What Locals Really Eat: Off-the-Beaten-Path Food Stops in Sydney
When most people think of Sydney’s food scene, they picture harbourside fine dining or trendy cafes in Surry Hills. But if you want to know what locals really eat, you need to step away from the tourist hotspots and dive into the backstreets, food courts, and neighbourhood markets where Sydneysiders actually get their fix. From Cambodian noodle soup in Cabramatta to Lebanese charcoal chicken in Punchbowl, Sydney is a patchwork of cultures, each with its own must-try dishes. If you’re after things to do in Sydney that are authentic and delicious, exploring these lesser-known spots is a must.
Let’s go beyond the postcards and take a bite out of the real Sydney with this guide to off-the-beaten-path food stops — and why a Food Safari might just be the best way to discover them.
Table of Contents
- Hidden Flavours in Sydney’s Suburbs
- Why Food Safaris Are a Local Favourite
- Exploring Sydney on Foot: The Power of Walking Tours
- Top Offbeat Dishes You Shouldn’t Miss
- Final Bite: Join a Tour With The Australian Food Guy
Hidden Flavours in Sydney’s Suburbs
Sydney’s multiculturalism isn’t just visible — it’s edible. Walk through different suburbs and you’ll feel like you’ve crossed several borders in one afternoon. The key is knowing where to look.
Take Lakemba. During Ramadan, this suburb transforms into a night market of sizzling street food, but even year-round, you’ll find hidden gems like Pakistani naan bakeries and Bangladeshi sweet shops tucked behind unassuming shopfronts. Locals flock here for goat curry, samosas the size of your fist, and piping hot jalebi.
Over in Cabramatta, Vietnamese-Australian culture reigns. Wander the laneways and you’ll smell the unmistakable aroma of pho broth simmering with star anise and ginger. Here, locals queue for bánh mì at family-run bakeries that bake fresh rolls on-site. There are also lesser-known delights like bún bò Huế (a spicy beef noodle soup with lemongrass and fermented shrimp paste) that are well worth the detour.
These areas may not show up on most tourist guides, but for those hungry to explore, they offer some of the best food tours Sydney has to offer — if you know where to start.
Why Food Safaris Are a Local Favourite
A Food Safari Sydney experience isn’t just about eating — it’s about understanding the stories behind the dishes. Whether it’s a Greek family who’s run the same charcoal chicken shop for 30 years, or a Syrian baker reinventing his grandmother’s recipes in the Inner West, Sydney’s food culture is deeply personal.
Locals often join these food safaris too — not just tourists. Why? Because there’s always a new spot, a new dish, or a hidden kitchen doing something bold and brilliant. The best food tours go beyond what’s trendy and uncover the neighbourhoods where food is a daily ritual, not just an Instagram moment.
With a guided food safari, you skip the guesswork and go straight to the source — tasting, asking questions, and getting to know the people behind the plate.
Exploring Sydney on Foot: The Power of Walking Tours
Some of Sydney’s best food experiences can’t be seen from a car or bus. They’re in small laneways, above grocery shops, or tucked behind market stalls. That’s where walking tours Sydney truly shine.
On foot, you notice more — the spice smells wafting from a Thai grocer, the chatter in Cantonese echoing from a noodle shop, the handwritten sign advertising handmade dumplings only available on weekends.
Walking tours offer a slower, more immersive way to explore Sydney. With a local guide who knows the rhythm of the neighbourhood, you get context for each bite — the history of a migrant community, the way a recipe has evolved, or even why one bakery’s doughnuts are always sold out by 10am.
And let’s face it — you’ll be eating a lot. A walking tour is the perfect way to pace your appetite while soaking in the vibe of the city’s unsung suburbs.
Top Offbeat Dishes You Shouldn’t Miss
While everyone knows Sydney for its brunch game and fresh seafood, there’s a whole other menu waiting beyond the city centre. Here are a few local favourites you might discover on a proper Food Safari:
- Laos Sausages in Fairfield – Smoky, fatty, and filled with herbs like lemongrass and galangal. Usually served with sticky rice and a fiery dipping sauce.
- Malaysian Laksa in Campsie – Coconut-rich broth, rice noodles, and a generous mix of prawns, chicken and tofu puffs. Spicy, creamy, and unforgettable.
- Sudanese Ful in Blacktown – A slow-cooked fava bean stew served with flatbread, fresh tomato, and a drizzle of sesame oil. Comfort food at its finest.
- Afghan Bolani in Merrylands – Thin stuffed flatbread filled with potatoes, leeks or pumpkin, grilled until crisp and served with yoghurt and chutney.
- Indonesian Martabak in Kingsford – A crispy pancake stuffed with savoury mince or sweetened with chocolate and condensed milk. Yes, really.
None of these are fancy. But they’re real — and beloved by the locals who grew up with them.
Final Bite: Join a Tour With The Australian Food Guy
You can try to uncover Sydney’s culinary underbelly on your own — but to really experience it, join someone who knows the streets, the families, and the flavours. At The Australian Food Guy, we offer guided food tours and walking tours Sydney visitors (and locals) rave about.
Led by native Australian guides who live and breathe Sydney’s food culture, our
Food Safaris are a chance to taste what the city’s diverse communities are cooking, serving, and sharing every day.







