The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry | A Sydney Food Blog

A Q&A with Everyday Eats editor Angie Schiavone (and book giveaway)

February 27th, 2012  |  Published in Uncategorized  |  43 Comments

This is your second year editing Everyday Eats, a food guide that singles out Sydney’s best meals under $30. Have you found any noticeable differences (food-wise) between this year and last?
A lot of our old favourites thankfully haven’t changed, but there’s certainly more Mexican to be had in Sydney. Korean is taking off in a big way, too. Bar-food menus are more interesting and appetising than ever before. There’s a fad for fried-food – including The Abercrombie’s fried Gaytime!

Bibimbap

What have been your favourite new discoveries?
So many! We’ve got 130-odd listings in this edition that weren’t in the last one. A few of the newbies that have got me excited are The Union at Penrith (tapas); Pizzeria Bellucci at Bankstown Sports Club (partly because the setting is so over-the-top: a recreation of an Italian piazza); Copo Cafe & Diner at Drummoyne; Caysorn Southern Thai restaurant at Haymarket (make a beeline to Caysorn if you like it hot! Order its sweet ice tea if you’ve overestimated your chilli tolerance!).

ellococp

Last-minute contenders you wish had made it in?
The worst thing about a deadline is the inevitable next day discoveries! I’ve been hearing great things about Via Napoli, a pizzeria at Lane Cove where you order half or one metre pizzas; Five Dock has an Afghani restaurant called Bamiyan, which sounds really interesting; there are great new cafes opening all the time. The good thing is we can share tips like this through our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Shanghai Dumpling, Ashfield

What are some of your favourite “everyday eats”?
I live in the inner west and my regular haunts include Faheem Fast Food (love its haleem “the king of curries”), Sultan’s Table (great for a group – such a crowd-pleaser, especially with dessert across the road at Cow & the Moon) and in Ashfield it’s Shanghai Dumpling for lunch and Sky Mountain for dinner. I also really love modest family-run eateries, especially where they’re serving up less ubiquitous foods and get seriously excited when you ask questions and show an interest in the background of the food and culture it comes from. It might sound a bit over-the-top in the context of talking about cheap feeds, but love how much identity can be tied to food.

Everyday Eats is out tomorrow. And yep, I’m a tad excited about the release of the book as I’m one of its contributors. The Everyday Eats ‘food award’ categories will be announced in Good Living tomorrow, too. The publication will also be available as an app and you can keep updated on Everyday Eats through its Facebook and Twitter pages.

Thanks to Fairfax Books, we have five copies of Everyday Eats to give away, valued at $24.95 each. For your chance to win, leave a comment with your favourite “everyday eat” (include your email, so I can contact you if you end up scoring a book). I’ll pick the winners on Tuesday March 6 (AEST). Good luck!

Tags: ,

43 Comments

  1. Matt Burga says:

    My fav is a little old school family run convience store on the corner of Pitt and Redfern St’s Redfern (next to Wilson’s Labanese resturant and a few doors up from Coffee Tea and Me). They sell the best $3.99 falafel rolls! I’ve been eating them since 1999, and is all that time htey’ve only raised $1 in price.

  2. It would have to be something like banh mi, as it’s delicious and healthy (mostly) – definitely an everyday meal 🙂

  3. Sophie says:

    My favourite is the Dumpling and Noodle House on Victoria St in Potts Point, the fried pork and chive dumplings come all laced together under a crunchy egg net. So good.

    soph_mccomas@hotmail.com

  4. Anonymous says:

    One of my favourite is the lunch box from Iku Wholefoods in Glebe. For about $10 you get to try a little sampling of many things with two dipping sauces.

    But nothing beats the deep fried tofu with spicy salt from my local Chinese take away (I think it’s called the Good Wok and everything else they serve is so-so, but the tofu, MY GOD, yum!!)

    Cheers Andrea (junkcollects@hotmail.com)

  5. My favourite cheap eats of late is Albee’s Kitchen in Campsie. It is Malaysian food served in kitchen eatery style set up. All the food is exceptional and so cheap! So many amazing aromas and flavours. There are different soup specials everyday which are always exciting. The laksa is subtle and aromatic. And the entree’s are exciting and delicious. The prawn & pork sausage wrapped in tofu sheets and deep fried is a great one. But the best entre is the massive curry puffs. They are halfway between thai curry puff and indian samosa; they have amazing buttery pastry and half an egg on top of the curry!
    brendanox@gmail.com

  6. Kate says:

    OOoh so many yummies! I think my favourite is haloumi with lemon at Yulli’s in Surry Hills. It’s a meal in itself and it’s only about $6. De-lish!

  7. ada says:

    One of my favourites at the moment is Malacca Straits, hidden along Broadway. Their Angel Prawns are divine.

    nkadawong@gmail.com

  8. Angela says:

    Favourite has got to be takeaway Beef Pho from Happy Chef in Hunter Arcade at Wynyard Station. Steaming bowl of noodles, comes with its own little plastic bag of raw beansprouts, wedge of lemon and vietnamese mint. Satisfies a lunchtime craving, but has you under your desk suffering a food coma in the afternoon!

    angelachung82@hotmail.com

  9. Anonymous says:

    Wah Fung HK BBQ Restaurant on Regent St, down the road from Redfern Station. Best BBQ pork noodle soup ever! bainkristy@gmail.com

  10. Hayley says:

    I love the ramen at Menya, especially the stock standard soup, which has a beautiful sesame flavour. I take one of two routes home (depends on whether it’s raining or not) and very conveniently there is a Menya on both of those routes!

    hayleygibneypalmer@gmail.com

  11. Aaron says:

    Still cant go past El Loco in Surry Hills. A brilliant place and almost a flash back to the food vans of Portland, Oregon.

    amichie@gmail.com

  12. Aaron says:

    I dont think you can beat El Loco in Surry Hills. Great food and at an even greater price.

    A nice reminder of the food vans in Portland, Oregon.

    amichie@gmail.com

  13. Kate says:

    A dramatic change in my taste buds this past few months keeps leading me to Bourke St Bakery – just can’t go past the pork and fennel sausage roll with the flakiest pastry! And the best ever decaf lattes. Best cure for morning sickness ever! And a close second fave is the crunchy kale and coconut salad from Bread and Circus. Sensational! kateleadbeater@gmail.com

  14. Anonymous says:

    Got to love pizza mario for uncomplicated pizza, true Italian style! And gorgeous waiters to boot!

    muffin3122@hotmail.com

  15. Tammy says:

    One of my favourite places is Kimama Kitchen in Eating World food court in Chinatown. It might be intimidating to be so close to Gumshara but this place makes the best karaage chicken! To top it off, for only $8 you can get a karaage don complete with a small salad on the side + pickles served on top of a mound of rice and miso soup. It’s defiantly a cheap eat that I could do everyday. You can also get one free refill of your soup and rice. What could be better?!

  16. Truck says:

    I’m a sucker for Sherpa’s Kitchen on King Steet. It does really tasty Nepalese curries and daals (including plenty of vegetarian options) at equally appealing prices. The service is always friendly without being intrusive, and it’s close to a lot of viable dessert options

    m.mckinnon013@gmail.com

  17. Stacey says:

    I might be late to the party but I’ve just discovered Miss Chu. I went to the one in Bondi but they have locations all around Sydney and Melbourne and also do delivery and catering.
    They make great pork buns ($2.20 each) and Hanoi vegetarian net spring rolls ($5 for 4). The mains are $13 each and the drinks are to die for!!
    Will definitely go back for more!!

    Stacey.L.davis@hotmail.com

  18. Andrea says:

    My everyday eat is a Vietnamese chicken roll (no chili or onion) from the Shepherd’s Bay shopping centre in Meadowbank. For four dollars, it is an absolute bargain, especially as one end of the roll is wrapped in plastic so it doesn’t leak.
    To find this place, head downstairs towards Franklins and the bakery is opposite, with a long line of customers.

    The other Place (sorry have to include another) is the Ashfield Cafe, opposite the railway station. Looks like a milk bar but actually serves up some of the best Malaysian food. Alternate Saturday’s have haianese chicken or nasi lemak on the menu. Less than ten dollars a serve!

  19. Anonymous says:

    My favourite everyday eats is Sinma Laksa House. Simple, tasty, no fuss food!

    catherine-kwan@optusnet.com.au

  20. feta 'n pita says:

    Mascot = cheap and cheerful chicken roll … an asian styled roll from Hong Ha OR a chook roll with tabouleh from Mascot Charcoal Chicken

  21. spanna says:

    here’s a place you wont find in foodie circles…the new chicken shop in ermington, portico. the best roast chook, perfect for midweek dinners. was the talk at our christmas street party!
    and the pies at black start pastry..

  22. Anonymous says:

    Ooh I applaud the idea of everyday eats! I adore reading food blogs and eating delish food though perhaps too often at pricey prices. My boyfriend much prefers the casual places where we can catchup with nice food at affordable prices and not have to think twice about the bill. Jasmins lebanese restaurant was a recent example that got our tick of approval thus am hoping to get a few more recommendations.
    Minimelmel@yahoo.com.au

  23. William says:

    Malacca Straits at Broadway is my absolute favourite at the moment. They are the real deal when it comes to Malaysian food (not to mince words, a lot of the so-called Malaysian places in Sydney are mere pretenders, serving second-rate approximations of what they think Malaysian food should be). The curries at Malacca Straits are luscious, creamy and infused with ‘kari’ leaves, true to the flavours of what a good curry should be. Best of all, they have this amazing deal where you bring your own mud crabs from the fishmongers to be cooked in either dry curry or Singapore Chilli crab style for just $20 a crab. If that’s not cheap eats, I don’t know what is!

  24. Sandra says:

    We often go to Chinese Noodle House for a quick fix of pan-fried dumplings and cucumber salad with loaaads of garlic! Can’t get near anyone after that but it hits the spot every single time!
    I also eat A LOT of noodle soup: Laksa, Udon and Pho are my favourites. sandrabeeston@yahoo.com

  25. Anonymous says:

    love Chocolate Banana Spring Rolls & Lychee Ice Cream with an espresso at the Mahjong Rooms Surry Hills .. a great treat to finish off an awesome meal

    shannon.page@live.com.au

  26. Em and jos says:

    Out Of The Blue in Clovelly make those wonderful old school burgers that transport you straight back to your childhood! Gourmands will have heart failure when they see the shredded lettuce and the tinned beetroot, yet it works, evident by the constant crowds. What more could you want in life than a good ole burger parred with a healthy dose of salt air?! Heaven.

  27. Anonymous says:

    I’m not lucky enough to live in Sydney, the food capital of Australia. But if I lived there I’d go to Bourke Street Bakery for brekky and/or lunch everyday. I ADORE their ginger brulee tart and olive and rosemary flatbread!

    However, at the nation’s political capital where I live, there are a few good eateries too. My everyday eats here would involve:
    1. Brekky at Croissant D’Or – this cute French patisserie is conveniently tucked away in the City Bus Interchange, and their almond croissant+cafe au lait is the perfect way to start the day.
    2. Lunch at Iori – this fine-dining Japanese restaurant does awesome-value bento lunch boxes!
    3. Dinner at Thirst – this quirky Wine Bar and Eatery does the best deep fried pork belly with sticky tamarind sauce, not to mention their mouth-watering coconut and pandanus creme brulee!

    Some food ideas next time you visit Canberra! :>

    ravelome@gmail.com

  28. Emily says:

    Can’t go past the amazing thin crust pizza at Rosso Pomodoro in Rozelle. The Potato, Rosemary and Italian Sausage Pizza will change your life!!

  29. Rachel says:

    One of my favourite everyday eats is a Banh Mi Zon – with mayo, pate, Vietnamese Ham, Terrine, Shredded pork floss, cucumber, cilantro, soy sauce, pickled carrots and daikon – all in a fresh, light and crunchy roll that leaves crumbs all over you when you take the first bite…

    Email: u4315065@anu.edu.au

  30. Anonymous says:

    Discretely tucked away in a quiet offshoot of King Street’s colourful and boisterous stretch is Hikaru; a Japanese dream on a budget. I’ve sampled everything from their horenso (wilted spinach parcels drizzled in a creamy sesame sauce) to their elaborate maki mono selection. Nothing disappoints and the price is right. X

    meaghan_meredith@hotmail.com

  31. I live in Melbourne but go to Sydney whenever I get the chance to 🙂 So if I liked in Sydney I’d love to go to Adriano Zumbo everyday hahaha i could practically LIVE THERE 😀

    Thanks for the chance to win!!!

    My email is: nevertoosweet.daisy@gmail.com

  32. Kat says:

    $1.20 pastizzis at the Maltese cafe in Newtown. The one on crown st (which I used to go to and paid 30c for a pastizzi!) has gone downhill but the newtown one is still awesome! I also need to mention Zeno’s on crown st as Nancy and Fred (the owners) have always been more than generous with their delicious falafels and extra pickles on the side.

    kath.lu@gmail.com

  33. Anonymous says:

    I love getting breakfast or lunch frmo Bourke Street Bakery – their lamb mince, lemon zest, potato and ricotta pizze is simply divine and the pork & fennel, and lamb, almond & harrisa sausage rolls are super additive too. And then a sweet treat of strawberry watermelo cake with rose cream from Black Star Pastry in Newtown…finally, how about some xiao long bao from Ding Tai Fung? Bring on the soupy-dumpling goodness 🙂

    xiaolinchz@yahoo.com.au

  34. josmabones says:

    Hands down, Wilbur’s place in Potts Point is my new fave. Excellent food and all under $20!

  35. Another Emma says:

    My absolute favourite is Ryo’s noodles in Crows Nest. The ramen there is the closest to the best ones I have had in Japan, and it is an almost weekly stop for me. YUM

    Emma anotherringcoming(at)gmail.com

  36. Rosa says:

    I find Asian jaunts the most reliable cheap dining options – Makan At Alice’s (Thornleigh), Kingsford Chinese or Java in Randwick, are stalwarts. Although I am a fan of Wilbur’s Place – porchetta roll + ice cream sandwich, some change from a 20.

    although recession is an awful awful thing, a (very slender) silver lining is the sense of adventure it imparts on aspects of every day life – dining, buying clothes, furniture.

  37. Anonymous says:

    i’d recommend ‘ito’s malaysian’ tofu curry laksa..tastes sublime, truly! adrianpen@hotmail.com

  38. discoknitter says:

    Lebanese pizza!

    Until I moved to Granville, I had no idea that such a thing even existed. Now, the corner bakery is a regular stop, the labne and veggie pizza is a taste sensation. I love to introduce friends, and watch them swoon 🙂

  39. Anonymous says:

    Who won?

  40. leetranlam says:

    It was very hard but I did pick out five winners. I wish I could’ve given a book to everyone as the answers have been really awesome! Thanks for all your great suggestions. To chip in, my favourite very-cheap eat at the moment is a $4.50 zaatar roll I grabbed on the weekend.

  41. Did you get it from Manoosh?

  42. leetranlam says:

    Wow, you know your zaatar rolls! Yes, I did. Amazing that you can get any sort of dinner for $4.50.

  43. Anonymous says:

    my favorite is THE PROPHET cuisine in surry hills.very reliable &under $30 .EXCELLENT HOME COOKING ..GREAT PLACE…

Leave a Reply to leetranlam Cancel reply

Search

About

Hi, I'm Lee Tran Lam. When not blogging with my mouth full, I'm usually writing, presenting Local Fidelity on FBi radio, making zines, producing podcasts or continually breaking promises about how I really am gonna get through my book pile one day.

All the good pictures on this blog are by photography ace (and patient boyfriend), Will Reichelt, (all the dodgy ones can be credited to me)!

The lovely banner is by friend and ultra-talented illustrator Grace Lee.

This site redesign was made possible by the next-level generosity and expertise of Daniel Boud, whose code-tinkering ways are only outranked by his seriously inspired way with a camera.

You can read more about my co-conspirators here.

This is a blog I do for pure fun and zero influence – there's no sponsorship, sneaky advertorial or advertising. I pay for all the food mentioned, 'cos it seems the ethical thing to do.


About

This is a blog about eating and drinking in Sydney, Australia (with the odd cross-border or off-topic detour). BYO appetite.

Subscribe via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Search