my home city, Sydney boasts some of the best meals I've ever had in my lifetime. they may not be the fanciest or the most technical in execution, but the memories of these meals evoke a sense of nostalgia for me - of the great times spent with those closest to me and my love of food.
this is an ever evolving list of places I frequented when I used to live in Sydney and they are always the first places I call upon whenever I am visiting from Prague.
ayam goreng 99 [indonesian]
464 anzac parade, kingsford, nsw 2032 AUSTRALIA
tel. +61 2 9697 0030
no website
we used to live a five minute drive from this amazing Indonesian eatery. it's a no frills, dingy looking shop on the main strip of anzac parade famed for it ayam bakar (grilled chicken), the homemade sambal belacan is nothing to be sneezed at. definitely not for the faint hearted. it's only opened from wednesdays to sundays for both lunch and dinner. you need to write your own orders on a scrap piece of paper but that's all part of the charm.
bourke street bakery [bakery/cafe]
633 bourke street, surry hills, nsw 2010 AUSTRALIA
tel. +61 2 9699 1011
www.bourkestreetbakery.com.au
i used to live across the road from this bakery (not the surry hills one but the one in alexandria). it's not unusual to turn up during the weekday and find a line of people snaking its way down the side street. you can't go wrong with a coffee and their infamous sausage roll (and no one makes better sausage rolls than the aussies). make sure you don't leave without one of their sweet treats for later.
malay chinese takeaway (aka hunter street laksa house) [malay]
shop 1, 50-58 hunter street, sydney, nsw 2000 AUSTRALIA
tel. + 61 2 9231 6788
www.malaychinese.com.au
i used to work literally across the road from this lunchtime eatery. If you love laksa, this place provides a very good hit, save from flying all the way to singapore or malaysia.
you need to get there before 12pm otherwise forget about getting a seat. lunchtime workers eating here are ruthless due to the cramp space and lack of proper seating. leave the niceties in the office.
menya [japanese]
shop tg8, 8 quay street, haymarket, nsw 2000 AUSTRALIA
tel. +61 2 9212 1020
http://www.menya.com.au/
this ramen bar opened up many many moons ago and i've been a loyal follower ever since. there's been 2 other menya noodlebars that have popped up across sydney cbd since, but in my opinion the original is probably still the best. my husband and i used to frequent this place for our ramen 'fix' at least once a week. the same chefs have been before the monstrous boiling pots since they opened which guarantees consistency each and every time. great for a quick fix when you're in chinatown.
wasavie [modern japanese]
8 heeley street, paddington, nsw 2021 AUSTRALIAtel. +61 2 9380 8838
www.wasavie.com.au
modern japanese food at its best. it's a tiny, no reservations, canteen style eatery that attracts not only local paddonites but people from afar. daily specials are its main attraction but make sure to try the handmade mochi (when available). make sure you get there by 6 for dinner to avoid a potentially long wait.
yellow bistro [brunch]
57 macleay street, potts point, nsw 2011 AUSTRALIA
tel. +61 2 9357 3400
no website
all aussies love to brunch and my husband and i are no exceptions. we first discovered yellow bistro about eight years ago when we went to view a rental property right next door to this cafe. when the agent never showed up, we decided to comfort ourselves with breakfast at yellow. we've been regulars ever since. the brekkie/brunch is great esp the homemade chilli jam and the infamous date tart. service can sometimes be sporadic due to the high turnover in backpacker-esque staff. i wouldn't bother with dinner though.
