Famous Sydney Takeaway Spots to Try Right Now (and What to Order)
Sydney’s food scene has a short attention span — until it finds something really good. These are the takeaway spots that have inspired queues, Instagram posts and repeat visits.
Famous Sydney Takeaway Spots to Try Right Now (and What to Order)
Sydney’s food scene has a short attention span — until it finds something really good. These are the takeaway spots that have inspired queues, Instagram posts and repeat visits.
Sydney has a habit of becoming obsessed with one particular food at a time. One month it's sandwiches; the next it's pizza, burgers or a very specific fried chicken shop that everyone suddenly can't stop talking about. Some of these places are viral for good reason; others have been local favourites long before Instagram discovered them. These are the Sydney takeaway spots worth knowing right now — and, more importantly, exactly what to order.
Recommended reads:
The Best Restaurants in Sydney
The Best Fried Chicken in Sydney
The Best Cafes in Sydney
The Best Ramen in Sydney
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You’ve probably seen Kosta’s iconic blue-and-white facade all over Instagram. The no-frills takeaway has become a cult favourite for its seriously good sandwiches, particularly the poached chicken sandwich and fish burger. There are now three locations, Circular Quay, Rosebery and Rockdale, making it easier to get your Kosta’s fix wherever you are. The menu was created by former Cornersmith chef Cameron Harris and Delicious recipe writer Helena Moursellas, with Greek-inspired breakfast rolls, burgers and a lineup of hefty sandwiches at each location. Also, expect a queue if you’re going in person.
All Kosta’s Takeaway stores are open for takeaway, and delivery via Uber Eats is available from the Rockdale and Rosebery locations.
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Sydney’s pizza obsession has a new slice shop to add to the list. Paulie’s Pizza comes from Bourke Street Bakery co-founder Paul Allam and his wife Jessica Grynberg, serving New York-style slices from their Oxford Street shop. The sourdough base is the star, made with a 24-hour fermentation that gives it a crisp edge and satisfying chew while still being sturdy enough to fold. The pepperoni with hot honey is a must, while the mushroom and stracciatella is a good pick if you’re after something meat-free. Full pizzas are available too.
Paulie’s Pizza Pezzo is open for takeaway and delivery via Uber Eats.
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Radio Taco became a Sydney food obsession thanks to one very photogenic takeaway: the quesabirria. The Chippendale taqueria’s fried beef tacos are stuffed with melted cheese, crisped on the grill and served with a cup of rich consommé for dunking. Videos of the tacos have racked up serious views, and the tiny 12-seat shop has been known to attract hour-long queues. If you’re picking up rather than dining in, the birria also comes in burritos, nachos, rice, and hot chips, with beef, chicken, or mushroom fillings. Add a bottle of Jarritos, a side of seasoned fries, and the house-made carrot macha salsa for extra heat. Just make sure you have plenty of napkins—these are not tacos you’ll want to eat in the car without a plan.
Radio Taco is open for takeaway and delivery via Uber Eats.
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Taiwanese breakfast doesn’t get nearly enough attention in Sydney, and Meet Taiwan is doing something about it. The Bexley cafe specialises in Taiwanese comfort food, with its dan bing egg crepes a standout for takeaway. Made with a thin, stretchy crepe layered with egg and spring onions, they’re rolled around fillings including cheese, corn and crispy hash browns — a particularly good combination for breakfast on the go. Meet Taiwan started as a food truck before moving into its permanent Bexley home, where the menu has expanded to include braised beef noodles, tofu bao and crunchy snacks.
Meet Taiwan is open for takeaway, online pickup and delivery via Uber Eats and Hungry Panda.
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No city takes its chicken as seriously as Sydney. There have been plenty of battles over who does charcoal chicken best, but the latest crown sits with Char’d Chicken, a relative newcomer to the scene. The Belfield takeaway comes from James Estephan, whose family connections to the legendary El Jannah mean he knows exactly what he’s up against. The secret, he says, is all in the marinade, with the chicken charcoal-grilled until smoky and packed with flavour. The Char’d Box is a fan favourite, while the Family Pleaser is an easy win for a weeknight dinner.
Char’d is open for takeaway or order online for pickup and delivery options.
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From the team behind Happyfield, this Haberfield offshoot is all about griddle-cooked comfort food that’s easy to grab and go. For the ultimate cheat meal, order the Le Griddle: chicken sausage or bacon sandwiched between two maple pancakes and drenched in syrup. The retro diner theme extends to the packaging, with foil sandwich bags, burger boxes and hash brown sleeves covered in colourful graphics. There’s also a self-serve drinks station, black coffee and yellow food-court-style trays.
Happy Shop is open for takeaway or order online for pickup. Delivery is via Uber Eats.
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Sydney has seen plenty of viral sandwiches, but few have reached the sheer scale of Cross Section’s chicken Caesar wrap. The Darlinghurst sandwich shop’s signature wrap is enormous, tightly packed with poached chicken, iceberg lettuce, parmesan and a creamy Caesar dressing, then loaded with house-made croutons for crunch. What makes it so special? Well, the chicken is marinated overnight in lemon-pepper mayo, and fresh Lebanese bread replaces the usual flour tortilla, giving the whole thing enough structural integrity to survive the generous filling. It’s made fresh to order in the tiny shop and will either power you through a weekday afternoon or send you straight into a food coma. Either way, download the app to get $10 off your first order and earn rewards points for future orders.
Cross Section is open for takeaway or order online for pickup. Delivery is via Uber Eats and DoorDash.
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If Sydney has a weakness for fried chicken, Butter has been feeding it for years. The Surry Hills institution combines a sneaker store, champagne bar and fried chicken shop under one roof. The menu keeps things simple, with crispy chicken burgers, pieces of fried chicken and fries, plus a mushroom burger or fried mushroom “tenders” for vegetarians. Come winter, the famous Butter Ramen Club adds a seasonal twist, pairing its signature fried chicken with a warm bowl of umami-rich broth, noodles, and all the usual ramen trimmings. The OG Chicken Sandwich is a reliable pick. You can pair it with anything from a soft drink to a bottle of champagne, although takeaway is probably the better move if you’re heading home with a box of chicken.
Butter is open for takeaway or order online for pickup. Delivery is via Uber Eats.
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Name a more iconic takeaway cuisine than Thai. I’ll wait. If you’re in the city and need a quick desk lunch or something to grab on the way home, Yok Yor Thai Food Factory is a reliable bet. Located in Haymarket’s busy food precinct, its menu is a whopping 100-plus dishes, spanning southern Thai snacks, wok-fried favourites and seriously spicy curries. Start with the satay chicken or salt-and-pepper squid tossed with lemongrass, garlic, shallots and chilli. Feeling hungry? Go for the crispy chicken with cashews or the whole fried snapper with sweet fish sauce and green mango salad. There’s a lot to choose from, so check the menu before you arrive; otherwise, you could spend longer deciding than eating.
Yok Yor is open for takeaway and delivery via Uber Eats and DoorDash.
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This might be Sydney’s most low-key bakery. Tuki Bakery doesn’t have a shopfront – Argentine couple Lourdes Abboud and Mauro Cardoselli bake from their home kitchen, then arrange pickup points in Darlinghurst for customers who slide into their DMs with an order. There’s no delivery, so you’ll need to make the trip yourself, but the payoff is a box of freshly baked medialunas. Often mistaken for croissants, these Argentine “little crescent moons” are softer and more brioche-like, with a glossy top and syrup-soaked base rather than the flaky, crunchy layers you’d expect from a French croissant. They’re a staple in Argentina, but surprisingly hard to find in Sydney. Follow Tuki’s socials, send a DM, pick a time, and prepare to fall down the medialuna rabbit hole.
Tuki Bakery is open for pick-up every day from 8am-5:30pm.
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