How to Eat Your Way Around Asia in Sydney's Inner East

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Sydneysiders are blessed to live in such a multicultural city harbouring a plethora of different cuisines from across the globe. And when it comes to Asian food, we're downright spoilt for choice — especially in the city's inner east.

If you're searching for an Asian feast, the Sydney's inner east, including Zetland's East Village, is packed with regional Asian-style eateries. In fact, you're spoilt for choice. So, to help you hunt down the perfect prawn dumplings, Singapore noodles or barbecue pork buns, here are our picks of the bunch. Plus, after 6pm, you can score free parking at East Village — which means you can spend that money on an extra serving of spring rolls and enjoy them without watching the clock. So, if you're looking for a tasty, Asian-inspired feed, whether it's very authentic or a little bit experimental, these are some of the spots to consider.

HAVE AN AUTHENTIC YUM CHA EXPERIENCE AT EAST PHOENIX

Sydneysiders love an all-you-can-eat deal, and yum cha has to be the peak. The theatre of the trolleys zooming past, saying yes to way too any steaming plates of food and only stopping when you're on the precipice of a food coma — what an experience. East Phoenix — the fifth member of Sydney's Phoenix Restaurant Group — delivers on all fronts. If you're planning a special occasion, there is a private dining room available, but we recommend sitting in the main area during your visit where all the action is happening.

Aside from the huge a la carte menu, the restaurant also offers banquets, starting at $40 per person, featuring all the big hits — spring rolls, Peking Duck pancakes and crispy skin chicken. Meanwhile, yum cha is available from 11am–3pm on weekdays and 10.30am–3pm on weekends. For $30 per person (excluding drinks), you can indulge in steam barbecue pork buns, steamed Chinese broccoli, fried prawn dumplings and more.

GRAB A QUICK (AND AFFORDABLE) LUNCH FROM P'NUT STREET NOODLES

For dishes inspired by popular streetside stalls in Thailand, make tracks to P'Nut Street Noodles. The eatery serves up street-style noodles, soups or salads using authentic sauces that are made from scratch.

For a tasty lunch that'll barely dent your wallet, P'Nut also has a pretty stellar meal deal — you can nab Singapore noodles, cashew nut stir fry with rice or nasi goreng for under a tenner. If you're just after a snack, opt for chilli squid with sriracha mayonnaise or the popcorn chicken with sweet plum sauce, served in a crispy waffle cone.

BECOME A TOP CHEF AT TAISHO WAGYU JAPANESE BBQ

The Japanese term taisho is used to describe a chef of certain esteem and skill — which should give you an idea of what to expect at this East Village eatery of the same name. The folks behind Taisho Wagyu Japanese BBQ are all about traditional flavours, fresh ingredients and meticulous technique.

Head down any day between 11am–10pm to enjoy edamame, gyoza and tempura vegetables, before launching into the main event. Every table at Taisho is fitted with a barbecue, so you can grill everything from shiitake mushrooms and pork belly to premium wagyu beef short rib to your heart's (and belly's) desire.

TUCK INTO A JAPANESE-INSPIRED BURGER AT UNAYA

A little further afield is Unaya, a bright and colourful eatery on Gadigal Avenue in Waterloo. Here, you'll find Japanese share-style snacks — think tempura popcorn prawn, edamame and takoyaki octopus balls — alongside a menu of grilled meat and veggie skewers, Japanese-inspired burgers and wraps. Our pick is the chicken katsu burger ($14.90) with cabbage slaw and chilli mayo served on a brioche bun. Not keen on a burg? Unaya's signature offering is its rice bowls, served with your choice of meat (teriyaki chicken, grilled unagi or wagyu beef), plus two sides and soup. You'll get change from a twenty for most of these bowls, too.

Unaya also has an extensive sake selection, including yuzu, peach and green tea-flavoured umeshu, alongside a very creative cocktail menu — including one with Yakult, vodka and condensed milk. For dessert, you can enjoy matcha churros with white chocolate sauce

DOWN AS MANY DUMPLINGS AS POSSIBLE AT E-DRAGON DUMPLING BAR

For when nothing but a quality handmade dumpling will hit the spot, E-Dragon Dumpling Bar, based off the tastes of Shanghai, has just what you need. Whether you prefer yours steamed, pan-fried, deep-fried or in a soup, this eatery has just what your belly desires. And, if you're feeling like a bit of something extra on the side of all tiny morsels of flavour, there are plenty of cold plates, soups, sides and noodle dishes, too — think Taiwanese sausages, spicy duck wings, soy beef and wonton soup.

SLURP CREAMY NOODLE SOUP AT UMAMI STONE POT

The opportunity to get interactive at mealtime continues at Umami Stone Pot. Per hot pot tradition, you can expect a communal pot bubbling away in the centre of the table filled with a punchy, spice-heavy broth, noodles, vegetables, tofu and some form of meat. But unlike other hot pot joints you'll find around the city, Umami's hot pot is prepared in a stone pot embedded in the table. Based on the traditional technique from the Yunnan province in China, the dish is covered with a chimney-shaped straw lid, which allows the broth and ingredients to steam and intensify in flavour. Umami has several bases available, including a sweet and sour broth, beef, mushroom and milky fish. You have the option to order just one flavour or half and half. Winter may be over, but a giant, steaming bowl of noodles is a fine meal in any season.

BUILD YOUR OWN BOWL AT MÁ LÀ TÀNG

Má là tàng gives you the opportunity to explore the flavours of southwest China. This bright and spacious eatery specialises in malatang, the traditional Sichuan-style street dish. It's essentially customised hot pot for one. You'll start by selecting your ingredients, which span everything from vegetables and sliced meats to noodles and broth. Send your bowl off to the kitchen and a few minutes later, you'll be presented with a piping hot bowl of soup.

Not up for a (mostly) liquid lunch? Opt for chaung chuan xiang — skewers with your choice of grilled meats, vegetables or bean products — or one of the daily bento boxes. Really, the options are endless and all hot, spicy and extremely tasty. We promise you won't leave hungry.

GET A CHILLI HIT AT YASAKA RAMEN

As we have already established, steaming, brothy noodle soups surpass the seasons — and ramen is right at the top of our list of not just noodle soups, but dishes in general, that make for a winning order no matter the weather forecast. The inner-city is teaming with top ramen joints, including the original outpost of this very business in the CBD. But if you're craving a quality, spicy broth when you're hanging around the eastern suburbs, Yasaka Ramen reigns supreme.

This Waterloo spot, which is signposted with the epic slogan 'No Ramen No Life' (something we heartily agree with), opened in late-2018 and specialises in a hearty, rich tonkotsu broth. You can choose from a range of options, like the black garlic ramen with squid ink or the kakuni ramen with a slow-cooked soft pork bone. If you can handle the heat, opt for the spicy ramen — you can select your level of spiciness from a scale.

Round up the crew and eat your way around Zetland's top Asian restaurants. To learn more about East Village, head this way.