New on Resy: Maíz Mexican Street Food, Above Par, Yakitori Yurripi, and More

With outlets across China, this well-known hotpot chain’s Sydney debut certainly doesn’t disappoint. A vast 200-cover restaurant within the 1909 dining hub, the space is decked out in shimmering marble and brushed gold, taking the hotpot experience up a few notches. To wit: several broths, more condiments than anyone could possibly eat over the course of an evening, and M6 to M9+ wagyu (served on dry ice, no less), plus handmade noodles, sparklingly fresh seafood, and for the connoisseurs, three kinds of tripe. Perfect for the impending cool weather.

The original Freda’s closed last year, but the legendary basement venue lives on as Café Freda’s, a breezy, artsy affair minutes from Taylor Square. Xinyi Lim’s menu matches the luminous, colour-filled eatery: her vivid carrot mole with burrata is inspired by her cooking stint at Expendio de Maiz in Mexico; her chilli-dressed tomato and peach salad feels like a neverending summer – and is a tribute to her chilli-embracing Malaysian mother (so is the beef rendang dish with cucumber and nuts).

There are few greater pleasures in life than beautifully grilled yakitori, all smoke, salt, char, and creamy fat. It’s something this tiny Crow’s Nest favourite (and sibling to Nakano Darling) does exceptionally well, focusing on every part of the chicken – thighs, livers, wings, and so on – with exceptional precision and no small amount of dedication. Seasonal specials – unagi don, scallops, and the like – are excellent, and Suntory highballs are the beverage of choice.

Some CBD locals may have had a chance to try this sleek Levantine diner’s fare in takeaway form when it opened last year – at the start of lockdown, no less – but finally, it’s opened as its Turkish-born owners intended, with plenty of deserved buzz. Here, cocktails and colourful mezze are in abundance, with house-made dips, stone-baked lahmacun, hearty mains and a puffy flatbread that’s almost as Instagrammable as the interior. Vegetarians and the indecisive are well catered for, with excellent sharing platters for the latter; DJs spin at the weekends.

For those who missed out at Summer Hill’s Flour Mill Markets, there’s good news: Maíz Mexican Street Food now has a permanent location. The all-day brunch features its signature dish in many iterations (chicken and macadamia mole; mushrooms and charred salsa verde; hibiscus flower and pineapple jam), while also highlighting avocado and in-house Vegemite quesadillas, burrata chilaquiles, scrambled egg tortas and more. Don’t miss the conchas and corn bread by Pancho Bakery.

No stranger to yakiniku – the Japanese tradition of grilling beef tableside – Crow’s Nest has been blessed with another outstanding BBQ specialist, one counting some of the city’s best Japanese chefs as regulars, no less. Expect both Australian and coveted A5 Kagoshima wagyu, with a variety of specialised cuts of exceptional quality – cube roll, melt-in-the-mouth tongue – and a special sauce simmered over 48 hours. Specials like beef sashimi occasionally are available, as are seasonal treats like uni and Italian white truffle. First timer? Plump for one of the chef’s set wagyu platters, which start at a wallet-friendly £32.80.

This Sri Lankan eatery is a family-run business in the best sense. Father Augi De Hoedt cooks the signature hoppers and gives them an Aussie brunch remix (think hoppers “shakshuka”-style or paired with spiced eggs Benedict). He serves them with more traditional red lentil, chicken and beef curries, too. Wife Dilki runs the front of house, while sons Travin and Jason bake the pastries after finishing their shifts at Franca Brasserie (Travin’s fiancee Saaya Takahashi, who is a pastry chef at Sixpenny, also contributes: credit her for the Japanese cheesecake). For those with immovable brunch plans, the restaurant is also open for dinner.

Nakano Darling’s gyoza recently got the star treatment during 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art’s “Secret Snacks” initiative. The gallery teamed up with More of Something Good to illustrate local stars and their favourite Chinatown snacks and covered Sydney with poster versions of these images. Acclaimed photographer Luisa Brimble singled out the izakaya’s pan-fried dumplings as something that’s best eaten with an army of friends. “Tip: don’t hold back. Dig in,” she says. Brimble even buys frozen versions of the gyoza to take home. At Nakano Darling, the vegetarian fried udon, Japanese curry and avocado takuan are also worth considering – whether you have extra friends to help you clear the plates or not.

Avoid the crowds at the beach and stroll down to this charming spot for cocktails and Latin American-influenced fare. The margaritas here are legendary, and a few rounds with chips and guac is a perfect way to while away an hour or two; tacos are fresh and there’s an excellent happy hour to enjoy them with from 5pm. The intimate space and live music on Fridays and Saturdays feels like a lock-in at a favourite bar.