Eat Street: Where to find Sydney’s best mooncakes

It traditionally celebrated the autumn harvest but today’s Moon Festival is more about shining a light on families, friends… and delicious mooncakes.

It traditionally celebrated the autumn harvest but today’s Moon Festival is more about shining a light on families, friends… and delicious mooncakes.

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SWEET LU

Creating stunning desserts with equally attractive pastry boxes may not sound like rocket science but it does play a part in Steve Hou and Lucy Lu’s story of Sweet Lu’s evolution from home kitchen to a premier cake boutique with premium mooncakes.

Steve is, in fact, an actual “rocket scientist,” and Lucy holds a degree in animation and fashion design.

Sweet Lu’s lava custard and white lotus paste mooncake. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Red wine cranberry mooncake. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

More of Sweet Lu’s celebratory mooncakes. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Their talents shine through this business.

Last year, they sold over 200,000 mooncakes, including their signature handmade lava custard mooncake and a reduced-sugar white lotus and egg yolk mooncake.

2A/63 DIXON STREET, HAYMARKET; 280 KING STREET; SWEETLUSYDNEY.COM.AU

THAI KEE IGA

Finding Thai Kee’s annual Mooncake sale is easy; it’s the prominent wooden structure in Centre Court, adorned with red lanterns and encircled by trestle tables stacked with hundreds of coloured boxes and tins.

The hard part, though, is choosing which type of mooncake you’re after, as this year, there are more than 300 varieties to choose from, including a bacon and egg-flavoured cake.

Thai Kee IGA's mooncake sale at Market City. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Daniel Trinh, a second-generation Thai Kee IGA owner and manager, says that as the largest mooncake sale in Australia (they’ll sell well over 10,000 units in two weeks), they can source both simple and ornate boxes and tins from around the world, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, and Australia.
13 HAY ST, HAYMARKET, CHINATOWN; MARKETCITY.COM.AU

IIKO MAZESOBA

It seems evident after saying it, but a big part of the Mid-Autumn festivities is “moon-viewing” (Tsukimi).

There’s a bit more to it than just looking up; it’s believed that Japanese aristocrats would gather on boats under the full harvest moon, gazing leisurely at the silver orb’s reflection on the water and indulging in seasonal sweets and moon-shaped treats.

Tsukumi Mazesoba topped with a golden egg. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

At IIKO Mazesoba, they’re honouring the moon with a range of “Tsukumi” dishes, including the Tsukimi Mazesoba ($16) topped with a golden orange egg yolk (or fried egg).

86 HAY ST, HAYMARKET; MAZESOBA.COM.AU

LILONG, TASTE OF SHANGHAI

Traditionally, under the light of mid-autumn’s fullest and brightest moon, is when families and friends come together to celebrate the bountiful harvest.

First comes dinner.

Deep fried barramundi at Lilong. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Tables are loaded with dishes showcasing seasonal ingredients and promising good fortune.

After that, it’s all about the mooncakes.

James Wu, co-owner of Lilong by Taste of Shanghai, explains that for his family, after the meal, “we sit in the backyard, drink tea, eat mooncakes and enjoy the light of the full moon”.

Salted yolk moon cakes. Picture: Jenifer Jagielski

Head to Lilong for your Moon Festival feast and order the crispy Barramundi for good luck.

It’s prepared whole and deep-fried with a bright sweet and sour sauce.

Follow that up with Shanghainese mooncakes - crisp and flaky layers filled with red bean paste, white lotus paste, and salted egg yolk.

1 LITTLE HAY ST, HAYMARKET; TASTEOFSHANGHAI.COM.AU

MOON FESTIVALS

There’s plenty of family fun and food deals to be had at the many Moon Festivals running through September 29, the night of the mid-autumn full moon.

Darling Square Moon Festival. Picture Jenifer Jagielski

Head to Haymarket on Saturday, for the Sydney Streets celebration with pop-up stalls, games and entertainment.

Nearby in Darling Square, the festivities run through October 1 with themed food, deals, music, dancing and giveaways.

DARLINGSQUARE.COM.AU