23 Chefs on the Most Underrated Restaurants, Bars and Cafes in Sydney

There are some adored places to dine in Sydney that everyone knows. They’re always on people’s lips, splashed across our social feeds and tricky to book. But then there are those that are a bit shyer – the ones you’re tempted to gatekeep.

We asked a bunch of local chefs to shout out the venues they think deserve wider recognition.

Giovanni Pilu, Pilu at Freshwater and Flaminia

Cafe Monaka in Mona Vale. It’s a small, family-run Japanese cafe that’s casual, relaxed and always great. I usually go for the teriyaki chicken or salmon bowl, or the Japanese pancake. Bun [Fukuda], the chef behind it, is incredibly talented – he actually worked with us at Pilu years ago. They’ve also recently opened Menya Monaka nearby, which specialises in ramen and is definitely worth a visit. 

Jesse Orleans, Happyfield and Happy Shop

I really like Bart Jr in Redfern.

Trisha Greentree, Fratelli Paradiso

Oyako in Lidcombe. It is a family-owned and -operated Korean restaurant serving sashimi platters, marinated raw seafood, hotpots and the best shallot pancake I have had so far. It’s perfect because of the 75 per cent shallot to 25 per cent batter ratio, and clean oil pan-fried for crispness throughout.

Stefano Marano, Avia

Kindred in Darlington. Super cosy, delicious pastas and all made from scratch.

Lily Davies, Pomme Table

Roys in Bondi. It’s so local, you basically feel like you’re sitting in his home bar. A true hole-in-the-wall – with the best spiced nuts, meatball subs and happy hour Margs. We’ve celebrated a lot of major moments there – we even came up with the name for Pomme over Friday beers.

Annita Potter, Viand

Salumeria Norcino in Pyrmont is the spot for me – for house-made focaccia, pasta and porchetta, sitting outside in the open courtyard.

Paul Farag, ex-Aalia

I would have said Corner 75 but I don’t think it’s hidden anymore. I have to stop myself from going there too often for a quick schnitzel and strudel. And a sundae. And langos – you can’t not get the langos.

Sam Rozsnyoi, Chiswick

I don’t know how underrated Ante is, but I feel like it’s probably the best spot for saké for sure. And I don’t know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it should be spoken about more. It’s one of the best dining rooms in Sydney. A lot of people are trying to copy that whole record bar trend, but they’re the first ones to do it properly. The collection of records is insane, and the set-up is truly one of a kind.

Andy Hearnden, aka Andy Cooks

Biryani Delights in Surry Hills.

Isobel Whelan-Little, Ace Hotel

Grape Garden in Potts Point is soooooooo good.

Andy Wirya, Island Radio

There is a family-run restaurant in Newtown called Mother Yen. They do Vietnamese food and it’s all very good, but the short-rib pho is one of my favourites there. They also offer BYO, which I love.

Ozge Kalvo, Olympus

I’m not sure if they are hidden anymore but Sang by Mabasa, Ryo’s Noodles and Yakitori Yurippi are definitely gems that I love to go to. Nothing stays hidden now with Instagram, I guess.

Cam Votano, The Bat & Ball

A Japanese restaurant called Taruhachi Bento. It’s in a small laneway and has a dark and kitschy fit-out. The udon noodle and bento boxes are always on point. I reckon there are a lot of North Sydneysiders that walk past it daily without knowing it’s there.

Neil Perry, Margaret, Cafe Margaret, Gran Torino and Pizzeria Sotto

I love Bar Conte. Great drinks – the My Old Pal Negroni is my favourite – with nice antipasti and a good steak.

Lizzie Hewson, Saturday Night Pasta

Cut Lunch Deli for their Korean mushroom sandwich and chocolate-chip cookie. I’m sure Clovelly locals are well aware of how good this place is, but I’d gladly drive across Sydney for it. I’d argue there isn’t a better cookie in Sydney.

Josh Niland, Saint Peter and Fish Butchery

I don’t know how hidden it is now, but the team at Fiore Bread make beautiful bread, pastries and coffee. And [they] have a beautifully sunny position in McMahons Point on the north shore – great for an early morning treat.

O Tama Carey, of now-closed Lankan Filling Station

Sang by Mabasa, a tiny little Korean spot in Surry Hills. I think I eat there more than anywhere else. It’s family run and open for lunch and dinner. The menu always has interesting things that I’ve never heard of, and everything is always very yummy. It’s super fresh and interesting, with bright flavours.

Ahana Dutt, Kolkata Social

A lot of people know about this place, but not enough people in my opinion. Banh Xeo Bar at The Cannery do some spectacular Vietnamese food. Order anything on the menu and you’ll be happy. But if you ask really nicely, you might be able to pre-order a roasted pig’s head. Crispy, succulent, sticky deliciousness.

Lennox Hastie, Firedoor and Gildas

There’s this place near me called Braci. On the north side, we really don’t have good restaurants in the ’burbs. It’s good to see local guys doing something really good. It is simple – it was an old, very basic pizza restaurant, and the chap who runs it used to work for me many, many years ago behind the bar – Toby Robinson. He got together with a friend of his Chris [Carlei] – a chef out of Melbourne – and Toby works the floor with his beautiful twin sisters. The family’s all involved, and Chris works the kitchen. It just fits really well. Beautiful pizza, relaxed local restaurant, real good range of starters, and the drinks are spot on.

Alessandro Pavoni, Ormeggio at The Spit, A’Mare, Pizza’Mare, Postino Osteria, Cibaria and Vineria Luisa

The Restaurant Pendolino [in The Strand Arcade] – a Sydney icon.

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

Steam King is one of my fave restaurants in Chinatown. They specialise in soups and steamed seafood dishes. It’s real, authentic Cantonese food. There’s the Steam King Buddha’s Delight Supreme Soup, steamed whole fish, ginger shallot lobster with egg noodles, mud crab with Chinese celery, and two kinds of stir-fried vermicelli. That’s what I usually order when I’m there.

Michaela Johansson, Aplenty

I love Java in Randwick. It’s delicious Indonesian food, and the family that runs it are forever under the pump but so kind and hospitable.

Christine Manfield

Look, I don’t know how hidden it is, but one I always think of as a hidden gem just cos it’s got that bijou atmosphere, small and tucked away, is Bar Copains.