Ho Jiak Town Hall

125 York St, Sydney (02) 8065 6954 hojiak.com.au/townhall

Chef Junda Khoo

Price guide $$ Bookings Recommended Wheelchair access Yes

What happens when you combine fiery Malaysian street food with Australia’s best ingredients? The answer is hidden inside a Cuban bar turned hawker hall on Sydney’s York Street. Ho Jiak’s Town Hall outpost has been dubbed chef and co-owner Junda Khoo’s playground, where he puts bold twists on traditional dishes and family favourites. Take, for example, Khoo’s laksa bombs. Served in the classic spicy yet creamy soup, the delicate prawn and chicken dumplings are a fine example that tradition can, and should, be messed with. Same goes for a not-so-humble char koay teow, which sees wok-fried rice noodles crowned with plump marron or crab meat; and an Indomie, which, at the right time of year, can be hidden under a blanket of shaved truffle. Paired with a buzzy atmosphere, friendly service and a banging cocktail list, good times are guaranteed.