- Bankstown Bites food festival is a July must-try in the food calendar.
- But don’t worry if you missed it – Bankstown’s eateries are a melting pot of cultural cuisine.
- Just walk into Bankstown City Plaza and taste the world.
The Bankstown Bites Food Festival celebrated 20 years this year with a big show of cultural cuisine that was all about what’s best about this Western Sydney destination.
A symphony of sizzling woks and spices mingling with fresh herbs filled the city centre’s Olympic Esplanade, where hundreds of visitors immersed themselves in a joyous celebration of culture, music, and, most importantly, food.
Bankstown, New South Wales, is more than just a suburb; it is a living, breathing tapestry of over 129 nationalities and 200 languages, reflecting this amazing area’s global diversity. While Bankstown Bites offers an annual taste of this rich cultural mosaic, the true magic of Bankstown lies in its everyday dining.
Step into Bankstown City Plaza and discover a fabulous mix of authentic Vietnamese food shops serving up steaming bowls of pho and banh mi, alongside laid-back Lebanese cafes offering rich coffees and delectable sweet shops brimming with Middle Eastern pastries.
This is Bankstown’s enduring charm, a daily invitation to explore the world on a plate.
Bankstown Bites: what happens at the festival
Bankstown Bites Food Festival is a true “Taste the World” journey, with up to 30 food stalls offering an array of international delights. From the savoury depths of Indonesian Madura Satay to the intricate layers of Japanese Okonomiyaki, the crispy perfection of Turkish Gozleme, and the aromatic spices of Nepalese Street Food, every corner offered a discovery.
Korean Corn Dogs, Malaysian Hawker dishes, Spanish Paella, and Middle Eastern Falafels further enriched this global culinary tour.
The festival’s “Bites Kitchen” and “Bites Corner” stages featured Celebrity Chef Karima Hazim of Sunday Kitchen with the secrets of Lebanese cuisine, demonstrating how to prepare authentic Tabbouch Dip, Kafta Wraps, and Homemade Zaatar Manoushe with Labne.
Big Sam Young brought the vibrant flavours of Chinese cooking to life with his Seafood Chow Mein demonstration. Other highlights included the preparation of Palestinian Musakhan Wraps by Yummy Yummy Knafeh and a global BBQ tour at Bites Corner, featuring Indian Tandoori Chicken, Moroccan Spice Grilled Lamb, Brazilian Picanha, and American Smoked Pork Butt.
Why Bankstown food matters
The demographic data for Bankstown, which reveals significant populations born in Vietnam (15.6%), Lebanon (6.0%), China (4.8%), Pakistan (3.2%), Bangladesh (3.1%), and a staggering 60+ languages spoken, shows why this suburb has such a hold on cultural cuisine.
The true heart of Bankstown’s multicultural culinary scene can be found around Bankstown City Plaza.
The Plaza is a haven for authentic Vietnamese food. Take, for instance, Bami Vietnamese, where the philosophy is “Made FAST but FRESH!”. Their commitment to “green Vietnamese food fresh from the wok” offers everything from their “signature Bami Roll” to the deeply comforting, “soul-warming Phở”.
Just steps away, the Plaza’s laid-back Lebanese cafes offer a different, yet equally rich, cultural experience. The Plaza Cafe at 100 Bankstown City Plaza has a menu that invites lingering over traditional Middle Eastern breakfasts and lunches. One can imagine starting the day with a Za’atar Wrap, or a hearty Mediterranean Plate featuring sujuk, grilled halloumi, creamy hummus, labneh, and mini manoush.
Hummus Bil Lahmeh, a savoury blend of hummus with spiced minced meat, toasted pine nuts, and poached eggs, I a great way to start any day.
SeaSweet Patisserie, founded in Lebanon in 1973 and bringing its “finest Middle Eastern Sweets” to Sydney since 2008. Their reputation for “knafeh kaak and chocolate baklava,” crafted with Australian ingredients, showcases the enduring legacy of Middle Eastern sweets in the region.
Bankstown’s rich tapestry
Bankstown’s story is deeply rooted in ancient history, long before European settlement. The land was, and remains, the traditional country of the Bidjigal, Dharug, and Gweagal Aboriginal peoples, with the Dharug language group being the largest in the area.
For many thousands of years, Aboriginal societies thrived here, their lives and culture intrinsically linked to the land. Reminders of their enduring presence, including rare rock paintings and camping sites, can still be found, particularly along the Georges and Cooks Rivers, offering a profound connection to Australia’s First Nations heritage.
A transformation occurred in the 1970s, as Bankstown became a primary destination for a significant influx of new migrants arriving in Australia, predominantly from Vietnam and Lebanon. This wave of migration fundamentally reshaped Bankstown’s demographics and cultural landscape, laying the foundation for the vibrant community seen today.
Today, Bankstown is renowned for its profound cultural diversity. As of 2021, its population stands at 34,933, with a remarkable 63.9% born overseas. The spiritual life of Bankstown is equally diverse, with Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism being among the most common religions.
Bankstown’s journey has not been without its challenges. However, the community has consistently demonstrated remarkable resilience and a capacity for positive evolution.
Stories like the hijab-wearing Muslim girls joining the ranks of Australia’s iconic Surf Life Savers in 2007 exemplify the spirit of integration and mutual understanding that defines modern Bankstown.
This story of resilience, active integration, and a thriving, diverse society offers visitors a chance to experience a truly harmonious and evolving urban landscape, moving beyond superficial tourism to engage with a community that actively builds bridges.
How to get to Bankstown from the CBD
Here are your options:
- Drive: 23 minutes, $5–6
- Train: 54–59 minutes, $5–8
- Bus: 48–51 minutes, $4–5
- Taxi: 23 minutes, $55–70
Bankstown is a destination unlike any other in Sydney, a place where vibrant multiculturalism, a rich and evolving history, and an exceptional culinary scene converge. From the annual spectacle of Bankstown Bites to the daily delights of City Plaza, it is a living testament to diversity as a source of strength and celebration.
