Lobster rolls are one of life's greatest sandwiches. Buttery, crunchy, and packed with juicy lobster—no wonder Cardi B is savage for them.
Last summer, thanks to some wild pandemic-induced logistics and export troubles, the price of Australian lobsters plummeted—and those tasty red tail and claw rolls were everywhere. While we probably won't see the same price drop in the near future, our love of lobster roll snacks has stuck and they've continued to pop up on menus throughout the city. Yep, we're predicting lobster rolls are about to be as popular as burrata and tartare in Sydney.
Not sure where to find them now? Read on for the best lobster rolls in Sydney right now.
The Menzies Bar
CBD
Move over champagne—the year is 2023 and Sydney is a city of martinis and lobster rolls. At The Menzies Bar at Shell House, you'll find both of these trending staples, served together and during happy hour no less. Yep, pop in between 4pm and 6pm Tuesday through Saturday for The Menzies Bar's Martini Hour, where you'll find $10 martinis and $10 lobster rolls for the taking. Essential items to clock off from work and get your night started. Lobster rolls are available until sold out.
Beau
Surry Hills
Hidden down an unassuming Surry Hills laneway, Beau has been turning heads since it opened earlier this year (despite its covert location). From the NOMAD team, the part-bakery, part-wine bar setup is a smash hit—and so is Beau's delicious lobster roll. Available from 12pm Wednesday through Sunday for lunch, this lobster roll features a crispy hashbrown and creamy Marie Rose sauce.
Arturo's Restaurant At Woolly Bay Hotel
Woolloomooloo
With views of sparkly Woolloomooloo Bay, this three-storey 19th-century-era pub already has a lot going for it. In 2022, thanks to the Laundy Hotels hospitality group, the pub had a $14M renovation, complete with a new Mediterranean restaurant and a rooftop bar. The restaurant and rooftop are called Arturo's and it's here you'll find a particularly top-tier lobster roll nestled among other classic snacks like potato scallops, Vannella burrata, and steak tartare. The lobster roll comes served as a pair, dusted with chives, and topped with salmon pearls.
Oxford House
Paddington
Oxford House is the newest boutique hotel to join the city's growing collection of cool places to stay. Within the hotel is a sunny courtyard pool, a poolside bar, and an all-day diner. And on the lunch menu at the diner, among other tasty sandwiches, is a juicy lobster roll. This one comes drizzled in garlic butter, lemon mayo, and chives, and is served up on a toasted milk bun with a side of potato crisps.
Bart Jr
Redfern
What started off as a limited-run special has now evolved into one of Sydney’s cult sandwiches and for good reason too—it’s bloody delicious. In fact, the lobster rolls at Bart Jr are so tasty that they sell out every week. As for what this creation gets loaded up with, you’ll find a salty combo of WA Rock lobster and local King prawns, tarragon-dill-horseradish mayo for a mighty kick, soft lettuce leaves, and garlic butter all on a warm milk roll. To snack between bites of this morsel, you’ll also get a side of French fries.
Three Williams
Redfern
Known for its standout seasonal truffle menu—Three Williams is one of Sydney's most indulgent brunch spots. On the year-round menu are things like Pina Colada French toast, spicy chicken waffles with fancy house-made hot sauce, and sides like tempura soft shell crab. They also do a very fine lobster roll, topped with caviar no less. Served with ultra-fresh butter lettuce on a toasted milk bun with a side of Japanese-style furikake fries, it's the ultimate weekend indulgence.
Viet Hoa Oyster Bar & Kitchen
Cabramatta
Having opened its doors back in 2016, Viet Hoa Oyster Bar & Kitchen is a serious treasure trove of Asian fusion seafood dishes, fish and chips, and, unsurprisingly, a seafood bar that whips up fresh oysters and fine cuts of sashimi on the daily. Heaven. When you’ve got a hankering for the mighty morsel that is the lobster roll, this is one of the city's best.
The Viet Hoa crew source lobster tail from Sydney Fish Markets, ideally because the tail is undoubtedly the best part if you’re wanting firmer meat than the claws. From here, all the meat is cut out, mixed with housemade salad dressing (a concoction of olive oil and Italian dressing), and left to marinate for 24 hours. Then, the lobster gets thrown on the grill in a glorious fry-up before being added to a soft roll. Finally, it’s a few lashings of kewpie mayo, sriracha mayo, a topping of melted mozzarella and tasty cheese, and a sprinkle of paprika.
Fish & Co
Tramsheds
A casual dining restaurant, takeaway fish and chip shop, and a haven of sustainably caught wild fish all in one, Fish & Co makes it all that much easier for you to load up on the good stuff (Cardi B-style) with good conscience. The idea is that everything that’s been caught in the ocean has been caught with minimal impact on its surrounding environment, with seafood only being sourced from fishermen and fisheries that are entirely committed to sustainable fishing practices.
The lobster roll here will set you back a very worthy $20 with trimmings sitting in, what we’re calling, a very fluffy bread boat. The roll gets generously buttered, packed with lobster, and filled with crunchy lettuce and zingy lime aioli.
101 Kissa
Chippendale
If dining al fresco with a mega lobster roll in hand is high on your agenda (perhaps featuring a four-legged companion too), you’ll want to lap up the goodness at Chippendale’s 101 Kissa. With a menu bent on bringing the best of Japanese and Asian fusion, dig into this cafe’s famous "jumbo" lobster and scallop roll. Nothing less than a work of art, this lobster roll is treated to a touch of wasabi, a soft omelette, Tasmanian sea scallops, lotus chips, and caviar because you should always Carpe Diem.
Peter’s Sydney Fish Market
Sydney Fish Market
As the beating heart of our city’s booming seafood scene, it should come as no shock that you can most definitely find a few of Sydney’s best lobster rolls at Sydney Fish Market. Humbly created within the bustle of the store that is Peter’s Fish Market, this tasty seafood log can be found at The Aburi Bar, home to blow-torched cheesy scallops, baby octopus skewers, and Mentai King crab legs. Made with rock lobster, the entire feast is an epic train of said lobster meat, melted cheese, and fresh fish eggs all tucked into a sweet brioche bun.
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Image credit: Beau, Shell House, Beau, Adam Crews, Mount Pleasant, Oxford House, Destination NSW, Three Williams, Viet Hoa Oyster Bar & Kitchen, 101 Kissa, Peter's Sydney Fish Market