I came across Mr. Stonebowl on Instagram (aka the best way to discover more food) and despite reading about the long lineups, I decided to brave them on a Sunday night. Luckily we only had 2 people so we got in after 10 mins! Way ahead of the various other people standing around. Stuff like this just makes my day since I hate waiting! We went to the Mr. Stonebowl location in Burwood and it’s a few blocks from the train station.
fried chicken
Fry Zone by Chicken Zone
The suburb I moved to is called Lidcombe and it is super Korean! There’s a whole bunch of Korean restaurants and shops right around the corner from my apartment. The first one I tried is Fry Zone by Chicken Zone and it’s right across from the train station on Railway Street. You literally cannot miss it.
I couldn’t resist getting some KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) so I ordered the half portion of the Sweet and Soy Sauce flavour. It was a mix of breast and thigh and other chicken parts I cannot identify. The batter was crispy but I think they could have seasoned a bit more or used more sauce as not all the pieces tasted the same and a couple pieces were on the drier side.
My bf had the Beef Burger with Beetroot ($7.50) and added a canned drink and chips (aka fries) for $3.50. Here in Australia it seems common that burgers are not served with fries automatically and they usually cost more. The burger was basic but quite juicy and saucy. The fries were well seasoned and on the thicker side.
We also had a side dish of pickled daikon as well which was refreshing. Wouldn’t mind stopping by again since I live so close! Fry Zone also has a second location in Lidcombe and 2 other locations in Strathfield, another very Korean suburb. There will be no shortage of fried chicken in my future.
Nightingale-Tapas in a Beautiful Space
Nightingale is Chef David Hawksworth’s second restaurant venture. Located on W. Hastings and Burrard Street, this restaurant has a less formal vibe and you might not even notice it if you pass by. I’ve never been to Hawksworth (situated inside Hotel Georgia) so this won’t be a comparison post.
My co-workers and I came for a spontaneous Friday lunch and they managed to squeeze us in. The menu does change frequently so you might you get exactly what I had (e.g. sides may differ seasonally). Some items are gluten free but you’ll have to check with your server because it’s not indicated on the menu.
Bao Down Snack Bar
I came across a photo of Bao Down Snack Bar’s chicken and waffles and rounded up my co workers to go for lunch even though it was a bit of a walk from our office. They don’t have the chicken and waffles for lunch but they did have a similar fried chicken dish.
Bao Down Snack Bar is the third restaurant that spawned from their first venture in Gastown and actually, this location is literally around the corner from the first location! Lunch hours start at 12pm and we were their first customers. It wasn’t busy at all when I was there but they do take reservations. Continue reading →
Heritage Asian Eatery-Baos and Bowls
Heritage Asian Eatery opened up late last year and they feature Asian inspired baos and bowls as well as snacks. Located next to Melu Juice, there’s ample seating in here with some small tables for 2 or 4 and a longer communal table as well. You order at the counter and then they will call you once your food is ready. This post is a culmination of 2 visits, the first was back in December and then I went again in March.
My friend ordered the udon with a sous vide egg. The dish was nicely plated and the egg melded everything together smoothly. The flavours here were very light. Continue reading →
Samsoonie Noodle and Rice – BF Writes My Blog Post
I asked for Korean Food one night, and this is what my dear Food GPS points me towards. Let’s dive right in; Samsoonie Noodle and Rice, a restaurant tucked away in a corner of an oddly shaped plaza. These places usually scream, “I’m delicious, come to me!” Let’s find out if that’s the case.
Chewies-Lunch and Happy Hour Time!
I don’t do happy hour often, but when I do it’s at Chewies! They have buck a shuck oysters! Need I say more?
Okay to be honest it’s only been in the last 2 years that I’ve started eating oysters and boy was I glad that I started! They have a new rule here where each person is only allowed to order 6 oysters at a time per order because sometimes one table will order a lot and then the person shucking oysters won’t be able to move onto the next order for a long time. However, you can order many times! They have $1 oysters as well as $2 premium oysters. I personally can’t tell the difference so it doesn’t matter to me! Continue reading →
Hipster Brunch: Upstairs at Campagnolo
I was looking for a brunch place that was reasonably priced and I came across Upstairs at Campagnolo. I read about them before but forgot about them. I really wanted to go to Jam Cafe but I didn’t really want to wait. But then again I never do… hahaha
You enter through this green door and go upstairs. They even have a helpful sign. Continue reading →
Firebird Cafe
Disclaimer: All food was complimentary but opinions are my own
Thanks to ChineseBites, I had the opportunity to visit Firebird Cafe with fellow blogger Sophia (Everyday Is a Food Day) and our respective +1’s. If you can recall, it is in the same location that Deer Garden used to be in Continental Centre. Firebird Cafe also happens to be serving the same kind of food as Deer Garden i.e. noodle soup and HK style cafe food. The interior looks the same as Deer Garden too. You can basically pretend it’s Deer Garden but with a different name.
Noodle soup ordering sheet
The ordering sheet looked fairly similar to what you would find at Deer Garden.
Hot Star Large Fried Chicken-Toronto
Last year when I was in Toronto, Hot Star Large Fried Chicken happened to have just opened! I had not intended to visit but we were passing by and there was a huge line up so we decided to join in. Hot Star is a well known chain in Taiwan.
They have this giant wall mural that teaches you all about their chicken. Continue reading →