Chargrill Charlie's, Rose Bay

I've lived in Sydney for over two decades and somehow only tried Chargrill Charlie's in Rose Bay recently.  I can't believe I waited this long.  The chicken is incredibly juicy, well-seasoned and full of flavour.  Honestly, I'm impressed.  Dare I say it, I actually prefer it over El Jannah.

 

The chicken is the real standout: perfectly cooked, so juicy and seasoned just right.  The skin has that lightly charred, smoky flavour without being dry and every bite feels comforting and satisfying.  

The salad are just as impressive.  There's a huge variety to choose from, from classic coleslaw and garden salads to more flavourful options like pasta and roasted veggies.  Everything looks fresh and well-prepared, making it easy to mix and match sides depending on your mood. 

With so many branches around Sydney, it's easy to see why Chargrill Charlie's has such a loyal following.  Great chicken, great sides and consistently solid quality.  Seriously good chicken.

Chargrill Charlie's 

2/779 New South Head Road, Rose Bay (many other branches across Sydney)

Ph: 02 9388 1180

Open: Every day from 9am - 8:30pm

Kajiken Aburasoba, Sydney

Aburasoba is a brothless style of ramen that focuses on thick noodles tossed in a rich sauce made from soy sauce, oil and umami-packed seasonings.  Instead of sipping soup, you're meant to mix everything thoroughly before eating so the sauce coats every strand of noodle.  Kajiken recommends adding a splash of extra chilli oil or vinegar to enhance the flavour. 

Wagyu beef aburasoba

Original aburasoba

We ordered the original aburasoba and the wagyu beef aburasoba, with extra toppings like chashu, corn and mentaiko.  The noodles were chewy and satisfying, the flavours were bold and savoury.  The wagyu beef added richness, while the mentaiko brought a nice salty kick and lifted up the whole dish.

While the food tasted good, the portion size felt a bit small for the price.  The value-wise it feels slightly overpriced compared to what you get.  Overall, it's tasty and worth trying if you're curious about aburasoba, but not something I'd go back for often given the cost.

Extra topping: Chashu $4 (2pcs), Mentaiko $2.50, and corn $1.50

Chicken karaage $12.80

Takoyaki $9

Kajiken Abura Soba

Shop 1 and 2, 605 - 609 George Street, Sydney (Enter from Goulburn Street)

Open: 11am - 9pm 

Blue Heaven, Hurtsville

I found a Burmese Thai restaurant in Hurstville which is truly a one-stop spot for a complete dining experience.  From main meals and snacks to desserts and drinks, they cover it all under one roof.  Their savoury dishes focus on Burmese cuisine. while the sweets and beverages lean towards Thai flavours.

Golden tofu

We started with the deep-fried tofu, which was a standout snack.  Served in tiny, bite-sized pieces, it was beautifully golden and crisp on the outside while staying soft inside.  Simple but yet satisfying. 

Crab spring rolls

Warm tofu noodle

I was so excited to try this dish.  It is a Shan noodle dish served with chicken and tofu gravy.  But a little disappointed.  The tofu noodle dish had a creamy texture but lacking in flavour for me.  I expected something with more pungent and more kick.

Fish noodle soup

Their mohinga, on the other side, was delicious and aromatic.  The flavour of this Burmese national dish reminded me a lot of Indonesian soto Lamongan, with its comforting, savoury broth and fragrant spices.  Overall, the savoury dishes can be a hit or a miss, but when they hit, they're quite enjoyable.

Shan noodle

Pandan custard caramel toast - served with coconut ice cream, cookie crumbles, pandan custard and salted caramel sauce

Where Bue Heaven truly shines is in their desserts.  Their shokupan honey toast was perfectly toasted with a light brown sugar crunch coating the bread.  We tried two different toppings: the classic banana caramel and a more Southeast Asian-inspired with pandan custard and coconut ice cream.  Both were equally impressive and indulgent.  Their bingsu was another great way to end the meal.

Banana caramel toast - shokupan toast with caramel butter served with vanilla ice cream, cookie crumbles, caramelised banana and salted caramel sauce

Lod Chong bingsu - Coconut milk bingsu served with pandan vermicelli, jackfruit, coconut jelly, and a drizzle of palm sugar sauce and whipped cream

To drink, I loved their chanom or Thai milk tea, which had a slightly bitter note that kept it from being overly sweet. 

The owner also gave us a complimentary deep-fried banana, which was amazing.  The batter had the perfect thickness, making it light and crispy.  They also offer take away Thai sweets such as mango sticky rice and amazing butter cookies.

Overall, Blue Heaven is worth a visit, especially if you have a sweet tooth and enjoy exploring Burmese and Thai flavours in one place.

Blue Heaven

238 Forest Road, Hurstville

Ph: +61 416 327 143

D'Penyetz & D'Cendol, Burwood

If you're craving authentic Indonesian comfort food, this restaurant is a spot worth checking out.  The word penyetan comes from the Indonesian method of lightly smashing (penyet) fried dishes and serving them with bold, fiery sambal.

They're especially famous for their fried chicken, which is crispy, juicy and perfectly paired with their house-made sambal that packs a serious punch.  You can choose from varieties of sambal like sambal bawang, sambal terasi, sambal kecap and more.  Sambal lovers will feel right at home here.

One absolute must-try is their durian cendol drink - rich, sweet and indulgent.  It's a real treat for durian fans.  For mains, the iga bakar (grilled beef ribs) is another standout.  It's so tender, smoky and full of flavour.  If you're in the mood for variety, they also offer other menu options like fried fish and comforting soups, making it easy to please everyone at the table. 

The restaurant itself is not very big and it gets extremely busy during peak hours.  They don't take reservations, so queues are common and the wait can get pretty mad if you arrive late.  My tip?  Come early to secure a seat and avoid a long wait.

Durian cendol

Ayam penyet with sambal terasi

ayam penyet with sambal kecap

Iga bakar

Tahu telor

D'Penyetz & D'Cendol, Burwood

183C Burwood Road, Burwood 

Ph: 02 8526 0199

Open: 12pm - 10pm on weekdays, 11:30 - 10pm on weekends

City branch:

Shop 8/339 Sussex Street, Sydney

Open: 11:30 - 10pm (weekend close at 11pm)

There are a few shops in Melbourne as well 

Muay Thai Cafe, Haymarket Sydney

There is this one restaurant located in the heart of Thai Town in Sydney, inside Capitol Square that is always be our go-to place.  What makes this place stand out is its beautiful spread of regional Thai dishes.  From the bold and fiery flavours of Eastern Thailand to the comforting classic of the Central region, the menu feels like a delicious cross-country journey.

From aromatic soups to perfectly seasoned stir-fries, the central Thai dishes are comforting and familiar.  But the best of all from me is something much more humble: plain rice congee (khao tom) accompanied with your choice of condiments.  It's light, warm and soothing.  It's exactly what you need on a chilly night or for a gentle reset meal.

Fish sausage

Stir fried Chinese broccoli with salted fish

Pork mince omelette

Stir fried squid with salted egg

Stir fried minced pork with nam liep

Chinese sausage salad

Plain rice congee

Another highlight is their rice congee set menu.  When you order it, you get unlimited, self-serve congee.  That means you can enjoy as much as you'd like, adding condiments and toppings to your heart's content.  There are two set menus $19 and $36, where with $19, you can choose four dishes from nine choices while another one, still you can only pick four but from 16 options.  

In the set menu, of course dishes come in a smaller portion.  But, you can also get them in the original size dish which cost around $15 to $20 each.

Grilled meatballs

The cafe also offers all the iconic dishes you'd expect from Thailand's northeast.  Their salad is tangy, spicy, and perfectly balanced.  Their grilled chicken (gai yang) and grilled sour pork (naem) pair wonderfully with sticky rice, giving you that rustic street-food feel right in the heart of Sydney.  It's simple, flavourful and incredibly satisfying.

My favourite dish is the unusual tum dish (salad dish) called tum moo yor or the Vietnamese style sausage salad.  It is a full on moo yor with some snake beans and tomato with the same sauce for som tum pla ra (fermented fish).  

Yum moo yor

Grilled naem (fermented pork)

Grilled chicked (kai yang)

Spicy pork bone soup

Crispy chicken skin

If you're craving authentic Thai flavours in Sydney - not just the usual pad thai and green curry, but the real home-style dishes loved across Thailand - Malila or Muay Thai Cafe is a hidden gem you'll want to bookmark.

Muay Thai Cafe (Ma Li La)

Shop G12, 730-742 George St, Haymarket

Inside Capitol Square Building (behind the Chinatown tram stop)

Getbawi - Korean Seafood Restaurant, Eastwood

If you're craving ultra-fresh seafood served in huge portions, Getbawi Eastwood deserves a spot at the top of your must-visit list.  This Korean seafood restaurant offers an experience that feels premium, generous and surprisingly affordable.  Every dish came in big, generous portions. making the meal feel truly worth the price.  

What really sets Getbawi in Eastwood apart is their luxury complimentary side dishes.  Along with the usual banchan, they serve prawns and octopus as free sides - something you'll rarely, if ever, find at any other restaurant.  It's an unexpected treat that adds incredible value and makes the dining experience even more memorable. 

Kingfish sashimi $56

We ordered the king fish sashimi and tuna sashimi and they both were seriously fresh, clean, delicate and with that perfect firm texture.  The smell of a sea shines through the fish flavours, letting them speak for itself.

Bluefin tuna sashimi $55/250g

Salmon sashimi and beef yukhoe rice bowl $28

I love this fresh salmon and beef yukhoe dish.  It is very refreshing and flavoursome.  There were fresh vegetables to mix with and it was like eating flavourful salad rice dish.

Grilled eel $35

The grilled eel rounded out our meal with its rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture and smoky-sweet glaze. 

Despite the high-quality ingredients and large serving sizes, the prices remain very reasonable.  For the portions and freshness you get, it feels like you're getting more than what you pay for. 

Getbawi Eastwood

Shop 201/62-80 Rowe St, Eastwood

Ph: 0410 177575

Open: 11:30am - 10:30pm