The Cube

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. 

The one in March was fully self-funded and the one in June was partially funded because it was an extension from work trip. I did end up trying new food but mostly without photos because of friends who disapproved of my food photo taking habits. 

My trip in March coincided with Mardi Gras and accommodations were expensive. I booked them quite last minute and found an Airbnb listing in Burwood. 

Level 2/605-609 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

Number One Dixon Shopping Centre

Shop 21/1 Dixon St, Sydney NSW 2000

I had 2 Korean meals during my March trip. When we went to Seoulria, one of my friends is a vegetarian and another doesn't eat pork. So we opted out of Korean BBQ. I met up with a friend in Sydney for work secondment the next day and friend wanted Korean BBQ. So we went to Yang San Park. Food in both Korean restaurants were good. The staffs helped us cooked the food on grill in Yang San Park.

Shop 10/339 Sussex St Sydney

We went to the outlet in the CBD. There were 5 of us and we ordered our own main meals and got a box of crackers to share. I ordered nasi kapau ikan asin. The portion was huge and I was stuffed. It is not a place one can linger and chat though. 

Level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Booking only for private room basis. Otherwise on walk-in basis. Friend and I went on a Saturday morning. It was busy but it is a big venue. We ordered more after this but didn't take more photos. I enjoyed this and looked forward for another round of dim sum here. 

They have a few outlets but the one I had was bought from the shop in Burwood by my colleague. I was introduced to this Lebanese knefe cheese bun. Taste wise, I do like it but I had so many other meals prior that I kept this for 3 days before I had a taste so the texture was a little soggy by then. 

I tired to heat them up in the microwave available in the hotel room but I dare not leave them too long because there was a warning sign about heating bread. 

I visited a friend at his house and was treated to a very tasty South Indian food of pongal, masala dosa, 2 types of chutneys and vade. Dessert was pal payasam. Yumm. His wife even packed me some to bring back to Melbourne. 

I was introduced to this new precinct at Mascot and waned to check it out but it rained the whole of Saturday on my visit in June so I was pretty much indoors. Next time it is. 

I usually travel to Sydney once a quarter for work which means trying out new eating places. This time also include a long transit in Sydney prior to my flight to Noumea. ^^

Holy Basil was visited on my visit in March, Yama in April during transit but the rest in June. Both were overnight trips but I extended to the weekend when I went in June.

Steam Mill Lane, 51 Tumbalong Bvd, Haymarket NSW 2000

I thought I have been to a Holy Basil restaurant before but it was totally different shop. It was suggested by one of my colleague. The previous time we had dinner, he was telling us his aurora hunting adventures. He was the one recommended glass igloo stay to us but he went to Ivalo. 

Anyway back to this Thai & Laos eatery. I didn't realise it is a Thai & Laos eatery, I thought it is a Thai restaurant. All our food orders were tasty. I had a fresh custard apple shake while they had a lemon lime bitters and beer respectively.

Queen Victoria Building, Shop 2- 4 Level 2 QVB, 455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

I ordered yama's california don which is one of their signature dishes. It comes with assorted fresh sashimi, tamago egg, ebi prawns and tobiko, served on a bed of seasoned rice and salad, dressed with house-made sweet soy-based dressing. It was fresh and good but price point a bit too high unfortunately (AUD 31)

11 Harbourview Cres, Lavender Bay NSW 2060

I used to stay in Sydney, in a suburb near Kirribilli but I've not been to this place. It is a higher end of RSL. On my visit, I was particularly dumb. I thought Google Maps had suggested that I walk across the Harbour Bridge and it would only take 20 minutes but I must've read it wrongly, it was more likely suggesting that I take the ferry. Anyway, food was pretty good and unexpectedly big portion. 

Corner Young Street & Loftus Lane off, Bridge St, Sydney NSW 2000

I went earlier this year but when I checked again for this post, it has been reported that they are now permanently closed? I went for dinner with a work colleague at this Lebanese-Japanese fusion influence place. The place was cosy, the food portion looked small but filling. We opted for the tasting menu. Colleague was from Lebanon so I asked him to make an executive decision. 

Dip of baby ganous with a twist - eggplant chunks, sweet miso and burnt sesame. I find it too sweet and colleague preferred the traditional version. 

This was falafel kebab, we chose this over eggplant wedges. This was my portion. We got one each. I liked this one, and how my colleague ate it where he smashed and distributed it so you get some falafel at every bite. 

Bread pieces at the back were for the dips. And the ones in the front were ladies fingers - lamb, pine nuts, onion and tomato. 

Roasted cauliflower - I liked this one too. 

Chicken shish and lamb kofta. Garlic lemon for chicken and mint yoghurt for lamb. 

Shop 10.19B, Liverpool St, World Square Shopping Center

There are a few outlets, I went to the one in World Square as the rest are in the suburbs. This visit was for breakfast before my commute to Nowra. Portion was big, luckily I didn't get the breakfast set. I got an egg pancake with crullers and hot soya bean. 

Shop 1/507 Wattle St, Ultimo NSW 2007

I felt like having omurice but succumbed to curry rice with omelette. It was decent but no need to purposely make a trek there. Drink was kinako latte