From stretchy knafeh to top-value biryani: Where to eat during Ramadan in Sydney
With feasts spanning Sydney from Liverpool to Surry Hills, try these delicious events and specials during Ramadan this year.
From now until March 29, more than 800,000 Australians will celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. It’s an important time for Muslims and incorporates reflection, prayer and acts of charity.
Many Muslims participate in sawm as an act of self-discipline and empathy during this time, which includes fasting from sunrise until sunset. The first meal eaten after sunset, called iftar, is often shared with family and loved ones.
In Sydney, several events and venues are serving food during Ramadan and celebrating the city’s diverse Muslim community. Here are some of the most popular across the city.
Lakemba Nights, Lakemba
With more than 1.5 million visitors last year, Lakemba’s Ramadan night market is one of Sydney’s most popular annual events. This year, from now until March 30, visitors can feast on options from more than 60 stallholders lighting up Haldon Street. Myriad cuisines, from Indonesian to Iranian, will be represented. Don’t miss out on crisp and stretchy knafeh, stuffed and grilled murtabak, and hearty haleem stews. The markets are officially open from Thursday to Sunday, but most food stalls also operate throughout the week.
Haldon Street, Lakemba, whereinterestinghappens.com.au/event/lakemba-nights-during-ramadan
Ramadan Street Festival, Auburn
On March 8 and 9, Auburn Road will be alive with food stalls and entertainment for Ramadan from 7pm until midnight. Try Nepalese street food from local business Deccan Flavours, and fresh knafeh and other treats such as atayef (a sweet dumpling filled with ashta cream) from popular Palestinian eatery Afandi. The Jimmy’s Ice Cream van will be serving special toppings for Ramadan, including a Dubai chocolate creation based on the social media-famous flavour combination of chocolate, pistachio and kataifi.
Auburn Road, Auburn, cumberland.nsw.gov.au/ramadan-street-festival-2025
Most Blessed Nights Street Food Market, Liverpool
Every weekend from 6pm to 12am from now until April 20, Liverpool’s Macquarie Mall is transforming into a night market full of all sorts of culinary delights with halal options. Our top picks are sandwiches and treats from the talented crew at Self Raised Bread Shoppe (who are also selling a Ramadan selection box full of donuts and other pastries online); green, herbaceous falafel fried in front of you from Falafel Kaddour; and Ghanaian cuisine from Edem’s Eatery.
Macquarie St, Liverpool, liverpool.nsw.gov.au/mostblessed
Ramadan at Bayside, Rockdale
If you’re looking for the perfect family-friendly event during Ramadan, head down to Walz Street in Rockdale on March 22 for a night market that is perfect to bring to kids to. Beyond the copious kebabs, knafeh and kaak that will be available to feast on as you roam the street, there will also be a jumping castle, face-painting and a caricaturist.
Walz Street, Rockdale, bayside.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/ramadan-bayside
Cafe Levant, Greenacre
Before and after sunrise and sunset, this popular cafe will be open with a menu including Lebanese kaak sandwiches and desserts such as its famous cheesy knafeh and ashta atayef pancakes. From March 10 until March 29, a special iftar set menu will also be on offer every Thursday to Sunday. For $75 per person (or $25 for kids aged four to 12), guests can dine on dishes such as sambousek, hummus with slow-cooked lamb brisket and Dubai chocolate pancakes.
Student Biryani, various locations
The international chain has limited-edition iftar boxes are going at student-friendly prices. The $14 box includes a date, a vegetable samosa, two pieces of pakora, a small biryani box and your choice of chaat, dessert and juice. Get this for two people for $23, and four people try its iftar family platter that has four dates, four vegetable samosas, four pieces of pakora, a half-litre box of dahi baray (lentil dumplings in a yoghurt sauce), a half-litre box of channa chaat and a box of fruit.
Various locations, studentbiryani.com.au
Al Aseel, various locations
The growth of the Al Aseel group from one humble Lebanese restaurant in Greenacre to venues throughout Sydney has been astronomical. Its Ramadan iftar menu is $70 per person and meanders through medjool dates and lentil to soup to start, into a range of meze and salad dishes to mains of kafta mishwe and shish tawook. Ask your waiter for the dish of the day which is also included.
Various locations, alaseel.com.au
Isabel Cant – Isabel is a social media editor for Good Food. Prior to joining Good Food, Isabel worked as a freelance journalist. She was also previously a social media producer for Endemol Shine Australia, working on MasterChef Australia and Dessert Masters.