Whether you’re looking for authentic Indian or indulgent ribs and steaks, Parramatta provides thanks to a thriving culinary scene that’s fast becoming the talk of the city.
Sep 2021 -
2
min readParramatta is one of Sydney’s hottest dining destinations, with Church Street nicknamed Eat Street for its abundant restaurant choices. You’ll find burritos, fajitas and Cuban tapas at Coco Cubano, a lunch special at Thai La-ong, and Texan-style slow-cooked ribs at Lone Star Rib House.
Coco Cubano Cafe, Parramatta - Credit: Hamilton Lund; Destination NSW
El-Phoenician is a local institution known for its lip-smacking Lebanese menu and raucous belly-dancing nights. If you’re a meat lover, you might want to mosey down to Volcano’s Steakhouse for huge steaks and sticky ribs.
El-Phoenician, Parramatta - Credit: MR YUM
Don’t be constrained by Church Street – in surrounding streets you’ll find authentic Singaporean and Malay dishes at Temasek, modern updates of classic Greek cuisine at Kouzina Greco, and a taste of Italy at Rivareno Gelato, among many other options.
Kouzina Greco, Parramatta
In Parramatta Square – an uber-impressive $2.7 billion urban renewal project – you’ll find LilyMu, where head chef Brendan Fong has created a distinctly modern take on Chinese/South East Asian food – think tom yum prawn dumplings, black garlic mie goreng and roast duck with Laos sausage.
Lilymu, Parramatta
Meanwhile, adjacent suburb Harris Park is worth the 10min walk for its Indian restaurants, especially around Wigram Street. It’s a great place to delve into subcontinental variety, whether southern Indian vegetarian dishes at Billu’s Indian Eatery, filled dosa rice-flour pancakes at Dosa Hut, or Mumbai street food at Chatkazz Harris Park, which also has a great range of desserts and lassi. Hyderabad House specialises in spicy fragrant biryanis.
Billus, Parramatta
After a hot drink Try creative Taiwanese teas at Gong Cha, hot-air-roasted coffee and great breakfast food at Allpress Espresso, or settle into Circa Espresso for good coffee and interesting tea varieties.
Parramatta also has a great drink scene, too, ranging from beer gardens (The Albion Hotel and The Post) to cocktail lounges and speakeasies. Huge Alex & Co has a lively, cosmopolitan vibe and modern-fusion menu, and a range of signature cocktails such as the gin-rich Butterfly Effect and a salted-caramel martini.
Happy hour at Alex & Co.
Cocktail and champagne lounge Nick and Nora’s has opulent 1920s Prohibition style and twinkling 26th-floor views, and serves meat and cheese boards, plus chic sharing plates such as tuna sliders, crispy prawns and four-cheese arancini. Or try Heritage Lounge for another great cocktail joint with a food menu designed to match the drinks.
Nick and Nora’s, Parramatta
Don’t miss Uncle Kurt’s, which lurks beneath a car park and has no signage. You’ll feel like you’re in New York in this dive bar: the pastrami sandwich is the perfect accompaniment to a great whiskey.
