VN Street Foods ~ Vietnamese - Marrickville

VN Street Foods may be a small shop front along Illawarra Road in Marrickville, but it is turning out plenty of fine plates of Vietnamese classic dishes. Pull up a tiny chair and sit and watch the show.

Flavour Shanghai ~ Chinese - Ashfield

 Ashfield is the home to a record number of restaurants with the word 'Shanghai' in the name. Flavour Shanghai might be the smallest, but the flavour is indeed large.

Fish King Kitchen ~ Chinese - Eating World Food Court

Fish King Kitchen in Eating World Food Court changed it's name from Soya King some time ago, which is a fine excuse to revisit a bunch of times.

Gourmandise de Paris ~ French / Australian Cafe - Pyrmont

We stumble upon a couple of casual looking French cafe/restos on Harris Street, Pyrmont. Both joints look great, we toss a coin and pick Gourmandise de Paris.

Huang Tai Ji Jian Bing ~ Chinese - Town Hall [Closed]

G'Day, Jian Bing! And see ya later. We learn a lesson in not posting quick enough, or on how fast the food scene is moving in Sydney.

[Closed March 2017]

Ramen Bar Goku ~ Japanese - Glebe

David Chang may have given up on ramen but we haven't. Ramen Bar Goku in Glebe keeps the faith alive.

Tea Plus ~ Taiwanese - Wolli Creek

We were most excited to see a 'Taiwanese Restaurant' sign appear in Wolli Creek late last year. Tea Plus soon followed. So did the crowds. This place hit the ground running.

Old Jim Kee - Malaysian ~ Spice Alley, Chippendale

Spice Alley explorations continue with Old Jim Kee, with Malaysian specialties the fare. Noodles for the win.

European Rolls at Izgrev Deli - Kogarah

European rolls, Greek cheeses, spices and sauces, halva and a damn fine snacking sausage are to be found at this deli in Kogarah.

Student Biryani ~ Pakistani - Auburn

Student Biryani serves up heaped plates of spiced rice, curries and fried chicken for a bargain price. A+ grades all round.

Nam Ngiao at Cheng Kitchen ~ Thaitown

We find one our favourite travel dishes back home in Sydney.

Farewell Hong Kong King's Chef - Eating World Food Court

Mr Shawn had a sudden fetish for egg and prawn on rice from Eating World's Hong Kong King's Chef - but it closed just the day before. Poo.

Mum Kitchen ~ Chinese - Dixon House Food Court, Chinatown [Closed]

We find another Chinatown foodcourt gem in Mum Kitchen - highly recommended, especially to noodle soup and hardcore pork fans. [Closed]

Blossoming Lotus ~ Vegan Thai - Dixon House Food Court, Chinatown

We are long time fans of  Blossuming Lotus in Newtown and happy to find their Dixon House food court stall is same same but different. The wonderful bainmarie-of-love is is similar but there is much extra cooked-to-order goodness. And lordy, these folks can cook.

Sabb Verr ~ Thai, Chamberlain Hotel - City \ Thaitown

On a warm Sunday evening in Thainatown we follow the sounds of Thai music coming out of the Chamberlain Hotel and find the place is packed and the food is flying out of the bistro, Sabb Verr.

Hawa Charcoal Chicken ~ Granville

Mention Granville and charcoal chicken possibly comes up in the conversation as the one thing people go there for. Hawa Charcoal Chicken serves a fine bird but its the veg platter we'll be back for.

Valentines Romance at Deans Diner Pop Up at the Townie

Romance is even better when you're a trio. We take on a spare lonely valentine who joins us for burgers and trivia at the Townie at the Deans Diner Pop up bar.

Blossoming Lotus ~ Thai vegetarian and vegan - Newtown

Blossoming Lotus in Newtown meets the criteria for vegans, students, quick lunch needs and just a plain old good cheap feed. Fill your plate for less than $10 and feel good about it.

Noumea - Self Catering at the Hilton and the YHA ~ New Caledonia

To get the most out of Noumea eating-wise it's best to get an apartment where you can cook with all the imported French goodies and fresh local produce that you can fill your bag with. You'll need fridge room for the wine and cheese and a spot to look out over the water at sunset. Aaah, this is the life.

Kammadhenu - Malaysian, South Indian and Sri Lankan ~ Homebush

Is this the best curry in Sydney? Kammadhenu in Homebush has this self proclaimed title, so we try out their claim.

Shun Fai Modern Av Co ~ Chinese - Chinatown

A tiny store in Chinatown holds a massive collection of lanterns, lucky cats, fans and umbrellas, packed into every nook and cranny. Everything for the lunar new year and any other celebration.

Restaurant L'Arlequin ~ French - Noumea

Restaurant L'Arlequin is hard to miss in Noumea, look for the bright colours of its namesake among the old houses of Faubourg Blanchot.

Al Shami ~ Syrian & Lebanese - Merrylands

A lunchtime feast at Al Shami in Merrylands, where the daily special is a drawcard that can't be beat.

Medan Ciak - Indonesian ~ Surry Hills

Medan Ciak makes Indonesian food with Chinese flavours and a welcoming family environment. Bring Grandma and the kids, everyone else does.

B-Kyu Books ~ Thai Hawker Food by Kenny Yee and Catherine Gordon

This thin book about Thai Hawker food is a ready reckoner of street food dishes that makes you want to hop on a plane to Bangkok straight away, or head down to Thainatown for something new, spicy and guaranteed good.

Restaurant La Case ~ French, Noumea

A waterside local hangout that does a bit everything - pub, cafe, restaurant and pizza parlour. La Case in Baie de L'Orphelinat stretches from quick espresso pitstop to nightclub all in one fine location.

Zan Bou ~ Cantonese Chinese - Sussex Centre Food Court, Chinatown

Cantonese seems to be the boring family member of Chinese cuisine at the moment, the brash heat and spice of Sichuan and northern fare more thrilling and new. Zan Bou in Sussex Centre makes a case for retrying the more subtle flavours of southern Chinese cooking.

Restaurant 1881 ~ French - Noumea

Jutting out of the harbour on a small pier, Restaurant 1881 in Noumea makes for a pretty view of the water and whats on the plate.

Gone but not forgotten 2016 ~ our end of year tribute to those departed

Just like sand through the hourglass, these were the restaurants of our lives. In memory of those places lost to us in 2016.

Shanghai Fried Dumpling ~ Chinese - Wolli Creek

Shanghai style food found in the heart of the new high rise suburbs around Wolli Creek. Shanghai Fried Dumpling is stuffed inside a supermarket shopfront, but bursts with the slightly sweet flavours of its namesake town.