Food on the Run – The Best Food Court Meals in Sydney

The school holidays inevitably bring at least one day spent at a shopping centre. Lunch at the food court is a great standby, with enough choices to suit everybody. But what do you do if you want more than greasy fast food from KFC or Maccas? Here’s my round-up of Sydney’s best food court eateries.

Grape Garden at Lemon Grove Shopping Centre, Chatswood
The Grape Garden appears like any other cheap Chinese takeaway, but don’t dismiss this out of hand. Little ones will be entranced as the chefs shape their elastic dough into fresh hand-pulled noodles. The shallot pancakes are also legendary. Brave the lines, because a meal here is a cut above.

Ichi Ban Boshi at The Galeries Victoria, Sydney
This is another eatery where you’ll need to fight the crowds, but again it’s worth the wait. This Asian store specialises in traditional Japanese ramen, but its dumplings are also to die for.

The Bagel House at MLC Centre, Sydney
My American husband bemoaned the lack of real bagels until I sent him to this Sydney eatery. There’s a massive range of the delicious carb-packed treats including sweet and savoury options. My husband tells me the blueberry bagel with cream cheese is to die for.

Dixon House Food Court, Sydney
There are so many quality choices here that I couldn’t pick just one. You can pick up cheap hotpots and stir fries, or be more adventurous with the Asian desert tapioca pearls and freshly made sugarcane juice.

The Carvery at David Jones Food Hall, Sydney
It might seem a little basic when there’s an oyster bar close by, but the best option here is the roast beef roll at The Carvery. The gravy is delicious, so make sure you skip the relish and ask for a double helping!

Sayong Curry and Laksa at LG Food Court, Sydney
This food court under Woolworths doesn’t see a lot of traffic, but that just means you won’t have to queue for some of the best Malaysian in the city. The noodle boxes have probably been sitting there for a while, so order off the menu instead. Nasi Lemak, fried koay teow, and of course, laksa, make a delicious cheap meal.

Image source: Martine Lemmens @ Stock.xchng