A few months back, I did a post on Hu Tong Dumpling Bar and titled it ‘KTang’s restaurant of the month.’ That was in February which means I’m missing restaurants for March – July. But don’t worry, I’ll eventually catch up once I get out of my current eater’s block, but here are the belated restaurants of the month for March & April that are Sydney inspired…
Ding Tai Fung
World Square Shopping Centre
644 George St
Sydney
Phone: +61 2 9264 6010
Web: http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/en/index.asp
Makoto Sushi Bar
119 Liverpool Street (Cnr, Pitt & Liverpool St.)
Sydney
Phone: +61 2 9283 6767
Web: http://www.masuya.com.au/en/makoto/
What did we eat?
Ding Tai Fung: Xiao long bao. Yep this is another xiao long bao place, but it’s bloody good, so go get yourself 20 steamers.
Makoto: Various sushi from the sushi train.
What I liked:
Ding Tai Fung: The pastry is the so delicate yet it doesn’t break and you don’t have to be too gentle. Kinda like what a good boyfriend should be. Too bad boyfriends don’t have succulent pork fat soup on the inside.
Makoto: All the sushi is made on the spot like it should be! This means that the rice is still warm and the fish is cold. The staff are really friendly and the grilled salmon sushi…let’s just say if I saw an starving old crippled lady with a plate, I would steal it from her without hesitation.
What I didn’t like:
Ding Tai Fung: You will have to wait quite a while to get a seat because they’re that popular and they don’t take bookings.
They also have whacked operating hours:
Mon-Sun: 11.30 till 2.30 and then 5.30-10pm
Public holidays and weekends, they are open for an extra 30 mins later.
Makoto: …I can’t think of anything…
The waiting area outside Ding Tai Fung in HK. I feel bad for the restaurant next door.
Top tip:
Ding Tai Fung: Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be standing in line for quite a while. Also, don’t bother with Ding Tai Fung in HK or ShenZhen (China), Sydney is of a much higher standard.
Makoto: Get there early before they open. They have a sheet at the front of the door where you can write down the number of people you have, where you want to sit and you then take a number that they call out when they open.
Rating:
Ding Tai Fung: 9/10. I would be happy to come back as a pig in my next life to be in one of those xiao long baos.
Makoto: 10/10. Oiiishiiiiiii.
