11 Awesome Places To Eat In Western Sydney

Sick of eating at the same places in Sydney over and over again? If you’re willing to travel out of the city, you’ll find loads of hidden gems in the suburbs of Sydney – you just need to know where to look. Here are 11 great places to eat in Western Sydney!

1. YX Mini Hot Pot

If you’re looking to get lost in another world, get yourself to YX Mini Hot Pot. This hot pot restaurant has been decorated to look like a scene out of a traditional Chinese fairytale, which definitely makes the dining experience feel special. Now for the food – each diner gets their own individual hot pot, and the ordering is all done electronically from the tablet on your table. I love how the meat is presented, especially the platter of roses! The food here is pricier than the usual hot pot joint, but the quality of your meal and the overall experience matches the price. YX Mini Hot Pot has also opened a new location in Haymarket recently, which has more of a cosy private booth atmosphere. 

delicious hotpot western Sydney dinner eat

2. Wagyu House KBBQ

This is the holy grail of all-you-can-eat Korean BBQs, and at around $35 a head you’ll be hard-pressed to find better value. Wagyu House has a huge selection of quality meats and they use wire grilling plates with charcoal, which gives your meat a great smoky flavour. It’s busy every night of the week, so come early if you want to avoid the lines! 

Wagyu House Korean BBQ buffet western Sydney

3. Kanzo Sushi

There’s no shortage of Japanese restaurants in Sydney, but Kanzo is one of the best in the West. The sushi combinations served at Kanzo aren’t the typical Japanese offerings – think Aussie fusion, with lots of toppings and delicious sauces. It’s a busy lunchtime spot for workers in the local area, so be prepared for the lunch rush on weekdays.

Kanzo sushi western Sydney dinner restaurant in Parramatta

4. Knafeh

The guys at Knafeh love theatrics, but it’s their sweet cheesy dessert that steals the show. For anyone not familiar with the Knafeh dessert, it’s a traditional Middle Eastern sweet made of baked cheese and breadcrumbs, drenched in sugar syrup – yum! The bearded bakers at Knafeh run as a pop up all over western Sydney, so check their social media to find where they’re baking at any given time. 

Knafeh dessert western Sydney Lebanese sweet cheese

5. Tan Viet

This Vietnamese restaurant is famous for its iconic noodle soup and crispy chicken that will blow your mind. The menu here is simple and the service is lightning fast, since most diners already know their order before they even step foot in the restaurant. The soup here is not your typical Vietnamese pho – it’s a more nourishing bone-broth full of goodness. And the crispy chicken is fried to perfection every time!

Tan Viet restaurant Vietnamese soup western Sydney food

6. The Woods Pantry

This modern cafe in the suburbs focuses on Aussie classics with a middle eastern twist. The highlight of the menu here is the Knafeh French toast – a sweet cheesy desert (or breakfast if you’ve got a sweet tooth) served with pistachio ice cream and a generous drizzle of fragrant rosewater syrup. Besides the food, I can’t get over the giant horse covered in plants that lives here – random, but cool.

French toast brunch western Sydney cafe

7. Al Aseel

Al Aseel is probably the most iconic Lebanese restaurant in Sydney, and for good reason. Its menu is full of mouth-watering Lebanese flavours, served in big portions fit for even the biggest of appetites. Al Aseel is the perfect place to bring a group of friends and share plates of delicious Middle Eastern food.

Al Aseel Lebanese restaurant western Sydney food

8. Bay Vista

Chocoholics take note – Bay Vista is your one-stop shop for deserts in the West. They’ve got liquid chocolate on tap, crepe and pancake making stations, and ice cream bowls with all the toppings you could ask for. The place is open until late, so you can enjoy indulge your sweet tooth or grab a coffee after hours.

bay vista ice cream bowl dessert parramatta

9. Tuk Tuk

Traditional Thai flavours are the drawcard here at Tuk Tuk, in a city oversaturated with Thai restaurants. While they’ve got all the usual Thai dishes, the bold flavours here pack a punch and you’ll be back for more! If you’re not good with chilli, make sure you tell the waiters you’d like your dishes very mild – otherwise you’ll be crying tears of spiciness (I found this out the hard way).

Tuk Tuk thai lao restaurant canley vale dinner spicy food

10. Hot Pot City

Hot Pot City is home to a buffet with an amazing spread full of seafood, vegetables, noodles, sauces and meat. Pick your soup flavour and get stuck into plates of all your hot pot favourites!

hot pot soup Bankstown buffet all you can eat asian food

11. Poke Bros

If you’re craving a healthy meal, stop in at Poke Bros and pick yourself up a delicious poke bowl. They have seafood, chicken and vegetarian options, with decent portions and fresh ingredients. Even though it’s not particularly traditional, I love the spicy Korean chicken bowl with mayo and kimchi – its secret ingredient is cream cheese! 

poke bowl Cabramatta delicious  healthy food Korean chicken

So there you have it – 11 great places to try in Sydney that aren’t in the city CBD! Give one of these a try next time you’re hungry for something different. 

Poppy xoxo 

If you’re looking for more Sydney recommendations, check my list of 15 free things to do in Sydney, as recommended by a local.

11 AWESOME PLACES TO EAT IN WESTERN SYDNEY

10 Best Places For Tacos In Mexico City

Tacos are synonymous with Mexican culture and are truly the lifeblood of Mexico City. They’re perfect for any occasion – breakfast food, lunchtime meal, social snack or a filling dinner. Here are some of my favourite taquerias in CDMX for every budget and taste.

Los Cocuyos

1. Los Cocuyos

This small taco stand in Zocalo is a popular with locals and tourists alike. It became a tourist hotspot after Anthony Bourdain visited with his ‘No Reservations’ TV series, but it was already a popular local taqueria years before that. Los Cocuyos is open 24 hours a day, and the menu here has all sort of offals on offer – tongue, brains and gizzard etc. The tortillas here are the BEST I’ve ever tasted – they have an amazingly soft and buttery flavour/texture. My favourite filling here would be the campecheno (mixture of chorizo and beef). Since Los Cocuyos is literally just a hole in wall, you’ll watch the cooks prepare the fresh tacos and tend to the bubbling pots of meat while you stand and munch on your tacos. It doesn’t get any more authentic than this!

Calle de Bolívar 57, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

2. Los Especiales

Famous in Zocalo for their cheap and tasty basket tacos. There’s always a line of locals snaking outside the shop, so you know it must be good. Each taco is 7 pesos, which is very affordable by locals standards!

Av Francisco I. Madero 71, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

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El Huequito

3. El Huequito

El Huequito has many franchises around México City, but this is no ordinary taco chain! You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t think these are some of the best tacos al pastor in CDMX (me included). El Huequito is known for their flavourful meat marinade, crispy tacos al pastor and onions soaked in the dripping juices from the trompo. Be sure to order the pastor especial con queso – you’ll be treated to a mountain of freshly sliced al pastor meat covered in cheese, and around 10 tortillas to wrap into your own tacos. The sopa azteca here is also delicious. Come hungry.

Calle de Bolívar 58, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico (various other locations)

4. Orinoco

The decor at Orinoco gives me serious In-N-Out burger joint vibes, as does the simple but well-executed menu. You can except a long (but quick) line for this restaurant in Roma Norte. People go crazy for their chicharron tacos, and they have vegetarian options as well.

Av. Insurgentes Sur 253, Roma Nte., Cuauhtémoc, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

El Tizoncito

5. El Tizoncito

A busy casual indoor-outdoor restaurant in La Condesa. El Tizoncito say they are the original creators of tacos al pastor… not sure how true this is but their tacos al pastor are definitely delicious! They have the trompo out in the centre of the restaurant, and great little condiment stands on each table with salsas, corn chips and beans. There are English menus and semi-English speaking staff for us non-Spanish speakers, which really helps the experience. They are open until 3:30am everyday, and have a full menu of soups, huaraches etc. as well as their tacos.

Av. Tamaulipas 122, Colonia Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, 06140 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

6. El Vilsito

Mechanic shop by day, popular taqueria by night, El Vilsito is a casual nighttime dining spot out in the suburbs. The place was recently featured on the Netflix show ‘Taco Chronicles’, which has only added to the late night crowds visiting for a feast.

Av. Universidad, Narvarte Poniente, Benito Juárez, 03020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

El Pescadito

7. El Pescadito

Seafood tacos are hard to come by in CDMX, but El Pescadito have great options and are known for their fish tacos. Their self-serve condiment bar has all the sauces and salsas you could ever want. You’ll only need a maximum of 3 tacos to fill you up – they’re large and filling, especially after adding your salads and pickles! I found the fried fish tacos here delicious.

Independencia 57, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico (various other locations)

Rico’s Tacos de Guisado

8. Rico’s Tacos de Guisado

This local taco stand specialises in a variety of stewed meat and vegetable tacos. The vendors travel hours from the Mexican countryside everyday to man their stand. There are lots of street stands around town with questionable hygiene, but this one is known to be fairly clean. Their chile relleno tacos are unique and flavourful.

Av. Morelos 1, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Taqueria Gonzalez

9. Taquería González

A local standing-room-only shop serving large tacos full of hearty toppings. You can get fillings like slow-cooked potatoes and cactus on your tacos here, which makes them very substantial. Despite being a hole-in-the-wall shop, Taqueria Gonzalez is known for salsas full of complex flavours. Definitely something different from the usual tacos you see around CDMX.

Calle López 100, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

10. Taqueria El Greco

A hole-in-the-wall taqueria in La Condesa. It’s right around the corner from Parque México, so if it’s busy and you can’t get a table (which is fairly common) you can always order takeaway and have a picnic in the park. Doneraky is the most popular order here (meat with corn tortilla)

Av Michoacán 54, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc, 06100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Poppy xoxo

Want more Mexico City inspiration? Read my Complete Guide to Grutas Tolantango Hot Springs, Mexico.

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