Lavie & Belle French Bakery ~ Surry Hills

There's lots of places in Sydney calling themselves French bakeries but only Lavie & Belle takes us back to Paris.

Bonolota ~ Bangladeshi & Indian - Rockdale

We train it out to Rockdale to visit Fuska House, only to find it is no  more, all that is left is a cranky note from the landlord taped to the door. So we sniff around for something similar, ie Bangladeshi and awesome. We find Bonolota in the magic block of shops on the west side of Rockdale Station, where Banoful once lived.

Thai soups at Cheng Kitchen - Thai

Cheng Kitchen has one of the largest ranges of Thai noodle soups in Sydney, so we take ourselves on a Thai soup boot camp to explore them.

Chulin Chinese Cuisine & Deli - Ultimo / Broadway

The stretch of restos along Broadway in the dip between the hills of UTS and Sydney Uni is a B-Kyu wonderland of top notch little Asian restos. We refer to this area lots so we need a name for shorthand, how about Happy Valley? Let's see if it sticks.

Pinoy Kitchen ~ Filipino & Doonside Festival

We don't usually go in for neighbourhood festivals but somehow the idea of a Doonside festival struck a chord, a fine excuse to sniff around a suburb we've never snifftered before.

24 Hours in Paris - B-Kyu Style

Mr Shawn's dream birthday 24 hours in Paris - walking lots, a Laetitia Sadier gig and foie gras.

Sichuan Street Food Pilgrimage - Chengdu Part 1, Arrival

We make it to Sichuan for a couple of weeks of eating, starting in Chengdu, which has always been a food dream city of ours, and ending with big fat panda bottoms.

Concordia Club ~ German - Tempe

The Concordia Club is dear to our hearts. Firstly for being so un-inner-west and inner-west at the same time. It's housed in a vintage bowlo between a park and the Cooks River - think trees and space with a family/beer garden vibe.

Kusuka Cafe and Warung Kopi ~ Indonesian - Haymarket/Central

Kusuka Cafe and Warung Kopi has been open for just a few weeks before closing for renovations. Get out your diary and plan to get there when it reopens, because you really should.

[updated January 2018]

Into Noodle ~ Chinese - Ultimo\Broadway

Is Sydney in the midst of Chinese food golden age? Hunt around and you'll find dishes exactly the same as they are in China, our trip to Chongqing late last year really drove this home.

Yunnan Style Cuisine ~ Eating World Food Court - Chinatown

Another great new stall graces the hallowed halls of Chinatown's Eating World food court.

Le Trader ~ French, Pyrmont

A French focused cafe on rue du Harris in the Pyrmont arrondissement.

Albee's Kitchen ~ Chinese Malaysian - Campsie

Albee's Kitchen is a long time Campsie favourite and one of our favourite Malaysian joints to boot.

Northester Family Chinese Restaurant ~ Mascot

We like to sniff for restaurants around the new apartment areas popping up around the inner east and west. We've noticed a theme of northern style Chinese joints popping up and doing a roaring trade.

Ma's Kitchen ~ Chinese - Sussex Centre Food Court

Ma's Kitchen in Chinatown's Sussex Centre Food Court is the joint we hit when we get the itch for some really good and shiny Chinese stir fry. We reckon it's the Malaysian/Indo influence in the cooking that gives it the extra oomph.

Salina Eritrean African Restaurant ~ Marooka, Brisbane

We heard on the food-nerd grapevine that Marooka in Brisbane is worth checking out. So we did.

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.