The team from famed Strathfield food truck Mister Gee is now slinging chicken sandwiches, tenders and wings – and it’s some of the best bird in town. Play it safe with Southern Fried or, for those who like it hot, seasoning starts with Ruby’s Original, building in intensity to Ruby’s XXX. The chicken tenders are no skinny fillets, but proper schnitzels coated in a craggy crust of cayenne-spiced batter. It’s crisp and greaseless, so you won’t be needing those moist towelettes. Load up on the Southern soul food sides, which include melty mac ’n’ cheese and plump corn kernels stirred through with chipotle butter. 55 Majors Bay Rd, Concord; rubysfriedchicken.com.au

Kylie Kwong’s South Eveleigh eatery was founded on the premise of making nourishing food accessible to all. Like its predecessor Billy Kwong, Lucky serves up modern Cantonese with an Australian twist. This time around, the focus is on simple, humble food, with every dish coming in at less than $28. Don’t miss the steamed prawn wontons submerged in Sichuan chili dressing, sung choi bao with warrigal greens or savoury pancakes bundled up with sticky pork belly and fresh Asian herbs. It’s no surprise it’s always busy. But you never know, you might just get lucky. 2 Locomotive St, Eveleigh; luckykwong.com.au

Chef Michael Rantissi’s casual Middle Eastern cafe has a loyal following, and justifiably so. When it comes to the dine-in menu, falafel is a good place to start: five flavourful, crispy bites with silky white tahini. A grilled sardine salad with sugar snap peas, pesto and almonds is fresh and far more refined than you’d expect from a cafe. Truer to the script is the meatball sub with house-made tomato ragu, pesto and halloumi. It’s savoury and satisfying. You can also nab a take-home meal from the well-stocked fridges that contain everything from butterflied marinated chermoula chicken to moussaka and salads. 96 Kepos St, Redfern; keposstreetkitchen.com.au.

Josh Niland’s takeaway joint is not your usual fish and chipper. Charcoal Fish ditches the hake and flake for Aquna Murray cod, cooked either on a spit rotisserie or over coals. Join the queue for Niland’s cod roll, served on a bap, smeared with garlic and herb stuffing and topped with succulent cod fillets, crackling and gravy – mother of cod, it’s good. Naturally, there are chips, but the real star is crunchy salt and vinegar potatoes, doused in rotisserie fish juices. Pair it with Niland’s own Sea Spray Ale spiked with lemon myrtle and sea parsley. 670 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay; charcoalfish.com

The word “sloppy” might have negative connotations, but Harvey’s Hot Sandwiches carries the label with pride. Inspired by the Italian-American diners popular across the US and old-school Australian milk bars, Harvey’s offers big, hot and tasty sangas made to order. A $20 note will get you change for your Philly cheesesteak, Nashville hot chicken roll, beef dip sandwich with dipping sauce or the signature hot pastrami and beef brisket sandwiches. Both are available in “simple” or sauced up “sloppy” variations and come on crusty, soft bread. Stay on theme with a cookie sandwich, topped with warm Nutella from a fountain. Shop 4. 5/12 Darcy St, Parramatta; harveyshotsandwiches.com

Don’t be misled by the “takeaway” in the name. It’s well worth waiting for a seat at this Inner West institution. The ’90s alt soundtrack and clientele sipping BYO natty wines are pure Enmore, but the menu owes everything to Egyptian street vendors. Fill your stomach and soul with lentil koshari rice and maalouba pilaf with slow-cooked lamb. Or sample a bit of everything with a mixed plate, featuring the likes of light falafel (crispy outside, parsley-green within); spiced, tender cauliflower; or charcoal-grilled lamb kofta and boneless chicken, served with pickled turnip and chili, fresh fattoush salad and silken tahini or toum. 81 Enmore Rd, Newtown; cairotakeaway.com.

Sydney eateries do not get much more laidback than this – beer cans are dipped in Chamoy and Tajin spice before they’re cracked open for margarita-style drinking; corn chips are served in plastic baskets with a zigzag of bottled sauce – but this excellent Mexican remains a culinary delight. Mexican-born Rosa Cienfuegos is behind this popular spot. The menu at Itacate is more extensive than that of her other diner, Dulwich Hill’s The Tamaleria. Here it spans breakfast, lunch and dinner, attracting loyal customers who swear it’s the best Mexican food in Sydney. Ensure you order handmade tamales, Cienfuegos’s specialty. 129-133 Redfern St, Redfern; mexicanfoodaustralia.com

There’s a new reason to “accidentally” leave your lunch on the kitchen bench. The team from Shwarmama has wrapped up its popular Surry Hills kebab joint and opened a sandwich shop on the same site. Co-owner and chef Mat Lindsay is not cutting any corners. Expect fancy fillings, from devilled egg and zesty zhug to pickled beetroot and whipped feta, all loaded on A.P Bakery bread. There’s also an upscale take on the hot chicken and gravy roll, made from spiced chook cooked on the old Shwarmama rotisserie. Complete the meal with a Yulli’s beer or house-made watermelon soda. 102 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills; instagram.com/mamasboy

The easygoing eatery is taking tacos out of the box and onto the streets. When it’s not popping up in carparks or breweries, you’ll find Ricos Tacos on the corner of Balfour and Meagher streets in Chippendale. The sunny yellow diner is not much bigger than a taco stand, with a handful of plastic tables and chairs and a cork countertop at the front. Good thing tacos can be eaten on the go. House-pressed corn tortillas are stacked with achiote-marinated pork, beef barbacoa and charred cauliflower, all swaddled with fresh herbs and a punchy salsa roja that will drip down your arm. You’ll be wrapped. 15 Meagher St, Chippendale; ricostacos.com.au

In a town with no shortage of Japanese eateries, none recreates the feel of a laneway izakaya as faithfully as Nakano Darling. Just off Darling Square, this casual diner takes its name from a bustling Tokyo neighbourhood, and serves all the classic snacks beloved by salarymen downing a few highballs. As well as cult status kara-age chicken and gyoza with a crispy lattice, think wasabi-pickled octopus, beef brisket curry don and toothsome udon topped with dancing bonito flakes. With most plates coming in under $20, you can afford to follow regulars’ lead and order a frosty Orion tower for the table. 14 Steam Mill Lane, Haymarket; nakanodarling.com.au

When it comes to chicken, Butter knows what’s up. The menu at this temple of fried chicken, hip hop, Champagne and sneakers features American and Southeast Asian influences, resulting in a moist and juicy bird with a lightly spiced, crispy coating. Butter’s perfectly balanced Cheezus burger gives the big chicken chains a run for their money, but diners won’t want to go past a 3Pac of chicken tenders, paired with plump, briny pickles to cut through the grease. Sides include everything from miso-buttered corn to salty shoestring fries, which really shine when added to a ramen gravy and cheese curd poutine. Chatswood, Parramatta & Surry Hills; buttersydney.com.au

If you love Vietnamese pancakes, this Rosebery eatery flips a winner. Named after its star dish, Banh Xeo Bar is famous for its lacy turmeric-stained crepes, stuffed with Berkshire pork belly, lemongrass chicken, king prawns, or sweet corn and shiitake mushrooms. No limp salad here. On the side, you’ll find crunchy lettuce cups and fresh sprigs of mint, as well as house-pickled onions and shiso leaves, all ready to roll. White subway tiles and polished concrete floors create a nice spot to linger over a Vietnamese milk iced coffee or sessionable chenin blanc. It’s always busy, but turnover is fast. 11/61-71 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery; banh-xeo-bar.business.site

A day in Cabramatta must involve grocery shopping around bustling John St and a well-timed pit stop at Tan Viet, the 20-year-old Vietnamese institution known for doing some of the best fried chicken in all of Sydney. There’s no batter, just the crack of well-fried skin and succulent chicken maryland underneath. The dish is served with a side of dry egg noodles and garlic, chives and coriander, the chicken designed for taking apart and eating with the noodles. It’s a given there’ll be a hungry line outside, so get there a little early or join the queue. 100 John St, Cabramatta; tanviet.com.au.

“Ho jiak” translates to “good eats” in Hokkien, and this hawker-style Malaysian restaurant lives up to its name. Start with loh bak – crunchy spiced pork wrapped in bean curd skins; or chicken satay that’ll have you desperate for the recipe. For a taste of how head chef Junda Khoo made his name, hit the Signatures. Khoo’s char kway teow is seafood-laden and spicy. Nasi lemak ticks all the boxes: a tender beef rendang with spicy chili sambal, soft-boiled egg, peanuts and fried anchovies. Cooking food Khoo learnt from his grandmother, Ho Jiak shows that all good food starts at home. 92 Hay St, Haymarket; hojiak.com.au/haymarket

Acclaimed chef Narin Kulasai, formerly of Long Chim and Nahm, has opened a casual Thai eatery that stands apart from the Haymarket crowds. There are no numbers or chilli symbols on the menu, and only 10 dishes to choose from. Many you’ll recognise already, including the green curry, made here with pork jowl (hello, pork fat) and lychees, and the fried rice, which is a simple tumble of crab meat and egg. No need to hunt for ice cream afterward – they make an exceptional Thai-style sundae here, using fresh coconut ice cream topped with sweet young palm seeds and candied pumpkin strips. Shop 2, 79 Quay St, Haymarket; porkfat.com.au.

Mamak has a cult following in Sydney, and somehow, through the ups and downs of Sydney dining, this place has retained its popularity – the queue out front remains a fixture of its streetscape. They come here for the fresh roti canai – a thin and flaky roti designed for tearing and dipping, served with two curry dips and sambal dip (for only $10) – as well as the frothy teh tarik and smoky satay skewers, evocative of street stalls throughout Malaysia. After the roti canai, share a fish curry with fresh tomatoes, okra and eggplant. This is extraordinary value food; join the queue. Haymarket and Chatswood; mamak.com.au

Bangkok-born chef Pla Rojratanavichai worked the woks at Spice I Am, Ms. G’s and Mr. Wong before opening his own Thai eatery in Chatswood. Many consider it the city’s best. Khao Pla translates as rice and fish, but for us, it’s all about the green curry. It’s made here with clusters of pea eggplants, wild ginger and bird’s-eye chillies. It’s an absolute firecracker. The menu includes all the spice-laden staples, from pad thai to massaman, alongside modern favourites like the twice-cooked pork ribs in a sticky tamarind sauce. Wines start at $10 a glass or you can bring your own. Chatswood & Macquarie Park; khaopla.com.au

Offering handmade pasta by the gram, freshly made sauces and oodles of cheese, Fabbrica (Italian for “factory”) lets you build the dinner of your dreams, which can be prepared quickly in your own kitchen at home. Mix and match pork and fennel sausage ragu, cacio e pepe sauce or eggplant ragu with linguine, rigatoni or campanelle, or buy a ready-to cook pack with everything you need for around 10 bucks a plate. If you’re in the CBD, visit the Fabbrica store and cafe for coffee, fresh bread, fancy sandwiches, pasta (of course), wine by the glass and half-price negronis during happy hour. 161 King St, Sydney; ciaofabbrica.com

Chef Keito Abe entered the battle for the title of Sydney’s best ramen back in 2014, and Chaco remains one of our favourite fixes. Abe’s interpretation of pork bone tonkotsu ramen from his hometown Fukuoka – the “fat soy” – delivers similar ribsticking viscosity enhanced with chicken bones, served with perfectly chewy noodles and meltingly tender chashu. It’s the signature serve of a handful of soups ranging from traditionalish to tradition-busting, with additions such as John Dory wontons, cult citrus yuzu and fresh coriander. The 25-seat Darlinghurst bolthole now has a slightly larger Bondi sibling with a slightly expanded menu, including yakitori. 238 Crown St, Darlinghurst; chacoramen.com.au

Fill up at this delightful roadside kiosk attached to a local smash repairer. The blue-and-white-striped canteen is famous for its generous Greek-style sandwiches loaded with premium ingredients and made fresh to order. Our pick is The Conbab, made from flatbread rolled with kafta, fresh herbs and a parsley garlic toum. A poached chicken sarnie is all freshness and crunch. Do your fluids need a top-up? There’s espresso coffee and watermelon juice. The concrete courtyard has been decked out in colourful tables and chairs so you’ve got somewhere to sit while you wait for your sandwich and/or car service. 412 West Botany St, Rockdale; kostastakeaway.com

Joshua DeLuca, Timothy Rosenstrauss and Richard Borg worked in some of the city’s best kitchens, including Momofuku Seiobo, Ormeggio and Quay, before going on to flip burgers. But not just any burgers. Burger Head burgers. The juicy stacks at this Western Sydney-based chain are famous for their premium fillings, from smashed Angus beef patties to smoked enoki mushrooms. There’s no secret sauce here, so to speak. Just high-quality ingredients with everything made in-house. A special each week allows the trio to flex their creative muscle. One week you might get their Twisties burger, the next, mac ’n’ cheese with tater tots. 17/98 Henry St, Penrith; theburgerhead.com.au

One oven, two ex-Bella Brutta chefs and only 150 pizzas made each day – you have to get in quick at Westwood, and that’s all part of the thrill. There’s a handful of pizzas to choose from; the signature garlic and fermented honey is a great place to start, as is the ’nduja, thyme and ricotta. Enjoy them straight out of the box, but if you can’t nab a seat in the shop, grab some drinks from the Courthouse Hotel bottle shop and stage a DIY pizza picnic in nearby Camperdown Park – it’s about as “Newtown” as you can get. 245 Australia St, Newtown; westwoodpizza.com.au.

Get your South Indian street food fix at this bustling eatery in Harris Park. The menu includes more than 200 snack foods, all of them vegetarian and many you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in Sydney. Expect all the roadside specials, from vada pav – a hot buttered roll filled with spicy fried potato balls – to the paper-thin dosa stuffed with chili and cheese. The lively diner has been decked out in mismatched tiles and bright poster art that matches the colours and vibrancy of the food. Finish on a (sugar) high with the tooth-achingly sweet jalebi spirals or gulab jamun balls in syrup. Shop. 4-6/14-20 Station St East, Harris Park; chatkazz.com.au.

There’s no shortage of Shanghainese restaurants on Liverpool Rd in Ashfield, but which one to choose? Sandwiched between Shanghai Night and Flavour Shanghai you’ll find New Shanghai, the birthplace of the ubiquitous dumpling chain. The crowds come for the pan-fried pork buns, which are prized here for their fluffy tops and burnished bottoms. There are no wrong moves on the menu, which includes slippery garlic eggplant and prawn wontons in a sesame peanut sauce. Next door, the New Shanghai Workshop serves up fresh noodles and frozen dumplings for a feast at home. 273 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield; newshanghai.com.au

It’s impossible to resist Pocket, the sun-clad, corner-shop joint promising “Hot Pizza, Cold Beer” on its retro signage, with roadside tables, Italian vibes and downright delicious food. There’s an outpost in nearby Brookvale, too. Share a plate of calamari fritti or truffle fries, or bouncy, charred pizza crusts topped with zucchini, greens, lemon zest and parmesan. The 101 Crustaceans pizza is layered with roughly chopped prawns and crab, fior di latte and a drizzle of toasted prawn oil, plus plenty of garlic and lemon zest. It’s lovely, fresh pizza begging to be taken to nearby Manly Beach at sunset. 46 Pittwater Rd, Manly; pocketpizza.com.au

This American diner meets chic Sydney brunch destination takes the best of both worlds to create an allday breakfast joint. Valentinas is like something out of the United States, but there’s something very Inner West about it as well. Order the “patty melt” – two beef patties on thick rye toast – or a fried chicken or club sanga, and follow with a slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream. There’s cornflakes with strawberries and breakfast burritos with cheesy scramble, avo, tomatillo and pico de gallo. We could eat breakfast here all day. The good thing is, we can. 132 Livingstone Rd, Marrickville; valentinassyd.com

There’s no shortage of outposts from this Thai restaurant empire that still commands a crowd after 33+ years. From its OG location near Capitol Theatre, a flurry of waiters delivers the best of Thailand’s street food with precision. On the hit list: crisp fish cakes with pickled cucumber and a spicy, sweet and salty salad of green papaya with pickled crab. There’s no better lunch than the gratifying grapao gai sup or the emerald duck – fragrant five-spice roast duck served on a bed of just-cooked gai lan and bok choy. While finding a table can be difficult, it’s worth the wait. 20 Campbell St, Haymarket; chatthai.com.au

This Sicilian pizzeria at Bondi Beach has all bases covered. Owned by brother and sister team Vittoria Wynne and Jonathan Faro, there’s no shortage of options to choose from on the menu. A few pastas span pappardelle with veal osso buco ragu and gnocchi with truffle, mushrooms and cream. A diavola is fior di latte topped with spicy salami, onion, olives and nicely charred capsicum. But whether you choose pizza rossa or bianca, the bases are puffy and chewy. Try the calzone di pippo, a folded pizza stuffed with smoked leg ham and ricotta. This is simple, quality pizza. 88/90 Curlewis St, Bondi Beach; societypizzeria.com.au

Run by legacy business owner and Pinoy pork expert Will Mahusay, Sydney Cebu Lechon sits near King St in Newtown. Nestled on a small Enmore Rd corner, a step inside is an instant journey to provincial Philippines. Banana-leaf-green walls border intimate seats as soy sauce steams in the kitchen. Try Mahusay’s signature lechon (Filipino whole roasted suckling pig): crispy pork crackling with dipping sauce, a pillow of rice and pickled achara (green papaya relish). Or try his chicken humba, a more classic adobo. $27.50 gets you a main good for two – don’t skip the rice. 4/80-80A Enmore Rd, Newtown; sydneycebulechon.com.au

Less than a stone’s throw from Burwood Station, queues for this brown-brick Chinese noodle spot snake around the corner, and it’s worth the wait. A mere $12.90 gets you a heaping bowl of 1915 Lanzhou Beef Noodles’ namesake dish: drowned noodles in a beefy broth with a just-right bite. Upgrade to something with a bit of kick, or order your noodles dry. Be sure to check out the extensive dumpling offering, with share plates setting you back just $13.90. Leave room for dessert, though – Burwood’s newly renovated Chinatown is right across the street and brimming with sweet stalls. 168A Burwood Rd, Burwood; 1915burwood.com