An effective and fun way to learn about the culture of a place is through food. The Daily Phil has always made it a point to immerse ourselves with every country we visit by trying out its local delicacies.
Our trip to Sydney, Australia is no exception. I had a hard time figuring out what the city is famous for when it comes to food. There really isn’t a singular dish that symbolizes Australia like how Ramen is to Japan, Chili Crab is to Singapore, Adobo is to the Philippines and so on. After scouring the internet for some suggestions, a handful of dishes and places stood out.
Here are some of the Aussie eats we tried during our stay in Sydney.
Read: Sydney Travel Guide for Filipinos, a 5-day Itinerary
Tiger Pie at Harry’s Café de Wheels
Harry’s has been serving delicious savory pies as early as 1938 and is considered a “quintessential Sydney icon”. We tried out “Harry’s Tiger” named after the founder Harry ‘Tiger’ Edwards.
The pie is filled with peppery roast beef which was really good, topped with a scoop of mashed potates, mashed peas and a very tasty gravy. It costs AU$ 8.50.
The Verdict: 3.5 / 5.0
Address: Hay Street (near crn of George) Outside Entrance of Capitol 730, 742 George St, Haymarket NSW 2000 (but you should visit their original location in Woolloomooloo)
Operating Hours: 8:30 am – 11:45 pm
How to get there: Walking distance from Paddy’s Market’s Light Rail Station
Fresh Seafood at Sydney Fish Market
The Sydney Fish Market is the third largest seafood market in the world. The place is not only for seafood wholesalers and retailers. It is also a popular tourist destination due to the restaurants and food places that serve the freshest catch of the day.
We sat down at Peter’s and ordered a sashimi and maki platter for AU$ 24.00, blow torched cheesy scallops for AU$ 12.00 and half a dozen of Sydney Rock Oysters for AU$ 12.00.
All of it were so fresh and tasty, the scallops were my favorite. I think it was reasonably priced too (according to Australian standards) considering the quality and serving size (except for the sashimi platter).
They have an al fresco dining area but there are seagulls flying around that might ruin your dining experience so eat inside if you can find a table.
The Verdict: 5.0 / 5.0
Address: Corner Pyrmont Bridge Rd &, Bank St, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
How to get there: 2 min walk from Fish Market Light Rail Station
Cronuts and Coffee at Brewtown Newtown
We made an effort to travel to Newtown to try out some coffee and cronuts in a little hidden coffee shop that has taken the café scene by storm. Brewtown Newtown is filled with people during weekends. We went here on a Monday morning for some light breakfast.
We ordered 2 cups of Ethiopian brew which was very fruity and a little bit sour in a good way. The cronuts were crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside but portioned too small for AU$ 6.00.
It’s old warehouse look with bricks, beams and filament bulbs creates a perfect ambiance. It’s a nice place to chill but a bit too pricey for me.
The Verdict: 4.0 / 5.0
Address: 6-8 O’Connell St, Newtown NSW 2042
Operating Hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
How to get there: Ride the T2 train line and get down on Newtown Station, walk along Princes Hwy and turn left on O’Connell St.
Chicken Parma and Beer at Edinburgh Castle Hotel
The drinking culture in Sydney is very much alive as seen in the numerous crowded pubs and bars after office hours. Nowadays, people don’t just go to pubs to drink, they also come here to enjoy good food and the Chicken Parmigiana, although Italian in origin, is the staple pub food of Australia.
You cannot go wrong with a juicy chicken breast, marinara sauce, cheese, ham, some fries and coleslaw. We paired it with a glass of “Newtowner”, the pub’s beer of the month. A schooner costs AU$ 8.00. Monday is Parma night at The Edinburgh which means you can get the parma for AU$ 15.00 instead of AU$ 20.00.
The parma is pretty straightforward, tasty and filling. I am not a regular beer drinker so I can’t tell if the beer was good or not but we still ordered one to truly experience the city like a local.
The Verdict: 5.0 / 5.0
Address: 294 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 12:00 mn
How to get there: 1 min walk from Town Hall Train Station
Read: Sydney Travel Guide for Filipinos, a 5-day Itinerary
That is just a few of the many Aussie treats that you should try when in Sydney. My favorite is definitely the morning we spent in the Fish Market. So many interesting seafood to try, some of which I have never seen before. The market was surprisingly small but organized and chaotic at the same time. The blow torched cheesy scallops is to die for.
While we were dining in Brewtown Newtown and The Edinburgh, I cannot help but notice the local’s relaxed attitude and how everyone was very bright and friendly. Observing how the Aussies go through their day was just as enjoyable as the food we tried in Sydney.
We made a Sydney Food Trip video on our YouTube channel, The Daily Phil to better show you what our Australian food experience was really like.
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This is The Daily Phil, conquering the world, one country at a time, using a Filipino passport.
Until next time, Travel Now, Bills Later!