- The Good Food Guide Awards have been announced for Sydney.
- We know now which new restaurants have picked up a chef’s hat.
- And a lot of them are outside of Sydney’s usual culinary hotspots, with a lot of these hatted restaurants now out west.
Last night, the Sydney Morning Herald announced the winners of the Good Food Guide Awards 2026, centred around the who’s who of Sydney’s hospo team and including prestigious awards like “Restaurant of the Year” (going to Corner 75 in Randwick) and “Chef of the Year” (going to pastry chef Lauren Eldridge).
By now, we’re familiar with the usual hat-winners: restaurants in the CBD, Paddington, Potts Point, and a few Inner West gems probably found on or around King Street. These venues are undoubtedly heavyweights in Sydney’s dining scene, but we’ve narrowed down the long list of hatted restaurants to spotlight those beyond the usual hotspots.
From Berowra Waters to Hurstville and Lidcombe, these hatted restaurants break the usual geographic mould, proving that world-class dining in Sydney isn’t confined to a few specific areas.
READ MORE: Jaaks at Kyle Bay: A Greek Island Escape on Sydney’s Shores
1. Yeodongsik, Lidcombe
Lidcombe is not short of authentic Korean restaurants; however, Yeodongsik stands out among others. You’re likely to have to join the queue outside to snag one of the 25 seats, made worse by the restaurant’s TikTok fame. Diners rave about the restaurant’s cold buckwheat noodles with perilla oil and their haejang-guk (which loosely translates to “hangover soup”). With just 11 dishes on the menu, each one has been perfected. What’s more, this is one of the cheaper restaurants featured on the Good Food Guide, making it well worth a visit.
Where: Shop 7, 36/44 John St, Lidcombe NSW 2141.
Opening times: Monday- Saturday, 12pm-3pm, 5pm-9pm.
2. Taste of Shunde, Hurstville
The SMH claims that Taste of Shunde serves “one of Sydney’s most incredible, showstopping dishes”, and they’re not wrong. The authentic Cantonese Chinese restaurant serves up locally spiced, crispy, golden-roasted goose, which you can see hanging like decorations in the kitchen, served on a decadent platter. Their steamed coral trout bamboo platter is a lesson in fresh, perfectly flavoured seafood, and they also specialise in yum cha classics, think salt & pepper chicken cartilage with fried milk rolls and pan-fried stuffed dace.
Where: 9-11 Crofts Ave, Hurstville NSW 2220.
Opening times: Monday- Sunday, 10am-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm.
3. Yan, Wolli Creek
Yan, meaning “smoke” in Mandarin, is famous for its use of a smoked oven to give dishes “new yet familiar flavours”. This local favourite is known for good-value dishes, including smoked pork belly with garlic chive broth, slow roasted onion and salty shrimp chilli oil, for $49, which can easily be shared between two thanks to the generous portion. A range of smaller plates includes kangaroo tartare, steamed barramundi, smoked quail and braised wintermelon. The banquet meal costs just $75 per person, with a choice of meats, smaller plates and sides. Vegans are looked after too, with a $75 per person set menu featuring tomato carpaccio, braised wintermelon and black pepper tofu.
Where: G03/19 Arncliffe St, Wolli Creek NSW 2205.
Opening times: Wednesday- Saturday, 5:30pm-10pm, Sunday: 12–3:30 pm, 5:30–10 pm.
READ MORE: I spent the perfect day in Penrith – here’s what to do in Sydney’s adventure capital
4. Sinclair’s, Penrith
The one and a half hour train journey from Sydney’s CBD is made worth it with a visit to Sinclair’s in Penrith. As the only restaurant in the suburb to have ever been awarded a prestigious hat, Sinclair’s is a Penrith institution, famous for its use of fresh, local produce, stunning view of the Nepean River, and heart-warming, country-style menu. Highlights include their line-caught snapper with bugeja rainbow chard and an almond gramolata and the house crumpet with bugeja sweet corn and fennel jam.
Where: 1/20 Memorial Ave, Penrith NSW 2750.
Opening Hours: Wednesday-Thursday (5:30pm-9:30pm); Friday-Saturday (12pm-3pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm); Sunday (12pm-4pm).
5. Cricca, Windsor
This tiny restaurant in Windsor is the proud owner of a twenty-year-old wood-fired oven, run by longtime childhood friends Chef Alessio Nogarotto and Chef Giles Gabutina. In Italian, “Cricca” means close-knit friends, and with a menu designed for sharing, it’s the perfect place to get together with your nearest and dearest. Standout menu offerings include a dill and spice-cured hiramasa kingfish, smoky Sydney rock oysters and crunchy pork cheek croquettes. Dessert highlights include baumkuchen, a cake made by cooking individual layers of batter before glazing with honey and burnt orange for zesty sweetness and covering in sharp cherries.
Where: Shop 1/135 George St, Windsor NSW 2756.
Opening times: Wednesday & Thursday 6pm-11pm, Friday 5:30pm-11pm, Saturday 12–2:30 pm, 5:30–11 pm.
6. Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters
Berowra Waters Inn is nestled on Berowra Creek, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, and has long been considered among Australia’s best restaurants since its inception. If you dine here, you’ll be eating some of the freshest oysters from the Hawkesbury, thanks to the Berowra Waters Inn’s proximity to local oyster farms, sitting within a six-kilometre radius of the restaurant. Their six-course menu will set you back $220 per person, featuring snapper and marigold, emu egg, bunya nut and crab, venison and artichoke, as well as wattleseed and coffee for dessert.
Wondering how to get to the restaurant? Here’s the fun part: just drive to Berowra Waters Wharf, and at your scheduled booking time, their private boat will whisk you away to the secluded restaurant.
Where: 1 Calabash Point, Berowra Waters NSW 2159.
Opening times: Open Thursday 12pm-3pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-3pm, 6:30pm-9pm, Sunday 12pm-3pm.
7. Abhi’s Indian Restaurant, North Strathfield
An iconic fine dining Indian restaurant located in North Strathfield, this beloved gem blends local produce, timeless traditional recipes and innovative modern twists to deliver an unforgettable culinary experience. Owner Kumae Mahadevan won this year’s Legend Award for an outstanding long-term contribution to the hospitality industry, having changed the game in Sydney’s Indian food scene with his passion and decades of experience. At Abhi’s, opt for the masala dosa, which consists of a crispy crepe wrapped around a soft, savoury potato filling that you can then dip in fragrant chutneys. Try one of their eight different naans and parathas, and opt for their chicken Hyderbadi biryani if you want comforting, familiar flavours that still make an impact.
Where: 163 Concord Rd, North Strathfield NSW 2137.
Opening times: Monday- Sunday 12-3pm, 5:30pm-10pm, except Saturdays, open 5:30pm-10pm.
READ MORE: Would you try this beef, pigeon and foie gras wellington from The Charles?
8. Pilu at Freshwater, Freshwater
Inspired by the region of Sardinia, Pilu serves up contemporary Italian dishes in its heritage-listed beach house. The 21-year-old seaside restaurant is perfect for a long weekend lunch, where you can feast on their fresh coral trout crudo, signature juicy suckling cricca pig roast and smooth goat’s milk gelato, as you look out onto one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches. Your tiramisu will be served tableside and your wine will be from a faraway region of Italy. What’s not to love?
Where: Moore Rd, Freshwater NSW 2096.
Opening times: Wednesday and Thursday 12pm-10:30pm, Friday-Sunday 11:30am-9pm.
9. Postino Osteria, Summer Hill
Another classic Italian with a neighbourhood vibe, Postino Osteria states that they’re “inspired by those small traditional trattorias that only the locals know about, and the classic Italian comfort food that transports you directly to Nonna’s house.” Postino Osteria is new to the list of prestigious hatted restaurants, with SMH calling it “the kind of well-priced comfort food that every neighbourhood deserves.” Order their spaghetti chitarra con pallottine (which comes with about 40 tiny meatballs) or celebrate the restaurant’s year anniversary this October with a special set menu of their most-loved dishes for $89 per person.
Where: 2 Moonbie St, Summer Hill NSW 2130.
Opening times: Monday-Thursday 5:30pm-9pm, Friday-Sunday 11:30am-3pm, 5pm-9pm.
