Sydney Restaurant Tips by xuessium

Restaurant Name: Pancakes On The Rocks

The decor of the restaurant is ranch-style...wooden floors, wooden tables....the only things missing are the cows and horses. Not too bad but it can get quite noisy as the restaurants do attract family diners and large groups of friends. Food-wise, the novel idea of wrapping your meals in crepe-pancakes is quite exciting. While pancakes in general for desserts are quite normal, pancakes with savoury stuffing (such as cheese, chicken, mushrooms etc) for a meal is quite novel. They serve 2 pieces of the pancakes (rolled up) with each serving. The first piece is always more appreciated as diminishing marginal utilities set in for the 2nd piece. It does get a little too starchy for the stomach towards the end, but then again, that's my Asian palette talking.

Favorite Dish: I had the Seafood Crepes - not too bad (but the prawns tasted frozen) but by the 2nd piece, I was struggling a little.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: PH: 61-292476371
Address: 10 HICKSON ROAD, THE ROCKS, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Directions: Behind The Rock in a row of refurnished warehouses.
Website: http://www.pancakesontherocks.com.au/

Restaurant Name: MillioRe

Capital Square along George Street near Chinatown is home to several Asian restaurants.

MillioRe made no pretences - it claimed to be Korean Fusion, so it's not all authentic.

But the service is good and the food is delicious. It helps that crowds seem to like the food too. Always packed.

I returned recently after a 4 years break. It's still there and more packed than I remembered. Gosh.

Favorite Dish: 2004: The Haemultang (Korean seafood soup) is good, and so is the Kimchi Ramen.

2008: The Pajun (Seafood Pancake) was a tad too oily with the frying though I am not complaining too much. A little oil wouldn't hurt. The Bulgogi was a little flaccid, not as robust as the ones I enjoyed in Korea and my little Korean watering hole in Singapore. Good enough despite that. Top marks to the Dolsot Bibimbap (Rice served with veges and beef in a stone bowl) - hearty and well balanced. The Gochujang (Spicy Fermented Bean Paste) was spot on.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61-292122828
Address: Shop G10, Capital Square, 730-742, George Street
Directions: Just make your way to Capital Square, near Chinatown.

Restaurant Name: Check around!

Kings Cross is home to a great cluster of budget hotels and hostels (and colourful night spots as well) and so it's no surprise you'll find many money saving meal deals here.

No, I'm not talking about Fast Food. Heaven's sake.
Surely, there are real food you can chomp on.

Walk up and down Darlinghurst - you are bound to bump into a cheap meal possibility here and there.

Souvlaki shops are plenty.
Check out the Pies.
A$10 Steaks!
A$6 Breakfast!!

Favorite Dish: Check out Pie Face for pies (from A$4 for 1)

Check out both Froth Cafe and William's Cafe along Darlinghurst, near to Kings Cross Train Station for A$6 breakfast (Toasts, eggs & sausages/bacon).

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Kings Cross

Restaurant Name: Minami

Blink and you will miss it.

I swear.

I stood at the intersection of Macleay Street and Greenknowe Avenue, trying to find this little gem for it's almost inconspicuous entrance is almost swallowed up by the more swanky restaurants around it.

Cosy little space - barely sits 12 around a table, with a waitress taking your order and serving it behind it and just behind her, you can just make out the chef cooking your dish. Groovy!

Ambience? Shut up and eat your food.

Favorite Dish: The owners are (surprise!) Korean!

Yet the menu is definitely and irrefutably Japanese.

Want real hot-blooded authenticity? Sick of crappy "authentic" stuff?

Go for the Gyoza. You would not regret it. Tender pork juicily cooked in dumpling skin.
I had 2 servings!
(It made the so-called dweeby "Gyoza"s I had at Wagamama the previous evening a hearty laughing affair)

And slurp up your ramen really loud. It's not rude when you are having Japanese!

And each dish barely breaks a A$10!

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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: intersection of Macleay Street and Greenknowe Avenue, Kings Cross.

Restaurant Name: Pie Face

Pies are almost an institution in Australia. Insult the pies and you insult the Aussies.

They do take their pies rather a tad more seriously.

So do an Aussie thing while you are in Australia and in Sydney, not that this is the only place you can get it, if you happen to walk past a "Pie Face" joint, stop, breathe, grab a pie and bite into a taste of Australia.

Favorite Dish: There are a variety of flavours to choose from, the simplest being the "Steak Pie". Others include "Chunky Steak injected with Cheese", "Bacon and Egg", "Chicken and Mushroom" etc.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Various branches through Sydney city

Restaurant Name: Wok On Inn Noodle Bar (The Rocks branch)

OK, maybe it's the Asian in me talking (since they are plenty of westerners and locals buying its dishes) but this is one AWFUL noodle shop. Yuck!!!! I was suffering sleep deprivation from the flight into Oz so maybe my tongue wasn't working, but when my mum even found the fried rice she had unpalatable (and she is pretty forgiving when it comes to food), that's saying something. I honestly think the Char Kway Teow my sis had was rubbish and I do not even want to go into my order.

I shall have this to say: If you aren't picky about food, well don't let me stop you. Who knows, this faux Asian thing may be your taste. BUT if you are looking for authentic Asian taste, stay away from this shop!

Favorite Dish: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.........
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.........
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.........

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 9247-8554
Address: The Rocks Square, Playfair Street, The Rocks 2000
Directions: The Rocks Square
Website: http://www.wokoninn.com.au/

Restaurant Name: Cafe Zuppa

I am writing this simple because I ate here twice as it was a good and simple cafe serving hearty meals at a reasonable price. Plus, I was waiting for the Blue Mountain Explorer Bus and the cafe was strategically position near the Bus Stop.

There, no conspiracy theories.

Not that the food was any bad. I ate the Aussie breakfast twice, 4 years apart and it was still the same level of heartiness. Warm. As the service was. Filling. And the food was.

Couldn't fault it for anything less.

Favorite Dish: Only ate the Aussie Breakfast (~A$13), twice, and none bad!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 36 Katoomba St
Directions: Main street of Katoomba