Not short of a place to get your peking duck and yum cha on, Sydney is a mecca of all delicious Cantonese eats. Haymarket may have strung up a rep for housing some of the best Chinese eats around but recently, Sydney’s “Chinese feeds” have been diversifying and championing its many distinct regional styles of cooking, particularly that of south-eastern China around Guangdong and Hong Kong. We’re talking Cantonese food.
And what to expect on the menu? Think oyster sauce, steamed egg, fermented black beans and stewed beef brisket.
Here are 9 places to get the best Cantonese feeds in Sydney.
Canton Kitchen
Castlecrag
A newcomer to the Cantonese foodie scene and created by ex-Queen Chow head chef Jason Chan, the Canton Kitchen is one to make your next booking. Located in the lower north shore, lunches here focus on all things dim sum with the a la carte menu boasting more traditionals like kung pao chicken and peking-duck with steamed pancakes.
Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine
Haymarket and Barangaroo
If you’re looking for the classic feed that’ll feel as close to travelling overseas as possible well then, you’re going to need to head down to the city for Old Town Hong Kong Cuisine. This one has two notable venues, the first residing on the famous Dixon Street mecca and the second propped down at Barangaroo. Order up an assortment box packed with prawn dumplings, a BBQ combo of pork and duck, deep fried squid and stir fried green beans with pork mince.
Steam King Restaurant
Haymarket
Making a pit stop in Haymarket is a given when it comes to scoring the best Cantonese food around. At the Steam King Restaurant, there’s a whole lot of steaming going on (shock). Your go-to here has to be the double steamed chicken soup served up in a whole coconut. Need we say more.
Mr. Wong
CBD
We couldn’t leave the iconic Merivale venue Mr. Wong off our list. For an epic date night, a trip here will earn you an infinite amount of brownie points (you know, if you’re keen to splash out a bit more than usual). This two-level joint seats 240 people so it’s go big or go home here. The BBQ duck is a crowd favourite here but we’re shouting out the honey-glazed Kurobuta char sui pork. If you’re more hands-on, then the wok fried mud crab is for you.
Liu Rose Restaurant
Concord
Opening its doors during the 70s, if you’re looking for that classic family friendly vibe with highly rated food, then head to the inner west and visit Liu Rose Restaurant. This gem is BYO (wine only) and does a killer banquet menu with stellar pork ribs, Mongolian lamb and sang choy bows.
The Dynasty Restaurant
Belmore
Hidden inside the Canterbury Leagues Club, The Dynasty Restaurant was actually voted the best yum cha in Sydney. With prawn gow gee, san choi bao and so many more dishes with names that we’ll for sure butcher, we’ve already booked a spot.
Canton Noodle House
Riverwood, Hurstville and Burwood
With three locations around Sydney, you won’t have far to travel to get to a Canton Noodle House. And with a menu as long as a short novel, you won’t be strapped for choices on what to eat. Anything and everything you crave, these guys will create. Bless them.
Queen Chow
Enmore and Manly
Delivering a menu full of Cantonese classics, Queen Chow boasts their famous handmade wonton soup and BBQ peking duck pancakes for patrons to try. With Eric Koh, a world-famous dim sum chef, in the kitchen, this meal is one for the snaps.
Canton! Canton!
CBD
Right in the heart of the city you’ll find Canton! Canton! where the photos of the food will have you salivating before you’re even in the door. Order up the scallop dumplings with shrimp or traditional pork ribs with fermented black bean sauce that just falls off the bone. Now that’s worth lining up for.
And if you’re looking for a quick trip to South-East Asia, check out this first-timer’s guide to Hong Kong
Image credit: Merivale