This blog serves as a complement to my previous food blog about budget restaurants for the price conscious college student. To make this blog I had to explore new parts of the city and expand my palate to more diverse dishes. As you can probably tell I really adore food and I hope you are able to enjoy these restaurants as much as I do.
1. Thai Long-On – Newtown
Before coming to Sydney, I was not the biggest fan of Thai food as I have never really been exposed to authentic Thai dishes. Luckily, there are many authentic Thai restaurants all around Sydney. One of my favorites is located on Newton’s bustling King Street. Only a short 8-minute walk from Uni Sydney’s main campus this is restaurant serves Thai Soups, stir fried, and seafood dishes. According to their website, some of the most popular items are spring rolls, satay chicken, and Pad Thai. They have a great lunch menu with 25 options for $7.90. This discount menu runs from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. My favorite dish so far is number 21 the Pad See Lew, which is thick rice noodles stir fried in soy sauce and mixed vegetables. All of the lunch specials come with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, or vegetables. You can order ahead online for a quick pick up in between lectures or sit out on the open courtyard seating area in the back of the restaurant. I am happy to say that I am now a huge fan of Thai food and Thai Long-On is one of my favorite lunch spots.
- Newtown Hotel
Newtown Hotel is a great bar/restaurant also located on King Street, about 5 minutes past Thai Long-On. Although a nice place for a drink, I recently found out that they offer $4 pizza deals from 12 pm – 3pm every day of the week. Usually these pizzas are around $12 and offer a plethora of options from traditional margarita, to more gourmet options such as prosciutto with arugula. Overall there are 12 options to choose from, all about the size of a large dinner plate and all for $4 from 12 – 3 pm. Usually I will order two for myself, leaving the restaurant feeling full and happy.
- Fergburger – Queenstown
One of the best burgers I have ever had was during my trip to New Zealand. Located in Queenstown, Fergburger serves as the premier burger destination for this adventurous city. Every time I passed this spot it was packed to the brim with hungry customers dying to get their hands on these delicious creations. Everything is handmade and sourced from local ingredients, and you can taste it as every bite is a loving combination of flavors. The menu also provides exploratory options such as the Sweet Bambi (local fiordland deer burger and brie cheese), Tropical Swine (a burger topped with bacon and pineapple), and the Little Lamby (a lamb burger with mint jelly). My favorite was the Sweet Bambi; the delicious mix of deer, brie cheese and boysenberry sauce creates an arousing sensation that leaves the taste buds tingling with delight. I can honestly say it was one of the best burgers I have ever had. Prices are all reasonable for the size of the burger at around $10 – $15, and the long wait is worth it. If you are ever in Queenstown or in New Zealand in general do yourself a favor and plan a pit stop at Fergburger.
- Guzman y Gomez
With its beginnings in Sydney, Guzman y Gomez offers an Australian take on traditional Tex-Mex dishes include burritos, nachos, tacos, and quesadillas. The casual chain provides customizable options and most come with a side of fries. All of the meat options provide a choice of mild or spicy. I have only gotten the spicy chicken burrito and was impressed by the fresh flavors of the meat. Although smaller than the behemoths I am used to ordering at Chipotle or Qdoba, Guzman y Gomez provides a quick fix to my regular craving for Mexican food. I have also heard that they have started a trial run of delivering food via drone, so it will be interesting to see how that works out.
- Dumpling and Noodle House
A few blocks down from Urbanest Sydney Central (where I live) on the corner of MacArthur and Wattle Street is a small dumpling and noodle shop. At first it was easy to miss this restaurant, with no advertising and very limited seating. However, one day I decided to go here for lunch with my friend and was pleased with the results. Offering traditional dumplings, pork buns, simply soups, and noodle dishes, this hole in the wall delivered on all levels. I was amazed by the flavor and texture of the pan-fried and pastry dumplings we ordered. The dumplings were juicy, flavorful, and difficult to not wolf down. Although it only accepts cash, this spot is definitely worth checking out.
- Urbanest Barbeques and Events
One of the benefits of staying at Urbanest is the staff offers free first come first serve barbeques every Friday at 6:30. The menu rotates between kebabs, burgers, and sausages on a weekly basis. The staff cooks on the grills in the conjoined courtyard and provides a great way to socialize. The staff also coordinates DIY food nights such as dumplings, sushi, pasta, and taco night. For these DIY nights, all the ingredients and materials are provided. You just need to sign up before the deadline and bring your own plates and utensils. Also, one Sunday a month the staff has a pancake breakfast at 10:30 am. They put out all kinds of toppings including ice cream, Nutella, and fresh fruit so you can make you own unique pancake feast. This is one nice aspect of living at Urbanest.
I hope that this provides an extension to my first food blog and offers more diverse options to the adventurous eater. Although these options provide great meals for a reasonable price, I highly recommend finding you own favorite spots!
