatta NSW 2166
Opening Hours: Thursday — Tuesday (7 AM — 6 PM)
RELATED: A Comprehensive Guide To Anthony Bourdain’s Favourite Restaurants Around The World
Nom (Darlinghurst)
Cuisine: Japanese
Address: 166 Riley Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Tuesday — Saturday (5:30 PM — 9:30 PM)
North Indian Cuisine (Darlinghurst)
Cuisine: Indian
Address: 131 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Sunday — Wednesday (11 AM — 10 PM), Thursday — Saturday (11 AM — 11 PM)
Jasmine 1 (Auburn)
Cuisine: Lebanese
Address: 22 Civic Road, Auburn NSW 2144
Opening Hours: Monday — Sunday (8 AM — 11 PM)
Swanky Noodle (Parramatta)
Cuisine: Chinese
Address: 131 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Opening Hours: Wednesday — Monday (11 AM — 9 PM)
Jagerstube (Schofields)
“Absolutely great food and beer. It’s also very unique as the restaurant looks like a community hall. Someone had recommended this place in another post and I had decided to check them out a week ago and I was impressed. Definitely need to book as they get very busy (Editor’s Note: booking essential).”
u/4bidden112
Cuisine: Bavarian
Address: 79 South Street, Schofields NSW 2762
Opening Hours: Friday (5 PM — 9 PM), Saturday (12 PM — 10 PM), Sunday — Friday (11:30 AM — 3 PM)
Polish Club (Ashfield)
Cuisine: Bavarian
Address: 182 Liverpool Road, Ashfield NSW 2131
Opening Hours: Wednesday — Saturday (10 AM — 12 AM), Sunday (10 AM — 9 PM)
Bayswater Kitchenette (Potts Point/Rushcutters Bay)
“Honestly don’t want to share it because I don’t want it to get too busy.”
u/bostonaussie1
Cuisine: Italian
Address: Shop 1/51-57 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011
Opening Hours: Monday — Friday (5 PM — 9 PM)
After some more picks? Head over to r/foodies_sydney for the full thread on Sydney’s best-kept dining secrets.
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