Chinese$$$potts-point
Suburban-Cantonese on Llankelly Place, Potts Point, Sydney. The Cantonese duck and roast pork are the house specials; open Tue-Sun lunch and dinner.
Signature: Prawn toast, Sweet and sour pork, Yum cha selection
Order: Prawn toast and Mongolian lamb.
Tip: Bookings open four weeks ahead; the lunchtime yum cha is the easier ticket.
Hungarian$$randwick
Hungarian neighbourhood diner on Belmore Road, Randwick, Sydney. Cabbage rolls, goulash by the bowl and a long beer list; Tue-Sun breakfast and lunch.
Signature: Wiener schnitzel, Gulyasleves, Chimney cake
Order: The schnitzel and gulyasleves.
Tip: Limited tables; book ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Italian$$$newtown
Old-school trattoria on Australia Street, Newtown, Sydney. Hand-rolled pasta, nose-to-tail Italian cooking, low-lit room from the Pasian & Daughters group.
Signature: Pasta of the day, Vitello tonnato, Pollo alla cacciatora
Order: Pasta of the day and vitello tonnato.
Tip: Walk-ins at the bar; bookings open three weeks ahead.
Asian hawker$chippendale
Open-air hawker laneway on Kensington Street, Chippendale, Sydney. Singaporean, Malaysian and Hong Kong food stalls, walk-in friendly weeknights.
Signature: Laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, Banh mi
Order: Hainanese chicken rice from Hong Kong Diner, laksa next door.
Tip: Order at each stall, share a table outside; lantern-strung at night.
Vietnamese$marrickville
Sydney's cult banh mi counter on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. The pork roll with house pate at A$5.50 is the canonical Sydney lunch. Daily from 7am.
Signature: Pork banh mi, Iced Vietnamese coffee, Spring rolls
Order: The classic pork banh mi with extra chilli.
Tip: Cash and card both accepted; queues from 12pm Saturday.
Malaysian$$haymarket
Late-night Malaysian on Goulburn Street, Haymarket, Sydney. Roti canai, satay and char kway teow; open daily 11:30am-2am Friday and Saturday.
Signature: Roti canai, Nasi lemak, Satay chicken
Order: Roti canai with curry trio, satay chicken sticks.
Tip: No bookings; the queue outside is part of the ritual.