Delicious dim sum, fiery Malaysian feasts, and sizzling street-style food: Chinatown is a world unto itself. Hop off at the Chinatown stop and pause for a pho, pancake and film.

EAT

Quanjude
The original branch of this famous Chinese restaurant opened in Beijing back in 1864. More than 150 years later, it set up shop in Sydney in a space spanning three floors in World Square. Every night this place is packed with people eating its famous Peking duck, which is cooked traditionally, carved at the table and served with pancakes and spring onions. Go with a group and prepare yourself for a proper feast.

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Canton! Canton!
Head to this George Street newcomer for a feed from a former Tim Ho Wan chef. This dim sum palace has an extensive menu packed with all the classics: barbeque pork buns and prawn dumplings, and heartier mains inspired by classic Hong Kong barbeque recipes. The service is quick enough that you can pop in for a meal before a movie, but if you have time for a longer stay, we recommend taking on the banquet menu.

Show Neua
This low-key spot right by Chinatown is one of the few restaurants in Sydney serving up cuisine from northern Thailand. Chef Yuwat Khuwimon was born in Chiang Mai and cooks food inspired by the region, especially the bustling street-food stalls that line Kamphaeng Din Road. Expect lots of sticky rice and fried meat on the menu, and don’t miss the specialty: khao soi, a curried chicken noodle soup topped with fried noodles and pickled vegetables.

Ho Jiak
This busy, family-style restaurant is all about vibrant Malaysian food and big servings. The bright, colourful interiors are inspired by the owner’s family home in Penang, and the service is charming. The menu is huge, encompassing everything from street-food-style squid to slow-cooked pork belly. There’s a lengthy vegetarian section too.

DO

Event Boutique Cinema
Going to the movies can now be a pretty fancy experience. The Event Cinemas chain has a boutique theatre complex at its George Street location, and it’s a step up from Gold Class. With luxurious reclining leather chairs, made-to-order snacks like Wagyu beef burgers and cheese boards, and only 30 to 40 seats in each library-themed theatre, you can literally do dinner-and-a-movie date right here.

Sneaker Exchange Sydney
If you’ve got old runners taking up precious space in your wardrobe, pop into Sneaker Exchange, a consignment store in World Square that specialises in shoes and streetwear. If the salespeople sell your old things, you come back for a cut of the cash. Shelves are stocked with Yeezys and Jordans in all colours, as well as streetwear brands like Supreme and Nike.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Transport for NSW. Learn more about partner content on Broadsheet.