We’ve rounded up the best local haunts and neighbourhood gems where you can still get a lunch or dinner for two (not including drinks and dessert) for $50 or less. Every venue on this list allows you to dine in, and some even encourage you to bring a bottle.

These are the Italian tratts where you can still find nonna out back, the colourful Indian diners where you can drop by at all hours, and the unassuming Vietnamese eateries that are always worth the queues.

They may not all have fancy fit-outs or glittering harbourside views, but they will welcome you like a member of the family, and serve you food so heartwarming and generous, you’ll want to come back for more. At these prices, you can afford to.

1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles

168A Burwood Rd, Burwood | 9715 2608 | 1915burwood.com

Less than a stone’s throw from Burwood Station, queues for this brown-brick Chinese noodle spot snake around the corner, and it’s worth the wait. A mere $12.90 gets you a heaping bowl of 1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles’ namesake dish: drowned noodles in a beefy broth with a just-right bite. Upgrade to something with a bit of kick, or order your noodles dry. Be sure to check out the extensive dumpling offering, with share plates setting you back just $13.90. Leave room for dessert, though – Burwood’s newly renovated Chinatown is right across the street and brimming with sweet stalls.

Cuisine: Chinese

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Ayam Goreng 99

464 Anzac Parade, Kingsford | 9697 0030 | ayamgoreng99.com

With its cult-like status among university students and Indonesian expats, this Kingsford stalwart has been drawing crowds (and queues) for more than 24 years. You’ll find classic Indo-favourites, including nasi goreng, rendang and a variety of satays, but the main drawcard here is chicken – ordered by the piece and served grilled or deep-fried with a sweet, sticky Javanese-style glaze. Those in the know waste no time ordering the latter alongside plates of wildly popular pepes (spiced mushroom, anchovies or tofu roasted in banana leaves) and bowls of house-made sambal. The bare-bones interiors and unflappable staff only add to its charm.

Cuisine: Indonesian

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Wed-Sun

Bella Brutta

135 King St, Newtown | 9922 5941 | bellabrutta.com.au

Pizza joint Bella Brutta has owners of LP’s Quality Meats, Porteño and Continental Deli behind the curtain – which explains the easy confidence this place exudes. At a cherry-red pizza oven in the centre of it all, a chef swirls dough and slings orders into boxes. Bella Brutta nods to the Italian tradition of using good ingredients sparingly. The long-fermented dough comes dressed with pepperoni or mortadella. Surf clams are diced over a blistered base with a sprinkle of parsley, chilli and lemon. Smashed potatoes on a bianca base get added umami from gorgonzola and confit garlic. It’s both simple and substantial.

Cuisine: Italian

BYO: No

Open: L Sat-Sun D Mon-Sun

Bar Copo

101 Hall St, Bondi | barcopo.com

This edgy little wine bar was inspired by a group of friends sipping caipirinhas and eating prawn empanadas together at a beach boteco in Brazil. They resolved to bring the same vibe back to Bondi. The empanadas are excellent (and save us the jet lag). There’s a creamy prawn empanada with prawn moqueca and squid ink, ready for dipping into aji picante. Okra tempura with lemon aioli is fun, light and snackable, or try pickled mussels with salsa verde and whitebait with beak chilli and lemon aioli. The sandwiches are covetable, as well. This is food made for pairing with a drink.

Cuisine: South American

BYO: No

Open: D Wed-Mon

Banh Xeo Bar

11/61-71 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery | 8542 5259 | banh-xeo-bar.business.site

If you love Vietnamese pancakes, this Rosebery eatery flips a winner. Named after its star dish, Banh Xeo Bar is famous for its lacy turmeric-stained crepes, stuffed with Berkshire pork belly, lemongrass chicken, king prawns or sweet corn and shiitake mushrooms. No limp salad here. On the side, you’ll find crunchy lettuce cups and fresh sprigs of mint, as well as house pickled onions and shiso leaves, all ready to roll. White subway tiles and polished concrete floors create a nice spot to linger over a Vietnamese milk iced coffee or sessionable chenin blanc. It’s always busy, but turnover is fast.

Cuisine: Vietnamese

BYO: No

Open: L Mon-Sat, D Fri

Billu’s

62 Wigram St, Harris Park | 9687 7785 | billu.com.au

Billu’s serves authentic food from Punjab in North India – yes, we’re talking butter chicken, naan, rogan josh, vindaloo and korma. Here, order a tandoor-baked naan, a cauliflower, paneer or potato-stuffed paratha – that y, dense bread – and the dish Billu’s is best-known for; tandoori chicken. Here it’s smoky and slightly charred from being cooked in a real tandoor – that cylindrical wood-fired oven. Billu’s was one of the first Indian restaurants to grace the Harris Park surrounds, and the rest of so-called Little India can now thank this original for forging this area as an outright destination for excellent Indian food.

Cuisine: Indian

BYO: Wine

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Butter

Chatswood & Surry Hills | buttersydney.com.au

When it comes to chicken, Butter knows what’s up. The menu at this temple of fried chicken, hip hop, Champagne and sneakers features American and South East Asian influences, resulting in a moist and juicy bird with a lightly spiced, crispy coating. Butter’s perfectly balanced Cheezus burger gives the big chicken chains a run for their money, but diners won’t want to go past a 3Pac of chicken tenders, paired with plump, briny pickles to cut through the grease. Sides include everything from miso-buttered corn to salty fries, which really shine when added to a ramen gravy and cheese curd poutine.

Cuisine: American

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Burger Head

Penrith, Botany & Casula | theburgerhead.com.au

Joshua DeLuca, Timothy Rosenstrauss and Richard Borg worked in some of the city’s best kitchens, including Momofuku Seiobo, Ormeggio and Quay, before going on to flip burgers. But not just any burgers. Burger Head burgers. The juicy stacks at this Western Sydney-based chain are famous for their premium fillings, from smashed Angus beef patties to juicy fried chicken and smoked enoki mushrooms. There’s no secret sauce here, so to speak. Just high-quality ingredients with everything made in-house. A special each week allows the trio to flex their creative muscle. One week you might get their Twisties burger, the next, mac ’n’ cheese with tater tots.

Cuisine: Burgers

BYO: No

Open: Penrith & Botany L & D Wed-Sun, Casula L & D Mon-Sun

Cairo Takeaway

81 Enmore Rd, Newtown | 9517 2060 | cairotakeaway.com

Don’t be misled by the “takeaway” in the name. It’s well worth waiting for a seat at this Inner West institution. The ’90s alt soundtrack and clientele sipping BYO natty wines are pure Enmore, but the menu owes everything to Egyptian street vendors. Fill your stomach and soul with lentil koshari rice and maalouba pilaf with slow-cooked lamb. Or sample a bit of everything with a mixed plate, featuring the likes of light falafel (crispy outside, parsley-green within); spiced, tender cauliflower; or charcoal-grilled lamb kofta and boneless chicken, served with pickled turnip and chilli, fresh fattoush salad and silken tahina or toum.

Cuisine: Egyptian

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D daily

Chaco Ramen

238 Crown St, Darlinghurst and 11 O’Brien St, Bondi Beach | 9007 8352/9130 4499 | chacoramen.com.au

Chef Keito Abe entered the battle for the title of Sydney’s best ramen back in 2014, and Chaco remains one of our favourite fixes. Abe’s interpretation of pork-bone tonkotsu ramen from his hometown Fukuoka – the ‘fat soy’ – delivers similar rib-sticking viscosity enhanced with chicken bones, served with perfectly chewy noodles and meltingly tender chashu. It’s the signature serve of a handful of soups ranging from traditional-ish to tradition-busting, with additions such as John Dory wontons, cult citrus yuzu and fresh coriander. The 25-seat Darlinghurst bolthole now has a slightly larger Bondi sibling with a slightly expanded menu, including yakitori.

Cuisine: Japanese

BYO: No

Open: Darlinghurst: L & D Tues-Sun. Bondi: L Fri-Sun, D Thurs-Tue

Charcoal Fish

670 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay | charcoalfish.com

Josh Niland’s takeaway joint is not your usual fish and chipper. Charcoal Fish ditches the flake for Aquna Murray cod, cooked either on a spit rotisserie or over coals. Join the queue for Niland’s cod roll, served on a bap, smeared with garlic and herb stuffing and topped with succulent cod fillets, crackling and gravy. Or choose from a quarter, half or whole cod, seasoned with sea salt and EVOO. Naturally, there’s chips, but the real star is crunchy salt and vinegar potatoes, doused in rotisserie fish juices. To finish, what else but Niland’s famed cod fat caramel ice cream?

Cuisine: Contemporary

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon, Wed-Sun

Chat Thai

20 Campbell St, Haymarket | 9211 1808 | chatthai.com.au

There’s no shortage of outposts from this Thai restaurant empire that still commands a crowd after 33+ years. From its OG location near Capitol Theatre, a flurry of waiters delivers the best of Thailand’s street food with precision. On the hit list: crisp fish cakes with pickled cucumber and a spicy, sweet and salty salad of green papaya with pickled crab. There’s no better lunch than the gratifying grapao gai sup or the emerald duck – fragrant five-spice roast duck served on a bed of just-cooked gai lan and bok choy. While finding a table can be difficult, it’s worth the wait.

Cuisine: Thai

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Chatkazz

Shop 4-6/14-20 Station St East, Harris Park | 8677 0033 | chatkazz.com.au

Get your South Indian street food fix at this bustling eatery in Harris Park. The menu includes over 200 snack foods, all of them vegetarian and many you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in Sydney. Expect all the roadside specials, from vada pav, a hot buttered roll filled with spicy fried potato balls, to the paper-thin dosa stuffed with chilli and cheese. The lively diner has been decked out in mismatched tiles and bright poster art that matches the colours and vibrancy of the food. Finish on a (sugar) high with the tooth-achingly sweet jalebi spirals or gulab jamun balls in syrup.

Cuisine: Indian

BYO: No

Open: L Tue-Sun, D Mon-Sun

Chinese Noodle Restaurant

8 Quay Street, Haymarket | 9281 4508 | chinesenoodlerestaurant.business.site

Affectionately known as ‘the restaurant with grapes on the roof’, there’s no shortage of quirks at this Haymarket institution (just don’t confuse it with Chinese Noodle House next door). Expect to be greeted by a rendition of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On by a concert violinist, who also happens to be the owner, while staff dart about on command from the maitre d’, doling out Xinjiang-inspired dishes, including hand-pulled noodles and generous plates of steamed, fried or boiled dumplings (it’d be a crime not to order the pan-fried pork and chive). The special braised eggplant also vies for top billing.

Cuisine: Chinese

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

El Jannah

4/8 South St, Granville | 1800 491 838 | eljannah.com.au

El Jannah is the destination most of Sydney will travel out of their way for. Through the week it’s pumping, turning out quarter chickens and chips with extra garlic sauce to a hungry crowd. The vegetarian offerings are great – the falafel is fresh, fragrant and perfect. There can be waits of up to an hour for food on weekends, but there are great vibes to soak up. Always get pickles with your order, and try the tabouli – it’s a green blessing. Newcomers need the heads up to order the garlic sauce; a pillowy, addictive substance – no wonder this place is so popular.

Cuisine: Lebanese

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Emma’s Snack Bar

59 Liberty St, Enmore | 9550 3458 | emmassnackbar.com.au

There was a moment of collective panic in early 2022 when Emma’s Snack Bar was out of action. But much to every Enmore local’s relief, Emma’s Snack Bar is back and as busy as ever. Share Lebanese bread and dips (you have four different types of hummus to choose from), kibbeh and lamb mince-filled ladyfingers, or lean into something more substantial with plates of spiced ling fillets in a tahini sauce or punchy garlic chicken. Load your table with as many plates as you can, share carafes of house wine, and revel in the frenetic energy of the always-packed dining room.

Cuisine: Lebanese

BYO: Wine

Open: D Tue-Sat

Fabbrica

161 King St, Sydney | 9064 8495 | ciaofabbrica.com

Offering handmade pasta by the gram, freshly made sauces and oodles of cheese, Fabbrica (Italian for ‘factory’) lets you build the dinner of your dreams, which can be prepared quickly in your own kitchen at home. Mix and match pork and fennel sausage ragu, cacio e pepe sauce or eggplant ragu with linguine, rigatoni or campanelle, or buy a ready-to-cook pack with everything you need for around 10 bucks a plate. If you’re in the CBD, visit the Fabbrica store and cafe for coffee, fresh bread, fancy sandwiches, pasta (of course), wine by the glass and half-price negronis during happy hour.

Cuisine: Italian

BYO: No

Open: L Mon-Sat, D Mon-Fri

Fish Butchery Waterloo

965 Bourke St, Waterloo | 8960 0903 | fishbutchery.com.au/pages/waterloo

Fish Butchery Waterloo is essentially the sum of all the Niland parts – immaculate fresh fish, takeaways and take-homes, with outdoor seating and plenty of indoor room to showcase what’s usually behind-the-scenes work. Opt for a Murray cod souvlaki on flatbread with chips, or barbecued rock flathead with a cabbage and hazelnut slaw on the side. The yellowfin tuna cheeseburger is as meatily delicious as its debut at Charcoal Fish – and here, it comes with Murray cod bacon, if you fancy. Don’t forget you can extend the excitement by exploring fridge and freezer sections, too. Fish pies and sausage rolls, anyone?

Cuisine: Contemporary

BYO: No

Open: L & D Sat-Sun

Flyover Fritterie

88 Regent St, Sydney | 0405 647 695 | flyoverfritterie.com.au

Inspired by India’s famed street food carts, Flyover Fritterie focuses on the classic subcontinental snack of pakora and chai. From the fritter family there’s onion, lentil and spinach, tofu, paneer, whole green chillies and sabudana vada, stuffed with potatoes and tapioca pearls. Dip each crunchy cake in the sweet-hot mint and tamarind chutney. The traditional accompaniment is masala chai, expertly made here from Assam black tea with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves, with freshly squeezed ginger juice for extra kick. Fresh chutneys are also available to take away so you can spice up your meals at home.

Cuisine: Indian

BYO: No

Open: L & D Tues-Sun

Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches

Shop 4, 5/12 Darcy St, Parramatta | 9169 0838 | harveyshotsandwiches.com

The word ‘sloppy’ might have negative connotations, but Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches carries the label with pride. Inspired both by the Italian-American diners popular across the US and old-school Australian milk bars, Harvey’s offers big, hot and tasty sangas made to order. A $20 note will get you change for your Philly cheesesteak, Nashville hot chicken roll, beef dip sandwich with dipping sauce or the signature hot pastrami and beef brisket sandwiches. Both are available in ‘simple’ or a sauced-up ‘sloppy’ variations, and come on crusty, soft bread. For sweets, try the cookie sandwiches topped with warm Nutella from a fountain.

Cuisine: Contemporary

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Henrietta

Shop 1/500 Crown St, Surry Hills | 9380 7247 | henriettachicken.com

Feeling peckish? Henrietta is slinging some seriously good chook. The Surry Hills charcoal chicken restaurant and bar by Nour owners Ibby Moubadder and Jorge Farah specialises in Middle Eastern-spiced charcoal chicken, served with all the trimmings – chips, tabouli, pickles, garlic toum and pita. Make your own meze spread or get it all wrapped up in flatbread to go. There’s no shortage of seating in the light-filled dining room, plus more on the street should you wish to perch in the sun. For those looking to swoop in and out, there’s also a takeaway window.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Ho Jiak

92 Hay St, Haymarket | 8040 0252 | hojiak.com.au/haymarket

“Ho jiak” translates to “good eats” in Hokkien, and this hawker-style Malaysian restaurant lives up to its name. Start with loh bak – crunchy spiced pork wrapped in bean curd skins; or chicken satay that’ll have you desperate for the recipe. For a taste of how head chef Junda Khoo made his name, hit the Signatures. Khoo’s char kway teow is seafood-laden and spicy. Nasi lemak ticks all the boxes: a tender beef rendang with spicy chilli sambal, soft boiled egg, peanuts and fried anchovies. Cooking food Khoo learnt from his grandmother, Ho Jiak shows that all good food starts at home.

Cuisine: Malaysian

BYO: Wine

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Itacate & Mexican Deli

129-133 Redfern Street, Redfern | 0450 568 187 | mexicanfoodaustralia.com

It doesn’t get much more rough and ready as Sydney eateries go – beer cans are dipped in Chamoy and Tajin spice before they’re cracked open for margarita-style drinking; corn chips are served in plastic baskets with a zigzag of bottled sauce – but this excellent Mexican remains a culinary delight. Mexican-born Rosa Cienfuegos is behind this popular spot. The menu at Itacate is more extensive than that of her other diner, Dulwich Hill’s The Tamaleria. Here it spans breakfast, lunch and dinner, attracting loyal customers who swear it’s the best Mexican food in Sydney. Ensure you order handmade tamales, Cienfuegos’s specialty.

Cuisine: Mexican

BYO: No

Open: L & D Tue-Sat

Jimmy’s Falafel

312 George St, Sydney | 9114 7381 | merivale.com/venues/jimmys-falafel

This little piece of the Middle East in Sydney’s centre is just what the CBD crowd needed. It’s a place for long lunches without the pomp; a place for getting a round of drinks and breaking (pita) bread with a side of falafel, hummus, parsley, cucumber, tomato, sumac, onions, pickles and tahini. Go for Jimmy’s vegetarian plate – fried cauliflower and eggplant, hummus, cabbage and pickles – or make your own mezze with wild greens, slow-cooked Roman beans and something from the charcoal grill. Try the chicken shish with shawarma spice and toum or the calamari with pistachio, za’atar and parsley dressing.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

BYO: No

Open: L Sun-Fri, D Mon-Sun

Kabul Social

Shop T15 - MetCentre, 60 Margaret St. Sydney | kabulsocial.com

There’s a line here, and not just for the food. What really makes customers feel good is that every dish they buy funds two more – for local refugees and those in Afghanistan. The women behind the counter arrived from there. They include Yakut, a cook whose skills with naan are unmatched. Stretched to feather lightness then toasted on a griddle, that bread is used to wrap “burgers” with fragrant-spiced chicken, lamb mince, sticky-sweet eggplant or pumpkin. Slurp up freshly cooked mantu or garlic chive-filled dumplings smothered in minty yoghurt and lentil-flecked tomato sauce. You can’t help feeling good about being here.

Cuisine: Afghani

BYO: No

Open: L Mon-Fri

Kepos Street Kitchen

96 Kepos St, Redfern | 9319 3919 | Keposstreetkitchen.com.au

Chef Michael Rantissi’s casual Middle Eastern cafe has a loyal following, and justifiably so. When it comes to the dine-in menu, falafel is a good place to start: five flavourful, crispy bites with silky white tahini. A grilled sardine salad with sugar snap peas, pesto and almonds is fresh and far more refined than you’d expect from a cafe. Truer to the script is the meatball sub with house-made tomato ragu, pesto and haloumi. It’s savoury and satisfying. You can also nab a take-home meal from the well-stocked fridges that contain everything from butterflied marinated chermoula chicken to moussaka and salads.

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

BYO: Wine

Open: B & L Mon-Sun

Khao Pla

Chatswood & Macquarie Park | khaopla.com.au

Bangkok-born chef Pla Rojratanavichai worked the woks at Spice I Am, Ms G’s and Mr Wong before opening his own Thai eatery in Chatswood. Many consider it the city’s best. Khao Pla translates as rice and fish, but for us, it’s all about the green curry. It’s made here with clusters of pea eggplants, wild ginger and fiery birds eye chillies. Its an absolute firecracker. The menu includes all the spice-laden staples from pad thai to massaman, alongside modern favourites like the twice-cooked pork ribs in a sticky tamarind sauce. Wines start at $10 a glass or you can even bring your own.

Cuisine: Thai

BYO: Wine, $4 per person

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Kosta’s Takeaway

412 West Botany St, Rockdale | kostastakeaway.com

Fill up at this delightful roadside kiosk attached to a local smash repairer. The blue-and-white-striped canteen is famous for its generous Greek-style sandwiches, loaded with premium ingredients and made fresh to order. Our pick is ‘The Conbab’, made from flatbread rolled with kafta, fresh herbs and a parsley garlic toum. A poached chicken sarnie is all freshness and crunch. Do your fluids need a refill? There’s espresso coffee and watermelon juice. The concrete courtyard has been decked out in colourful tables and chairs so you’ve got somewhere to sit while you wait for your sandwich and/or car service.

Cuisine: Greek

BYO: No

Open: B & L Mon-Sat

Kuroneko Ramen

4/720 Old Princes Hwy, Sutherland | 9521 5191 | facebook.com/KuronekoRamen

As central Sydney wades happily in a swathe of ramen joints, Sutherland locals can also enjoy consistently excellent bowls of umami broth and springy noodles at Kuroneko Ramen. There’s a distraction of steamed dumplings and sushi rolls on the menu here, too. The gyoza are excellent, crispy bottomed with black vinegar for dipping; the karaage chicken udon is served in a bonito and shiitake broth with a pile of slippery noodles. But otherwise, all eyes should be on the ramen. The tonkotsu has a crispy seaweed garnish, a tangle of thinly sliced wood ear mushrooms and the requisite half egg.

Cuisine: Japanese

BYO: Wine

Open: L & D Tues-Sun

Lucky Kwong

2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh | 8377 1878 | luckykwong.com.au

Kylie Kwong’s South Eveleigh eatery was founded on the premise of making nourishing food accessible to all. Like its predecessor Billy Kwong, Lucky serves up modern Cantonese with a modern Australian twist. This time around, the focus is on simple, humble food, with every dish coming in at less than $28. Don’t miss the steamed prawn wontons submerged in Sichuan chilli dressing, sung choi bao with warrigal greens or savoury pancakes bundled up with sticky pork belly and fresh Asian herbs. At these prices, it’s no surprise that it’s always busy. But you never know, you might just get lucky.

Cuisine: Cantonese

BYO: No

Open: L Mon-Fri

Mamak

Haymarket and Chatswood | 9211 1668 & 9411 4411 | mamak.com.au

Mamak has a cult following in Sydney, and somehow, through the ups and downs of Sydney dining, this place has retained its popularity – the queue out front remains a fixture of its streetscape. They come here for the fresh roti canai – a thin and flaky roti designed for tearing and dipping, served with two curry dips and sambal dip (for only $10) - as well as the frothy teh tarik and smoky satay skewers, evocative of street stalls throughout Malaysia. After the roti canai, share a fish curry with fresh tomatoes, okra and eggplant. This is extraordinary value food; join the queue.

Cuisine: Malaysian

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Mary’s Newtown

6 Mary St, Newtown | 4995 9550 | marys69.com/newtown

Delicious burgers, loud music and tables for walk-ins only. What more could any Newtown reveller need? Mary’s completely overhauled Sydney’s burger scene when it opened in 2013, opening hungry locals’ eyes to the idea that a soft, ordinary bun is the perfect carrier for best-quality beef (they use O’Connor grass-fed), house-smoked bacon and American cheese. Owners Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham opened Mary’s to create a space they liked hanging out in – hence the dim lighting, loud metal and local beer on tap. In doing so, they also created a burger revolution for which we can all be thankful.

Cuisine: Contemporary

BYO: No

Open: L Fri-Sun, D Mon-Sun

Momo Bar

48 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach | 0438 903 999 | instagram.com/momobarmonavalon

This newish Avalon Beach outpost of the Momo Bar known and loved by Manly-siders brings excellent poke bowls to this relatively secluded beachside community in the Northern Beaches. But (much) more interesting than any other poke bowl place, this one does rather excellent dumplings bathing in quality vegetable or chicken broth and doused in very lovely yoghurt and paprika butter. There’s also a choice of spicy Nepalese achar sauce, and plenty of vegetarian options, so there are reasons to return again and again. This is perfect rainy-day weather food, so it’s impeccably timed for the impending soggy Sydney summer.

Cuisine: Asian fusion

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Nakano Darling

14 Steam Mill Lane, Haymarket | 0403 682 492 | nakanodarling.com.au

In a town with no shortage of Japanese eateries, none recreates the feel of a laneway izakaya as faithfully as Nakano Darling. Just off Darling Square, this casual diner takes its name from a bustling Tokyo neighbourhood, and serves all the classic snacks beloved by salarymen downing a few highballs. As well as cult-status karaage chicken and gyoza with a crispy lattice, think wasabi-pickled octopus, beef brisket curry don and toothsome udon topped with dancing bonito flakes. With most plates coming in under $20, you can afford to follow regulars’ lead and order a frosty Orion tower for the table.

Cuisine: Japanese

BYO: No

Open: D Mon-Sun

New Shanghai

Ashfield, Chatswood & Sydney | newshanghai.com.au

There’s no shortage of Shanghainese restaurants on Liverpool Road in Ashfield, but which one to choose? Sandwiched between Shanghai Night and Flavour Shanghai you’ll find New Shanghai, the birthplace of the ubiquitous Sydney dumpling chain. The crowds come for the pan-fried pork buns, which are prized here for their soft, fluffy tops and burnished bottoms. There’s no wrong moves on the menu, which includes slippery garlic eggplant in claypot and prawn wontons bathed in a sesame-peanut sauce. Next door, the New Shanghai Workshop serves up fresh noodles and frozen dumplings for a feast at home.

Cuisine: Dumplings

BYO: No

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Pho Tau Bay

12/117 Hill St, Cabramatta | 9726 4583

Sydneysiders have become better accustomed to phở in recent years, and most know to expect rare beef, beef flank and tendon in any authentic bowl of phở dặc biệt, just as they know that “pho” doesn’t rhyme with “bro” but “fur”. And one of the best bowls of these Vietnamese noodles and broth studded with cinnamon, cardamom and star anise is at Pho Tau Bay. It’s one of a handful of Sydney institutions that’s consistently voted as the best phở in Sydney, depending on who you ask, and though cheap and unfussy decor-wise, it hits all the right notes.

Cuisine: Vietnamese

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Wed-Mon

Phu Quoc

11/117 John St, Cabramatta | 9724 2188

The best of Vietnam, food-wise, is fresh, light and crunchy; it’s simple, produce-led food packed with texture, slurp and aroma. Phu Quoc covers all these bases, and is known for doing the best chạo tôm wrap in town. Prawn mousse is shaped around short sticks of sugarcane and cooked over fire, served with small slabs of steamed angel hair noodles, wavy batons of carrot and piles of herbs, all primed for DIY rice noodle wraps at the table. Grilled pork patties serve the same purpose. Bring a few friends so you can sample and share more at this excellent little restaurant.

Cuisine: Vietnamese

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Mon-Sat

Pocket Pizza

46 Pittwater Rd, Manly | 9977 1872 | pocketpizza.com.au

It’s impossible to resist Pocket, the sun-clad corner shop joint promising “Hot Pizza, Cold Beer” on its retro signage, with roadside tables, Italian vibes and downright delicious food. There’s an outpost in nearby Brookvale, too. Share a plate of calamari fritti or truffle fries, or bouncy, charred pizza crusts topped with zucchini, greens, lemon zest and parmesan. The 101 Crustaceans pizza is topped with roughly chopped prawns and crab, fior di latte and a drizzle of toasted prawn oil, plus plenty of garlic and lemon zest. It’s lovely, fresh pizza begging to be taken to nearby Manly beach at sunset.

Cuisine: Italian

BYO: No

Open: D Mon-Sun

Porkfat

Shop 2, 79 Quay St, Haymarket | 0478 565 691 | porkfat.com.au

Not your usual Thai lunch-special joint. Acclaimed chef Narin Kulasai, formerly of Long Chim and Nahm, has opened a casual eatery that stands apart from the Haymarket crowds. There’s no numbers or chilli symbols on the menu, nor is there pad thai or massaman. There is green curry, though, made here with pork jowl (hello pork fat) and lychees, as well as fried rice, a simple tumble of crabmeat and egg. No need to hunt for ice cream afterwards – they make an exceptional Thai-style sundae here, using fresh coconut ice cream, topped with sweet young palm seeds and candied pumpkin strips.

Cuisine: Thai

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Tues-Sun

Ramen Toriichi

5-6/2A Waters Rd, Neutral Bay | 9904 1551 | instagram.com/toriichi_neutralbay

While Sydney’s lower north shore may be littered with affordable Japanese restaurants, you’ll want to veer off Military Road to visit this modest eatery. Ramen Toriichi offers all your favourite Japanese dishes from sashimi to donburi, but the ramen is where this hole-in-the-wall really shines. Ramen options cover everything from salt and soy to black sesame; regular ramen-eaters will be familiar with the many pork soup choices on offer, but it’s worth trying the eatery’s signature chicken ramen. Gone is the clear broth diners may be used to, replaced with a thicker, creamy base equal parts salty and delicious.

Cuisine: Japanese

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Mon-Sun

Ricos Tacos

15 Meagher St, Chippendale | ricostacos.com.au

The easygoing eatery is taking tacos out of the box and onto the streets. When it’s not popping up in carparks or breweries, you’ll find Ricos Tacos on the corner of Balfour and Meagher in Chippendale. The sunny yellow diner is not much bigger than a taco stand, with a handful of plastic tables and chairs and a cork countertop at the front. Good thing they can be eaten on the go. House-pressed corn tortillas are stacked with achiote-marinated pork, beef barbacoa and charred cauliflower, swaddled with fresh herbs and a punchy salsa roja that will drip down your arm. You’ll be wrapped.

Cuisine: Mexican

BYO: No

Open: L Wed-Sun

Ruby’s Fried Chicken

55 Majors Bay Rd, Concord | instagram.com/rubysfriedchicken

The team from famed Strathfield food truck Mister Gee is now slinging chicken sandwiches, tenders and wings – and it’s some of the best bird in town. Play it safe with Southern fried or, for those who like it hot, seasoning starts with Ruby’s Original, building in intensity to Ruby’s XXX. The chicken tenders are no skinny fillets, but proper schnitzels coated in a craggy crust of cayenne-spiced batter. It’s crisp and greaseless, so you won’t be needing those moist towelettes. Load up on the Southern soul-food sides, which include melty mac ’n’ cheese and corn kernels in chipotle butter.

Cuisine: American

BYO: No

Open: L Sat-Sun, D Tues-Sun

Ryo’s Noodles

125 Falcon Street Crows Nest | 9955 0225 | ryosramen.com.au

This tiny, no-reservations ramen bar commands a queue down Falcon Street, and locals swear it’s the best place in town for a bowl of Japan’s favourite soup. The space is a small, authentically Tokyo kind of place. But we’re not here for the decor. Chef Ryo Horii, who hails from Fukuoka (the home of ramen), offers large bowls and many options. Choose from salty, spicy or soy, made with slow-boiled pork or chicken broth, as well as a rich, cloudy tonkotsu, each bowl filled with springy, oh-so-noisy noodles. Get a nob of butter on top for added richness.

Cuisine: Japanese

BYO: Yes

Open: L & D Thurs-Tue

Mama’s Boy

102 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills | 8057 1553 | instagram.com/mamasboy____/

There’s a new reason to “accidentally” leave your lunch on the kitchen bench. The team from Shwarmama has wrapped up its popular Surry Hills kebab joint and opened a sandwich shop on the same site. Co-owner and chef Mat Lindsay is not cutting any corners. Expect fancy fillings, from devilled egg and zesty zhug to pickled beetroot and whipped feta, all loaded on A.P Bakery bread. There’s also an upscale take on the hot chicken and gravy roll, made from spiced chook cooked on the old Shwarmama rotisserie. Complete the meal with a Yulli’s beer or house-made watermelon soda.

Cuisine: Sandwiches

BYO: No

Open: B & L Tue-Sat

Society Pizza

88/90 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach | 9130 7359 | societypizzeria.com.au

This Sicilian pizzeria is small, technically, but it sure does a mighty good pizza. Owned by brother and sister team Vittoria Wynne and Jonathan Faro, the food here is about simple ingredients done well. A few pastas span pappardelle with veal osso buco ragu and gnocchi with truffle, mushrooms and cream. A diavola is fior di latte topped with spicy salami, onion, olives, nicely charred capsicum. But whether you choose pizza rossa or bianca, the bases are puffy and chewy. Try the calzone di pippo, a folded pizza stuffed with smoked leg ham and ricotta. This is simple, quality pizza.

Cuisine: Italian

BYO: No

Open: L Sat-Sun, D Mon-Sun

Sydney Cebu Lechon

Shop 4/80-80A Enmore Rd, Newtown | 0481 205 589 | sydneycebulechon.com.au

Run by legacy business owner and Pinoy pork expert Will Mahusay, Sydney Cebu Lechon sits in King St-adjacent Newtown. Nestled on a small Enmore Rd corner, a step inside is an instant journey to provincial Philippines. Banana-leaf green walls border intimate seats as soy sauce steams in the kitchen. Try Mahusay’s signature lechon (Filipino whole roasted suckling pig) for $24.50: crispy pork crackling with dipping sauce, a pillow of rice and pickled achara (green papaya relish). Or try his chicken humba, a more classic adobo. $27.50 gets you a main good for two – just don’t skip the rice.

Cuisine: Filipino

BYO: Yes

Open: L Sat & Sun, D Thurs-Sun

Tan Viet

100 John St, Cabramatta | 9727 6853 | tanviet.com.au

A day in Cabramatta must involve grocery shopping around bustling John Street and a well-timed pit stop at Tan Viet, the 20-year-old Vietnamese institution known for doing some of the best fried chicken in all of Sydney. There’s no batter, just the crack of well-fried skin and succulent chicken maryland underneath. The dish is served with a side of dry egg noodles and garlic, chives and coriander, the chicken designed for taking apart and eating with the noodles. It’s a given that there’ll be a hungry line outside Tan Viet, so get there a little early or join the queue.

Cuisine: Vietnamese

BYO: Yes

Open: B, L & D Mon-Sun

Temasek

Shop 2-4, 71 George St, Parramatta | 9633 9926 | temasekrestaurant.com

One of the best cheap eats you’ll find in Parramatta for showstopping Singaporean-Malay dishes. Those in the know come here for curry fish head (which, like the Singapore chilli crab, must be ordered in advance), Hainanese chicken rice and almond butter king prawns. Temasek is the ancient Javanese name for Singapore, where the restaurant’s owner Jeremy Cho and his family come from. Temasek also does a best-in-Sydney Singaporean-style laksa. It’s fragrant and almost dense with herbs and spices – and all come in under $26. Temasek has been serving locals for nearly 30 years – a family-run restaurant turned cult classic.

Cuisine: Singaporean/Malaysian

BYO: Wine

Open: L & D Wed-Sun

Valentinas

132 Livingstone Road, Marrickville | valentinassyd.com

This American diner meets chic Sydney brunch destination, and takes the best of all these worlds to create an all-day breakfast diner. Valentina’s is like something out of New York or Los Angeles, but there’s something very Inner West about it as well. Order the “patty melt” - two beef patties on thick rye toast - or a fried chicken or club sanga ($17), and follow with a slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. There’s cornflakes with milk and strawberries, breakfast burritos with cheesy scramble, avo, tomatillo and pico de gallo. We could eat breakfast here all day and the good thing is, we can.

Cuisine: Contemporary

BYO: No

Open: B & L Mon-Sun, D Thurs

Westwood

245 Australia St, Newtown | 0466 181 266 | westwoodpizza.com.au

One oven, two ex-Bella Brutta chefs and only 150 pizzas made each day – you have to get in quick at Westwood, and that’s all part of the thrill. There’s a handful of pizzas to choose from here – the signature garlic and fermented honey is a great place to start, as is the ‘nduja, thyme and ricotta – ready to enjoy straight out of the box. If you can’t nab a seat in the shop, grab some drinks from the Courthouse Hotel bottle shop and stage a DIY pizza picnic in nearby Camperdown Park – it’s about as ‘Newtown’ as you can get.

Cuisine: Pizza

BYO: Yes

Open: D Wed-Sun