With a melting pot of international flavors and traditions, Sydney boasts an embarrassment of riches when it comes to world-class restaurants. Just about every neighborhood, and plenty of suburbs, are all home to vibrant restaurant scenes. One of the hot spots for grabbing an amazing meal is the area surrounding Sydney Central Station. Being situated next to the Chinatown and Haymarket neighborhoods makes it easy to grab some unbelievable bites while you’re waiting for your train or are famished after a long trip.
To make things easier on yourself, visit a Sydney Central Station luggage storage and drop off everything you don’t need. Then you’re free to explore the Sydney culinary scene unencumbered. Here are the best places to eat near Sydney Central Station:
Arthur
This is a spot that will appeal to anyone traveling through Australia looking for some specifically Australian food and drinks. Americans from larger cities will be very familiar with Asian restaurants and cuisine, but Australian restaurants offer a particular novelty not found anywhere else, and Arthur is exactly that. The rotating menu features local ingredients and flavors not found anywhere else.
The restaurant itself is small, with comfortable seating best for very small groups or date nights. It’s been repurposed from a corner shop, so it has all the trappings of a trendy restaurant, with plenty of natural light for brunch and lunch. They do have an indulgent tasting menu that might not be entirely compatible with a meal before a long train ride, but if you want to leave Sydney with a bang, it’s certainly a solid option!
Address: 544 Bourke St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Chat Thai
The Chat Thai chain is legendary for bringing its superb southeast-Asian flavors to cities around the world. The Thai town outpost is one of the best (or at least most popular) locations in Australia. On nights and weekends, families and groups pack the place, giving it an energy as spicy as the som dtum, which is a green papaya salad that is both popular and, frankly, dangerous! The flavor is well worth the heat, but there are plenty of other delicious traditional Thai favorites on the menu for spice-averse diners. Chat Thai is also open late. so it’s the perfect fix after a long train ride when you need something quick and delicious.
Address: 20 Campbell St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Firedoor
Carnivores will absolutely love this upscale eatery located just minutes away from Sydney Central Station. Firedoor specializes in wood-smoked cuts of meat and uses almost a dozen different types of wood to flavor their cuts.
A solid wine list highlighting Spanish labels perfectly compliments the menu of cuts and chops. A sneaky-great cocktail menu also highlights classics executed to perfection without the overly gimmicky mixology trends seen elsewhere.
This is, however, an extremely popular restaurant and will have limited seating for walk-ins and almost no availability on weekends. If you know your travel itinerary, plan ahead by making a reservation.
Address: 23/33 Mary St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Lankan Filling Station
Most cities have exactly zero Sri Lankan restaurants. While Sydney is only slightly ahead of the game here, they more than make up for it with the exceptional Lankan Filling Station. Traditional Sri Lankan favorites like curries and fermented rice pancakes are made to perfection and this quaint eatery. If you’re grabbing lunch and need a caffeine fix, opt for a coconut and coffee slushie to save time before heading to the train station!
Lankan Filling Station also packs flavor into relatively inexpensive dishes, making it one of the best values in the area. While it’s VERY popular with local foodies, it’s generally easy to grab a table most days of the week.
Address: Ground Floor, 58 Riley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
RaRa Ramen Randwick
The only downside to slurping up an entire bowl of ramen before a train ride is you might fall asleep. Then again, that might not exactly be a downside to most folks. Either way, foodies flock to this ramen house as it’s easily one of the best in Sydney. The steamy pork tonkotsu broth is the most popular bowl on the menu, with rich flavors and (almost) al dente noodles. They have a few styles of ramen on the menu. If you want extremely salty flavors, opt for the soy-based miso broth, and adjust spice levels to your own comfort.
Address: Shop1/162- 164 Barker St, Randwick NSW 2031, Australia
Sagra
This casual joint is one of the go-to hangouts in Darlinghurst for local families and couples, and for good reason. If you want classic Italian favorites that seem like they’re prepared by a grandma, this is your spot. It’s a quick and comfortable place for an easy plate of pasta, which is good because while it’s close to Sydney Central Station, Sagra is not exactly across the street.
Address: 62 Stanley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
Sáng By Mabasa
Korean cuisine has become as trendy as it gets in Sydney (and beyond) in recent years. One of the reasons is that Korean BBQ is the perfect meal for small groups and special occasions. It’s fun, it’s delicious, and can either be a no-frills affair or ultra-upscale. Sáng is a little bit of both. It’s a diner, and decidedly authentic, but it also has some of the trendy flairs of a modern restaurant. What to order? Two words: pork belly.
It’s a family restaurant and is very small, so plan ahead! Because of this, Sáng is the perfect place for your crew to hit up after arriving in Sydney for a night out.
Address: 98 Fitzroy St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Conclusion
Traveling while you’re hungry (or worse, hangry) is never ideal. So when you’re trying to kill time before grabbing a train to Adelaide or Melbourne, head out to the surrounding areas for a solid bowl of ramen, a pizza, or spicy Thai food so you can get a taste of Sydney before leaving!