Parramatta, New South Wales

Parramatta was founded by the British in 1788 and is the oldest inland settlement in Australia. Sydney’s second CBD (Central Business District) lies 23 kilometers west of Central Sydney, in the city of Parramatta.

Parramatta is easily accessible by bus, train, and the more scenic ferry route. In addition to claiming the oldest surviving public building in all of Australia, Parramatta also has a diverse population, resulting in a plethora is different food options. Here is a list of bakeries, cafes, and sit-down restaurants that reflect the diverse culture of Parramatta.

 

Kanzo Fresh Sushi

Adora Handmade Chocolates

Darcy St Project

The Ginger Tiger

khatoon cuisine restaurant

Bourke Street Bakery Parramatta

The Grounds Keeper cafe Parramatta

Holy Basil

The Ginger Tiger

Serving recipes from the owner’s childhood in a small Lao village, Ginger Tiger offers an array of stir-fry dishes as well as curries, salads, and soups. It’s part of the Collector Hotel, which has a full bar near the restaurant entrance. The interior design is among the most memorable in Sydney. The walls are lined with murals, as well as movie posters and tourism flyers from both Laos and Thailand.

Khatoon Cuisine

Situated along Church Street, which is known to the locals as “Eat Street,” Khatoon still stands out with its opulent interior. Once inside, one can be forgiven for thinking that he or she is somewhere between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. On their menu, dishes are spelled out in both English and Persian.

Most of the entrees have meat, but there are enough vegetarian appetizers and salads to call this restaurant vegetarian-friendly. If you’ve never had Persian desserts, you shouldn’t leave without trying the shole zard and traditional Persian ice cream. For an edible art project that’s less filling, try the 3D flower jelly.

Kanzo Fresh Sushi

At Kanzo, everything is made to order. You won’t find that box of sushi that’s been sitting on display for who knows how long, with hard, stale rice, waiting for that unsuspecting customer. The indoor dining area is pretty compact, so take advantage of the outdoor seating and do some people watching.

Darcy Street Project

The Darcy Street Project is a combination coffee shop and social enterprise. They serve their own blend using beans from Colombia, India, and Kenya. The result is a fruity and earthy flavor with a hint of caramel. In addition to their own blend, which spans three different continents, they also serve quirky combinations like coffee and tonic water. The shop is distinguishable from the outside by the funny quotes on the windows. They also serve tea.

Bourke Street Bakery Parramatta

With more than ten locations, Bourke Street Bakery has been serving the Greater Sydney area since 2004. All of their pastries are handmade. In addition to pastries, they also serve ice cream and Aussie staples like meat pies and sausage rolls. Their Parramatta location is next to the town hall at Centenary Square.

Adora Handmade Chocolates

In 1993, two Greek sisters started making handmade chocolates from home. 25 years later, they have four locations throughout greater Sydney. At Adora, you’ll find traditional sweets like ganaches, marzipan, and pralines side by side with chocolates infused with ingredients native to Australia like wattleseed and macadamia nuts. All pastries are made on site. Don’t leave without trying their hot chocolate. It’s topped with chocolate shavings which almost melt in the cup.

The Grounds Keeper Cafe Parramatta

Located at the southeast entrance to the lovely 70-acre Parramatta Park, The Grounds Keeper Cafe offers breakfast and lunch with outdoor seating just steps from the Parramatta River and Old Government House. They serve a variety of teas and award-winning, locally roasted Di Gabriel coffee. Their lunch menu consists of mostly middle eastern dishes. You can see their cakes in the display case. The Moroccan orange and Persian pavlova cakes are delectable.

Holy Basil 

Lao food is not difficult to find in Sydney, but every Lao-owned restaurant seems to have Thai attached to it in both name and menu. The cuisines are very similar and you can get the best of both worlds at Holy Basil. All the usual Thai curries, as well as noodle and rice dishes, are available. If you’re looking for something more Lao, try some of the grilled dishes like Lao sausage or ox tongue. You can also try their beef jerky which is a common Lao snack. Going to a Lao restaurant without trying a salad is like skipping the pasta course at an Italian restaurant. The Lao papaya salad includes anchovies, but you can get more adventurous with chicken feet or beef tripe salad. If you’ve never had toasted rice, check out naem khao (toasted rice salad).

Pinterest Where to Eat and Drink in Parramatta Sydney New South Wales Australia
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This post was sponsored by Taste Food Tours. For a list of their tours, click here.