The Homesick Expat's Guide to Finding Food From Home

Return to the UK, China, Asia, India and Africa – through your mouth.
Kat Hayes
September 09, 2016

in partnership with

It's no small thing moving away from home to another country. If that's you, we've no doubt that you've experienced bouts of homesickness, laggy Skype conversations, and fond daydreams of your favourite meal from home. Luckily, one of the best things about Australia is the number of different cultures that live here, and they're all pretty good at bringing bits of home with them – like food.

The restaurants we frequent on takeaway nights often provide someone else with a little slice of home. If you're one of our treasured expats living in Sydney, here's our guide to finding authentic treats that taste like home. If you're born and bred, here's how you can travel to the UK, China, South East Asia, South Africa and India – through your mouth.

 

@susan.ng.522

@susan.ng.522 via Instagram.

CHINESE

South Sydney suburb Beverly Hills is generally the place to go for a good Chinese meal, but restaurant Friendship Oriental steps up the nostalgia another notch here. Think fresh seafood from their tanks, seafood congee, XO sauce times and generally delicious and authentic Hong Kong-flavoured fare. It's open until 2am for those post-midnight cravings.

@immelisa

@immelisa via Instagram.

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN

This is not a drill – bring your own mud crab to Malacca Straits on Broadway and they'll abide and cook it for you. Their food will appease your Malaysian cravings and heat up your soul. Battambang in Cabramatta will serve you up some Khmer food, full of the noodle soups and fish common to the cuisine, with iced coffees only $2.50. Or, if you want the taste of rice paper rolls in your mouth, Hai Au Lang Nuong in Canley Vale has you sorted. Try their fish specialties, suckling pig soup, or for the brave, there are the durian and jackfruit milkshakes.

The East Village Hotel roast by @jodiandharley.

@jodiandharley via Instagram.

BRITISH

Who says the Brits don't do food well? Only those who have never eaten in a British pub. The East Village Hotel in Balmain has warm fuzzy pub feels you'll ever need and huge servings of Sunday roasts. It doesn't mess with a good thing (traditional British pub food) and serves up mouthwatering, classic roast dinners on Sundays. It's all really about the Yorkshire pudding, yeah?

lucky-tsoti

@yujin_chloe_park via Instagram.

SOUTH AFRICAN

Lucky Tsotsi Shebeen and Bar does South African food especially for sharing and snacking. Their menu oozes old-school, meaty goodness to make you go "aaah". Head to Darlinghurst to check out their chicken livers peri peri – they're "rich, dark and hot" and apparently to be eaten in private so you can shed tears if you like.

@twee_tee via Instagram.

@twee_tee via Instagram.

INDIAN

Excuse us, but is there anything more nourishing for the soul (if not the arteries) than a big spicy curry? Specialising in tandoori cooking, Faheem Fast Food in Enmore has a curry menu that'll have you over ordering and pre-removing your belt – the chicken section of the menu alone is exceptional, but they also do brain.

If you're an expat living in Australia, World First can help you transfer your money back home quickly, securely and at rates better than the banks.

Top image: nezuki via Instagram.

 

Published on September 09, 2016 by Kat Hayes
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