By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Sydney’s CBD and its inner-city suburbs have long been known for their upscale restaurants and iconic waterfront dining spots.
Western Sydney delivers an equally dynamic dining destination in its own right - albeit traditionally focusing on the abundance of options that showcase the region’s multicultural influences.
Local communities contribute their unique culinary traditions to create a diverse and authentic local food scene.
A new destination is seeking to challenge the CBD’s status as the epicentre of upmarket dining and, firmly establish itself as a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts with even the most discerning taste - without having to head Harbourside.
Here are five reasons CHU Restaurant by China Doll at West HQ is worth wandering West for.
Kitchen cred:
By partnering with some of the country's leading chefs, CHU Restaurant by China Doll has truly elevated Western Sydney's dining scene. Acknowledged as one of the top Asian restaurants in Australia (including its recent recognition with a 2024 Australian Good Food Guide Chef's Hat), CHU combines the culinary expertise of restaurateur Steve Anastasiou with the credibility of his popular China Doll and China Lane brands.
Steve says when he agreed to collaborate with West HQ to create CHU, he was confident it would become the best restaurant in Western Sydney.
"Not only have we achieved that mantle, but we can also now say that it’s ranked as one of the best Asian restaurants in the country by the industry,” he explains. "This is a particularly great achievement as having grown up in Western Sydney, it helps further shine the spotlight on this wonderful part of our city.”
Obviously excellent food:
With a menu that spotlights Pan-Asian flavours, CHU Restaurant by China Doll delivers an exceptional dining experience that transcends expectations. Nestled within the unique eight-hectare space that is West HQ, CHU showcases a range of mouthwatering dishes that utilise premium and ethically sourced local ingredients to offer a modern take on traditional cuisine from China, Hong Kong and Japan that is designed to share.
Must-try dishes on the menu include: fresh salmon sashimi with white ponzu, tobiko and shaved fennel; succulent Angus short ribs with horseradish, leek, and shallots; flavour-filled prawn and peanut san choy bow; mouthwatering Mandarin duck pancakes; sizzling black pepper beef with brown butter; indulgent master stock pork belly with chilli caramel and CHU’s take on mango pancake (with raspberry and toasted almond) that has no business tasting as good as it does.
Prefer to sample smaller plates? Puffy steamed BBQ pork buns with black olive mustard, succulent scallop and prawn dumplings, crisp cheeseburger spring rolls and Sichuan-spiced noodles are among the best dishes served at the restaurant’s weekend yum cha service.
A wonderful wine list:
Complementing its exquisite cuisine, CHU boasts an award-winning wine list curated by Sommelier Wes Cunningham. With a focus on pairing wines with Asian cuisine, Wes's selections enhance the dining experience. From sparkling whites to robust reds, each bottle is chosen to elevate the flavours of CHU's diverse menu, ensuring a harmonious fusion of food and wine.
After-dark dining hours:
CHU’s $4.5 million fit-out channels luxe Shanghai glamour, fronted by an almost four-metre-tall gold Buddha statue, that truly shines at night. Fortunately, guests have the option of embracing the allure of this sexy sophistication with the restaurant recently extending its opening hours.
In particular, serving up a Thursday Night tasting menu that allows patrons to indulge in its signature Pan-Asian specialties from 5 pm all the way through to 10 pm. An enticing invitation for those keen to kick off the weekend well before the standard Friday night schedule?
The surprising support act to your Sydney staycation:
CHU Restaurant by China Doll offers an excellent opportunity for those seeking to extend their evening into a weekend-long staycation through the services of its neighbouring vendors nestled within the West HQ entertainment complex.
These include an onsite Novotel Hotel with 164 rooms (making it one of the largest hotels in Western Sydney), Eat St Central - a vibrant dining precinct featuring Newtown Thai, Harriet's Chicken and Gelatissimo - and a dynamic entertainment quarter anchored by the Sydney Coliseum Theatre.
This 2000-seat auditorium featuring three stunning foyers, seven bars, multiple entertaining areas, a VIP Suite, a large rehearsal room and a commercial on-site kitchen, to accommodate theatrical performances, corporate events, conferences, filming and more.
