Best and Cheapest Indonesian Food in Sydney City - Lestari Resto

After > 2 years of staying in city, Lestari Resto is the best and cheapest Indonesian food that we can find here.  You will love it if you like hot and spicy food. Their custom chili source is extremely spicy that I've ever eat anywhere else before.

Food - 9/10
Price - 9/10
Environment - 7/10

All their food are very nice. You definately will coem back many times to try the rest of the food. The only I don't so like is their food is a little bit oily. It tastes nice but maybe not so healthy. :) :D

Address
93/732 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007

Business Hours
Monday - Friday from 12 PM -> 8 PM

Blog Update - March 2016

Due to the limited time that I have and yet I still want to keep this blog updated (if possible), I have decided to do the following in my future posts:

• Most likely not posting any food image anymore because it is time consuming and most food photos can be found online already

• Not putting the interactive map anymore because nowadays we can just use Google Map to pin point the location by searching the restaurant name or the street name if really need to (I will still put the address for reference)

• Will most likely blog about food in Sydney that I come across that worth to be shared especially those cheap and delicious food

Best Tom Yum in Sydney - Do Dee Thai Noodle Bar

This is so far the best Tom Yum in Sydney that I have tried. Their Tom Yum is not same with the one in Malaysia. There are 2 branches here, one is in Bondi Junction and another one is in Haymarket.

Food 9/10 (Only for the Tom Yum)

There are many varieties of Tom Yum here and you can choose the Spicy level. Level 2 is very hot already. I had tried level 7 and it is way too hot but I still enjoyed it. I would recommend go for level 2 and if it is not hot enough, you can add the chili powder by yourself.


Price 9/10 

Price is cheap but the portion is very small. You can add (self-service) as many as vegetables as you want (only in Bondi Junction).  They also give very less soup, I wonder if we can request them to add more?


Environment 8/10

Many Thai people here every time I visit here. I guess food here is definitely authentic. :)

Other Stuff

They also sell economy rice (only in Bondi Junction) and other usual proper Thai food (only in Haymarket). The economy rice is quite nice and cheap as well. You can try that too.

But for other usual proper Thai Food in Haymarket branch, I personally don't like it very much. There are other Thai restaurants that serve better than them here in Sydney. That's why you see most people order the Tom Yum noodle here!


Location Information


Address 1 (above Bondi Junction Train Station)
Shop 15 Tiffany Plaza,
422 Oxford Street,
Bondi Junction, NSW 2022 Australia.



Address 2 (Near China Town)
Shop 9,
37 Ultimo Rd,
Haymarket. NSW 2000 Australia.

Business Hours
Bondi Junction
Monday - Sunday (Lunch only)

Haymarket
Monday - Sunday (7 am - 12 am)

Best Vietnamese Pork Roll in Sydney

This is the best Vietnamese pork roll that I have tried so far.  It is at 627 George Street, Haymarket, Sydney City. The shop is called "Sydney Pork Rolls" just besides a very busy George Street and sometimes you need to queue for it.

Food 9/10

It is cheap and before 11 am, it is only $3.95. So far I have tried pork, BBQ pork and chicken roll. The chicken roll is slightly less tasty than pork but it is still very nice.

The meat ball roll is the one I always want to try but they always sold out. :( I wonder it will be tastier than pork roll.

If you have visited Sydney CBD, you can just drop by. The rest of the Vietnamese pork rolls that I have tried are not as good as this one.


Location Information



Address
627 George St,
Haymarket NSW 2000,
Australia

Business Hours
10 am - 10 pm

GPS Location
33°52'41.1"S
151°12'20.1"E

Irish Lamb Shank from Secret Recipe

This is the dish that I love most in Secret Recipe. The other dishes, I wouldn't recommend at all except for their cakes.

Food - 9/10 (Only for Irish Lamb Shank)

It is not cheap as you can see but it is really nice. Unfortunately many of the Secret Recipe branches in Malaysia don't sell this dish anymore. I"m not sure why, I suspect lamb is just not popular here or maybe it is simply too expensive? Or maybe they're waiting the lamb from Ireland? lol

Every time I just quit if they don't sell this dish although they have it in their menu. Trust me, other dishes that sold by secret recipes are not worth it at all.


Price - 7/10

Price is slightly expensive but it is worth it with such delicious dish. This maybe personal.


Location Information

Many places in Malaysia you can find secret recipe (e.g. shopping centers and shop lots).

Best Coffee in Sydney - The Grounds of Alexandria

If you are coffee lover and you have a chance to visit Sydney, the grounds of Alexandria is a must visit for you. The coffee there is the best coffee that I have tried so far in Sydney.

If you don't drive, you can take either bus or train here. But for train, you need to walk for a bit. It is about 1.5 KM.

This is the place you order your coffee. The line up is usually quite long. So you need to be patient. If you can't wait, this place may not be for you.

Coffee - 9/10

Not kidding, it is really good (but for coffee only)!

The other food is suck actually such as this one. I only recommend for having coffee here but not other food.

Environment - 8/10

This is outside of the restaurant, we didn't manage to go inside the restaurant because was too crowded. I think this place is usually very crowded all the time even thought it is not weekend or holiday.

Location Information


View Larger Map

Address 
Building 7A/2,
Huntley Street Alexandria,
NSW 2015,
Australia

Phone
+61 2 9699 2225

Business Hours
7:00 am - 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday)
7:30 am - 4:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday)

GPS Location
33°54'38.2"S
151°11'39.5"E

Aquarium Restaurant - Pineapple Garden

I just feel like want to talk about this unique aquarium restaurant in Penang. It is a pretty innovative restaurant. :) An aquarium inside a TV!!! Have a look...

Food / Overall - 7/10

Not the food are supper good here, but I'm attracted by this unique aquarium. :)

The "balacan" fried chicken, most local people will order this. :)

Curry fish, and sorry, I don't really like it.

This grassy jerry (also known as"cincau") drink is the famous one and you MUST order this.

Location Information

 
View Pineapple Garden Restaurant in a larger map

Address 
1,Pesara Mahsuri 5,
SG. Nibong Kecil,
Bayan Lepas,
11900 Penang.

Business Hours
Lunch & Dinner (I assume everyday)

GPS Location
+5° 19' 51.55"
+100° 16' 55.43"

Curry Fish Head at Sunshine Square Food Court Penang

This is one of the best curry fish head that I have tried in Penang since I started to work here (i.e. > 13 years ago)!

Food/Overall - 8/10

If you don't like or don't know how to eat fish head (somehow most people are), you can order just the fish meat and you can also add on prawn and squid. Without fish head, I feel it is not that nice. Perhaps if you really don't enjoy fish heat, this rating will not be 8/10. You can also order "Oily Vegetable"(油菜) as side order.


Location Information

Same location as Tom Yum Noodle soup that I recommended,  you can check out the location information in this post:

• Best and Unique Tom Yum Noodle Soup

Best Fried Pork Leg in Gurun, Kedah

This is the best fried pork leg that I have tried so far. It is located in Gurun, Kedah. Good thing is not many people know about this place except the locals. Why? Because you don't need to wait for damn long for the food! :)

As you can see from these pictures, the restaurant's name is called "Xong Yuan Seafood" but it is parked in the "Ta Choong" coffee shop. You can look for this coffee shop first as it is easier to be seen.


Food (Fried Pork Leg) - 9/10

They fry it and it is very crispy. I like most about is it's gelatin. Some people call it pork collagen. It is in white color or colorless like a gel kind of thing beneath the pork's skins. You know what I mean?

If they know how to cook, it is very sticky one - really like a gel but for those who doesn't know how to cook, the stickiness is not that strong. Anyway, I love this pork leg very much! If you don't like too much of gelatin/collagen, try pork hand (i.e. the front legs) instead. It has more meat but less gelatin/collagen.

Food (Others) - 7/10

Other foods is like normal food at Chinese restaurant. It is really just normal to me.

Environment - 7/10

Just normal, quite clean :) No air conditioner.


Price - 8.5/10

Price to me is cheap because the food here is very big portion. I usually cannot finish the pork leg and pack it back for the next day homemade porridge cooking. Believe me, try to put the pork legs into your porridge cooking, it is so~~~~~ delicious!


Overall - 8.5/10

Have to give 8.5/10 because the fried pork leg / hand is really very nice! You must try it if you have chance travel to north or maybe on your way to Alor Star.


Location Information

Address
Xong Yuan Seafood,
Taman Suria,
08300 Gurun,
Kedah, Malaysia

Tel: +6016 4869729


View Xong Yuan Seafood - Best Fried Pork Leg in a larger map

Business Hours
12 PM (Lunch), 7 PM (Dinner)
Close on Monday

Note: Don't go too early for dinner or else you need to wait till 7 PM.


GPS Location
+5° 48' 40.46", +100° 28' 40.58"

Homemade Pork Burger in Penang - 43 Cafe

It is located in Sungai Dua, Penang which opposite of University of Science, Malaysia (USM) but not many people know about this place. Probably only known by USM students, I think.

Food - 7.5/10

I don't really give a very high rating for the fact that I don't have a very strong feeling that I want to come back again very badly. Usually those that I rate food with  > 8/10, I have that feeling. Perhaps it is my own bias on western food because I"m not fan of it?

To be honest, the food is unique. You should give it a try and see whether you agree with my assessment. Other than burger, they also serve toast and satay, see the photo below.


Pork Burger (Owen Grilled)

EGG PECAH Toast

NoM NoM NOM (Penang Satay)

Soup of the Day

Environment - 7/10

Environment is considered clean and acceptable. See here...

Price - 7/10

To me, I think it is okay, not very cheap and not very expensive as compared to most western food.


Overall - 7.5/10

I think it is still worth a visit because of it's uniqueness. The pork burger is a must try because it is mentioned in their menu! :) I recommended this to a friend before and she likes it.


Location Information

Address
43 Cafe‎,
43, Jalan Sungai Dua,
Kampung Dua Bukit,
11700 Penang.

Tel: (+60)164307009


View Larger Map

Business Hours
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (Open daily & dinner only)

GPS Location 
+5° 21' 11.68", +100° 18' 13.68"

Famous Homemade Laksa and Chai Kueh in Kulim

This is the very famous homemade "Laksa" and "Chai Kueh" that everyone knows in Kulim. It is located in Kilang Lama, Kulim.

In fact, the "Chai Kueh" is the best "Chai Kueh" that I have ever eaten. The skin is not thick. Somehow those not so nice "Chai Kueh" usually has a very thick skin and little vegetable. The "Laksa" there is not bad but I think "Penang Laksa" is better than this! :)

There are 2 houses side by side. The one on the right sells "Chai Kueh"

and the other on the left sells "Laksa".

Food (Chai Kueh) - 9/10

There are 2 types - green and yellow. I like the green one. I don't know how it is called in English. This vegetable is called "Ku Chai" in Hokkien.  The yellow one is called "Mengkuang" in Malay I think. :)

You can't eat there but only take away is allowed. :) So what I usually do is I take away and  just go to the next Laksa house on the left. Everyone does that actually. :)


Food (Laksa) - 7/10

As mentioned, I preferred the Penang Laksa than this but anyway if you want to try a different taste of Laksa, it is worth to try. It is kind of unique also. :)

Overall - 8/10

You must come here to try if you ever drop by Kulim or maybe when you're exploring the north. It is worth to try especially the Chai Kueh"! :)


Location Information


View Famous Homemade Laksa and Chai Kueh in Kulim in a larger map

Address
Jalan Maggis,
Kampung Baru Kilang Lama,
09000 Kulim, Kedah,
Malaysia.

Business Hours
11:00 am - 6:30 pm
Monday, Tuesday Off (for Chai Kueh)
Wednesday Off (for Laksa)

GPS Location
+5° 23' 23.39", +100° 34' 3.50"

Noodle Prawn at Pulau Aman is Very Nice

When you have nothing to do during weekend in Penang, probably is a good idea for you to pay a visit to Aman Island (Pulau Aman). The noodle prawn (Mee Udang) there is the best!

To go there, you need to take boat from the Batu Musang Jetty. The island is opposite of this jetty. When you reach there, you will see this restaurant called "Restaurant Terapung" - means floating restaurant.

They sell those live seafood before you enter the restaurant and you can ask them to cook for you after that. Most people buy the mantis prawn there.

But I do not recommend you guys to buy because I don't think they know how to cook it. They basically overcook it which I find it kind of very wasted with this kind fresh live seafood. My take is just don't buy live seafood, go to the restaurant directly and order the "Mee Udang". :)

Here you go the menu, just write to down to order!

Food - 9/10 (Mee Udang Kuah)

The is the best food here and what I really like is very unique special source (kuah) that you can only find it here. It is very spicy also!

Food - 7/10 (Mee Goreng Udang)

This is fried noodle prawn which I find it nothing special. So don't order this if you haven't tried out the above one. Probably the cook tried to fry the noodles for too many plates at the same time, that's why not so nice. I guess.

Food - 7/10 (Mantis Prawn)

This is what we bought just now and as I said it is very wasted because they don't know how to cook. They just steam it but the timing is not right. So I do not recommend this at all although it looks nice below. :D

Drink - 5/10

This is not a place for drink. Perhaps the coconut drink is the best drink here.


Environment - 6/10

Environment is okay and you shouldn't expect much here. At least, I think it is clean. Service is slightly arrogant but it is still acceptable. :)

Overall - 8.5/10

I like this place. The "Mee Udang Kuah" is a must try. By the way, there is one very unique fruit here and it is called "Sukun" fruit. It is like this:

It's tree is super huge by the way. These trees are everywhere here. :) They make it into "keropok" something like this and honestly it is not nice. Too hard for me...

Location Information

I put the Batu Masang Jetty here. You need to come here first:


View Batu Musang Jetty in a larger map

Address
Restaurant Terapung,
120 Pulau Aman,
14100 Simpang Ampat,
Penang, Malaysia.

Business Hours
9:30 pm - 5:30 pm (Daily)

GPS Location (Batu Musang Jetty)
+5° 15' 55.55", +100° 24' 24.55"