Bourke Street Bakery - Surry Hills

How fast time flies? I can't believe we just lived past the end of the world on 21st December 2012 and through another year of Christmas too! Soon it will be New Year! Yeah it has been quite busy for me in the last couple of weeks so I didn't get a chance to update :( But here is the last entry for 2012, let's goto Bourke Street bakery in Surry Hills...

It was around 11am and we saw a bunch of people lining up around the entrance of Bourke Street bakery. No doubt this place must be good right?

We saw a range of breads through the window, and the overcrowding people at the small space inside. Fortunately, there were some tables outside, half in the sun and half in the shade. We picked our table against the wall after ordering our foods, with everyone around us sipping coffee and eating in slow motions to enjoy every minute of the morning.


Pork and Fennel Sausage Roll $4.50

I ordered this with tomato sauce, and I was more tempted to use hands rather than knife and fork! As I sliced off the first piece, a heavy steam flowed out of the core, making my nostrils craving for more of that delicious heat. The crust was very flaky, and the core was extra tasty when combined with the tomato sauce. I absolutely love it! Even though it was very simple, but it's always those simple cafe foods that delight up your day.


Tomato and Cheese Croissant $4.50

Bun ordered this while I secretly stole some for a quick taste. It was a very familiar flavour, somewhat gave me an image of an old couple making this with friendly smiles, I guess it's the flavour that remind you of "love". While some people may find the flat Croissant quite strange, I actually enjoyed it. This was easier to hold onto and crunch away without the puffy layers, and the tomato and cheese were evenly placed.



We've also ordered drinks, and they were Mocha (top) and Hot Chocolate (bottom) both at $4.00.

I have to say it's very hard to find a Mocha that balance sweetness and bitterness perfectly, but I reckon this one at Bourke Street bakery made it!


I guess this is what you call "Happiness"? On a lazy morning where you don't need to think much, but just spent the time daydreaming with your loved ones. I believe the reason that people love Bourke Street bakery is because of its simplicity and fair price. Alot of the places in modern days spent zillions on the actual appearance of the restaurant or cafe etc and lost sight of what's really important, they were missing the basic elements of warmth and friendliness. Whereas Bourke Street Bakery provided the relaxing atmosphere, and the good foods to match up the surroundings that make you stop by...again and again just for that quick little brunch :)


Lastly...HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! Thank you for reading my blog since it opened in July 2012!


Address*:
633 Bourke Street
Surry Hills

Phone number:
02 9699 1011

Opening time:
Mon - Fri 7am - 6pm
Sat and Sun 8am - 5pm

*There are also 3 other chains in Marrickville, Alexandria and Potts Point
Website: http://www.bourkestreetbakery.com.au/

Tan Viet Noodle House

Famous for its Crispy Chicken, it seems Tan Viet Noodle House in Cabramatta never ceased to have long waiting lines outside. When we got there just a little earlier than lunch time, the line was relatively shorter. It was a very hot day, but the people waiting there had such enthusiastic faces!



The interior was simple with blue walls, and the space was a bit bigger than I imagined. This place was full of people when we got in, although it wasn't too crammed due to its relatively bigger space (2 levels).

3 colours sweet $4.00

I ordered this drink just as I have always done in all other Vietnamese restaurants, simply because I can't get over the layers of different textures. It was icy and absolutely refreshing on such a hot day.



Crispy chicken served with Tomato rice $12.00

Here it comes! Both me and Bun ordered the legendary crispy chicken with tomato rice! We don't think we have ever tasted any chicken skin as this crispy before, every crunch made that delightful sound that's almost like the sound of swinging wind chime after a soft breeze. The meat was moist, extremely tender, and the portion was fair. We found the tomato rice was quite nice too, as it soaked evenly into the light tomato flavour and served at the perfect temperature.

We were both very full at 3/4 way of the dish, but the temptation to keep eating was too strong. So...it ended up with Bun having a very satisfied face just like in that picture. You can eat the crispy chicken with noodles too, it seemed just as delicious...too bad we were bloated, maybe next time.

Honestly, this place should really open after 7pm as well, I'm sure alot of the local people would love a quick supper there!


Address:
100 John St, Cabramatta NSW

Phone number:
02 9727 6853

Opening time:
Daily 9am - 7pm


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Pho An

I would recommend this as one of the best Pho place in Sydney to you, so pho sooooo gooood indeed.


Just check out the crowd here! Those people were eating, sniffling, and enjoying the warm soup and its chilliness.

Che ba mau $5.00

It has always been my favourite drink to go with the Pho, just because it's so refreshing. Each layer has different textures and tastes, mixed along with the sweetness of coconut flavour. Some are chewy and slippery, while the others are soggy. The 3 layers of colours form a pleasant visual presentation.


Here's the typical bean sprout plate, time to grab a handful and put into the Pho!





















Chin $12.00(medium), or $13.00(large)

oh this is how we started...
1: The plain pho with floating vegetables and clear soup, and the meat hiding underneath waiting to be found.

2. A sprinkle of fresh chilli instantly added colours to the bowl, now it's starting to look like flower and leaves.

3. The ultimate weapon of chilli sauce, we added a little bit to start off (thank god it was only a little bit) and this is when the excitement begins.

4. Then we added all the bean sprouts and mix mix MIX! We digged hard and let all the beef flip out, and this would be the time to start drooling, alot.


Any thoughts afterward? I think it was totally mouthwatering!



Address:
27 Greenfield Parade
Bankstown NSW

Phone number:
(02) 9796 7826

Opening time:
7 Days 7am - 9pm


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In Chan Thai (CLOSED 2013)

This small Thai restaurant located near UNSW has always been one of our favourite, it is cheap and absolutely spot-on with the taste, and I have not found another place to beat its Pad Thai yet. The flavours of their food has drawn me back over and over again like a cork on the tide, they are just so addictive!

The question that I always ask Bun when we go there was "why does this awesome restaurant seemed empty"? I wasn't sure whether it was because we were always there on the weekend nights, or is it just us who think this restaurant should totally be packed like no tomorrow.

Coconut juice $6.00

Bun loves coconut juice, and this drink surely is refreshing to prepare you before a meal full of sweet, chilli and sour tastes.

Thai iced tea (with or without milk) $3.00

I have this thing for Thai iced tea, as they have this special flavour to make you obsessed. Perhaps it's because of the fact it isn't too sweet, but just to the perfect state with a lingering taste. You can choose to have it with or without milk, guess it depends on whether you like abit of creaminess or enjoy the sweet-bitterness.

















These would be the typical dishes that we'd pick, on some occasions we would also get the sticky rice mango if it's in-season.

Clockwise from top:

Pad Prik Sod (hot or mild) Stir-fried fresh chilli with onion and shallot - you get a wide selection from chicken, beef, duck, calamari, prawn...etc and price various with choices(we picked beef here $12.90).

We asked for hot, and so it turned out hot indeed! The beef were tender, juicy and extra spicy, and I would recommend people to eat it with some rice. We didn't, so we ended up enjoying the feeling like we have numb lips from the burning chilli.


Pad Thai - popular Thai style stir-fried rice noodle with special sauce, egg and peanut (again you have those choices, we picked chicken $12.90).

I still remember the first time I tasted this Pad Thai, as it burnt such a deep impression into my brain, taste bud, and heart. As we tried many other Pad Thai in town, I still couldn't find one that I think that would taste as good as this one. It's just the width of the noodle, the right amount of all the ingredients in there, the generous portion, and every bit of flavour attached to this dish. I loved this so much that I have to order it everytime I go there, and I really wish someone can tell me one day that they loved it just as much as I do!! :)


Curry Puff (4) - with potatoes, onion and curry powder, wrapped in deep fried pastry $6.00

This little entree dish is just as great as the main, the pastry are so crumbly and the fillings are really satisfying.


Tom Yum Goong - Thai spicy soup with mushroom and prawn (small $7.00 / large $16.90)

Ofcourse, how can you leave the place without a lovely bowl of Tom Yum Goong? This would be the second favourite dish! We've ordered a small bowl and the soup was perfect, with two whole piece of prawn inside and loads of mushrooms floating on top.



We were bloated and satisfied every time we go to this restaurant, and occasionally we would also get takeaways to enjoy them later. It would be a wonderful place to go for those uni students in UNSW, since the place is big enough to fit small groups of people. I found the prices are relatively cheap and the portion is generous, and the foods are unbelievably flavoursome. Oh yea, their curry rice dishes are just as awesome too!



Address:
482 Anzac Parade
Kinsford NSW

Phone number:
(02) 9663 3356

Opening time:
7 days
Mon - Sat 11am - 10pm
Sun 12pm - 10pm


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Chat Thai - Westfield Sydney

If I could use 3 words to describe Chat Thai, it would be lively, delightful and approachable. Winning many awards for its sweets and being a popular stop for cheap eats, Chat Thai tables become more and more demanding as time goes on.

 

The restaurant was casual, welcoming, and full of energy all around the place. You can easily walk in and find something that captures your attention. Like the tints of yellow colours, the odd decorations on the wall or even the cup like below...

 

 I found this quite amusing to be honest, as usually you would expect a plain glass or plastic cup to contain water. Those patterns fascinate me, and they really made me felt like I'm in the middle of Bangkok with revolving sounds of friendly Thai locals.













You just can't help it but to stare at the yellow colours that stood out on the tables!

I can tell you this straight, this was probably one of the very few times where I had no clue of what am I going to pick from the menu. Why? Because I wanted to eat everything!!! As for sweets-lovers, I guarantee that when you land your eyes on the wide selection of desserts, your brain will become malfunctioned!

 

Watermelon Blend $5.00

This drink was very cool and refreshing. Perhaps you will need this if the table is going to be bombarded by spicy dishes.

Starters:
Todt mun goong gaeng keaw $16.00
fried green curried prawn mousseline, drizzled with pickled plum sauce

The starter was a surprise, as we didn't expect the serving portion to be so generous. The prawns were quite big for a bite, and they were beautifully cooked. The crust was thin and crunchy with a moist core of prawn, and the addition of chilli sauce just fully brought out the flavours.

Curries & Soups:
Gaeng daeng bped $20.00
red curry of roasted duck with pineapple and holy basil

Beware, this dish is HOT! I found the initial taste wasn't too chilli, but it gradually builds up. Soon you will find the chilliness swirl up like hurricane in your mouth, and yes they do burn! I dare you to try those lychees hiding around the basils! They were like spicy bombs that explode instantly! The only thing was that there were only few small pieces of ducks which wasn't enough for 100% satisfaction.

Starters:
Bangkok Wings $13.50
lightly battered and fried chicken wings

I can't let go of fried food, and fried chicken wings was irresistible. You get quite a big bowl full of chicken wings, and it was a decent amount to make you burp sooner than you think. Dip in that chilli sauce! You will love it!

Desserts:
Khao nieaw sangkaya $4.50
sweet coconut milk infused sticky rice and coconut custard

We had a hard time trying to decide what dessert to get, everything seemed good by their descriptions. So finally we came up with this one and...it wasn't too bad. The sticky rice was as good as it could get, and the layer of coconut custard was gentle on the taste bud. But I will definitely come back here to try some other desserts in the future!!


What to conclude about Chat Thai? It suits people who like crowd, who love noise, who totally adore vibrant atmosphere! If that's you, this is the place to go for some good food at prices that make you smile. If not? There are plenty of other choices on the same level.



Address:
Level 6, Market Street
Westfield Sydney


Phone number:
(02) 9221 0600


Opening hours:
Open everyday
Lunch: 10am - 5pm
Dinner: 5pm - 10.30pm



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Mamak (Haymarket-Chinatown)

      
I'm sure we all know how popular Mamak is, not only because it is located in the heart of
Chinatown, but also for its cheap price for traditional Malaysian cuisine. As they do not take bookings, you often see a line outside the restaurant way before its opening time. Although if you join the queue about half hour before opening time, it is very likely you will get a table straight away.

Or if you didn’t manage to get seats when it opens, you can still look inside the window and be mesmerised by the Roti being flipped and tossed around like circus performances. Close your eyes for a moment and try to imagine yourself in the middle of the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur, and listening to the voices of food hawkers from the far distance...

Teh Tarik $3.50

You may find this classic Malaysian tea interesting with the mixture of different textures, the top was covered by a thick layer of foam and the bottom was silky and warm with sweetened flavour.

Satay (chicken/beef ) $9 for 1/2 dozen or $16 for dozen

You can't go wrong with an entree of ½ or a dozen of Satay, and the Satay at Mamak were grilled to the right temperature.  All you need then is dipping them in the sweet and spicy peanut sauce to create that tempting aroma, and bite it down with satisfaction.

 

Roti Canai  $5.50

This original Roti is probably for people who don’t like complicated tastes where fillings blend with the sauces. You simply just want to immerse yourself in the aftertaste that lingers from the finger-licking curry dips and spicy sambal sauce, nothing more. Well, you got it! Get ready to put your hands on 1 of these!

 

Murtabak (chicken/lamb) $11.50

While this choice can be flavoursome, personally I think it lost the whole purpose for the sauce dipping.  With all the salty tastes of eggs and onions, the bits and pieces of meat and cabbage, you won’t know where the centre of your attention should land for this dish.

 

Ayam Goreng ($14 for 4/ $4 per piece)

Just take a look at it and I’m sure it instantly arouses your appetite! Rip a tiny piece of the skin and you can already see its juice rushing out for a breath. Then you take a bite and feel this tenderness on your tongue and down your throat, nice and warm and full of combinations of spices. Excellent fried chicken! I would give it a big thumb-up.

Roti tisu $9.50

This sweet, thin, and extremely crispy Roti was served tall along with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream, I wonder whether this make you question the way to eat it? (Estimate about 20cm tall?) You can try chop off its peak and snap down the layers by following a clock-wise or anti-clockwise direction.

Overall, I thought Mamak would be an ideal place for students to catch up with friends after class on a weekday, an interesting dinner experience for any travellers, and for those all-nighters craving for a quick supper or snack on a typical weekend.  




Address:
15 Goulburn Street, Haymarket, Sydney

Phone number:
T: (02) 9211 1668 No reservations

Opening hours:
Lunch 11.30am -2.30pm
Dinner 5.30pm -10pm
Supper till 2am (Fri & Sat)



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