Sydney

1919 Lanzhou Beef Noodle Chatswood

A very budget-friendly noodle establishment with cheap but tasty (unsurprisingly, beef) noodles.

Daily

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

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-2AM·Entrees $4.40-8.80, mains $8.80-26

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Brother Katsu

A Korean Cafe & Restaurant. Your main dish of Korean Fried Chicken or Korean Ramen

Mon-Sun 9AM-8:30PM·$15-20

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

Cafe Jolly

Popular Italian-style restaurant in Leichhardt. Reasonably priced and very tasty food. Extremely busy on weekends, so bookings are advised.

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.

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

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

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

Dixon House Food Court

This food court offers a selection of about 20 vendors, with low prices.

Dishes $6-10

Doyles

Fish and chips at Watsons Bay, reservations are recommended. They also operate a takeaway just next to the wharf

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-10PM·Dishes $6-10

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

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

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 6PM·Prices around $18 for starters, $25-30 for mains

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

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

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

Hạnh Phúc

Casual Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant with a small menu and "mom and pop shop" vibes.

$12

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

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.

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 6PM·Mains $28

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