It's been three long years since the last one, but the Sydney Night Noodle Markets, co-presented by Citi and Optus, are back – with a new location, sensational new stalls and a line-up of cracking live entertainment. You could say it's been worth the wait (and you'd be right).
From Wednesday October 12 until Sunday October 16, Prince Alfred Park (near Central Station) will transform into a buzzing open-air Asian street food festival, complete with hawker-style stalls, dragon dancers, pop-ups and bars.
With so many dishes to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. With flavour and inventiveness (and, let's face it, Instagrammability) in mind, we've compiled a delicious hit list to satisfy all of your Night Noodle Market desires.
Arrive hungry, phone charged, and get ready to relish...
Donut Papi's Original Mi Goreng Doughnut
If you can only eat (or at least 'gram) one dish at this year's Night Noodle Markets, this is the one. Donut Papi's original creation takes everyone's favourite Indomie mi goreng noodles and transforms them into a doughnut. Because why the hell not?
Wonderbao's Roast Pork Belly Gua Bao
Pillowy gua baos filled with tender roasted pork belly with hoisin sauce, pickled cucumber and spring onions, from fluffy bun specialists Wonderbao, are an enduring Night Noodle Market favourite, and a safe and satisfying base from which to ease yourself into some more experimental eating on the night.
Hoy Pinoy's Skewers
There's something fun about food on sticks at a festival – just ask all those people walking around eating the potato on a stick – and these skewers are no exception. Join the skew queue and choose from Inihaw na Baboy (pork in a banana ketchup glaze) or Inihaw na Manok (chicken in a traditional soy glaze).
ToastieSmith's Shrimp-in-the-Egg
Fluffy scrambled eggs are a good idea at any time of day, but ToastieSmith takes them to heavenly levels by combining them with grilled garlic prawns, crunchy corn chips, cheese, sweet chilli sauce, yuzu mayo and slaw flavoured with roasted sesame. It probably shouldn't work, but it does.
15 Centimeters Black Truffle Basque Cheesecake
You'll need something sweet, decadent and delicious to end the night on and this special Basque cheesecake definitely hits the brief. It's smooth with notes of dark toast from the burnt-caramelised top, through to a gooey, creamy centre, with truffle for extra luxury.
Calabang's Long Potato Fries
Why have fries when you can have ridiculously long fries instead? These crispy chips are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, and come with your choice of sauces to dunk them into.
The Night Noodle Markets run from October 4 to October 9, with free entry, and is family- and dog-friendly. As a bonus, the markets will open for lunch from Friday until Sunday.
For more info go tonightnoodlemarkets.com.au
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