Three To Try: Hot Listed Spots for Late-Night Dining

The Hot List is the definitive guide to Sydney’s most essential food and drink experiences, updated weekly. Learn more.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a late-night kebab. In fact, there’s a lot right about it. But sometimes the occasion calls for something different. Whether you’ve got a fussy mate or you want to impress a date, drop into these Hot Listed venues serving food late.

Grandfather’s, CBD

Late-night eats often happen in takeaway shops under fluorescent lighting. But at Grandfathers, warm lamps, moody booths and a gentle blue hue emanating from the fish tank invite you to sit and stay a while. The kitchen at the 140-seat Chinese restaurant is open until 10.30pm on weeknights, which is already a great start.

The menu has a contemporary feel but there are plenty of traditional touches throughout. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can dig into dishes à la carte until 12.30am.

There’s even a dedicated dim sim menu that’s particularly popular with late-night diners. Perhaps you could go for Peking-style pork ribs, Sichuan sashimi and the steamed dumpling platter alongside a green melon Negroni.

El Primo Sanchez, Surry Hills

Surry Hills favourite El Primo Sanchez is in the business of cocktails, karaoke and tacos after dark. You can order food here until 11pm – which is a great idea if you plan on crushing some cocktails later into the night. The cheeseburger and lamb barbacoa tacos are hearty options, but an empanada isn’t a bad move either.

Instead of an HSP (halal snack pack), go for Doritos topped with beef cheek birria and nacho cheese. And if you’re stopping by for dessert and a drink on the way home, the mapo mango sorbet with tajin chilli lime seasoning will perk you up. Afterwards, grab another cocktail from the lengthy drinks menu and dive into the private karaoke room. It’s bookable with a few friends or, better yet, some strangers.

Sakura House, CBD

At any izakaya, the menu has one job: pair well with alcohol. At Sakura House, chicken karaage, gyoza and prawn toast (among other salty snacks) ensure this is the case. But from 10pm until close (sometimes as late as 2am), the busy basement bar shuts the kitchen and serves a short but punchy menu that you’re more likely to accompany with a highball than a glass of water.

The chicken karaage stays, because of course it should, and alongside it you can get grilled takoyaki skewers, ebi (deep-fried prawn) bao and a selection of mixed pickles. Paired with a rotating selection of DJs spinning vinyl (and even live music), Sakura’s supper menu is a welcome addition to any late-night venue. It encourages you to sink a little deeper into your seat and order another round. Work in the morning be damned.

The Hot List is proudly sponsored by Square.