Food & Drink

Ajisen Ramen

First established in Kumamoto, Japan in 1968, Ajisen now serves Japanese noodle soup in more than 500 restaurants around the world. Rather than using soy sauce or miso-based soups, the specialty here is tonkotsu, a rich stock made from pork bones and cartilage. High in collagen, tonkotsu is believed to be good for the skin with possible anti-aging properties. Tenderous Ribs Ramen is the most popular item on the menu, served with soft-boned meat that has been slow-cooked for hours.

Address

94 Hay St, Haymarket & 85 Liverpool Street, Meriton World Tower.

Phone

9211 8380 & 9267 8816
BBQ King Restaurant

An institution since 1979, the charm of BBQ King is still its sumptuous food and famous plates of roast meats. The Peking duck and barbeque pork are popular favourites among the locals.

Address

18-20 Goulburn Street

Phone

9867 2433
Chat Thai

Constant queues and loyal Thai patronage provide the best endorsement here. Authentic curries, salads, whole fish and marinated grilled meats range from mild to fiery and the dessert offerings are wide and mouthwatering. The supper menu kicks in at 10pm with bite-sized morsels like fish ball skewers and satay sticks available until 2am. A sweets order of par tuhng go is essential, deep-fried doughnut sticks made fresh and served with pandan custard.

Address

20 Campbell Street

Phone

9211 1808
Chinese Gingseng & Herbs

The first and oldest Chinese herbal store in Sydney, Chinese Ginseng & Herbs Co. boasts a range of over 1200 medicinal herbs. Visit the store for some ginseng to improve blood circulation and increase energy, or try the Woodlock liniment with Australian Emu Oil, which is recommended for muscle pain and arthritis. An impressive wall of teas includes varieties from Japan, China, Taiwan and Tibet as well as a resident herbalist and acupuncturist.

Address

75-77 Ultimo Road, Haymarket

Phone

9212 4397
Chinese Noodle House

Transitional northern Chinese food abounds here. Try the specialty dish - knife sliced noodle, requiring a quick and steady hand to shave off noodle ribbons from a block of dough. Have your noodles boiled and served with a clear soup or a saucy pork mince, or get them stir-fried with meat or vegetables - the most popular method. It's all cheap and cheerful with large servings, and all dumplings and noodles are handmade.

Address

TG2, 8 Quay St, Prince Centre, Haymarket.

Phone

9281 4508
Cold Rock Icecreamery

Imagine 3000-plus combinations of ice cream smashed with chocolates, lollies, fruits and nuts on the store's signature "Frozen Rock." Choose from many sensational flavours including their specialty Asian flavours. If you can dream it, Cold Rock can icecream it.

Address

90 Hay St, Haymarket

Phone

9211 1095
Dae Jang Kum Korean BBQ

The best part about eating at a Korean restaurant is 'banchan', a spread of complementary side dishes that include salad, pickled vegetables and kimchee, fermented Chinese cabbage with Korean spices. Chilli lovers will relish the 'teok bok ki', spicy rice cakes and the 'bo ssam', pork belly boiled in a master broth best served with lettuce, chilli, and radish kimchee. It's not all hot - there are grilled cheese oysters, 'jap chae' clear potato noodles and crunchy fried chicken. Fully licensed, BYO wine available with $5 corkage.

Address

35 Goulburn Street

Phone

9211 0890
Delima Restaurant

Never tried Indonesian cuisine or would like to recall a fun filled journey in Bali? Delima offers a good start, set in tasteful surrounds with warm, wooden furnishings. The extensive menu has pictures of every dish, making ordering easy, but it's hard to go past Indonesian classics like chicken satay, 'Nasi Goreng Indonesia' or cubes of fall-apart-tender beef rendang. Fried chicken fans should seek out the ayam goreng kalasan, covered in a blanket of crispy spices for extra crunch.

Address

69/ 1 Dixon St, Haymarket

Phone

9267 7045
Din Tai Fung World Square

At world renowned Din Tai Fung, the creation of each dumpling is an art form. Made with extreme discipline, the pastry and filling must be weighed to an exact size and thickness. Watch the dumpling artisans at work through the wallto- ceiling windows while you queue to be seated. Don't miss Din Tai Fung's signature soup dumplings, Xiao Long Bao. Our tip: dip the dumpling quickly in the sauce, place it in a spoon, pierce with a chopstick to release the hot soup before popping into your mouth.

Address

Shop 11.04, Level 1, World Square, 644 George Street

Phone

9264 6010
East Ocean Restaurant

With an emphasis on modern Cantonese cuisine, East Ocean is known for both its fresh seafood and quality yum cha. A recent shift to an a-la-carte yum cha menu sees your dumplings now cooked to-order and served piping hot from the kitchen to a quieter and less chaotic dining room. It also means no need to constantly look out for the elusive dessert trolley. For dinner try the lobster cooked in ginger and shallots, plucked live from the fish tanks, or the cold-served abalone. Peking duck and XO pipis are always a hit, or splurge on the King crab, divided and served three different ways.

Address

421-429 Sussex St, Haymarket

Phone

9212 4198
Emperor's Garden

A specialist in Cantonese cuisine, the newly renovated Emperor's Garden Restaurant seats a total of 350 diners over two floors. Curry crab is the signature dish here, a thick spiced yellow curry with coconut cream and a secret blend of Chinese spices that includes lemongrass, curry powder and a touch of dried chilli. Soak up the rich sauce with steamed fluffy mantou buns. The two-course Peking duck is also popular, or try the pan-fried barramundi with pork mince and vermicelli. Otherwise join the yum cha hoards at lunchtime and enjoy your pick of dishes from the roaming trolleys of steamed and fried dumplings. Sit outside in Dixon Street mall and watch the world go by as you feast beneath the iconic red gates of Sydney's Chinatown.

Address

100 Hay St, Haymarket

Phone

9211 2135/9211 2268
Emperor's Garden BBQ & Noodles

You can't miss the display of glistening meats hanging in the window at this popular barbecue house. At the eat-in restaurant, order the famous crispy skin roast duck, salt-and-pepper king prawns or soft shell crab. For a quick takeaway, grab a box of roast duck, soy chicken, sweet barbecue pork or crackling roast pork, packed with optional rice and vegetables. The more adventurous should hunt down the deep-fried pigeon or marinated pork trotters.

Address

213-215 Thomas St, Haymarket

Phone

9281 9899
Emperor's Garden Cake & Bakery

Join the queue here for Emperor Puffs, miniature custard puffs baked fresh 12pm-9pm. At only $1 for 4, they're a bargain treat and the automated cooking contraption is worth a look, especially for kids. Inside the bakery you'll find a huge selection of sweet and savoury buns, cakes and pastries. Try the chestnut puree tart or the Cossack Foal, a traditional treat made from flour puffs and walnuts held together with sticky liquid glucose.

Address

75 Dixon St, Haymarket

Phone

9281 5989
Golden Century

The wall of fish tanks at the entrance tells you how seriously Golden Century takes its seafood. Pipis in XO sauce are a must-have - mop up the spicy seafood sauce with batons of golden brown deep-fried bread. Live seafood from the tanks include parrot fish, abalone and prawns. Open until 4am every day, it's the perfect spot for a late night fix of salt and pepper squid or Chinese rice porridge congee.

Address

393-399 Sussex Street, Sydney

Phone

9212 3901
Haymarket Hotel

The Haymarket Hotel is an historic former bank, with marbled features and the original bank teller counters. For a touch of Parisian elegance, head downstairs to the Martini bar inside the former bank vault.

Address

661 George Street

Phone

8221 0226
JB's Bar, Holiday Inn Darling Harbour

Recently refurbished, JB's Bar at the Holiday Inn allows guests to enjoy breakfast on the go, lunch, dinner or simply unwind over a few drinks and watch passers by.

Address

68 Harbour St, Haymarket

Phone

9291 0400
Mamak

Check out the live roti-making show in the windows before ordering the flaky roti served with curry sauce. Other highlights include Malaysian style fried chicken, smoky chicken satay sticks and sweet roti tisu glazed with sugar.

Address

15 Goulburn Street

Phone

9211 1668
Marigold Restaurant

Every lunchtime, Marigold is bustling with yum cha trolleys and diners eating their way through a menu that spans over 100 varieties of dim sim. There's no shortage of choice and staff are happy to lift a bamboo steamer lid for you to take a look if you're not sure. A new night-time dim sum degustation is one way to beat the crowds - a set menu of 11 dishes is available Sundays through Thursdays during dinner.

Address

Level 4 and 5, 683 George Street, Sydney

Phone

9281 3388
Market City Tavern

Take a break with a drink and a punt at this cosy tavern with dedicated TAB facilities and screens. An outdoor garden terrace bar is perfect for unwinding after a long day on your feet.

Address

GF, L1 & L2 Market City

Phone

9211 8886
Menya Noodle Bar

With a reputation for serving up some of Sydney's best ramen, Menya is a haven for noodle lovers. Its signature tonkotsu soup is made by simmering pork bones, or order the new torigara soup which is a chicken soup alternative. Both soups are served with either a soy or miso base. Try the kogashi-ninniki ramen - sweet with caramelised garlic - or stick with the original ton-toro with fatty slices of roasted pork. Hiyashi cold noodles are refreshing in summer.

Address

Shop TG8, 8 Quay Street

Phone

9212 1020
Mizuya Japanese Restaurant & Karaoke

Booth seating and touch screen menus as well as 24 private dining rooms equipped with karaoke facility. Browse through the extensive drinks menu with 180 options including Japanese style cocktails and mocktails.

Address

Basement 614 George St, Sydney

Phone

9266 0866
Mother Chu's Taiwanese Gourmet

Fresh yu tiao are the highlight here, fried bread sticks best served with congee rice porridge. Watch the dumpling makers in the open kitchen as you order some freshly made pork or beef dumplings.

Address

Shop 1-4, 86-88 Dixon Street

Phone

9211 0288
Mountbatten Hotel

Escape the crowds in this small pub bathed with welcome natural light. Happy Hour runs Monday to Thursday 4pm-6pm with $3 local beers and house wines. Eat cheap with $8 steaks and schnitzels.

Address

Corner George Street & Ultimo Road

Phone

02 9280 4700
No. 1 Cake & Cafe

Banana pancakes, fruit tarts, sponge cakes with cream and a happy mix of buns will tempt you here. Fillings include custard, chestnut, red bean, taro and durian or try the traditional wife cake made with winter melon. Delicious snacks also available.

Address

Shop 2A, 63-69 Dixon Street

Phone

9281 3828
Palate

Cool down with a scoop of sorbet or gelato at Palate or try one of their specialty lattes in taro, black sesame and green tea. The savoury menu includes pasta, steak, beef satay and Hainanese chicken rice.

Address

World Square, Shop 17-18

Phone

9264 3661
Red Bottle Market City

You will be spoilt for choice at Red Bottle's three centrally located stores in Pitt Street, Sussex Street and Chinatown Market City. Choose from an extensive range of local and overseas wines, spirits, beers and liqueurs. Whether you are after a cask of wine or a special bottle for dinner, the friendly and helpful staff are only too willing to assist. For the more exotic, Red Bottle stores stock a wide range of Cognac, Rum, Whisky and Asian spirits such as Japanese Shochu, Umeshu and sake, plus Korean Soju and Chinese Moutai.

Address

Shop R1.04 (next to IGA) Market City

Phone

9211 5822
Red Bottle Pitt Street

You will be spoilt for choice at Red Bottle's three centrally located stores in Pitt Street, Sussex Street and Chinatown Market City. Choose from an extensive range of local and overseas wines, spirits, beers and liqueurs. Whether you are after a cask of wine or a special bottle for dinner, the friendly and helpful staff are only too willing to assist. For the more exotic, Red Bottle stores stock a wide range of Cognac, Rum, Whisky and Asian spirits such as Japanese Shochu, Umeshu and sake, plus Korean Soju and Chinese Moutai.

Address

382 Pitt St, Sydney

Phone

9267 7431
Red Bottle Sussex Street

You will be spoilt for choice at Red Bottle's three centrally located stores in Pitt Street, Sussex Street and Chinatown Market City. Choose from an extensive range of local and overseas wines, spirits, beers and liqueurs. Whether you are after a cask of wine or a special bottle for dinner, the friendly and helpful staff are only too willing to assist. For the more exotic, Red Bottle stores stock a wide range of Cognac, Rum, Whisky and Asian spirits such as Japanese Shochu, Umeshu and sake, plus Korean Soju and Chinese Moutai.

Address

374 Sussex St, Haymarket

Phone

9283 8877
Red Chilli Szechuan Restaurant

Chilli fanatics will revel in the tongue-tingling menu that comes with a helpful chilli grading for heat gauge. The newer Harbour Street restaurant focuses on modern Sichuan dishes - the stir-fried mud crab with pork mince, preserved vegetables and dried chilli is a bestseller. At their original venue on 51 Dixon Street, expect more traditional dishes like kung pao chicken and mapo tofu.

Address

Shop 3, 51-53 Dixon Street (entry via Little Hay Street)

Phone

9211 8122
Red Chilli Szechuan Restaurant Harbour Plaza

Chilli fanatics will revel in the tongue-tingling menu that comes with a helpful chilli grading for heat gauge. The newer Harbour Street restaurant focuses on modern Sichuan dishes - the stir-fried mud crab with pork mince, preserved vegetables and dried chilli is a bestseller. At their original venue on 51 Dixon Street, expect more traditional dishes like kung pao chicken and mapo tofu.

Address

Shop 108/25-29 Dixon Street, Harbour Plaza (entry via Harbour St)

Phone

9211 8130
Satang Thai Exclusive

Join the constant gaggle of uni students at Satang Thai Exclusive and hoe into generous serves of pad thai stir-fried rice noodles or chicken mixed with cashew nuts or doused in a sticky chilli jam. The buzzy modern dining room stretches over two floors with casual timber benches downstairs and wooden chairs on the first floor. Crispy pork belly with chilli, garlic and basil is always a crowd-pleaser or try the funnysounding drunky noodle which comes with a sweet and spicy black bean sauce. Soothe any tingling tastebuds with a tall glass of cold and sweet Thai red tea.

Address

203-204/107 Quay St, Haymarket

Phone

9212 5889
Seoul Ria

Not sure whether to have Japanese or Korean? Seoul Ria offers both in this fusion restaurant that's bigger than you'd expect. Take the lift and you'll find yourself in a huge eatery flanked with modern wooden tables and chairs. Try the Jok Bal, cold slices of boiled pork leg served with kimchee or NakJi Duk Bbok Gi, octopus and chewy rice cake in a spicy sauce.

Address

Level 2, 605-609 George Street

Phone

9269 0222
Silk Road Chinese Halal Restaurant

This is the recently opened second venue for this popular Muslim Chinese eatery. Explore the cuisine of Chinese Hui people, a Muslim ethnic minority who hail from far North-West China. Try Xinjiang lamb shish kebabs dusted generously with cumin, the Chinese hamburger, or their vast range of dumplings. All noodles are handmade on the premises.

Address

Shop 2, 209 Thomas Street

Phone

9211 5881
Star Hotel

There's nothing fancy about the Star Hotel but that's just how the punters like it. This corner pub has beers on tap and TAB facilities with plenty of screens - a perfect escape for the boys.

Address

Cnr Sussex and Goulburn St, Haymarket

Phone

9281 8343
Super Chef BBQ

Follow the sound of the butcher's cleaver at Super Chef BBQ where roast ducks, crackling roast pork and sweet strips of barbecue pork are chopped to order and served with rice, noodle soup or dry noodles

Address

Shop 305, Level 3 Market City

Phone

9211 3118
The Eight Modern Chinese Restaurant

You're bound to be in luck at The Eight - considered a lucky number by the Chinese - a stylish modern restaurant with a comprehensive menu that runs from traditional to new-wave fusion Chinese dishes. By day it's yum cha central, with over 70 dishes to choose from. It's hard to resist the glamour of Peking duck carved at your table: a two-course affair that starts with crisp duck skin in soft pancakes and finishes with duck sang choy bow lettuce cups. Wok-seared beef with foie gras paste is one of their signature dishes, and live seafood from the tanks is always popular.

Address

Level 3, Market City

Phone

9282 9988
The Meeting Point

Try The Meeting Point's signature dish - collagen shabu shabu, made with all natural ingredients. Sample this and other dishes inspired by traditional Taiwanese cuisine with a dash of Szechuan style. The restaurant space evokes an old industrial feel, holds regular live music on weekends and has free Wi-Fi. Check their Facebook page to keep up to date.

Address

Shop R1.01B/9-13 Hay St, Haymarket

Phone

9280 3680
Twisted Noodle Bar

How spicy do you like it? You can take charge of your own chilli and sour levels when you order the Yunnan noodle in pork soup, the biggest selling dish at Twisted Noodle Bar. Choose from none to extreme chilli and zero to large serves of their sour preserved vegetables. There are a dozen different noodle soups on the menu plus interesting side dishes like fried chilli chicken wings and soft bone pork. The kitchen makes its own chilli paste using three different types of chilli and boils 200 litres of fresh pork stock every day. That's a lot of noodle soup!

Address

Shop 44/1 Dixon St, Chinatown

Phone

9267 2327
Uighur Cuisine

If you like lamb, you'll love the kebabs at Uighur Cuisine, chunks of juicy lamb dusted with cumin and grilled on sword-like skewers. There are also stir-fries, handmade noodles, and dumplings available steamed and pan-fried. Halal food is also available.

Address

1/8 Dixon St, Haymarket

Phone

9267 8555
Umi Kaiten-Zushi

An impressively long fish tank provides a tranquil backdrop for patrons at this modern Japanese dining bar. Take a seat at the sushi train and pick and choose from the sushi plates - colour-coded by price - that trundle past on the circular conveyor belt. Salmon, tuna and prawn are joined by more unusual items like surf clam, sea urchin, turban shell and the Japanese favourite, natto femented soy beans. All fish is bought daily with specials dishes on offer depending on what has been sourced at the markets.

Address

Shop 1 LG Floor, Sydney Central, 477 Pitt Street (Cnr Hay & Parker Street)

Phone

9281 2006
Umi Sushi + Udon

The recently opened Umi Sushi + Udon offers both traditional and creative sushi options alongside a focus on Sanuki Udon, characterised by its firm, chewy texture using a special type of wheat traditionally grown in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Enjoy a traditional Kyoto style decor as you venture through Umi Sushi + Udon's specialty Japanese cuisine.

Address

Shop 19, Darling Quarter, 1-25 Harbour Street

Phone

9283 2006
Zilver Restaurant

The east-meets-west menu at Zilver is matched by decor that is modern and sleek with bronze pillars, timber screens and billowing silk canopies overhead. The menu runs the gamut of both contemporary and classic dishes, with a section dedicated to fusion dishes. Specialty dishes include the deep-fried live mud crab tossed in salted egg as well as the seafood curry with pumpkin. Those seeking something a little different should try the roasted pigeon or the wok-seared beef with wasabi sauce. The flaming pork ribs with mayonnaise is always an attentiongetting spectacle. At lunchtime, Zilver is buzzing with yum cha patrons keen on getting their dumpling fix. A dedicated bar area is perfect for drinks before or after dinner.

Address

Sydney Central Building (opposite Capitol Theatre) Level G, 477 Pitt Street (cnr Hay and Pitt Street)

Phone

9211 2232
ZoZo

If you've always fancied yourself as a chef, then Korean barbeque is the perfect chance for you to show off your cooking skills. At ZoZo you can order marinated meats and seafood and then take charge of the sizzling barbecue on the tabletop hotplate. Waitstaff are always happy to lend a hand if you're not sure what to do. Prefer to relax and let the kitchen do all the cooking? Then check out the crispy seafood pancake, fire chilli chicken and bibimbab: a traditional crispy rice dish served in a hot stone bowl. A special lunch menu is available Monday to Friday.

Address

Shop 10/26 Liverpool Street, World Square (under Monorail station)

Phone

9267 8040