The Cube

Another work trip to Sydney which happened on Thursday and Friday. I took the opportunity to extend through to the weekend as my manager said it is allowable. Not great weather but as it wasn't pouring so still good enough to make a trip to the mountains. 

Many years ago, I went to Katoomba and Leura but I wanted to be a little more quiet this round so Blackheath was my choice this round. I don't know why I make questionable decision of not going to the more famous Grand Canyon Walking Track even though it really wasn't that much of a longer distance. 

Anyway the journey was easy as I was staying just across from Central Station so it was just a train ride away. I took the 7:16 AM train and reached Blackheath just before10:00 AM due to some signal issues at one of the stations. 

After a toilet break and grabbing a croissant from the service station, I walked towards the Govetts Leap Lookout. I must've taken a wrong turn because a certain part of the walk involved going through some rocks that didn't really look like a well trodden path but all was well as I got there. 

My trip to Sydney coincided with the start of 2026 Vivid Sydney. I went there on the Saturday after returning from a day trip to the Blue Mountains. I was tired but that was the only night I could catch the lights so I dragged my lazy self walking from Central Station towards the other end of the city. There are a lot more to the program but I only did the lights event, and only part of them in Circular Quay. The other event I was interested in was the drone shows but it was scheduled on the days that I couldn't make it. Latest news mentioned the shows have been cancelled though. 

The new Sydney Fish Market has opened recently so I decided to pay a visit. The scary seagulls haven't got the memo that the fish market has moved yet, so it wasn't scary and needing to protect the precious food from them when I visited. I went in the morning after checking out from the Airbnb and had a very luxury king crab breakfast. 

The plan was to walk from the airbnb in Central to Sydney Fish Market and then to Marrickville to try out Lazza. Long story short, Lazza didn't happen because I got there at 1:40 PM and their kitchen was closed by 1:30 PM. I feel that was a little early for the kitchen to be closed but plan B was to check out the organic food market. I read that a particular Mexican food stall has good authentic Mexican food but I didn't see it when I got there. So next in plan was Vietnamese food. 

Lv 2.01/252 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

I got the sirloin gyukatsu as that was the popular one. It was delish. I got greedy eyes and also ordered warabimochi as dessert. 

68 Erskine St, Sydney NSW 2000

Despite the popularity of salt bread, I have never tried it. So this was the first time I tried salt bread. Very fluffy inside but I feel it's a bit pricey. But this is Sydney. 

This place is growing on me. I followed a friend to his usual tuff and this round I ordered the month's special - beef burger. 

Wesley Mission Building, 220 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000

I ordered nasi minang kapau komplit tunjang because friend said I should try the beef tendon. I'm not a fan of the texture but that's my issue. The food was very tasty and good chilli kick. 

Shop RG016, 500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

I got myself a snack after returning to Sydney from the Blue Mountains so that I won't be starving when I walked back and forth from one end of the city to the other end. 

Entrance from Campbell Street side, Shop G06/323 Castlereagh St, Haymarket NSW 2000.

I also haven't tried boat noodles before so decided to try this. Unfortunately I don't like the flavour profile. 

249 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204

I ended up with Vietnamese group after missing out the kitchen opening hours for Lazza and the food stall in the organic food market. I was hungry so grilled pork with rice and salted coffee. 

I haven't been travelling to Sydney for work for awhile, and my manager offered that I could extend to the weekend if I want as I was flying in on a Thursday and would be in the Sydney office for Thursday and Friday. 

I did lug my camera to Sydney but not many photos were taken because I was dining with friends who either didn't take photos of their food or I just grabbed off them. I did get around to a few different places because it has been awhile since I caught up with some friends in Sydney. 

27-41 Magdala Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113

This is one of the dining option in North Ryde RSL I was having dinner with a friend and this was near his place. There are a few different restaurant within the RSL and I was told the Asian restaurant, House of Tong is decent too. Might try that next time. 

Friend shouted me dinner, and I chose crispy skin barramundi but kind of had food envy when friend's food came. He ordered a chicken schnitzel with toppings of tomato sauce, avo and cheese. I asked if I could pinched his chips so he ordered a portion to share. 

210/298-304 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000

I've also finally made it to La Hacienda Peru. Food was tasty, generous portion but the shop was so warm and stuffy unfortunately. South American food, sadly, is very expensive in Australia. 

Shop 4/8 Bourke St, Mascot NSW 2020

I initially wanted to go to Pawfect cafe and have their mochi waffle for breakfast because I saw it online. However, it wasn't on their menu when I was there. So I walked back towards the station and went into Anita's Fusion. 

I had lunch plans with friends and didn't want to eat too much for breakfast. So I ordered a vegetable croquette burger and iced long black because it was too hot when I visited. 

33 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000

We were seated downstairs with a fan facing us and even with that, it was warm. The portion was good sized but I find it on the pricier side. We ordered larb, papaya salad with salted duck egg and a prik khing with 'fluffy salmon'. The first 2 dishes were decent but I couldn't identify the components of the dish including salmon. This dish is no longer found in the menu today, not sure if it was a specials for the month kind of dish. 

I feel there are more good Thai restaurants in Sydney which are much cheaper, so unlikely to return. 

11/35 Ultimo Rd, Haymarket NSW 2000

It was very warm inside Porkfat so we moved to a different location for dessert. Homm is just across the road from Porkfat so Homm it was. Luckily they had a better air conditioner. We ordered Pink Himalayas Avalanche Bingsu and Thai Tea Avalanche Bingsu to share and a drink each. 

6 Little Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000

I was indecisive between hot & spicy pork dumpling and dan dan noodles. I went with dan dan noodles because it was marked as 'must try' on their menu. I did a takeaway and ate in the airbnb as it was too early to have dinner at that time but I knew I would be hungry if I didn't eat. As it was in a takeaway container and didn't look pretty when I was ready to eat, I didn't take a picture. I would go revisit especially if they have a branch in Melbourne, but they don't. 

2/127 Forest Rd, Hurstville NSW 2220

A work colleague told me about this shop when I mentioned that I was meeting a friend for lunch in Hurstville. I reached Hurstville earlier than meeting time so I decided to visit while waiting. Tart and coffee were good but I find the staff who attended to me a bit grumpy. 

131 Prince Edward Park Rd, Woronora NSW 2232

We had dim sum lunch and friend brought me here for coffee/drinks with views of Georges River. She's very thoughtful and suggested places that she thinks I have not been. The iced tea on offer were good. We ordered mango & passionfruit and peach & lychee, staying away from milk based drinks because it was very warm and we were stuffed from lunch.