Australians are notoriously similar to Americans in their eating habits. Obesity here is as rampant as it is in the U.S., and I’ve actually seen commercials here that shame Australians for having a higher obesity rate than Americans. That seems a little mean to me, but it’s true.
That being said, the food scene in Sydney is amazing! There are so many places to try, no matter what kind of food you want. I live right next to Chinatown, so there’s amazing Chinese food steps outside my door. A couple blocks away is Thai Town, and Spice Alley, which has any Asian food group you can think of, is a five minute walk. If Asian food isn’t your thing, there’s thousands of pubs in Sydney, each with their own unique spin on food and drink. Every day someone sends me a list of the “15 Best Foods in Sydney,” to the point that I’d never be able to narrow it down to 15. Last night I went to a dairy-free pizzeria that had the best fake blue cheese I’ve ever had.
The main difference I’ve found between Sydney and places I’ve lived in the U.S. is the availability of places catering to dietary restrictions. As someone who eats vegan most of the time, this has been a game-changer for me. There’s tons of specifically vegan restaurants, and almost every restaurant and cafe has at least one vegan option. They also cater to vegetarian and gluten-free people, and I’ve seen lots of restaurant with paleo options as well.
The food-picture scene is really big here too. Each meal at a restaurant is beautifully placed, and most places have special items that are highly Instagram-worthy. And everyone takes advantage of it. The social media presence of cafes and restaurants is much higher than in the U.S. I went to one dessert bar called Tella-Balls, which specializes in Nutella-stuffed donuts and milkshakes. I didn’t grab a picture because my phone was dead, but you should look it up. It was amazing, and so Insta-able.
Unfortunately, because food (and everything) is so expensive here, I don’t eat out as much as I would want. I try to find a new cafe to study in at least once a week, and generally I’ll try a new restaurant every week or two, but the majority of my meals are eaten at home. I’m used to cooking for myself, so this isn’t a problem for me. The foods here and back home are pretty much the same, except for black beans. You have to go to a specialty store to get black beans here, which I think is the weirdest thing ever.
