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Top 3 Must-Try Underrated Restaurants In Sydney Darling Harbour
#1 - ROBO
Comfort Asian food at a decent price? Yes please! Robo is a futuristic, space-themed restaurant serving traditional Hong Kong food that will fill you up for less than $20 (without drinks).
You may be greeted warmly by Robo staff (a human of course) who will show you a quick guide on how to order on the computer screens. It’s easy to easy to navigate through the self-ordering system since the system is very detailed.
When we say detailed, we mean detailed! Robo’s menu has an assortment of Hong Kong dishes. If you’re looking for dimsum, rice bowls, meat, seafood, veggies, fried rice, fried noodles, lo mien, noodle soup, congee, dessert, and refreshing iced teas (with or without sugar).
Based on customer reviews, the ‘Soy Sauce Chicken and BBQ Pork Rice Bowl’ combo meal seems to be popular because of the tender and flavorful meat. The ‘Sliced Beef Fried Rice Noodle’ is also a must-try.
Robo restaurant is good for casual dining with friends or small family. They’re open from 11:00am until 3:30pm, then resumes operation from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
Is it good for romantic dates? Probably not, but if you’re looking to dine out with someone special for a casual date, this restaurant would fit the bill.
One of the best things about Robo is that it’s very near Sydney hotels such as APX Darling Harbour (5-minute walk) and APX World Square (7-minute walk). If you’re looking for family friendly hotels in Sydney or Darling Harbour accommodation with parking, then APX Hotels Apartments are conveniently-located and best places to stay in Sydney for you and you family.
Robo restaurant in Sydney also offers takeout food in cute packaging just in case you’re in a hurry or if you wish to eat your food at the comfort of Sydney hotels nearby. Did you know that APX Darling Harbour and APX World Square have Sydney city accommodation and Sydney CBD apartments equipped with kitchenettes and all the necessary appliances (air-conditioning, onsite laundry, flat-screen TVs, secure entry system with CCTV and well-appointed bathrooms)? That means you can heat your takeout food from Robo or any restaurant in Sydney.
What you may love in Robo restaurant in Sydney is that they have decent food portion selection. If you’re craving for one dish, you can order that and it can satisfy your solo cravings. If you’re with family or friends, the dishes can also be shared. If you’re craving for many Hong Kong style dishes, go with the combo platters so you can get a taste of different dishes yet affordable and sufficient.
Summary
Address: Shop14/80 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia (See Google Maps)
Phone: +61424129058
Website: https://roboau.com/
#2 - Hello Auntie
Hello Auntie is one of the most interesting restaurants in this list. They serve modern/contemporary Vietnamese cuisine. The Executive Chef and owner Cuong Nguyen, who has Vietnamese lineage and innovative thinking, is passionate in making old things new without compromising too much of its integrity.
As you enter this restaurant, you will be attended by fantastic and friendly staff. Talking to them is pleasant since you will definitely be asking more about the menu. Their dishes are named in Vietnamese. Even with the ingredients indicated in English, you wouldn’t be able to resist asking them how it’s pronounced, what it means, and how it’s cooked. Kudos to their staff who are beyond attentive!
Why is Hello Auntie a good place for a date? Well let’s talk about the food and menu. It doesn’t matter if you go here for brunch, lunch, or dinner because you will definitely talk and laugh at yourselves for how you attempt to correctly pronounce the dishes (especially if you don’t have Vietnamese background). So that’s definitely a plus on the bonding meter.
If you book between 12pm-2:30pm on a Saturday, their Bottomless Brunch is on the menu for $70 per person. You would definitely enjoy the bottomless spritz accompanied by a range of brand new dishes including Bo Tai Chanh (angus beef tartare, peanut, shallot oil lemon & sesame dressing) and their popular Goi Cuon (Rice paper roll kit!) Click here for Hello Auntie’s Bottomless Bruch menu.
Are you coming in with your family or friends? Hello Auntie also serves their best food combinations in a shared banquet for at least 4 people. Here’s their Banquet menu that you can choose from.
Speaking of going out with family and friends, did you know that APX World Square offers one of the best Darling Harbour accommodation with parking?
They have adjacent two bedroom apartments with private balcony that can accommodate up to six guests. Both bedrooms come with King or Twin beds, a plush sofa bed, two private bathrooms with contemporary fixtures, two fully equipped kitchens and laundries as well as large living areas.
That’s one of the best places to stay in Sydney large enough for you and your group. It’s also one of the hotels close to Sydney airport, and 7-minute walk to Hello Auntie in Haymaket NSW.
One common thing about the restaurant, Hello Auntie, and APX Hotels Apartments is that both are accommodating to people with unique needs. APX Darling Harbour and APX World Square offers accessible Sydney hotel rooms for people who may use a wheelchair or have difficulty with stairs.
Summary
Address: 16 Nicolle Walk, Haymarket NSW 2000 (See Google Maps)
Phone: +02 8072 8838
Website: https://www.hello-auntie.com.au/
Email for reservations: [email protected]
Reservation pages: Darling Harbour branch reservation | Marrickville branch reservation
#3 - Hakatamon Ramen
Are you looking for authentic traditional Hakata style ramen? If yes, then head over to Darling Square for the Hakatamon Ramen that serve flavorful traditional
Japanese Hakata style ramen that will leave you craving for more even in your dreams!
This restaurant in Darling Square serves ramen that has soft and bouncy noodles with rich and flavorful broth. All of their ramen dishes are full of fragrant aromas that are in no way overwhelming.
Their signature Hakatamon Tonkotsu Ramen in black garlic oil, spicy chicken miso infused tonkotsu with extra chashu pork and half a seasoned egg is on point! It has deep tasting, thick, dark broth and a hint of char, and the extra chashuu pork is soft and tender. You know it’s good ramen when you reach the bottom of the bowl and there’s no soup left.
The Dan Dan Tonkotsu Ramen is their Spicy Sichuan flavoured tonkatsu ramen with Hakata style pork bone broth and thin straight noodles. Surprisingly, it’s not too spicy, so this is still a good option for you if want a ramen with a little kick of spiciness.
You can’t miss the side dishes like Nanban Karaage (Japanese fried chicken with soy vinegar and tartare sauce), Gyoza (pan fried dumplings with pork and vegetable filling), and Takoyaki (Japanese batter and octopus ball shaped snack topped with Worcestershire and bonito flakes).
Are you looking for authentic traditional Hakata style ramen? If yes, then head over to Darling Square for the Hakatamon Ramen that serve flavorful traditional Japanese Hakata style ramen that will leave you craving for more even in your dreams!
This restaurant in Darling Square serves ramen that has soft and bouncy noodles with rich and flavorful broth. All of their ramen dishes are full of fragrant aromas that are in no way overwhelming.
Other notable selection from their menu are the Vegetarian Ramen (sesame soy broth, seasoned soy mince and vegetable), and the Kids size Shoyu and Tonkotsu Ramen. If only they have high chair for kids (because they don’t).
The restaurant interior is (unfortunately) small so the seatings get filled up pretty quickly specially on Friday and Saturday nights. The good thing is they have outside seating that appears to be pet friendly, and excellently positioned as it is generally away from the thoroughfare and crowds.
Overall, Hakatamon Ramen is a good Japanese traditional ramen restaurant at a price reasonable price point. This place is not really somewhere to bring a date because of the small space (uhm, privacy and personal space please) and fast-paced setting, but it’s one of the best traditional ramen in Sydney that you’d still taste even in your dreams for a whole week. If you’re willing to spend $25 for some flavorful ramen and drinks per day, then why not?
Other notable selection from their menu are the Vegetarian Ramen (sesame soy broth, seasoned soy mince and vegetable), and the Kids size Shoyu and Tonkotsu Ramen. If only they have high chair for kids (because they don’t).
The restaurant interior is (unfortunately) small so the seatings get filled up pretty quickly specially on Friday and Saturday nights. The good thing is they have outside seating that appears to be pet friendly, and excellently positioned as it is generally away from the thoroughfare and crowds.
Overall, Hakatamon Ramen is a good Japanese traditional ramen restaurant at a price reasonable price point. This place is not really somewhere to bring a date because of the small space (uhm, privacy and personal space please) and fast-paced setting, but it’s one of the best traditional ramen in Sydney that you’d still taste even in your dreams for a whole week. If you’re willing to spend $25 for some flavorful ramen and drinks per day, then why not?
If you’re thinking of trying the ramen here, Hakatamon Ramen is open from Mondays through Sundays, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM, but they extend until 9:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
If you don’t want to wait on queue, you can order online and have it delivered to you through Uber Eats, which is an amazing option if you’re staying in one of Sydney CBD hotels near Darling Harbour just like APX Darling Harbour and APX World Square.
Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy your Nanban Karaage and Ramen at the comfort of your private balcony in Sydney serviced apartment? Book hotel stays at APX World Square for a spacious Standard Studio Apartment with City View, Executive Twin Studio with Private Balcony, or Executvive One Bedroom with Private Balcony. You can also book hotel stays at APX Darling Harbour for One Bedroom Apartments with Private Balcony.
Summary
Address: 6/8 Nicolle Walk, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia (See Google Maps)
Phone: +61 2 7903 0733
Hours of Operation: Opens from Monday – Sunday at 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (9PM on
Fridays and Saturdays)
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