Ama’s Co-Founder Shares Her Favourite Spots in Surry Hills

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Rowena Chansiri runs casual Surry Hills restaurant Ama, along with her sister Kate. Ama is dedicated to Thai Chinese comfort food, with the signature dish being the sisters’ take on a beef noodle soup made by their grandmother (ama). The recipe is based on their mum’s memories of the soup’s flavour and the process of making it as a child.

Ama’s hero dish and other comforting plates have helped the Hot Listed restaurant become a Surry Hills staple since it opened in 2024. Rowena’s restaurant has become a locals’ favourite and an essential stop on any culinary visit to Surry Hills. We caught up with the chef-owner to find out her favourite spots in her suburb.

Somewhere casual

Bastardo – it’s super accessible and really casual. I’m there by myself all the time after I close the kitchen during the week. I love that I can just sit out the front where it’s nice and quiet, their pastas are super filling. They have this salad with shaved Brussels sprouts, nuts and this citrus seasoning that I’ve been loving lately. I never really have Brussels sprouts but the way they do them here is unique.

Where you go for lunch on shift

If I can get an hour to duck out, I really like Sang by Mabasa. It’s not expensive but it’s a good special treat for lunch, I normally spend around $30 there to get a great soup, some rice, some sides. It’s always seasonal, so you never know what soup you’re going to get, and they cook things you wouldn’t find at a typical Korean restaurant. It’s a cute setup there – I love watching them cook.

Go-to coffee spot

We’re super spoilt with coffee in Surry Hills; there are so many amazing places around here. I like Neighbourhood, Sample and Beta, so I tend to just go to whichever one I’m feeling on the day.

A place for baked goods

The one I really want to mention is Da Bang. It’s super underrated and it’s less talked about than other cafes. They bake their own cookies and scones there. It’s basically just a window, so you have your coffee outside but the quality of everything there is amazing and super consistent. I’ve always got a little more love for stuff that flies under the radar.

Favourite date spot

Amuro. I know it’s technically Darlinghurst, but if you cross the road it’s Surry Hills! I have to mention Amuro because it’s my absolute favourite date spot, if we can cheat a little bit on this one. It only seats around 20 people. They mostly do small plates, but I’m always blown away by the details – the sauces, marinades. I’ve never had a bad bite from there; my partner and I love to sit up at the bar there with a saké.

Where to get great cocktails

I don’t drink very often, but I do love the cocktails at Alma’s. No matter what I order there, the drinks are always incredible.

Favourite pub

It has to be The Cricketers Arms. I love that pub, I always go there on a Wednesday night when they’ve got the live jazz band, I love hanging out and listening to some music there.

A place for a sweet treat

I like AP Supply, they have this Tirami-choux cream bun that’s filled with tiramisu choux cream. I get that all the time, it’s so yummy. I like to get a box of pastries and bring it back for the staff at Ama.

Somewhere underrated

There’s a Thai bistro in the Surry Hills Hotel called Mana Thai. It’s a bit of a secret spot where Thai people go for their traditional chilli basil stir fry – pad ka prao – they actually specialise in that dish here. It tastes really authentic, it’s amazing. And the place is quite unassuming; it’s just hidden upstairs at the pub.

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