Sangas, Onigiri and Afghan Street Food: 25 Sydney Chefs Share Their Top Lunch-on-the-Go Spot

If you’re anything like me, the where-to-lunch conundrum’s left you in a tizz more than once. Whether you don’t know what you feel like, are trying to save your coins or don’t know what’s around – let 25 of our favourite kitchen talents help out.

Carley Scheidegger, Corner 75

Small Talk. I used to go to the shop in Glebe, which sadly closed. It’s a little harder to get the fix now, but I go for the salmon lox – with extra chive cream cheese – when I can.

Christine Manfield

I like to go to Kabul Social, for the Afghan street food, and get one of their Kabuli wraps. They do a great chicken one and also a roasted eggplant – I get them to mix it together: half chicken, half eggplant, it’s just great. The bee’s knees, and it’s also to support such a great social enterprise.

And my other one too, ’cos I’m always conflicted: I love banh mi, and going to Banh Xeo Bar in Rosebery.

Andy Cooks

Good Ways Deli is not far from my studio and they make some tasty sandwiches there. Highly recommend the deli sandwich with kangaroo mortadella.

Mimi Wong

This one, tried and true, is Sushi-Mori in Surry Hills. When I first discovered this restaurant, I think I went seven times that year – and five of them were by myself. You just go in, half an hour, seafood’s super fresh. The one lady that runs the kitchen in the back, she is so lovely. I wish everyone knew about it – there’s something about casual, mid-tier little Japanese restaurants, it’s just so comforting. You can put your headphones in and have a meal, nobody’s gonna question you about it.

Toby Wilson, Ricos Tacos

The Upper Crust in Collaroy, my childhood pie shop. The chicken and white wine pie is absolutely the move.

Danielle Alvarez

If I’m in the city, I love Bar Mammoni. They do these excellent little focaccia sandwiches. It’s near the Opera House and I’ve been known to sneak away for the mortadella with rocket – it’s all I want.

Ahana Dutt, Kolkata Social

I don’t often get the opportunity for a lunch on the go, but if the occasion did arise, you cannot go wrong with City Edge on Holt Street. Their salad sandwich and Vietnamese baguette are some of my favourites – and they do weekly specials. They always remember your name and what you ordered last time, even if you’ve been there only once.

Alessandro Pavoni, Ormeggio, Chiosco, Vineria Luisa, A’Mare and Postino Osteria

I am usually on the go so don’t have a particular spot, but I always look for sushi or sashimi.

Big Sam Young, S’more and Young’s Palace

My day-to-day gets a bit hectic, so I’m really time poor. But I love going to The Eight for yum cha. I park my car at Market City (it’s two hours free parking if you get yum cha), then head up to level 3, order 10 baskets of dumplings, smash it in 10 minutes, then leave. I’ll also go to Thai Kee IGA for shopping and work – I’ll usually be in and out of there in about 45 minutes.

Michaela Johansson, Aplenty

Delish Pork Roll in Marrickville. I get a veggie banh mi with a fried egg and an orange, pineapple and ginger juice. However, from experience, it turns out banh mis aren’t the most forgiving meal to eat on the go – you end up covered in crumbs.

Trisha Greentree, Fratelli Paradiso and Paradise

Parami. I go for the takana, and the chicken and egg. Delicious, consistent and perfectly packaged for a mess-free lunch on the go. Very important.

Junda Khoo, Ho Jiak

Not so much on the go, but between lunch and dinner services I get takeaway noodles from Happy Chef – I go from Haymarket to Town Hall, and it’s in the middle. I get the pork noodles with extra pig blood. The snack is the pig’s blood – like a blood pudding – I pay $2 and they give me so much for it. I’m a happy man.

Andy Wirya, Island Radio

If I have the day off and am running around doing jobs, I usually grab a banh mi from Hong Ha in Mascot. It’s fresh and packed with heaps of salad.

Annita Potter, Viand

Living and running my restaurant in Woolloomooloo means I can quickly dash around the corner to Flour & Stone for a slice of their delicious spanakopita. It takes longer to line up and wait for the queue to subside than it does to inhale this buttery, crisp delight finished with a sprinkling of nigella seeds.

Ozge Kalvo, Olympus

Torino’s International – the fried chicken sandwich. After a busy service on a Saturday, I come home starving, and sometimes the only thing I want to eat on Sunday morning is that fried chicken sandwich.

Giovanni Pilu, Pilu

The falafel pita from Queen Ester in Mona Vale or Newport. It’s delicious Israeli food – also love their chicken shawarma bowl.

Neil Perry, Margaret, Next Door and Gran Torino

It’s always a sandwich at Baker Bleu. They use the best bread, best butter and best fillings, which makes them amazing sandwiches. The coffee is awesome, too.

Lizzie Hewson, Saturday Night Pasta

VN Street Foods in Marrickville. When I’m not working from home, I like to set up at Marrickville Library, and then I wander down for lunch. I usually go for the bun cha (grilled lemongrass pork with rice vermicelli and salad), their ginger chicken with sticky rice or my favourite: bot chien, fried rice flour cakes with fried eggs and papaya salad.

O Tama Carey, Lankan Filling Station

AP House, on the roof of the Paramount. It’s close to work so very convenient to collect a ham and cheese baguette on my way in.

Lennox Hastie, Firedoor and Gildas

It’s something quite local [to Firedoor]: Parami. It’s a really small hole in the wall that does really amazing onigiri. Run by [co-owner] Mika [Kazato], who’s always really lovely. Amazing matcha, good coffee. They’ve always got a little special that I want to try. I’m amazed at how tasty some of the vegetarian options are.

Cam Votano, The Bat & Ball

I pass by Marrickville Pork Roll daily on my way to work. It’s always fresh, it’s always fast and above all, always tasty. One of the real takeaway gems of the area.

Juan Taborda, Quay

Thai Pothong in Newtown, for the papaya and soft-shell crab salad.

Stefano Marano, Avia

Cut Lunch Deli in Clovelly is just up the road from my house, and the team makes some pretty mean sandwiches. Otherwise, a quick ramen bowl at Gaku Robata in Darlinghurst.

Declan Cleary, Masterchef

The Shop in Bondi. The gypsy ham sangas and meatball salads are beasts, but still always feel fresh and light. It’s my reliable pitstop when I’m running around town.

Paul Farag, Aalia

Anything in bread: sandwich, burger, toastie, pizza. I know none of these are healthy but they’re the best option as you can eat one-handed.