How can a traveler navigate the Aussie city’s myriad Asian cuisines?

Often mistaken for the country’s capital – a title which in fact belongs to Canberra – Sydney is the most popular urban destination in Australia. What’s more, with flight prices falling (you can pick up a cheap flight to Sydney for less than £650 with dialaflight.com), it has become one of the world’s favourite tourist spots.

And it isn’t simply a big draw because of the stunning architecture and elegant sails of Sydney Opera House. Nor is it solely due to the 30-plus beaches which are nestled around this harbour town.

Alongside culture, landscape and weather, Sydney is now a foodie destination. And with a history of increased immigration from South East Asian countries – and other cultures further afield – Sydney now boasts one of the most diverse and experimental Asian food scenes in the world.
So where to go? And what to taste?

Any gastronomic trip through Sydney’s Chinatowns must begin with Spice I Am, which produces Thai cuisine and has done for more years than even the locals can remember. Unlike the Michelin-baiting offerings along the
harbour, this is a classic, cheap, delicious and unpretentious place.

You can rock up with your own bottle of wine or beer – they don’t charge corkage – and then choose from over 70 dishes, which still bear the complex spices and surprise fragrances of robust Thai cooking. Lemongrass, chilli and kaffir lime blend with seductive depth.

Vegetarians must visit Mother Chu’s Vegetarian Kitchen (a personal favourite!) which creates a fusion of Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese styles of cooking, using plenty of tofu, beansprouts, eggplant and broccoli to delicious effect. I have been with several non-vegetarian friends who have ended up being even more satisfied than me!

For a bit of a rough-and-ready street food vibe, head near Haymarket to Mamak, an old-school Malaysian canteen which serves up spicy concoctions that are good to grab on the go. Or you can nustle in amongst the steaming plates rolling out of the kitchen and enjoy the authentic feeling of being caught in the midst of a bustling city hundreds of miles north west of Australia, in some secret corner of South East Asia.