Where Chefs Eat: Aalia’s Paul Farag Knows a Sydney Burger for Every Occasion

When Paul Farag’s not perfecting cloud-like khorasan at Aalia, developing snacky Japanese menus for rooftop bar Joji or flexing his skills as a pitmaster at Vivid’s 2025 Fire Kitchen, he’s eating beef-tongue tacos, “naughty” burgers, schnitzels and strudels.

Make a date with one of his top spots in Sydney, stat – and make sure to hit up the event at The Goods Line on Monday June 2 to catch the chef cooking with fire.

Paul, what’s your go-to if you want a quick takeaway dinner?
I can’t go past a rotisserie chicken and chips from either The Char or Chargrill Charlie’s. I’d be rude not to mention Henrietta’s, if I’m near work: chicken, chips, toum, pickles and bread. Maybe a salad.

What about lunch on the go?
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.

What’s your favourite snack in Sydney?
I recently ate at Cafe Paci again and the beef tongue taco is absolutely rocking. I could smash so many of these little guys. It’s served on a rye tortilla, with smoky beef tongue and sauerkraut.

Where’s the ideal spot for a date?
10 Willy has always lent itself to a date – intimate with that old-world Italian charm and service, tucked away in the back streets of Paddington.

If it’s a special occasion, where are you booking?
Bathers’ Pavilion. An institution of Sydney fine dining, now under the control of Aaron Ward, who is an amazing chef. It’s been on my list since he became the chef and he’ll hate me for not getting in there yet. I know it’s going to be amazing – I’ll be ordering the tasting menu, with matching wines, on a Sunday long lunch overlooking Balmoral Beach.

Where’s the best coffee in Sydney?
I’m not one to drink coffee outside of work, considering I drink far too many while there, but if I was to pick one near me for a Sunday morning it would be Cut Lunch Deli.

Where’s Sydney’s best burger?
So many to choose from, depending on whether or not I want that greasy American style. For the classic Australian burger, I’d say Out of the Blue. There’s a sense of nostalgia, of old-school milk-bar burgers I grew up eating. As for the naughty burger, the Kosta’s smash burger is delicious. For a restaurant burger, the Hubert or Gidley burgers are my go-tos.

You want a snack and a drink, where are you heading?
40 Res. Josh [Raine] and Michael [Tran] have just opened a cool little wine bar in Surry hills serving unpretentious, delicious snacks. Two awesome chefs cooking food you can eat every day of the week.

Do you have a go-to for a long lunch?
Sixpenny. Tasting menu. A perfect relaxed dining room with exceptional food by some of the best chefs in the country. The wine list is excellent too, which helps for long lunching.

How about a meal with a big group?
The Palace for yum cha. It’s our favourite way to catch up with a large group – always extremely relaxed with an endless amount of variety to meet everyone’s needs. Who doesn’t love yum cha?

What’s your bucket-list restaurant?
Where to begin? There are so many venues on my list, each time I tick one off another 10 get added. Arbequina in Toronto, Albi in Washington, KG BBQ to try a fellow Egyptian’s Texan barbeque, and
Bibendum for my classic French fix.

If you’re after something sweet, where are you heading?
On the go, I’d get a pastel de nata from Tuga, or Kiln for a restaurant dessert by Andy Bowdy. Or the dessert trolly at The Charles – the Russian honey cake is out of this world.

What’s your favourite thing to cook at Aalia?
It’s like asking who’s your favourite child. Any of the new dishes I’m working on slowly become my favourite. When they’re ready to go on the menu, my favourite becomes the next dish we start working on. Currently we’re working on a few Egyptian-style pastries – how we can adapt and make them our own.

Where’s the best spot to get groceries?
For all things Asian, Thai Kee in Haymarket is a one-stop shop with meat, veg and dry goods. Paddy’s is also just downstairs for fresh produce. For all things Middle Eastern, my good friends at Harkola in Auburn.

Is there a hidden gem in Sydney that you think is great?
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.

What’s your favourite late-night snack to make at home after service or a night out?
Cooking something for yourself after cooking for others for 12-hours-plus is the last thing you want to do. My preferred option would be to get the team together and go for late-night Korean barbeque. Everyone wins: we support a fellow venue and we don’t have to cook or clean up after ourselves.

@paul_farag
@aaliarestaurant