23 Aug 2021
The Sydney Opera House may be NSW's most recognisable icon, but when it comes to idols of the edible kind, there are dishes with such cult-like following locals and tourists travel from far and wide for a taste. From the original cult favourites to the hottest new food trends, here are the must-try iconic foods in Sydney and NSW.
SYDNEY:
On a typical night at Totti’s, it’s hard to spot a table that hasn’t ordered a plate of the Bondi trattoria’s famous woodfired bread to mop up their burrata and antipasto. The 48-hour fermented dough is cooked in a flaming hot wood oven until it reaches that signature puff and lick of char.
Customers queue around the block rain or shine to pick up one of the ever-changing doughnuts from this Redfern shop. The bright purple Filipino ube (yam) flavour is their signature (with variations like ube tiramisu and ube birthday cake); Bailey’s custard, banana fritter and Biscoff glaze are also popular.
Poly’s Grilled Jersey Milk Cheese
Creamy on the inside, crisp and crackling on the outside – customers call ahead to make sure there’s enough plates of chef Colin Wood’s handmade jersey milk cheese for their dinner at Poly in Surry Hills. During lockdown, a cook-at-home version is on sale from their adapted grocery store, Poly Provisions, or online.
Black Star Pastry’s Strawberry and Watermelon Cake
New York Times called this Inner West bakery’s now famous creation the “world’s most Instagrammed cake”, and with pretty layers of watermelon, strawberry, luscious cream and rose petals there’s no wonder the bakery now has four outposts and sells thousands of slices every day.
Bill’s Ricotta Hotcakes with Honeycomb Butter
Sydney chef Bill Granger is credited with pioneering the Aussie café phenomenon and taking it worldwide. His original café Bill’s in Darlinghurst now has locations across the globe, and his fluffy ricotta hotcakes are the top order.
Marrickville Pork Roll’s Pork Banh Mi
Vietnamese pork rolls are available all over Sydney, but this one has garnered such a loyal following that a long queue is a constant outside the tiny Marrickville shop. Three more locations have since opened to cater to its legion of fans.
Sandoitchi’s Strawberries & Cream Sandwiches
A sweet fruit sandwich may seem like an unlikely hit combination, but Sandoitchi’s Instagrammable Japanese sandwiches are a cult favourite, with customers lining up long before the Darlinghurst shop opens each morning. The super-soft shokupan milk bread is the key, also encasing their popular savoury sandwiches, including the infamous $200 wagyu katsu sando.
REGIONAL NSW:
Berry Donut Van’s Hot Cinnamon Doughnut
Opening in 1964, this tiny doughnut shop in the historic town of Berry is a must-stop for road-trippers heading south. Served piping hot with a dusting of cinnamon sugar, the sweets are now legendary, with fans such as food writer Melissa Leong, chefs Hayden Quinn and Miguel Maestre, and Guy Sebastian.
The Oyster Farmer’s Daughter’s Sydney Rock Oysters
With such a pristine coastline, NSW abounds with fresh seafood, and there’s nothing more iconic on a sunny day than slurping up a dozen Sydney rock oysters. At this fourth-generation oyster shack in Narooma, order them freshly shucked then settle back on the shores of the Wagonga Inlet.
Bell’s Milk Bar’s Malted Milkshake
Sporting original 1950s decor, this vintage milk bar in Broken Hill offers a nostalgic step back in time, serving classic milkshakes and spiders made with house-made syrups and cordials, just like in the old days. Milk bar memorabilia serves as a fun dose of history in the attached museum.
The Big Banana’s Choc-coated Frozen Banana
After selfies with Coffs Harbour’s iconic Big Banana, the next must-do at this popular fun park is to head to the café and pick up a choc-coated frozen banana for the road, available with your choice of nuts or sprinkles on top.
Woy Woy Fisherman’s Wharf’s Fish and Chips
Some Sydneysiders make the one-hour journey from the city just for lunch here – where fresh-from-the-ocean fish and chips are served right by the water.
Junee Licorice & Chocolate Factory’s Organic Licorice
A visit to this sweet factory in the Riverina is like stepping into Willy Wonka’s lair, and after watching how the treats are made, a must-buy souvenir is their organic licorice; the factory makes more than 900 kilograms of licorice every day to keep up with the demand.
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