Sydney's Most Popular Restaurants of 2020

Whether you're craving perfectly flaky Portuguese tarts, Korean-style egg sandwiches or giant soufflé pancakes, Sydney has just what you're looking for. And, in a year that threw everything at us, good food was often a wonderful respite from the day-to-day chaos.

You were constantly on the look-out for new and exciting places to try in 2020 and these are the results. Our most-viewed restaurants and cafes of the year provide a snapshot of your recent faves and a roadmap of places to visit (either for the first time or the fifth).

Use this list as a look back on some of your favourite eats of the year and a guide to planning your first meal of 2021.

Sydneysiders on the northern beaches are under stay-at-home orders until at least midnight on Wednesday, December 23. You can find out more at the NSW Health website.

Image: Sonora Mexican

List

Map

{"id":752912,"type":"cafe","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E1609 Anzac Parade\u003Cbr\u003ELa Perouse\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 9661 1817\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"THE BOATSHED LA PEROUSE","description":"Go for a dip then down oysters a plenty at this beachside cafe in La Perouse. ","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Boatshed-laperouse-supplied11-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Boatshed-laperouse-supplied11-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/the-boatshed-la-perouse","latitude":"-33.9877078","longitude":"151.23123009999995","address":"1609 Anzac Parade"}

Food & Drink
The Boatshed La Perouse

Go for a dip then down oysters a plenty at this beachside cafe in La Perouse.
{"id":782068,"type":"cafe","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E436 Victoria Avenue\u003Cbr\u003EChatswood\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"TOASTIESMITH CHATSWOOD","description":"The lower north shore's toastie cafe offers up Korean-style sangas and house-made sodas.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_1871-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/IMG_1871-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/toastiesmith-chatswood","latitude":"-33.7974962","longitude":"151.1809139","address":"436 Victoria Avenue"}

Food & Drink
Toastiesmith Chatswood

The lower north shore's toastie cafe offers up Korean-style sangas and house-made sodas.
{"id":752476,"type":"restaurant","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E37 Bayswater Rd\u003Cbr\u003EPotts Point\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"SONORA MEXICAN","description":"Wagyu burritos, handmade tortillas and lots of mezcal in Potts Point.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Sonora-Mexican-supplied-1-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Sonora-Mexican-supplied-1-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/sonora-mexican","latitude":"-33.874260","longitude":"151.223916","address":"37 Bayswater Rd"}

Food & Drink
Sonora Mexican

Wagyu burritos, handmade tortillas and lots of mezcal in Potts Point.
{"id":662206,"type":"restaurant","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E75 Stanley Street\u003Cbr\u003EDarlinghurst\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 8964 9318\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"BRICK LANE","description":"Contemporary Indian fare and some of the best meal deals you'll find in Sydney. ","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/brick-lane-sydney-supplied-488x300.jpeg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/brick-lane-sydney-supplied-488x300.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/brick-lane-2","latitude":"-33.875997","longitude":"151.21534700000007","address":"75 Stanley Street"}

Food & Drink
Brick Lane

Contemporary Indian fare and some of the best meal deals you'll find in Sydney.

BOOK A TABLE
{"id":762002,"type":"cafe","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E231 Clovelly Road\u003Cbr\u003EClovelly\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"TUGA PASTRIES","description":"A Portuguese bakery in Clovelly that's home to Sydney's best pastel de nata.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2020-01-29-Concrete-Playground-Tuga-Kitti-Gould-1-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/2020-01-29-Concrete-Playground-Tuga-Kitti-Gould-1-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/tuga-pastries","latitude":"-33.9113239","longitude":"151.2549034","address":"231 Clovelly Road"}

Food & Drink
Tuga Pastries

A Portuguese bakery in Clovelly that's home to Sydney's best pastel de nata.
{"id":731199,"type":"restaurant","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003EPrince Centre, 8 Quay Street\u003Cbr\u003EHaymarket\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 8084 4917\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"MR CHEN BEEF NOODLE","description":"This Haymarket hole-in-the-wall is serving up bowls of hand-stretched noodles and 30-cent dumplings every day.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/MrChen-noodle-dumpling-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/MrChen-noodle-dumpling-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/mr-chen-beef-noodle","latitude":"-33.8808836","longitude":"151.20360770000002","address":"Prince Centre, 8 Quay Street"}

Food & Drink
Mr Chen Beef Noodle

This Haymarket hole-in-the-wall is serving up bowls of hand-stretched noodles and 30-cent dumplings every day.
{"id":735279,"type":"restaurant","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E71 George Street\u003Cbr\u003EParramatta\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E 02 9633 9926\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"TEMASEK","description":"Where Parramatta locals get their Malaysian laksa and Singaporean chilli crab fix.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Temasek-Parramatta-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Temasek-Parramatta-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/temasek","latitude":"-33.8144646","longitude":"151.0055777","address":"71 George Street"}

Food & Drink
Temasek

Where Parramatta locals get their Malaysian laksa and Singaporean chilli crab fix.
{"id":753700,"type":"restaurant","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E159 Enmore Road\u003Cbr\u003EEnmore\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E 02 9020 6366\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"COLOMBO SOCIAL","description":"A Sri Lankan restaurant with lassi cocktails and roti 'tacos' that supports asylum seekers.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Colombo-Social-taco-supplied-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Colombo-Social-taco-supplied-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/colombo-social","latitude":"-33.89866969999999","longitude":"151.17277109999998","address":"159 Enmore Road"}

Food & Drink
Colombo Social

A Sri Lankan restaurant with lassi cocktails and roti 'tacos' that supports asylum seekers.
{"id":754530,"type":"restaurant","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E1858 Pittwater Road\u003Cbr\u003EChurch Point\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 8998 7810\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"PASADENA SYDNEY","description":"A 1930s waterfront restaurant, bar and hotel.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Pasadena-sydney-supplied7-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Pasadena-sydney-supplied7-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/pasadena-sydney","latitude":"-33.6446113","longitude":"151.28462020000006","address":"1858 Pittwater Road"}

Food & Drink
Pasadena Sydney

A 1930s waterfront restaurant, bar and hotel.
{"id":698295,"type":"cafe","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E76 Flood Street\u003Cbr\u003ELeichhardt\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 8033 8509\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"description rate\"\u003E\u003Ci class=\"sprite stars stars-3-5\"\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"THE CARPENTER","description":"It's all in the details at this cafe hidden inside a warehouse in the backstreets of Leichhardt.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-10-24-Concrete-Playground-The-Carpenter-Kitti-Smallbone-7-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2018-10-24-Concrete-Playground-The-Carpenter-Kitti-Smallbone-7-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/the-carpenter","latitude":"-33.88688759999999","longitude":"151.14930189999995","address":"76 Flood Street"}

Food & Drink
The Carpenter

It's all in the details at this cafe hidden inside a warehouse in the backstreets of Leichhardt.

BOOK A TABLE
{"id":762678,"type":"cafe","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E436 Victoria Avenue\u003Cbr\u003EChatswood\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 8084 0866\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"GRAM CAFE & PANCAKES","description":"Try fluffy souffl\u00e9 pancakes at the Chatswood outpost of this Japanese cult-favourite.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Gram-cafe-pancake-chatswood-supplied-09-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Gram-cafe-pancake-chatswood-supplied-09-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/gram-cafe-pancakes","latitude":"-33.7974962","longitude":"151.1809139","address":"436 Victoria Avenue"}

Food & Drink
Gram Cafe & Pancakes

Try fluffy soufflé pancakes at the Chatswood outpost of this Japanese cult-favourite.
{"id":740223,"type":"cafe","info":"\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E2\u20138 Weston Street\u003Cbr\u003EBalmain East\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"address\"\u003E\u003Cspan class=\"prefix\"\u003ET\u003C\/span\u003E (02) 9159 4700\u003C\/p\u003E","name":"THE FENWICK","description":"Balmain's historic Fenwick building is now a harbourside cafe and gallery space.","thumbnail":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/thefenwick_130719_webres_017-488x300.jpg","photo":"https:\/\/cdn.concreteplayground.com\/content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/thefenwick_130719_webres_017-488x300.jpg","url":"https:\/\/concreteplayground.com\/sydney\/restaurants\/the-fenwick","latitude":"-33.85733649999999","longitude":"151.19575169999996","address":"2\u20138 Weston Street"}

Food & Drink
The Fenwick

Balmain's historic Fenwick building is now a harbourside cafe and gallery space.