Where to eat in Sydney

140 independent restaurants, bakeries and food spots in Sydney. Chains are left out.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 140.

EatLower North Shore
1919 Lanzhou Beef Noodle Chatswood
A very budget-friendly noodle establishment with cheap but tasty (unsurprisingly, beef) noodles.
Daily
EatSydney Olympic Park
Armory Wharf Cafe
Partially a bunch cafe with an all day breakfast, also does a mean fish and chips. But, go for the view of the Parramatta river.
Daily 9AM-3PM
EatCity South
BBQ King
As the name suggests, you come here for barbecue, and a lot of people would agree that this place is king. It's old-school (somewhat dirty), with laminex tables and folding chairs. There may be a queue, but it won't last long, and the great duck is worth the wait. Try the spinach with garlic, too.
Open 11:30AM-2AMEntrees $4.40-8.80, mains $8.80-26
EatSydney Olympic Park
Bacar Restaurant Bar Lounge
Lobby of the 5-star Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park hotel, corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park. Contemporary International Cuisine in a stylish modern setting, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Breakfast: 6-10:30AM (open until 11am on Weekends), Lunch: noon–3PM, Dinner: 6-10PM$45-60
EatInner West
Badde Manors
Cozy vegetarian café with a slightly Parisian bohemian air, particularly known for their great desserts and coffee. Used to stay open very late on Friday and Saturday nights but now has much shorter hours, breakfast and lunch only.
EatInner West
Bar Italia
A Leichhardt institution renowned for their award winning gelato - which attracts lines that go out the door on Friday and Saturday nights (and constantly increases the price). Bar Italia also have a strict rule of nothing but regular milk in your coffee - so if you want soy or skim get your coffee elsewhere. Staff can sometimes be abrupt and rude, but it's well worth it for the gelato. Late at night, you might also spot left-wing politicians holding secretive meetings out the back.
EatCity Centre
Bodhi
This is an outdoor vegetarian yum cha restaurant located just down the stairs from St Mary’s Cathedral over looking Cook and Phillip Park. It's a vegan restaurant and has a wide range of enticing and tasteful healthy yum cha options (all vegan). Fantastic on a sunny day. Open on weekends too. Kids can run around safely in the park while you linger over coffee.
EatBondi Beach
Bondi Surf Seafoods
The Bondi Beach Fish Shop is the place to go for that dubious local speciality, the deep fried Mars Bar. Fans of the bar counsel caution: no matter how strong you think you are, restrict yourself to one deep fried Mars Bar daily.
EatBondi Beach
Bondi Trattoria
A fusion of Australian and Italian cuisine, in a relaxed and ambient setting.
Mon–Thu noon–3PM, 5–8PM; Fri noon–3PM, 5–8:30PM; Sat noon–3:30PM, 5–8:30PM; Sun noon–3:30PM, 5–7:30PM
EatSydney Olympic Park
Brother Katsu
A Korean Cafe & Restaurant. Your main dish of Korean Fried Chicken or Korean Ramen
Mon-Sun 9AM-8:30PM$15-20
EatSydney Olympic Park
Burger Point Wentworth Point
Sydney doesn't have many well-known burger restaurants, and this certainly doesn't fall into the category of "well-known", but its burgers and juicy tender chicken are well worth trying. The prices might seem like they're on the high-end at first (well, everything in this area is), but the large portions make up for this.
Daily 10AM–8:30PM
EatInner West
Cafe Jolly
Popular Italian-style restaurant in Leichhardt. Reasonably priced and very tasty food. Extremely busy on weekends, so bookings are advised.
EatInner West
Carlisle Castle Bistro
Located within the backstreets close to Newtown Station, this pub is frequented by locals and has a less chaotic atmosphere compared to the pubs on King Street. The bistro has good value, high quality food within an informal dining atmosphere and makes a great place to spend an evening with a few drinks and a meal.
EatCity South
Chat Thai
This restaurant is very busy but offers the very best in Thai cuisine in the city south area. Lines will often stretch out of the restaurant down the street. There is also another branch on the Manly ferry wharf and upstairs in Westfield Pitt Street. Best buys include Pad Thai (sweet, salty & peanuts with lemon juice and rice) and Pork Skewers (ask for pork sticks).
Dishes $8-20
EatCity South
Chinese Noodle House
At this intimate, busy eatery decorated with grapes and Persian rugs, the noodles are handmade in traditional northern Chinese style - and the crowds are glad of it.
Dishes $6-8.80
EatSydney Olympic Park
Concerto Restaurant
A licenced restaurant specialising in mediterranean cuisine. Expect Pizzas & Pastas, and lots of seafood.
Mon noon-3PM; Tue-Sun noon-3PM, 6-10PM$30-45 mains
EatCity South
Dixon House Food Court
This food court offers a selection of about 20 vendors, with low prices.
Dishes $6-10
EatEastern suburbs
Doyles
Fish and chips at Watsons Bay, reservations are recommended. They also operate a takeaway just next to the wharf
EatCity South
Eating World Food Court
Part of the pagoda-style Harbour Plaza, this food court has a wide range of cheap Asian meals available. Try Gumshara, which sells Japanese tonkatsu ramen, rich with pork collagen.
Open 10AM-10PMDishes $6-10
EatCity South
Emperor's Garden BBQ & Noodles
This is a popular Chinese eatery specializing in meat and poultry dishes (marinated duck tongue $6) and has a great little window area where you can choose your takeaway goodies.
Dishes $3.50-9
EatSydney Olympic Park
Food Alert
A Turkish take away shop selling kebabs, salads, fish and chips and burgers. Open for Breakfast.
Mon-Fri 6AM-5PM, Sat 8AM-3PM$11-17 for a full meal
EatInner West
Glebe Point Diner
Modern Australian with French influences with a carefully selected seasonal menu. Fine dining feel but a relaxed and un-pretentious atmosphere.
Lunch Fri-Sun from noon, dinner Mon-Sat from 6PMPrices around $18 for starters, $25-30 for mains
EatCity South
Golden Century Seafood Restaurant
With lots of fish tanks displaying your nervous-looking dinner, this place is a favorite late-night eating spot for many of Sydney's chefs and hotel workers. The flavours are exotic and engaging, the service fast and slick.
Open noon-4AM
EatLower North Shore
Green Gourmet
All-vegan Chinese restaurant with an emphasis on Cantonese dishes.
Lunch Thu–Sat 11:30AM–2:30PM; dinner Mon–Thu 5:30–8:30PM, Fri Sat 5:30–9PM
EatBondi Beach
Harrys Bondi
Harry's Espresso Bar
This tiny combined espresso bar, cafe, and general store is a little out of the way but is always busy, and for good reason. This is the place to go for a gourmet coffee experience. They offer toast and sandwiches, and a selection of pastries and cakes.
Mon–Fri 6AM–3:30PM; Sat Sun 6:30AM–4PM
EatCity South
Hạnh Phúc
Casual Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant with a small menu and "mom and pop shop" vibes.
$12
EatCity Centre
Ichi Ban Boshi
Fantastic ramen soup. The Tantanamen (Spicy sesame base pork ramen) is a very large and delicious soup. Restaurant gets very busy at any time past 11:30AM till around 2PM. Expect to wait 10-20 minutes for a table in the peak times.
$8-20
EatInner West
La Disfida
Excellent authentic Italian pizza. In Haberfield, which is down the street from Leichhardt. A bus from Norton St or Marion St can get you there in about 5 minutes.
EatInner West
Linda's on King St
formerly Linda's Backstage
"Contemporary cuisine giving classic dishes a modern twist." Not many tables so be sure to make a reservation. Top quality for Newtown.
Tue-Sat from 6PMMains $28
EatCity South
Mamak
Serves Sydney's best roti canai paired with a mouth-warming curry. The teh tarik (pulled tea) and dessert roti are recommended. No reservations are taken, be prepared for queues for up to an hour.
Lunch 11:30AM - 2:30PM, dinner 5:30PM - 10PM, supper till 2AM (Fri Sat)Dishes $10-15
EatCity South
Marigold
This 800-seat restaurant is a Sydney institution. Serves the hordes yum cha daily for lunch, with service brisk, bordering on rude. Make sure you have a seat close to the centre, or you'll get the leftovers. More laid-back vibe in the evenings. Go for the experience, not the service.
Dim sum $2.40-4.60, yum cha specials $5.70
EatMaroubra
Maroubra Seals Sports & Community Club
Provides reasonably cheap meals, great breakfasts and entertainment and sporting facilities such as a casino and a swimming pool. You must be over 18 years old and provide some form of ID to become a member, as it is a club.
EatInner West
Marrickville Pork Roll
This very popular outlet is well known for selling one of the best Vietnamese Banh Mi in Sydney. At $8, they are considered a good deal, and often there will be a lineup at lunch time. There is also a branch in nearby Ashfield.
$8
EatCity Centre
Mecca Coffee
Very good tasting coffee with a massive queue of office workers in the morning. Additionally, they sell specialty coffee blends online.
Mon-Fri 6AM-3:00PM$4 for coffee
EatCity South
Menya Noodle Bar
A great restaurant that specialises in ramen. Serves a broth that is not too thin and not too rich; just right. Long queues during weekday lunch hours.
Closed on Sun
EatCity Centre
Munich Brauhaus
Large German restaurant that is part of a chain with authentic Bavarian beer and somewhat authentic German food.
Daily 11AM-midnightFrom $20
EatDarling Harbour
Muum Maam
Inventive, upmarket Thai street food with dishes like Moreton Bay bugs betel leaf wraps and tom yum martinis.
Mains $25-35
EatInner West
New Shanghai
This restaurant which originally started in Ashfield has now opened branches around Sydney and even a branch in Shanghai. Try the shenjianbao (fried pan dumplings) and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). Be careful of the hot soup inside these dumplings!
Daily 11AM–3PM, 4:30–9PM
EatInner West
Ocean Foods
Some people claim (including the shop) that this is the best fish and chips around. Prepare for a queue if you come on a Friday night or the weekend.
EatBondi Beach
Oporto Bondi
No, it's no ordinary Oporto, it's the first Oporto established in 1986 by António Cerqueira. Somewhat disappointingly, it doesn't have anything uniquely Bondi, but it's a chain – what can you expect?

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Sydney (CC BY-SA 4.0).