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Sim's Food Guide

Judging Criteria

My rating scale is inspired by the basic idea of the Michelin Guide’s star system. I’m no food expert though, I don’t have a refined palate, and I focus on food that is within reach of median wealth households. Even if I do try expensive fine dining, I don’t think I will ever have enough experience to judge it to a reasonable standard.

Unlike the Michelin Guide, I don’t think it makes sense for me to judge whether a restaurant is worth a special dedicated journey (a.k.a. 3 Michelin stars). My guide will cap out at “restaurants you should try if you happen to be in the city”. My rating scale will evolve as I build my guide out.

Within each section, the restaurants are sorted by alphabetical order to avoid giving any restaurant special treatment within the section.

So far, I’ve only ever lived in Sydney as an adult, so Sydney is the only place I can be properly thorough about what I recommend. Outside of Sydney, I can only speak on what little I’ve had and give recommendations filtered through my taste as a Sydney native.

It’s important to note that my guide recommends based on a mix of quality, novelty, and value for money. Cuisines and restaurant concepts that I consider underrepresented will intentionally be treated more favourably than overrepresented ones. I put a lot of emphasis in giving new things a try (within reason lol), and my guide reflects this attitude.

Sydney, Australia

⭐⭐⭐ You should try these if you’re in Sydney

If you live in Sydney or you’re visiting, I reckon these should be at the top of your priority list of restaurants to try!

Dookki

  • Dookki (Korean, Hotpot, Tteokbokki, All You Can Eat) - CBD (2026-08-29)
    • For an all-you-can-eat, they’re extremely well-priced, yet the quality of the food and venue is outstanding and very tasty!
    • They have sides too (such as fried chicken), drinks, and ice blocks for dessert, and are they’re great! Definitely try them out! I highly recommend getting some right at the start to have while waiting for the pot.
    • It’s a very DIY place. If you’re unsure, tell the staff that it’s your first time and ask them to give you a rundown of what to do.
      • They also provide instructions sheets at the table.
      • They provide you with several stainless steel containers each with a specific purpose:
        • one small one for collecting the sauce mixture,
        • one big one for collecting hotpot ingredients,
        • one big one for collecting fish cake skewers,
        • one medium-sized one for collecting side dishes (such as fried chicken!), and
        • several small ones, one for each participant to eat out of.
      • The basic gist of the Tteokbokki hotpot:
        • Start by filling 1/3 of the pot with broth, dial the heat to the maximum, then get up and get ingredients (one person should stay at the table to dial down the heat if the pot starts boiling before you collect the ingredients).
        • You need to prepare sauce mixtures using the sauce container (provided at your table). They have sauce recipes printed at the sauce station. If you’re not sure (and as long as you can decently tolerate spice), literally pick any of them.
        • You’ll also need to collect ingredients. Just like Chinese hotpot, there is meat and vegetables, but specific to Tteokbokki, there are the thick and chewy noodles that I highly recommend!
        • Once the pot starts boiling, pour the ENTIRE sauce mixture into the pot, and put all the hotpot ingredients in. Turn down the heat a bit (but the pot needs to keep boiling), and wait 5 minutes (I like to use the stopwatch app on my phone).
        • After 5 minutes, eat everything in the pot!
        • Grab more ingredients and do it all over again!
        • (I don’t think you need to redo the sauce though. In my experience, the sauce seems good through multiple rounds of ingredients.)
      • More tips on how to make the most of the hotpot:
        • While waiting the 5 minutes, go out and grab more hotpot ingredients so that you can put it in immediately as soon as it’s needed!
        • You’ll need to refill the pot with broth every now. Refilling is self-serve at Dookki, and there should be a station somewhere where you can grab a new container of broth if yours runs out.
    • They’re an international chain with one location in Sydney at the time of writing, and a couple other locations elsewhere in Australia.

Gumshara

  • Gumshara (Japanese, Ramen) - CBD, Haymarket (2024-05-12)
    • They specialize in a unique style of thick tonkotsu ramen.
    • Gumshara is a bit polarizing. I absolutely love it, but some people think it’s gimmicky and hate it. Regardless, I reckon they’re worth trying at least once!
    • They don’t do bookings. They’re quite popular during peak dinner time, so if you have to have them during dinner, expect a long line.
    • They waive the huge card surcharge and weekend surcharge if you pay with physical cash.

La Hacienda

  • La Hacienda (Peruvian, South American) - CBD (2026-09-06)
    • Simple comfort food with light flavours.
    • If you’re not familiar with cuisines with Spanish roots, the food is quite novel! We don’t have many Peruvian places in Sydney.
    • A bit expensive in terms of portion size, but the food is delicious and great quality.

Umami Dojo

  • Umami Dojo (Japanese, Ramen) - Pyrmont (2024-08-03)
    • Quaint and intimate hole-in-the-wall setting.
    • They made the best karaage chicken I’ve ever had. So tender, juicy, and covered in a crispy breading.
    • You should book for this place. It’s a very small shop, so you may show up only to see a sign saying no walk-ins for the day.

⭐⭐ Highly Recommended

Alchemy

  • Alchemy (Polish) - Surry Hills (2025-11-02)

Biang Biang Noodles

  • Biang Biang Noodles (Chinese, Biangbiang Noodles) - CBD, Haymarket

Caysorn

  • Caysorn (Southern Thai) - Haymarket

Kakigori Kaiji

  • Kakigori Kaiji (Japanese, Desserts, Kakigōri) - CBD

⭐ More Recommendations

Fried Brothers

  • Fried Brothers (Nashville Fried Chicken) (2026-06-28)
    • Disclaimer: They can be a bit inconsistent. Most days they’re perfect, but occasionaly they serve an oily mess. But for what they are, I still think they’re great! It’s not meant to be fine dining by any stretch. It’s cheap, moreish and woefully unhealthy takeout, but leagues ahead of Maccas and KFC.
    • They’re my favourite for fried chicken in Sydney! Go and try at least one of their burgers or the Nashville Fried Chicken. It’s filling, well-priced, the chicken is incredibly tender and juicy, and everything is just so dialled in.
    • They’re a chain with several locations.

Mappen and Oiden

  • Mappen (Japanese, Udon) - CBD, George St.
  • Oiden (Japanese, Donburi) - CBD, George St.

Sunflower Taiwanese Gourmet

  • Sunflower Taiwanese Gourmet (Taiwanese) - Ultimo | Chatswood

🌤️ CBD restaurants without a Sunday surcharge

Restaurants in Sydney’s CBD very commonly run a Sunday surcharge. While I understand that Sunday surcharges aren’t morally bad, I personally don’t dine at a restaurant if I have to pay a special surcharge.

If you’re looking for food in the CBD on a Sunday and are also trying to avoid the surcharges, here are my recommendations:

  • Biang Biang Noodles (Chinese, Biangbiang Noodles) - CBD, Haymarket (Confirmed 2026-03-01)
  • Gumshara (Japanese, Ramen) - CBD, Haymarket (Confirmed 2026-09-13)
  • La Hacienda (Peruvian, South American) - CBD (Confirmed 2026-09-06)
  • Ume Burger (Burger, Japanese-inspired) - CBD, Darling Square (Confirmed 2026-08-23)

Under Consideration

I’m considering adding these restaurants as official recommendations, but I’m holding off until I feel more certain.

  • Ayam Goreng 99 (Indonesian) - Kingsford
    • Reason: I should try more Indonesian restaurants and visit Ayam Goren 99 again.

Melbourne, Australia

Disclaimer: I don’t live here, so I don’t have many reference points.

⭐⭐ Especially noteworthy

  • Aroma Restaurant (Pakistani) - CBD
  • Juicy Bao (Chinese, Xiaolongbao, Dumplings) - CBD
    • This place was my introduction to Xiaolongbao. The soup and everything in these soupy dumplings is so rich and flavourful!
  • Kumo Desserts (Desserts, Soufflé Pancakes) - CBD
  • Lulu's Char Koay Teow (Malaysian) - CBD
    • Their Char Koay Teow is probably the most moreish addictive thing I’ve had, and that’s before even mentioning the affordable price. It’s so perfectly done. Of the few Char Koay Teow dishes I’ve ever had, Lulu’s is my favourite.
    • Maybe I’ll find a better Chae Koay Teow restaurant in the future? But Lulu’s will still have a place in my recommendations list.
  • Pidapipó (Gelato) - CBD
    • Very popular gelato place unique to Melbourne. They have a lot of interesting creative flavours.
  • Stalactites (Greek) - CBD
  • Universal Restaurant (Italian) - Carlton

⭐ More Places I Liked

  • Hanna's Cafe (Café) - Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine
  • Higher Ground (Café) - CBD
  • Hong Dae (Korean) - CBD
  • La Petite Crêperie (French, Crêpes) - CBD, Town Hall
    • It’s a small kiosk on Swanson Street. Worth grabbing one as you pass through!
  • Pandan Dessert Bar (Malaysian, Desserts) - CBD
  • Sulbing (Korean, Desserts, Bingsu) - CBD
  • Sweet Canteen (Bakery) - CBD
  • Tori's (Bakery) - CBD
  • Udon Yasan (Japanese, Udon) - CBD
    • I should try them again. I feel like they should rank higher on my list.

The food at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) isn’t particularly notable, but if you really want something there, this might be worth a try:

  • Biggie Smalls (Western) - Melbourne Airport, Tullamarine
    • It’s a fairly generic burger place and overpriced, but the quality and vibes are great.
    • Not recommended if you’re cost-conscious. It’s VERY expensive, but not noteworthy enough to be worth going over-budget for.
    • At the time of writing, this place is only accessible from both domestic terminals (airside). The loudspeaker announcements are only for the Virgin terminal though, so keep that in mind so you don’t accidentally miss your flight. Give yourself a good time buffer so you can enjoy your (overpriced) meal.

Gold Coast, Australia

Disclaimer: I don’t live here, so I don’t have many reference points.

⭐⭐ Especially noteworthy

  • Amimoto Japanese Restaurant (Japanese) - Surfers Paradise
  • Freghete (Italian, Pizza) - Broadbeach Waters

⭐ More Places I Liked

  • Cheeky Waffles (Waffle) - Surfers Paradise
  • Cook n Beer (Korean BBQ) - Surfers Paradise
  • Flavours on Charcoal (Brazilian BBQ) - Burleigh Waters
  • Gemelli Broadbeach (Italian) - Broadbeach
  • Hot Shott (Café) - Main Beach
  • La Calabrese (Italian) - Surfers Paradise
  • Longtide (Asian) - Surfers Paradise
  • The Collective Palm Beach (Various) - Palm Beach
    • This restaurant is technically several restaurants sharing a single venue.

Useful References