6 Venues to Take Your Food to the Streets

From the markets to the food trucks trundling around the city, street food plays an integral part in the Australian food map.

Whether it’s good old fish and chips, a meat pie or more exotic fare such as Greek souvlaki, Thai fish cakes or authentic Southern barbequed meat, we all have our go-to street food favourites.

Here are six venues to put on your street food culinary map:

No doubt the King of Thailand would give his blessing to Peppercorn Thai Restaurant, a sparkling Greensborough gem on Grimshaw Street, which shares his birthday. A chic, warm and inviting interior is highlighted by dark wood furnishings and delicate embellishments, where families come together over authentic Thai fare.

 

With a menu offering a vast range of choices, carefully prepared to order, deciding on one dish will be difficult – perhaps enjoy street food options like chicken satay skewers and coconut prawns, before Chef’s specials of Crying Tiger beef, with chilli and tamarind sauce.

If you crave outstanding Indonesian fare created with love, try Yuni’s Kitchen on High Street in Northcote. Nestled in an historic building, this fun and funky restaurant is a hidden gem as guests gather in vibrant surrounds of red and teal walls, Balinese statues and recycled wooden furniture; setting a chilled-out vibe for enjoying dishes made from scratch using premium local produce.

 

Embark on your flavoursome journey with vegetable spring rolls and dipping sauce, before mains such as nasi bakar – grilled rice with shredded chicken, wrapped in a banana leaf – or a steaming bowl of prawn laksa with noodles, vegetables, spring onion and coriander.

Delivering a dining experience with the soul of Bangkok’s Chinatown, Sydneysiders head to Mangkon Rd restaurant on George Street for Thai fusion fare with flair. Step into a funky vibe of dragon wall murals, timber table settings and potted greenery set over two levels, ideal for romantic rendezvous or group catchups with friends.

 

Expect casual dining from a menu bringing street food plates to the table such as starters of char-grilled squid and green chilli nam jim, before crispy pork belly, BBQ pork, Chinese pork sausage, rice and a soya soft-boiled egg.

Created with a vision to reinvent the way diners perceive Filipino food by incorporating art and culture into dishes, head to No 93 BBQ House on Kearnley Drive in Cairnea to discover the vibrant and diverse flavours of the Philippines. Created by Chef Joey Tababa, you will be transported to a different world once stepping through the doors with beautiful décor inspired by the rich history and culture of the Philippines.

 

Small street food bites such as seafood skewers with lime, ginger and shallots make for the ideal starting point; moving onto larger plates of steak tagalog with mushrooms, onion and soy calamansi sauce, rice and salad.

Delve into the tastes and textures of Asia with friends and family in a tropical location at Eastwoods Dining on Airlie Esplanade in Airlie Beach. Positioned at the heart of Airlie’s iconic strip, Eastwoods offers panoramic views across to the Whitsunday Islands with a coastally chic vibe of polished wood floors, bi-fold doors opening to let the outside in and a recycled timber bar, promising refreshing drinks to go with your meal.

 

Kickstart a street food adventure with hiramasa kingfish, with green ham jim, green mango, coconut and roasted rice; then devour crispy half duck with aromatic plum sauce, Szechuan pepper and lemon, with sides of steamed jasmine rice and stir-fried Asian greens.

As dusk settles and the orange-pink hue of evening light plays across the waters, award-winning Waters Edge Bistro on Benowa Street in Macleay Island makes for a pleasant place to relax and admire the spectacle. Located on the upper level of Club Macleay, visitors enjoy pre-dinner drinks out on a deck by the water, refreshed by ocean breezes; while indoors is warm and welcoming, making for the ideal spot to enjoy a meal with family and friends. 

 

Dive right in with a starter of Thai fish cakes, or duck and plum spring rolls with dipping to sauce to start your street food journey, followed by an aromatic Thai green chicken curry, or hot and spicy beef vindaloo, both served with jasmine rice and papadums.