If you’ve missed slurping down noodle soups, tucking into steaming-hot dumplings, and sipping bubble tea in a leafy Sydney park, you’re not alone. It’s been a couple of years since we last had the much-loved Night Noodle Markets descend upon the city. That’s all changing, though, with the food-fuelled event finally coming back with its hawker-style food stalls, live entertainment, a pop-up outdoor cinema, lion dancing, pop-up bars, family-friendly areas, and luminous installations for six epic nights.
After postponing in March due to all the rain and subsequent flooding, the Night Noodle Markets are set to descend on Sydney this October. Presented by Citi and Optus, the Sydney Night Noodle Markets are coming back to delight Sydneysiders from Tuesday 4 October till Sunday 9 October. Plus, it’s got a new home in Prince Alfred Park, arguably making it more convenient than its former Hyde Park digs thanks to its proximity to Central Station. Oh, and it’s dog-friendly, which is a huge win (particularly for all of us who got adorable pups in the pandemic).
The much-anticipated event will turn the inner-city park into a bustling, open-air Asian street food festival—and this year is set to be the biggest one yet. Crowd favourites like Flying Noodles, Wonderbao, Hoy Pinoy, Teppanyaki Noodle, and Twistto will be dishing up delicious street snacks—from fluffy AF bao to Korean-style twisted potato on sticks. You'll also be able to get treats from Bangkok Street Food, Shallot Thai, Roll Up, Raijin, and more. Plus, you can score celeb chef Brendan Pang's dumplings all the way from his Perth venue Bumplings thanks to a collab with Mazda.
Dish highlights include Melbourne-based Hoy Pinoy's pork belly skewers doused in a banana ketchup glaze, Flying Noodles' gravity-defying noodz, crispy AF calamari on a stick with tom yum sauce from Calabang, an OTT kimchi and pork belly toastie from Toastiesmith, and Donut Papi's "Original Mie Goreng Donut"—the famed creation made from Indomie Mie Goreng noodles that are cooked and shaped like a doughnut.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be the Night Noodle Markets without Gelato Messina serving up creative and incredibly Insta-worthy desserts. For 2022, the gelato juggernaut has created the "Milo Fry Club", which is deep-fired Milo gelato with "Messinatella" (think Nutella) pudding and Oreo crumble topped with warm "Messinatella". Messina is also bringing back its epic mango pancakes, which are sure to be a repeat hit.
Other dessert picks include Donut Papi's doughnut "Bombos" and "Creamos" filled with flavours such as pandan, dulce de leche, matcha, and ube.
On the drinks front, there'll be a pop-up beer garden from Gage Roads, a Club Aperol bar, a stunning Rekordeling Cider dome, and Dan Murphy's Zero% Bar serving Heaps Normal non-alcoholic beer and shaking up mocktails like a Salted Caramel "Espresso Martini" and a Blood Orange "Spritz".
For more information, head here.
The Details
What: Sydney Night Noodle Markets Presented By Citi and Optus
When: Tuesday 4 – Sunday 9 October 2022
Where: Prince Alfred Park, Surry Hills
Image credit: Night Noodle Markets/ Good Food Month, Flying Noodles