Mamak Haymarket

Named after the roadside stalls of Kuala Lumpur that peddle Indian Malay street food, the award-winning Mamak has become a staple of the Sydney dining scene, in large thanks to its now-famous fluffy yet flaky roti canai.

But be sure to visit with a group – other menu items are just as flavour-packed and are perfect for sharing, from the ayam goreng (Malaysian-style fried chicken) and kari ikam (a tangy fish curry cooked with fresh tomatoes, okra and eggplant) to the flame-grilled satay and nasi lemak (Malaysia’s “national dish” – coconut rice accompanied by an ensemble of sambal, peanuts, crispy anchovies, cucumber and hard-boiled egg). Sides such as kacang panjang belacan (stir-fried long beans with chillies and shrimp paste) and rojak (a salad topped with prawn and coconut fritters and a spicy peanut sauce) round out the spread.

The flagship Haymarket location, sitting at the northern entrance to Chinatown, doesn’t take bookings, so expect to show up and join the queue (somewhat of a ritual in itself, especially on Thursday and Friday nights when the crowds come piling in for a cheap dinner after post-work drinks). Luckily, the lines move fast.