It’s the middle of second week of lockdown. And while we’re not yet sure if we’ll get out of it on Friday night or if it will continue through next week, one thing’s for sure: Sydney’s diners aren’t letting up on the great takeaway options. If lockdown does finish on Friday, make the most of its last few days with our top takeaway picks for the week. Or, if it drags out, use this list to get you through the next little while.
Lonely Mouth, Newtown
Before reaching for the two-minute noodles in your pantry (it’s okay, you can save them for later on in lockdown), pick up your phone and punch in a pick-up order from Newtown’s Lonely Mouth. Inspired by the Japanese word “kuchisabishii”, which roughly translates to the longing to put something in your mouth even when you’re not hungry, Lonely Mouth is the vegan sister venue to Rara Ramen. On its Square site you can order its plant-based tantanmen ramen with nutty broth, bok choy and black fungus. Or izakaya-style sides such as cauliflower karaage (breaded and fried) or corn tempura. Add in a bottle of skinsy fiano and dinner’s sorted.
Place your order at Lonely Mouth’s Square site for pick-up. 275 Australia Street, Newtown.
Ho Jiak, Haymarket and Strathfield
The antidote to the midwinter lockdown blues might very well be Malaysian comfort food. And Ho Jiak is providing the carbs, warming spices and protein we need to keep us going through the next few days. Go extra hearty with its slow-cooked Wagyu rendang, or jazz up a serve of char kway teow with spanner-crab meat, or mi goreng with lobster. The diner is known for its huge menu, and much of it is available for takeaway – from steamed barramundi with soy sauce to sam wong dan (velvety steamed century, duck and chicken eggs), fragrant nasi lemak, and Hainan chicken with abalone rice.
Order here for pick-up and delivery for lunch and dinner daily, from Ho Jiak Haymarket and Strathfield.
Hartsyard, Newtown
I recently fell back in love with this Newtown fave. That makes it sound like I had fallen out of love – it wasn’t that. I just hadn’t visited the casual fine diner for a while, and I had forgotten just what an amazing chef Jarrod Walsh is. And while we can’t experience it in its full glory – excellent food matched by seamless, affable service headed by the formidable Dot Lee – you can still get its tasty goods to eat in your home. We’ve got our eye on the yabby-and-truffle woodfired jaffle (ooft); the cassarecce with roasted prawn bisque, XO and salted-egg-yolk pasta (a Walsh family meal); and a Jalapeno Margarita.
Orders are available for pick-up 6pm to 8pm, every day. Order here.
Busta, Manly
When lockdown hits, restaurants have a couple of options: try and replicate their dishes in takeaway format, or reduce the pressure and go full home-style. Manly Italian eatery Busta has opted for the latter. It’s pumping out hearty lasagnes – a beef-and-pork number, and a mushroom-ragu version – to heat-and-eat at home. For afters, there’s classic creamy tiramisu and/or cannoli. The team has also bagged up Negronis and Martinis, and is doing a few bottles of wine to take away – or when you pick up your order, pop by its wine store, Winona, (which is right next door) for a bottle or two of natty wine, beer or small-batch spirits.
Order online here for pick-up at 10 Pittwater Road, Manly, Tuesday to Sunday.
Pub Life Kitchen, Ultimo
For a good few years, until it closed in 2017, Jovan Curic’s Pub Life Kitchen was pumping out some of Sydney’s best burgers. Now – just in time for lockdown – it’s returned to its last stomping ground: The Lord Wolseley in Ultimo. As the name suggests, it’s doing pub classics – but has also brought back its spectacular burgers. Pull up to its takeaway window for a dry-aged beef burger or fried-chicken burger with double cheese. Curic’s also brought his Balkan heritage into the fold this time around, with dishes such as pasulj (a bean soup) and cevapi (minced meat) with pickled onion and chips. And if you’re missing your local boozer? There are pub classics such as bangers and mash (with LP’s smoked pecorino and parsley sausages), a chicken schnitzel, and rump steak with chips. Everything’s made with tiptop produce – think meat from Marrickville’s Whole Beast Butchery, cheese from Vannella and pasta from Fabbrica.
Call 0467 644 434 to order ahead for pick up, or order in-person at 265 Bulwara Road, Ultimo.
