Welcome to The Latch Tastemakers, where we sit down with people who know a city’s scene like the back of their hand to ask their must-try restaurants, cafes and bars. Dive into our Tastemakers series and curate your ultimate hit-list, whether you’re exploring your own city or venturing somewhere new.
Malaysian-born Adam Liaw moved to Australia when he was three. Since winning the second season of MasterChef Australia, he’s hosted more than a handful of food and travel shows, written several cookbooks and most recently launched a Chef Blend beer with James Squire.
Throughout his career, Liaw has gotten up close and personal with dining scenes around the world. From all that he’s seen, he says there’s one thing Sydney’s dining scene does particularly well.
“I think Sydney dining brings people together better than anywhere else,” he says. “It’s a really social thing, dining out in Sydney. You rarely go out for a meal by yourself or even as a couple. It’s always with a group of friends having a good time.”
As for how Sydney’s dining scene has changed over the last decade, Liaw says it’s become more casual — in terms of what restaurants are popping up and what diners want. Ten years ago, it was about going to big-name or expensive restaurants.
“Now it’s where’s got the best atmosphere, where’s the most fun and where’s serving interesting food,” he says. “I think Sydney’s at the real forefront of interesting social food.”
Chatswood
For a cheap eat in Sydney, Liaw heads to Chatswood’s shopping centres and the areas around them. He says the areas offer small and authentic restaurants.
“There are lots of the Chinese street foods you would find if you were eating in China,” he says. “There’s a place I know that sells amazing tiny dumplings that you can’t get anywhere in the city other than in Eastwood. Lots of interesting things to eat.”
Ho Jiak
Liaw’s go-to Sydney spot for Malaysian when he isn’t cooking it at home is Ho Jiak. The restaurant has locations in Haymarket, Town Hall, Chatswood and Strathfield and was also named by fellow Malaysian-born Australian Poh Ling Yoew as one of her favourite places to eat in the cuisine (you can read Poh’s Tastemakers here).
“Junda [Kooh, the restaurant’s head chef and part-owner] does a fantastic job and there are lots of different venues now so there are lots of different expressions of what Malaysian food is,” Liaw says.
Jane
The restaurant Liaw visits the most in Sydney? Jane in Surry Hills which he calls a lovely, casual Australian bistro. The restaurant opened in 2022 as the more relaxed counterpart to degustation-only diner Arthur.
“The menu there changes a lot,” Liaw says. “So I don’t have a favourite dish. I just love seeing what they’ve got every time.”
Loulou Bistro
Another Sydney venue favourite of Liaw’s is French restaurant Loulou Bistro in Milson Point which opened in December 2021. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner serving the likes of veal tongue croquettes, John Dory and a lamb of the day.
Charles Grand Brasserie
Finally to celebrate a special occasion in Sydney, Liaw heads to The Charles Grand Brasserie. The restaurant opened on King Street in the CBD in October 2022.
“They’ve got a great dessert trolley that comes out,” he says. “I’m a dessert guy. I don’t like making desserts but I love eating them. So when the dessert trolley comes out, you can be like, ‘I want to take that, that and that.’”
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