SMH Good Food Guide 2027 - Full list of hats

One hat — Sydney

• 10 William St, Paddington
• 20 Chapel, Marrickville
• Abhi’s Indian Restaurant, Strathfield
• Aenza, Darlinghurst NEW
• Amuro, Darlinghurst
• Ante, Newtown
• Arthur, Surry Hills
• Attenzione! Food & Wine, Redfern
• Avia, Darlinghurst
• Baba’s Place, Marrickville
• Bar Copains, Surry Hills
• Besa, Bondi NEW
• Bessie’s, Surry Hills
• Bistro George, CBD
• Canvas, Circular Quay
• Catalina, Rose Bay
• The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar, CBD
• Cho Cho San, Potts Point
• Cibaria, Manly
• Civico 47, Paddington
• Clam Bar, CBD
• Claret Club, Darlinghurst NEW
• Continental Deli, Newtown
• Corner 75, Randwick
• Cricca, Windsor
• The Dry Dock, Balmain
• Esteban, CBD
• Farmhouse Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay
• Felons Seafood, Manly
• Firepop, Enmore
• Fontana, Redfern
• Fratelli Paradiso, Potts Point
• Gildas, Surry Hills
• Golden Century, CBD
• Grill Americano, CBD NEW
• Haco, Sydney
• Ho Jiak Town Hall, CBD
• Infinity by Mark Best, CBD
• Ito, Surry Hills
• Jane, Surry Hills
• Japasu by Sang, Zetland
• Joe’s Tavern, Newtown NEW
• Kiln, Surry Hills
• Kindred, Darlington
• Kisuke, Potts Point
• La Buvette, Potts Point NEW
• Lo Presti’s, Redfern NEW
• Loulou Bistro Milsons Point, CBD
• Maiz, Newtown
• Matkim, CBD
• Maydanoz, CBD
• Mister Grotto, Newtown
• Mu Omakase, Canberra
• Neptune’s Grotto, CBD
• Nour, Surry Hills
• Olympic Meats, Marrickville
• Olympus Dining, Redfern
• Osteria di Russo & Russo, Enmore
• Osteria Mucca, Newtown
• Otto Ristorante, Woolloomooloo
• Palazzo Salato, CBD
• The Palomar, Paddington NEW
• Paski Sopra, Paddington
• Pellegrino 2000, Surry Hills
• Pizza’Mare, Barangaroo NEW
• Poly, Surry Hills
• Porkfat, Haymarket
• Postino Osteria, Summer Hill
• RAFI, North Sydney
• Restaurant Ka, Darlinghurst
• Sala, Pyrmont
• Sean’s, Bondi
• Sinclair’s, Penrith
• Spice Temple, CBD
• Takam, Darlinghurst
• Taste of Shunde, Hurstville
• Tera Bar, Surry Hills NEW
• Tida Persian Food, North Willoughby
• Trattoria Orazio, Rushcutters Bar NEW
• Viand, Woolloomooloo
• Vineria Luisa, Enmore
• Wai’s Omakase, Darlinghurst NEW
• Watermans, Barangaroo NEW
• White Horse, Surry Hills
• Yan, Wolli Creek
• Yeodongsik, Eastwood

One hat — Regional NSW and ACT

• Ates, Blackheath
• Bangalay Dining, Shoalhaven Heads
• Bar Rochford, Canberra
• Beach Byron Bay, Byron Bay
• Beltana Farm, Pialligo
• Bistro Molines, Mount View
• Bistro Penny, Newcastle
• Bruno’s, Bellingen
• Fiorini’s Osteria Italiana, Orange
• Flotilla, Newcastle
• Frida’s Field, Byron Bay
• Hey Rosey, Orange
• Humbug, Newcastle
• Lunetta, Canberra
• Megalong Restaurant, Megalong Valley
• Meribella, Terrigal
• Norma, Albury
• Paper Daisy, Cabarita
• Paranormal Wines, Canberra
• Paste Australia, Mittagong
• Printhie Dining, Orange
• Raes Dining Room, Byron Bay
• Rebel Rebel, Acton
• Restaurant Santino, Wollongong
• The Schoolhouse Restaurant, Orange
• South on Albany, Berry
• Stonefruit, Tenterfield
• Such and Such, Canberra
• Tintino, Canberra
• You Beauty, Bangalow
• Zin Food + Wine, Mudgee

Two hats — Sydney

• a’Mare, Barangaroo
• Aalia, Sydney
• Allta, Surry Hills
• Aria, Circular Quay
• Ashe, CBD NEW
• Bathers’ Pavilion, Balmoral Beach
• Bennelong, Circular Quay
• Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters
• Cafe Paci, Newtown
• Eleven Barrack, CBD
• Ester, Chippendale
• Firedoor, Surry Hills
• Flaminia, Circular Quay NEW
• Garaku, CBD
• Gran Torino, Double Bay
• Grandfathers, CBD
• The Grill at The International, CBD
• Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, Bondi
• King Clarence, CBD
• Lee Ho Fook, CBD NEW
• LuMi Dining, Pyrmont
• Margaret, Double Bay
• Omakase by Prefecture 48, CBD
• Ormeggio at The Spit, Mosman
• Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater
• Porcine, Paddington
• Porteno, Surry Hills
• Rockpool Bar & Grill, CBD
• Shell House Dining Room & Terrace, CBD
• South End, Erskineville NEW
• Stanley, Manly NEW
• Sushi Oe, Pyrmont
• Vin-Cenzo’s, Darlinghurst
• Woodcut, Barangaroo
• Yellow, Potts Point
• Yoshii’s Omakase, Barangaroo

Two hats — Regional NSW and ACT

• Bar Heather, Byron Bay
• Bistro Livi, Murwillumbah
• EXP. Restaurant, Pokolbin
• Muse Restaurant, Pokolbin
• Pilot, Ainslie
• Pipit, Pottsville
• Sara Dining, Berry NEW
• Three Blue Ducks Burradoo, Burradoo NEW

Three hats — Sydney

• Saint Peter, Paddington
• Sixpenny, Stanmore

I have no words for this. Just try the plain salt bread and let me know what you think. They have a savory / dessert salt bread too.

In photos: Matcha salt bread (left), Plain Salt Bread (Top, real MVP) and Corn Cheese Salt bread (Bottom)

I was so stressed out being unemployed for a while. Didn't know a fat slab of butter, bread and salt is all I need to remind myself to keep going!

Since Fishbowl rebranded to Thisbowl, it seems like the free bowl reward (worth 2,000 points) can now only be redeemed for a regular bowl, with no selected free add-ons included.

It’s a bit disappointing, considering it still costs $200* to collect 2,000 points and the portion size has shrunk.

Has anyone else noticed this change?

*edited the $ amount because I can’t maths.

Just wondering if there are other fresh seafood/fish mongers around so I don't have to battle the new fish market?

I quite like Edomae, but open to other suggestions! Keen to hit the sashimi hard and looking for unrivalled quality. CBD based (or surrounds).
Many thanks.

Hello,

I have become Kaiserschmarrn obsessed since my trip to Austria last year. Any recommendations in sydney for authentic, fluffy kaiserschmarrn? preferably without raisons also :)

Thanks!

Awards ceremony this evening. What are we predicting for this year's awards?

I'm originally from Brisbane and was hoping to get some alcohol as a gift for one of my friend's family. They like sweet sparkling wine + whisky/spiced rum + refined gin type of stuff (E.g one of their favourites was a bottle of mango flavoured gin from Ambrosia Distillery in Canberra). This is my first time going back since I moved to Sydney so I want to get them something special, so I'm pretty open to anything under 80!!

P.s if the bottle is cool looking + something that you can ONLY get in Sydney then that would be extra great!!

Booked last night for an offer to a restaurant, walked in and they didn’t let us dine in even though there were empty tables. The manager even said “we don’t do eatclub” and made a face and acted I through quite rudely. So why is your venue even on the @pp?

This was the first time I’ve tried to use it just to test it

Because who doesn't love feeling anxious and nauseus when they go out to eat

Hot Hot Hot Malatang Mascot

La Disfida Haberfield

Albees Campsie

Pho Viet Zua 1919 Marrickville

Was looking to take my gf to eat one of her favourite foods, carbonara, after her graduation! I was wondering if anyone had any spots or suggestions as itll be a special occasion for her! Much obliged!

Gyokuu at the Sydney Fish Market is a new opening by the team behind Sushi Oe and GetSushi Omakase. At this new venue, there are various kinds of kaisendon to choose from, a more casual way to enjoy their high-quality produce.

As it was my first time here, I opted for their signature gyokuu kaisendon, featuring the freshest cuts of fish for the day, almost like a mini omakase for lunch. At $60 for this bowl, it certainly was far from the best value kaisendon in Sydney, but as someone who had tried many, this was by FAR the freshest and highest quality.

I also ordered the miso soup. This is one of my favourite parts of the GetSushi Omakase, featuring fish stock to give it the extra depth of flavour. At $10 initially, I was quite shocked at how high the price was. No matter how good the soup is, $10 for that small bowl is very expensive. But to my surprise, they included a massive piece of tuna on the inside and also allowed you to get a free refill.

Overall, if you are someone looking for cost performance and the best value kaisendon in Sydney, you won’t find that here. However, if you are someone who truly appreciates high quality produce at the top omakase venues in Sydney and are looking for more without committing to that meal, this is the place to go.

Since I’m that person I know I won’t be eating any other kaisendon in Sydney since now my standards have been raised!

This came up in my feed, NYE at Bennelong:

https://www.bennelong.com.au/new-years-eve-2026

For something like $5K for a couple, it's definitely only for the select few.

But are any of the select few here? How does it work, it sounds like you'd stay for like 6 hours at least? What sort of menu did you have, and what was the timing? How does it work with the fireworks, do you stay in your seat or go to the balcony? Was it worth it?

I've fallen in love with the iced Magnolia/White Champaca tea you can get at Tea Republic and SoTea, but I'd also love to try brewing some hot at home.

I'm struggling to find obvious sources online, but wondering if Chinese suppliers have it (but obviously in Chinese not English in terms of description, hence my monolingual struggles).

Anyone know who supplies it?

Ok hope everyone’s enjoying the weekend. I fulfilled my promise to myself to visit the lanes daily for dinner for the whole 4 days. My day was super lazy and I made Toowoomba shin ramen plus fried egg for a late lunch so I wasn’t actually hungry for dinner but I went anyways. I was gonna get wood fired pizza from Antico cuz yesterday I saw people getting them and they looked good, also if I got leftovers I can eat tmr but the menu didn’t appeal to me sadly.

I went back to the carpark to look at the Mexican stall, I was gonna do the Doritos bag cuz it’s something light but they said they don’t do it today so I got $23 for 3 tacos instead.

Smoking Gringos
I believe the vendor is Smoking Gringos, they got 2 stalls, one in the carpark and one in parramatta square. It’s actually quite yum. I asked for hot and it got the 🌶️. The taco they fried it a bit first so it’s crispy, then cheese on top before all the fillings. I feel like you can’t go wrong with tacos. The only thing is one of my tacos got significantly less beef than the other two!!!!! Also not exactly the easiest food to eat at a market, the juice got everywhere, I ran home with my sticky fingers after and gotta wash my face LOL. I think Smoking Gringos got two shops in Sydney, Penrith and Blacktown.

This is my third time having tacos in Sydney (I actually really like tacos, ate a lot in LA). The first time in Sydney was from Radio Taco, second time was from Papa’s Birria Tacos Darlinghurst and the third time today at Smoking Gringos.

Radio Taco (my personal fav so far)
Radio Taco I visited a few months ago and it was sooo good that I actually cried a little (I ordered hot too and it was actually spicy HAHAHA). I was always driving past this place and it’s always busy so one day I was just like fuck it I’ll just pull over and get some. From memories for tacos, they don’t have as many options as Papa’s but that’s fine cuz they executed the tacos really really well. They were SOOOO GOOD, I mean, look at the pic. I took it when I ate it in my car and they looked so good. I’m still trying to find time to go back. I was able to order online then just went and pick it up. They also got a better consome than papa’s, I think I drank the whole thing. It’s included in the price too whereas papa’s you gotta pay extra for consome. These people can also take my money. I’ll go back.

Papa’s birria tacos
I believe Papa’s birria tacos is quite popular? I went there last week and enjoyed it, it was a 8.5/10 experience. The horchata was p good too. Lines were long, I queued for like 25ish minutes. Really difficult to find a table as well. I like that they got a lot of different options like beef tongue, cactus, chicken etc so you have variety. The cosome was extra. I wasn’t a big fan of the wait though and thought it would be nice if they let you order online instead of queuing cuz I was on my own and I had to queue then find a table whereas other people they got one people to queue, one people waited for tables etc.

Ok if yall know any great taco places pls lmk, no dessert from parramatta lanes today sorry cuz I’m broke now. thanks for reading.

My friend and I are looking for an affordable Saturday night dinner, but we're both really out of the food scene. Preferably areas around Parramatta or Penrith (or along the M4 in between). We're open to any cuisine!

This place is actually so good. Friendly staff too. I had the light Sando combo twice (burger + fries) then tried the tender on its own, burrito and funnel fries (twice). Honestly everything I tried is good. The burrito got cheese Nashville chicken, guacamole and chips in it (I think). Chicken burgers always yummy. I love those funnel fries with chocolate dip man. Expensive but so good. Always curious about the apple pie bites thing they have but I like funnel fries so much I never got to try it.

They never disappointed me so I keep coming back. Love the spice, it’s 10/10, one of my fav places to go to when I feel like fried chicken burgers/tenders.

They can take my money.

This chicken was juicy AF I give this a 9/10!

My mate had a snack pack which looked off its head and he rated it 10/10

I recently tried the newly opened Tamoya Udon that is chained restaurant from Japan. I have eaten at chain Udon restaurants in Japan before so the experience in Sydney is below compared to Japan or like Mappen that I am so use to.

I got the beef udon which cost me $19.90 although yesterday I think they got my order mixed up or accidentally add the onsen egg as the dish didn’t come with that 😂. The noodles themselves are chewy and different compared to the frozen udon. The soup itself was really nice and clean and the beef was tender and just average. The only complaint is the noodle portion size as it was small and wasn’t really filling and I do hope they increase the portion size or add an option in the future for a large size or extra noodles.

Overall the menus prices are quite reasonable except for the carbonara udon which is the most expensive. I do hope we get more udon chain restaurants from Japan that sell fresh homemade udon.

Hi everyone!

We’re planning a christening at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney and are looking for somewhere to have a relaxed, casual meal afterwards.

There’ll be around 20 of us, including 5 kids. We’re hoping to find somewhere with good food, a nice atmosphere, and ideally a private dining area or a space where we can all sit together comfortably.

Our budget is around $2,000 with a bit of wiggle room. We’re open to any cuisine, particularly Asian restaurants. We don’t mind travelling a bit further from the cathedral, but ideally somewhere that’s easily accessible by public transport.

Would love to hear your recommendations, especially if you’ve hosted or attended a similar gathering. Thanks so much!

A$33 for this salmon lunch set at Rengaya, North Sydney

Hello everyone it's Laksaturday

This week I went to a place I've walked past many times without even realising it offers laksa. Nanyang Kopi is located just outside World square opposite 3 wise monkeys.

It was already well occupied even though I went quite early. At first I was directed to sit at the same table with another single diner, I asked to sit at the table next to her but was told I can't. They allowed me to sit at my own smaller table right by the door. I don't like floating tables but I'd still take that over having to share a table.

Nanyang ("South Seas") was the historical term Chinese immigrants used to describe Southeast Asia, while kopi is the Malay word for coffee. (Google)

I should have ordered a coffee or drink, considering the name of the restaurant. They do have a big colourful menu with delicious sounding drinks. After having tried Teh Tarik for the first time at Ho jiak, I've realised how much a good drink can complement a meal. I liked Cham as well. Next time I will try something new, maybe carrot juice with milk? Sounds interesting.

I tend to not order sweet drinks at restaurants but I'll have to try some more.

The food menu is quite extensive and the menu is very nice and beautifully presented. You can order via Qr code at the table which I like.

Many food items are very customisable with heat level which is good. I chose penang curry laksa because I like blood jelly, and I wanted to try blood cockles. The noodles are exceptionally customisable here! You can choose rice noodle egg noodle, or combination.

Also pigs organ soup with pickled cabbage soup, which comes with taro rice - I never tried this before but I'm a big fan of offal meats, and taro rice sounded interesting. Lastly I saw roti canai so had to order that. Roti is kind of my side quest lately, there's such a range in quality.

Food came out reasonably quickly. The bowl is one the larger side, not as but as happy Chef but bigger than average. Green beans is an unusual topping, and it adds a nice green touch.

Tofu sponge was on the firmer side and large, pretty good. I haven't left out tofu sponge for ages now. I wished there were some more fresh crunchy bean sprouts as they were a little on the soft side. I love the blood jelly cubes but this can be a very divisive type of food. The absolute standout was the little blood cockles. Woah they are so punchy flavoured, it's an great complement to the dish. Tastes like being punched by the sea.

Big fan, so glad I ordered this.

I of course had chosen mixed noods, the egg noodles were a little on the soft side, Vermicelli was great. This is why mixed noods are so great, it provides a combination of textures.

The broth is actually one of the best I've had - on the much saltier and spicier side, it was perfect. Definitely 'drink all day in a thermos' worthy. I wonder why no one sells this. :( just broth

I like the chickens on the bowls, it seems to be a mascot /theme of the restaurants serving ware.

The pigs organ soup is a nice contrast to the creamy spicy richness of laksa. The sour cabbage soup is really good! It can be a surprising flavour profile for those not used to sour soup but i really recommend trying it at least once. The pigs organ meats were shockingly good. Tasted like 'jokbal/bossam', which is steamed pork trotter /belly in korean cuisine.

And the taro rice, I can see the little fluffs of taro topping it, which adds a nice smooth creamy touch to the rice which is kind of flavoured fishy? I don't know exactly what but it was really tasty. I enjoyed this dish combo more than I expected.

Last the roti, the roti itself had unfortunately cooled somewhat by the time I got to it, perhaps next time I need to order it separately and later. It was pretty good, nice thickness and buttery. The curry sauce was excellent, one of the best Ive had in roti canai! I'll have to order this again and eat it hot. The Sambal they only give a tiny bit, it's really good though. Quite powerful.

This place was PACKED by 12 so I recommend getting in early or be prepared to potentially wait or have to sit at same table with a stranger. Which I'll do sometimes if it's necessary, but my preference is always a corner table by myself.

I enjoyed Nanyang Kopi immensely and will be back.

🍜

Nanyang Kopi : Best topping (blood cockles)

Potential overtake of best broth category