Last Updated on February 20, 2024 by asoulwindow
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Top Indian Restaurants in Harris Park Sydney
Though Harris Park in Sydney, New South Wales was always known as the Little India, it was not until the year 2003 that the Indian Restaurants in Harris Park started gaining popularity not only with the Non-Resident Indians who missed Indian foods but also the white people, Lebanese and Chinese people who live in this area of Sydney in South Australia.
Not only was the iconic Taj Indian Sweets the first Indian restaurant in Harris Park but it was also the only one when it opened its doors as recently as 2003. Sniffing the lucrative opportunity of catering to the massive Indian diaspora and curious western diners interested in Indian cuisine, off late many Indian restaurants have mushroomed in Harris Park. Even today, new restaurants are coming up in this area frequently.
While some Indian restaurants have been operational in Harris Park since more than 10-15 years, some close down despite being excellent. For example, Punjabi Fusion, which was established in the year 2016, has recently closed down. Their perfect blend of bold flavours & vibrant spices is missed!
Did you know that some restaurants in Harris Park also sell pani puri with 10 different flavors and even Amritsari Kulche? Good Indian restaurants in Harris Park Sydney are easy to find if you read this guide. This is the most complete guide to best Indian restaurants in Harris Park, Sydney. This Harris Park food tour will leave you begging for more! Here is all you wanted to know about Indian restaurants in Harris Park.
Why I am the right person to talk about restaurants in Harris Park, Sydney?
I stayed at the home of my Indian friend Purnendu and Akanksha Tyagi in Melbourne. My friend, Purnendu, who was my collegemate from Institute of Hotel Management, Lucknow, also enjoys good food.
Not only did he and his wife treat me with good red wine, but they also took me to the Dosa Hut at Footscray and also made me taste the delicious and soft vanilla and pineapple flavoured cheese cakes, which is Akanksha’s favourite. The cheese cake shop, located in Truganina is their favourite.
Most of his neighbours were Western people or Chinese. Though I had failed to visit Dandenong, the spiritual heart of Indian and subcontinent culture in Melbourne since as long as the year 1990, Sydney compensated for it.
We Indians are not obsessively transactional and prefer to stay in a friend or relative’s place instead of a clinical hotel or hostel if there is an option available. After hosting me happily, Purnendu had arranged for a stay for me at one his friend’s homes in Harris Park in Sydney.
Another friend of mine, Rasvitha Raja, who worked with me in ICICI Securities in Navi Mumbai, also loves the sheer variety of desi khana (Indian food) at the Indian restaurants scattered around Harris Park. Soon after I was fired from my job for traveling too much, she moved to southern part of Australia.
Soul Window Quotes
Rasvitha, who is a South Indian, lives in Sydney and in her own words,
“Me and my family lives in other part of Sydney, near Harris Park. Living in Sydney, we miss good restaurant style food of India badly. Thankfully, there are many restaurants in several parts of Australia which ensures that a good Indian restaurant is never away.
On Sundays and special occasions, we make sure that we visit Harris Park and taste the delicious Indian food there. The Indian food in restaurants of Harris Park taste the same as restaurants in India.”
This is why I have a deep understanding of all the top Indian restaurants in Harris Park because I have dined here many times. I also know many people living in and around Harris Park, so apart from my personal experience, this blog is also based on my long conversations with residents of Harris Park.
Places to eat at Harris Park
Where to find the Best Indian in Harris Park? There are many places to eat in Harris Park. Many New Indian restaurants in Harris Park also keep opening. So, in case you know about more such good Indian restaurants in Harris Park, do let me know in the comment section below.
Did you know that Harris Park is also one of the best places to enjoy authentic Indian street food in Sydney? I have enjoyed amazing Indian food at below mentioned Indian restaurants of Harris Park, Sydney. Enjoy this completelist of Indian restaurants in Harris Park Parramatta.
Shri Refreshment Bar, Harris Park
“Keep Calm and eat paan” is what their poster says. Needless to say, it is a great place to have a quick meetha paan (sweet paan) off the counter.
This is a small snacks joint located in the heart of Harris Park. You can buy paan, sugarcane juice, pistachio kulfi,mirchi vada, samosa etc here.
Shri Refreshment Bar is most popular for their chats and Mumbai style street food. Samosa Chola and kachori chat are some of the most popular dishes here which I enjoyed after a long walk at some of the best places to see in Sydney.
It is not very easy to find a seat in this ‘hole-in-the-wall’ restaurant. I was lucky to find a chair by the window though! Shri Refreshment Bar is located right next to the Australia Post in Harris Park.
See picture for prices. Dishes starts here at AUD 2.50. It is one of the cheapest places to eat in Harris Park. So, if you are looking for cheap Indian restaurants in Sydney, your search ends here. They also cater for parties and occasions such as weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, mundan ceremony, engagement, kitty parties etc.
Address of Shri Refreshment Bar: 53C, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150.
Timings of Shri Refreshment Bar:
Opening hours of Shri Refreshment Bar are as follows:
Monday 2 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday: Noon to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Phone number of Shri Refreshment Bar: 0430 601 313
Punjabi Fusion, Harris Park
As the name suggests, Punjabi Fusion is one of the best places North Indian restaurants in Harris Park, Sydney.
A long bar, cozy seats, tastefully done interiors and neon lighting add to the ambience of this Indian restaurant.
Menu of Punjabi Fusion, Harris Park:
Punjabi Fusion is known for its spicy cocktails and a large menu with a wide variety of North Indian dishes. Their succulent melt-in-mouth kebabs, buttery biryani and delicious lassi are some of the most popular dishes.
Address of Punjabi Fusion, Harris Park: Shops 5 & 6, 104 Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150
Phone number of Punjabi Fusion, Harris Park: 02 9893 9727
Opening hours of Punjabi Fusion:
Monday to Thursday: 5.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Sunday: 11.30 a.m.-5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Not Just Curries, Harris Park Parramatta
Not Just Curries is easily one of the most popular and top Harris Park restaurants. Let the goodness of garam masala and others spices unfold as you savour one dish after another here. Not Just Curries is great for amazing vegetarian thalis and much more! This is why Not Just Curries is the best Indian restaurant in Sydney.
If you’re the type to be paralysed by choices, then the huge vegetarian thali lunch tray comes as a rescue. By ordering a thali (pre plated meal), you can also sample more dishes for the price of one.
In fact, many people feel that Not Just Curries is the best Indian restaurant in Harris Park. However, don’t get misled by their name. Most patrons order mainly curries with rice or breads (or both!) here.
It is also a good idea to ask the friendly waiters for food suggestions. They will help you guide in ordering the most popular dishes. The best part is that the serving time for the food is also really quick. This is why so many people daily visit Not Just Curries Harris Park.
Not Just Curries, the slightly upmarket restaurant is known for the excellent quality of the ingredients which they use. The food served here is close to the authentic New Delhi style fare. They have al fresco dining option as well. Their lovely ambience, fair pricing and courteous staff also make it very popular.
Menu of Not Just Curries
Here is the complete typical Indian restaurant lunch menu. Some of the popular items from the menu of Not Just Curries are Matar Mushroom, tadka daal, biryani, entrees, paneer dishes, malai kofta, garlic naan, mango lassi, dahi poori, saffron rice, makai palak kebab etc.
Other dishes at Not Just Curries include Methi Matar Malai, Khatte Alu Baingan, Bhindi Do Pyaza (Okra with onions), Alu Gobhi Matar, Mushroom Matar, Vegetable Jalfrezi, Chutney Alu, Soya Chaap Masala, Tadka Daal, jeera rice etc.
Sides include Kachumbar, Onion Salad, Garden Salad, Masala Papad, Peanut masala, Raita, pickle, mixed condiments etc. The Indian salads are best eaten with curries and breads or rice and not as standalone.
Their Dal Makhni and Butter Paneer Masala are a winner. Their garlic naan is the most popular. Both alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic drinks are served here.
Some of their popular Paneer dishes are Paneer Tawa Masala, Shahi Paneer, Kadai Paneer, Palak Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala etc.
Their best deserts are Gulab Jamun, Kheer, Mango Macadamia Ice Cream, kulfi with pistachio, Rasmalai etc.
Tip: Here is a tip. The “All-You-Can-Eat” Lunch Thali served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on every Saturday and Sunday is very popular with both Western diners and the Indian diaspora. Be warned, weekends are also the most crowded here. It is mostly packed and noisy on Saturday and Sundays. It is advised to bring cash here as sometimes they offer a discount.
Address of Not Just Curries: 66, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150.
Phone number of Not Just Curries: 02 98938202
Opening hours of Not Just Curries: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday.
Haveli Indian Restaurant and Sweets, Harris Park
‘Happy Birthday Samarth’, read the poster when I was strolling outside Haveli Indian Restaurant. I heard a few giggles and soft conversations. Soon, few well-dressed young Indians stepped out. Turned out, an Indian family was celebrating birthday at Haveli, Indian fine dine restaurant. For me, it was so interesting to see how Indians have found a home away from home. Harris Park and Parramatta indeed are the Little India of Sydney, Australia.
If you are a fan of North Indian food, your search stops here. Despite a wide menu, what works here is the fact that they have perfected each recipe with precision. You will not feel like you are swallowing buffet level mass food. The dishes here not only look great but are also flavourful.
Some of their most popular Indian dishes are biryani, pulao, assorted kebabs and several Punjabi curries such as Paneer Butter Masala, Kadahi Paneer. What’s more? They even sell Vegetarian thali, Masala Dosa, South Indian snacks and North-Indian street-food at Haveli Indian Restaurant and Sweets.
I particularly loved their Samosa Chola (Indian deep-fried pastry filled with spiced potatoes, served with delicious chickpeas stew). Also don’t miss the Amritsari Kulcha Choley here. Their alu tikki chaat, papdi chat, pani puri, and steamed momos are equally delightful. So now you know where to go to relish delicious Indian street food in Sydney! I would definitely recommend a visit here.
Address of Haveli Indian Restaurant and Sweets: 67 Wigram St, Harris Park, Parramatta, New South Wales 2150 Australia
Phone number of Haveli Indian Restaurant and Sweets: 0296350110
Timings of Haveli Indian Restaurant and Sweets
Opening hours of Haveli are
Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Nautanki, Harris Park
This Fine dining Indian restaurants has many fans. Easily one of the best restaurants of Harris Park in Sydney, Nautanki is a Hindi word which means dramatic traditional folk theatre. However, there is no unnecessary drama in the delicious food that they serve.
Their Indian dishes are classic, delicious, freshly made and cooked to perfection. For good quality Indian food, Nautanki should be your destination. The ambiance here is not noisy like cheap eats but rather quiet and relaxed.
Menu of Nautanki, Harris Park
The creamy Paneer lababdar served here has a velvety and rich gravy, loved by all. There is no dearth of delicious Indian food in Nautanki. Some of the other curries popular at Nautanki include achari alu baingan.
Their lavish thali lets you sample many dishes in small quantities in one plate. Their vegetarian thali comprises of two curries, daal or lentil, steamed rice, Indian breads such as roti, raita (Yoghurt based accompaniment) and assorted Indian desserts such as gulab jamun.
Their curries are best enjoyed with and naan and flaky, yet soft layered Indian Breads such as lachcha paratha. Some of their best snacks are palak patta pakoda chaat (spinach fritters) or the Indo Chinese vegetable Manchurian.
Address of Nautanki, Harris Park: 48 Station St E, Harris Park, Parramatta, New South Wales – 2150, Australia
Phone number of Nautanki, Harris Park: +61 2 9687 7314
Timings of Nautanki, Harris Park:
Opening hours of Nautanki, Harris Park are: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mad Down Under, Harris Park
Their name may not sound very Indian, but they are known for their wide range of Indian cuisine.
Everyone’s spice tolerance is different and the folk at Mad Down Under know it. This is why you can customize the spice level of your Indian dishes as suitable to you to ensure the perfect balance of flavors for you.
Menu of Mad Down Under, Harris Park
Their veg platter which comprises of Bhutte ke Kebab, Malai Soya Mushroom Tikka, and Veg Seekh Kebab is very popular. In my experience, most of the Harris Park restaurants serve these.
Their starters and kebabs include Achari Zaituni Mushroom, Bhutte Ke Kebab (vegan), Vegetable Seekh Kebab (vegan), Galouti Kebab, Kastoori Soya Kebab, Hara Bhara Kebab, Bhatti Da Paneer, Vegetable tarkari biryani with raita or Mirchi ka salan.
Other bestsellers main dishes at Mad Down Under are Shahi paneer, Mushroom Hara Pyaz, Lahsuni Daal Tadka, Hing Dhaniye Ke Chatpate Alu, Paneer Lababdar, Kadhai Paneer, Paneer Butter Masala, Methi Matar Malai, Bhindi Do Pyaza, overnight cooked Daal factory (rich black lentil with cream and butter).
Breads: Mad Down Under also serves some unique Indian breads such as Malai Reshmi Paratha, Kashmiri Paratha, Ulta Tawa Paratha etc. You can also have the gluten free Indian bread called as Missi Roti here.
This is also where you can relish your Indian curries with rumali roti. Rumal means handkerchief and roti means bread. This paper-thin bread is actually folded like handkerchief and served hot with curries.
Thali: Keep an eye on their schedule for special ‘Thali days’ when they might serve festive or regional Thalis to add even more variety to your dining experience. What’s more? You can also customize your Thali.
At Mad Down Under, it is possible for the diners to create your own unique Thali by selecting your preferred or favourite dishes from their extensive menu. Their well-trained Indian chefs are more than happy to accommodate your whims and fancies.
Address of Mad Down Under, Harris Park: 97 Wigram Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia, New South Wales.
Phone number of Mad Down Under, Harris Park: +61 2 8872 3616
Email of Mad Down Under: [email protected]
Dosa Hut, Harris Park
If you love South Indian food, head straight to Dosa Hut. Dosa Hut is easily the best rated Indian restaurants in Harris Park. Of all the Harris Park restaurants, Dosa Hut is the busiest!
Being one of the most popular South Indian restaurants in Harris Park, Dosa Hut is loved by both Indian diaspora and western people. I think, they truly justify their tag line ‘Pioneers of Dosa culture’.
Apart from Masala Dosas, this popular restaurant also serves South Indian delicacies such as Nilagiri Vegetable Kurma, Hyderabadi pressure-cooked Biryani (fragrant Basmati Rice with vegetables and spices) and thali with many items in it.
Founded by South Indian men Anil Kumar Karpurapu and Praveen Indukuri, Dosa Hut has many outlets across Australia. The very first Dosa Hut which opened in Australia in the year 2007 is located in Footscray.
My friends Purnendu and Akanksha took me to the historical Dosa Hut in Footscray. They serve the cheapest dosas of Sydney here. Their prices are same as the prices of India, which is why it is always busy and in high demand.
I visited Dosa Hut of Footscray during lunch and loved their dosa, idli and mendu vada. A special mention for their delicious chutneys. I had never had anything like this even in India.
With more than 25 branches across the island, Dosa Hut is the largest Indian restaurant chain in Australia.
Menu of Dosa Hut, Harris Park
Here is the complete menu of Dosa Hut, Harris Park. Some of the best South Indian food to try in Dosa Hut, Harris Park are steamed plain idli, Sambhar idly, ghee podi idly, Mysore Masala Dosa, Plain Dosa, Onion Masala Dosa, Kara Paneer Dosa, Cheese Dosa (not for purists), Rava Onion Dosa, Persarattu etc.
Punugulu (8 Pcs) is also a must-try. It is a popular snack from Vijayyawada in Andhra Pradesh. These deep fried crispy & tasty rounders cooked using their special batter, makes for a perfect snack. Now you know why Harris Park Restaurants are so popular with both Indians as well as Caucasians.
The mere sight of towering plumes of steam erupting from a grill preparing fermented millet-dough is the stuff my dreams are made up of! If it is your first time eating dosa and you are confused about which dosa is best, then here is a tip. Keep it simple and classic.
Masala Dosa with potato filling, in my opinion, is the best dosa ever. I like my dosa simple. Stick to it for the first time and you may want to experiment on the next visit.
Oddly, the Dosa Hut also serves North Indian food. Some of their popular dishes served by Dosa Hut are Soya Chap Masala, Chana Masala Curry, Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Makhkhan Masala. Dal Makhni, Paneer Tikka Masala, Methi Paneer Chaman etc.
Also try their Sambhar rice and an assortment of Indian breads such as butter naan, tandoori roti, plain roti, cheese naan and lachcha paratha etc. Garlic naan is my favourite. Gulab jamun, badam halwa and special rasmalai are some of their best Indian desserts.
They do not guarantee any of their dishes as dairy or nut free. So, I would advise that you should let them know in advance in case you have any food allergies or follow any strict religious belief.
Address of Dosa Hut, Harris Park: 69, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney, New South Wales-2150
Phone number of Dosa Hut, Harris Park: (02) 9633 4455
Timings of Dosa Hut, Harris Park:
The opening hours of Dosa Hut, Harris Park are as below:
11 a.m, to 10:30 p.m. everyday
Saravanaa Bhawan, Harris Park
No matter where I am in the world, if I see a Saravanaa Bhawan outlet, I jump at the opportunity to dine here. One of the biggest South Indian restaurant chains in the world, Saravanaa Bhawan exclusively sells South Indian dishes. Needless to say, Saravana Bhawan is amongst the best Indian restaurants in Harris Park.
You will not find chats or North Indian food in any Saravanaa Bhawan, which is spread across more than 100 places across the world, especially in those cities and countries which has a large Indian diaspora (where it is not!). The bottom line is that, for best South Indian restaurant in Sydney, head straight to Saravanaa Bhawan, Harris Park Parramatta.
Indian diaspora is one of the largest in the world. This explains why we need more Saravanaa Bhawans across the globe. Personally, I think the food at Sarvanaa Bhawan is not the best (Bengaluru has the best dosa, period!). However, the standardisation of dishes means that you can expect good quality every-time you visit a Saravanaa Bhawan outlet, irrespective of the location.
Soul Window Thoughts!
Make no mistake! Saravanaa Bhawan is akin to the Indian version of Mc Donald’s, Pizza Hut, Dominoes etc, but this South Indian conglomerate has more variety (India is all about diversity), has classier ambiance, a regional touch and good value for money. Also, Saravanna Bhawan is 100 % vegetarian. In case you are a vegan, just request them to remove any dairy, especially desi ghee, and the dish becomes naturally vegan.
This global 100-store South Indian restaurant chain guarantees authentic food of South India every time you dine here. I highly recommend this Chennai street-inspired dining for the best masala dosas, utthapams, Pongal, deep friedonion bhajjis, kiri bhath, rasam, mendu vada, filter coffee, the works! Their stir-fried shredded parotta, flavoured with spices and curry gravy is also one of my favourites. YOU JUST CAN’T GO WRONG HERE!
The meals at Saravanna Bhawan are not only pocket friendly but are also hearty. Here is a tip. Their masala dosas are the length of your arm. So always order less at first. If you are still hungry, go for more! Do not miss their tiny idlis in a bowl topped with desi ghee. Delightful!
Address of Saravanna Bhawan, Harris Park: 1/99, Phillip Street, Parramatta, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150
Phone number of Saravanna Bhawan, Harris Park: 02 8628 0315
Timings of Saravanna Bhawan, Harris Park
The opening hours of Saravanna Bhawan, Harris Park are as below:
Monday to Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants
What makes Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants so special is that it was the first Indian restaurant which opened its doors in Harris Park in the year 2003. For a long time, it was the only Indian restaurant which was operational in Harris Park. It is now a Western Sydney institution.
Despite so much competition now, Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants has remained a favorite of the local people of Harris Park and the Eastern residents of Sydney as well. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, then this is easily the best Indian restaurant Harris Park. Very popular with all Indians, this is one of the best Indian restaurants in Sydney.
Menu of Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants:
For someone like me, the No. 1 reason to love Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants is the fact that their food is 100 % vegetarian. Vegans may want to avoid dairy and honey though (which is easy!). Needless to say, Taj Sweets and Restaurants is easy one of the best pure veg restaurants in Harris Park as well as all of Sydney.
In fact, Taj Indian Sweet and Restaurants is one of the best restaurants with vegetarian food for groups in Harris Park. During my leisurely walk in the Harris Park area, I noticed that Taj Sweets and Restaurants is located right next to Taj Caterers.
The sheer variety of Indian sweets they offer is still the largest in Australia. Their Chola Bhatura or Chana Bhatura is very popular. Bhatura is a deep-fried flat bread which is made with raised all purpose or refined flour. Chola or Chana is chickpeas boiled in a thick spicy gravy. It is served with fine rings of onion, lemon, chillies and raw mango pickle.
Their stuff parathas such as gobhi paratha or alu paratha is also very popular. It is shallow fried flatbread filled with cauliflower and potatoes respectively. Just two of these stuffed parathas make for a hearty Sunday breakfast. Do not miss this excellent vegetarian restaurant in Harris Park.
Address of Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants: 91, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150.
Phone number of Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants: 02 9633 2118
Timings of Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants:
The Opening hours are as follows:
Sunday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Taj Caterers, Harris Park
Taj Caterers is located right next to Taj Sweets and Restaurant. You can book them for family occasions and even corporate seminars. From weddings, mundan ceremonies, engagements to funerals, birthday parties, kitty parties, farewell parties, they cater for all occasions. You can also select which dishes you want in the menu or you can go for one of their pre decided menus.
To be able to find a good quality Indian caterer in Australia is nothing less than a blessing! This is why they are so popular with the Indian diaspora living in Sydney.
Phone number of Taj Caterers, Harris Park: 96332118, 0410632546
Hyderabad House, Harris Park
You can’t go wrong with Biryani in Hyderabad House. Hyderabad is a vibrant city located in the South of India. In fact, many regulars vouch for the fact that Hyderabad House is home to not only the best biryani in all of Parramatta and Harris Park but also Sydney. Hyderabad House is one of the most famous halal restaurants in Harris Park. Although, devout Hindus traditionally prefer jhatka meat.
Not only are their Biryanis aromatic but also has subtle flavours unlike other places which have more chaotic and bold flavors. This suits the western palette well. This is why the Biryanis here are also popular with Western people. You can also request them to tone down the spices in case spicy food is not your thing!
The first order here starts at 12:30 p.m. every day. Biryani is not like ready to eat junk food. It is a time-honored dish which takes a long time to prepare. This is why I advise you to order as soon as you arrive so that you will not have to wait too long. Needless to say, the regular patrons just order immediately without even looking at the menu!
What sets them apart from other places selling Biryani is their secret recipe. Good quality Basmati Rice is layered with vegetables and secret spices and condiments in repeated fashion and slow cooked.
Tip: Here is a tip. You can sample their regular biryani in the buffet. If you opt for their all-you-can-eat buffet, you can sample more variety of South Indian delicacies without breaking the bank. It is one of the best Indian buffet in Sydney and Harris Park.
Address of Hyderabad House, Harris Park: 73, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150.
Phone number of Hyderabad House, Harris Park: 02 9635 9577
Timings of Hyderabad House, Harris Park: 12p.m. to 10 p.m. everyday.
Chatkazz, Harris Park
Being one of the most popular Indian restaurants, Chatkazz is always full of patrons. It is so popular that the staff remembers its guests by face now because many diners are repeat customers. What makes Chatkazz such a popular Indian restaurant in Harris Park is the fact that they serve authentic Mumbai style street food such as Vada Pao, Sev Poori, Bhel Puri, Dabeli etc. Having lived in Mumbai for 7 years of my life, I know the craving for Mumbai style street food is strong!
No wonder, Chatkazz became an instant hit when it opened near the residential area of Harris Park Sydney. Being one of the first restaurants in Sydney which sold Mumbai style street food, it did have the first mover’s advantage. You can still see long queues around the much-hyped Chatkazz restaurant.
Being one of the top Indian restaurants in Harris Park, it can get a little crowded here on weekends. But then, it should also feel like ‘Little India’, eh!
Menu of Chatkazz, Harris Park
Steamed rice or delicious Indian breads served with chola (chickpea stew) is one of their most popular dishes. It is known as Chola Bhatura (fried bhature with chola or chickpea curry). Do not miss their potato samosa and puffy flat breads. Their Dahi Vada, served with yoghurt and imli chutney (tamarind sauce) is also delicious.
Other bestsellers at Chatkazz are Pav Bhaji with papad or papadum and butter roti aka buttered Indian bread, the delicious Paneer Butter masala, served best with garlic cheese naan, potato filled Masala Dosa served with sambhar (South Indian lentil stew) and coconut chutney and tomato chutney.
Address of Chatkazz, Harris Park: 4/14-20, Station Street E, Harris Park – 2150.
Phone number of Chatkazz, Harris Park: 02 86770033
Timings of Chatkazz, Harris Park
Opening hours of Chatkazz are as follows:
Monday 5 to 10 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Billu’s Indian Eatery
Those who have lived in Harris Park since a long time will vouch for Billu’s Indian Eatery because it has been around since aeons. Being one of the oldest restaurants of Harris Park, it enjoys its own share of loyal diners. Since the Indian food here lives up to the expectations, Billu’s Indian Eatery enjoys a regular client-base.
You can call to book a table here and make reservations. They don’t use preservatives. And all their curries are gelatine free and gluten free. It is easy to find most of the popular Aus-Indian takeaway classics at Billu’s Indian Eatery.
Address of Billu’s Indian Eatery: 62, Wigram Street, Harris Park – 2150
Phone number of Billu’s Indian Eatery: 02 9687 7785
Timings of Billu’s Indian Eatery
The opening hours of Billu’s Indian Eatery are
Sunday-Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Menu of Billu’s Indian Eatery
Some of their best appetizers are Mixed Paneer Tikka and Hara Bhara Kebab platter, Tandoori Paneer Tikka, Tawa Soya Chap, Tawa Mushrooms, Spring rolls, Paneer Pakoda. Indian-Chinese dishes like Gobhi Manchurian and Chilli Paneer is also on the menu of Billu’s Indian Eatery. It tasted very good, though I am sure real Chinese people will throw up if they are served that sort of a thing!
They also serve snacks chat such as Onion Bhajji, Punjabi Pakora, Dahi Vada, Dahi Bhalla Chaat, Dahi Puri, Samosa Chat, Alu Tikki Chaat etc.
The mains include Paneer Tikka Masala, Amritsari Chana Masala, Paneer Butter Masala, Sarso Ka Saag-Makke Ki Roti (seasonal), Punjabi Kadhi Pakora, Soya Chap Masala, Mushroom Do Pyaza (vegan), Alu Gobhi, Bhindi Do Pyaza, Mix Vegetable Korma Kadhai Paneer, Dal Tadka, Dal Makhni and Palak Paneer etc.
What’s more? They also have a kid’s menu. The good part is that this Indian restaurant also does catering. You can also book them to serve food at special occasions such as your anniversaries, baby showers, birthday parties, farewells, family reunions,
engagement ceremonies and even wedding. They have pre-set menu from where you can select as per your needs. They also cater to corporate events such as meetings, corporate parties and team building events etc.
Address of Billu’s Indian Eatery: 62, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney, New South Wales – 2150, Australia.
Phone number of Billu’s Indian Eatery: 02 9687 7785. If you want to book a table for more than 20 people, I advise that you call at 02 9687 7785 and reserve a table.
Email of Billu’s Indian Eatery: [email protected]
Timings of Billu’s Indian Eatery
Opening hours are as below:
Monday to Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Ginger Indian Restaurant
Ginger Indian Restaurant is known for its Mughlai cuisine. Their rich, savoury and creamy gravies are worth a try. Some of their dishes can be very spicy, so if you are spicy shy (I am not, I like it very hot!), just request the waiters to tone down the spice level.
Soul Window Observations
As per the historians, Mughlai cuisine is a blend of North Indian food with influenced by Central Asian and Persian traditions, thanks to the innumerable invasions in medieval India. The usual suspects are paneer gravy dishes and delicious Indian breads such as Naan, Lachcha Paratha, Butter Roti etc.
However, my experience has been different. I have visited Shymkent and Turkestan in Kazakhstan, which is located right next to Tashkent in Uzbekistan, a country from where Babur, the first Mughal invader came from. I observed that the food I sampled and saw in Kazakhstan turned out to be as similar to Indian Mughlai food as sambhar is similar to creme de legumes, or Burrata to Paneer Do Pyaza, eh!
So, I am not entirely convinced that the people in Uzbekistan ate all this spicy mumbo jumbo in 15th century, ugh! I sampled many of the Central Asian food while traveling there, all of which turned out to be sans any spice and were rather bland (like Syrne or Sirne), much like European food.
If you fancy al fresco dining (Southern Australia’s weather was amazing in October when I visited!), you may grab one of the outdoor tables at the Ginger Indian Restaurant. Melodious soundtracks of Indian folk music and slideshow of the suburb’s street life are an added bonus.
Contact details:
Address of Ginger Indian Restaurant: 94, Wigram Street, Harris Park, Sydney – 2150.
Phone number of Ginger Indian Restaurant: 02 8061 7245
Timings of Ginger Indian Restaurant:
Opening hours of Ginger Indian Restaurant are
Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Fresh Corner, Dairy products, Harris Park
Indians love dairy products so I was delighted to see Fresh Corner right in the heart of Harris Park. Located on Wigram Street, right opposite to Australia Post and Shri Refreshment Bar in Harris Park, it was a very popular dairy shop. Unfortunately, this place has closed permanently.
Taj Bhavan, Harris Park
Many people confuse Taj Bhavan with Taj Indian Sweets and Restaurants. However, both are different Indian restaurants in the same area of Harris Park. In fact, there is a Taj caterer nearby as well. Located right next to the popular Dosa Hut, it is very popular with Indians living in Sydney, especially in Blacktown and Harris Park.
The food here is also suitable for the Swaminarayans. Their portion size is good and so is the taste of their food. The prices here are reasonable as well.
However, some guests complain that, “The process to book parties is not clear. Their terms & conditions are not transparent. So, one must not book a party here unless you are clear about all your requirements.”
Teekhazz, Harris Park
It was decorated for a birthday party when I visited. They had one of the largest dining spaces in Harris Park. I tried their Masala French Fries and Vada Pao. It was nice. They also sold Pav Bhaji, Naan Choley, Paneer Tikka, Lassi etc.
I had amazing Indian food at Teekhazz. It was located right next to Go Cool Fresh Fruit Mart and Nader Salon. Unfortunately, this Indian restaurant in Harris Park closed down permanently. I really enjoyed the delicious vada pao here. Their tagline was: The great Indian chatkaa! Phone: 02 86287070. It was located at this address: 56, Marion Street, Harris Park, Sydney, Australia, New South Wales (NSW).
Gujarati restaurants in Harris Park, Sydney: Farsaan, chats, street food and more!
I am a cliché – How Indians Shop Abroad!
“Should I buy that samosa or not? It is for INR 250 (Aud 5) for 2. In India, it would cost me just INR 20 (approx 0.40 AUD). I will anyhow be back in India merely few hours later.” I had just discovered the ‘Little India’ of Harris Park and these thoughts engulfed me.
I salivated profusely as the shopkeeper inside Shri Refreshment Bar poured chutney over samosa (in slow motion, as if to entice me!) and served to other customers.
After several days of solo travel across Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, I was craving for my samosa fix. My friend Poornendu Tyagi (We studied together in Institute of Hotel Management, Lucknow) and his wife Akanksha did feed me lot of Indian food (Masala Dosa, Chola Chawal) in Melbourne just a few days ago.
It was my last day in Sydney and Australia. After walking to and fro, much like a frustrated tiger in a zoo enclosure, I finally gave in the temptation!
The Gujarati man in his 40s took away my precious Australian dollars and handed me over the samosas with a smile and courtesy. (typical of Australians). I am not sure if he would retain the same smile if he handled one of the Gujarati farsan shops of the chaotic Kalbadevi in Mumbai.
Both Mumbai and Sydney are megacities. And both attract large numbers of students, young professionals, dreamers! But Mumbai has more vibrancy and diversity as compared to Sydney.
As I sat next to a South Indian man, satisfying my soul with bites of samosa, I couldn’t help but observe the ‘Little India’, which the Indian community had built for themselves in the faraway island nation.
Many Gujarati NRIs visit this place when they want a fix of delicious homemade dhokla, fafda, jalebi etc. Now you know where to go in case you were searching for some good Gujarati restaurants in Harris Park Sydney.
Durga Paan & Falooda House, Harris Park
How about going for an after-meal treat of Paan and Falooda? Named after the Indian Goddess, Ma Durga, this is easily one of the best food outlets in Harris Park to enjoy a post meal paan or kulfi falooda. Taken for granted in India, I know its real value in a foreign land.
World renowned Bollywood Indian singing queen, Richa Sharma, also visited Durga’s following her Sydney Tour. As per the owners, “It was a great honour to host such a living legend. She enjoyed our famous Kesar Falooda”.
Their meetha paan or sweet paan is the most popular amongst the Indian diaspora. The Western people are more amazed by their dramatic fire paan in which they literally make fire on the paan and place it in your mouth. They also cater for events where you can ask them to arrange for paan platters for events such as wedding anniversary parties, birthday parties etc.
The sheer variety of paan that they offer is impressive. Their rainbow paan is visually appealing too. Pistachio paan is also worth a try. It is a creamy pistachio coated delicacy that is perfect after any meal.
As the name suggests, Durga Paan & Falooda House also sells great faloodas. It is a popular coolant, sold mostly in summers. It is a dessert drink with jelly-like silky noodles, chilled ice-cream, dry fruits, and topped with assorted flavored syrups.
One of their bestseller desserts is Royal Falooda! This ice cream like sweet is prepared with a combination or Kesar (Saffron) and pista (Pistachio) flavours. And how can you not try their delicious rose falooda and masala soda?
During summers, you can also buy the expensive and fresh Ratnagiri Alphonso Mangos (from Maharashtra region) from Durga Paan & Falooda House
These are high in demand and available for a limited period of time. Therefore, you must reserve your box well in advance. Also, try their mango lassi.
Address of Durga Paan & Falooda House, Harris Park: 3/14, Station Street East, Harris Park, Sydney, NSW – 2150
Phone number of Durga Paan & Falooda House, Harris Park: 0415 257 669, +61 2 9893 9425
Timings of Durga Paan & Falooda House, Harris Park:
Opening hours of Durga Paan & Falooda House, Harris Park is as below:
Monday: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday to Sunday: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Best Indian Desserts in Harris Park Sydney
Where there are Indians, a dessert is never far away. Unlike the Chinese diaspora, Indian have big sweet tooth. Indians love to finish their meals with desserts, followed by paan. Harris Park Indian restaurants offer a wide variety of desserts.
Soul Window Tips
From the melt-in-mouth gulab jamun, rasmalai, rasgulla to Mysore Pak, imarti, jalebi, barfi, kaju katli, balushahi, boondi laddu, you can sample all this and much more in the Indian restaurants of Harris Park of Sydney.
The other Indian desserts and sweets you can try in the desi restaurants of Harris Park are kheer, paysam, shrikhand, kulfi, gajar halwa, sooji halwa, moong halwa, ghevar, modak, malpua, nariyal laddu, basundi etc.
Here are some more tips to make it easy for you, in case you are a non-Indian. While it is easier to find Indian desserts such as gulab jamun, ras malai, rasgulla, ghevar (Rajasthani dish), kaju katli, kulfi falooda (Indian ice cream with noodle like toppings), kheer etc in North Indian restaurants of Harris Park, you are more likely to find Indian sweets such as paysam, Mysore Pak, sweet pongal in South Indian Restaurants.
Similarly, the delicious ang gooey Kesar Shrikhand is mostly sold in Gujarati restaurants.
South Indian Restaurants in Harris Park
There are so many amazing South Indian restaurants in Harris Prak that you will be spoilt for choices. The cuisine of South India is distinctly different from the cuisine of rest of India. In fact, the cuisine of the 4 South Indian states viz Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are also distinctively different from each other.
Expect appam, puttu and kadala curry, Adai Avial, thoran, sadya in Kerela themed restaurants and meals, sambhar rice, rasam, masala dosa, idli, utthapam, pongal, (Puliyogare rice), tamarind rice, curd rice, mendu vada in Tamilnadu and Karnataka themed restaurants. On the other hand, the fiery hot thalis of Andhra Pradesh are very popular as well.
Bangladeshi Restaurants of Sydney
It is not very easy to find restaurants themed around East India and North East India in even India, let alone Sydney. However, Bengali restaurants in Sydney may help. Try to dine in a Bangladeshi restaurant in Sydney if you can’t find a decent Bengali restaurant. The cuisine and culture of Bengal in India and Bangladesh are almost similar.
Some of my favourite vegan Bengalis dishes are Sukhto (Mixed vegetables), Alu Posto (Delicious potato curry with poppy seeds) and mochar ghonto (banana flower curry served with rice), dhokar dalna (Lentil cakes in curry). Most of the Bengali and Bangladeshi restaurants of Sydney serve these. Rasgulla is a famous Bengali dish, also claimed by people of Odisha.
Nepalese restaurants around Harris Park
Where there is an Indian restaurant, there is a Nepali restaurant (Not always, but mostly). Thanks to the close cultural ties between Nepal and its larger and more powerful neighbour India, there are many similarities in the cuisines of both the nations.
Pakistani restaurants in Harris Park
Here is a warning! From my person experiences of traveling around the world, I have noticed that it is very common to see Pakistanis running Indian restaurants not only in Sydney but across the world.
There are high chances that some of the Indian restaurants in Sydney are actually run by people of Pakistan, which is also the forever neighbour of India. Pakistan was also once the part of India, before the partition and the division of India happened.
This is why food culture and habits of both India as well as Pakistan and Bangladesh are so similar. So, this means that just in case you are eating in a Pakistani restaurant in Sydney, there are high chances that it is same as what you get in an Indian restaurant! But I would still stick to an Indian restaurant in Sydney run by an Indian person for the authentic flavours and aroma!
Also read: The mysterious life of the Living Goddess of Nepal
Indian Paan Shops in Harris Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Paan is a preparation that involves betel leaves that are jam packed with candied spices and various sweet chutneys. It is a strong burst of flavour like no other.
‘Keep calm and eat a paan’, the poster outside a Harris Park food street shop known as Shri Refreshment Bar said. I would have eaten the paan (betel leaf-based mouth freshener), but that would have been more Australian dollars wasted.
However, I was delighted that it was possible (and so easy) to find Banarasi paan in Sydney, even if it was overpriced (going by the Indian rates for the same.) Paan is akin to an Indian breath mints but still very different from what a western palette is used to.
Indian paan is a refreshing and chewy mouth freshener which Indian people eat after dinner as a treat! The Indian paan includes betel leaf (piper betel), chopped betel nut (areca) and chuna (slacked lime), red kaththa paste (extracted from khair tree).
The equally popular sweeter version of paan known as meetha paan includes gulkand (sweet, dense gooey preserve of rose petals),
Do not miss this delicious digestive aid which also promotes absorption of nutrients after a meal. Many Indians (such as me) also enjoy a well-made meetha paan after lunch or any time in the day as a treat! You must definitely try Indian paan in Harris Park, especially if you are not an Indian.
Some of the common types of Indian Paan are Banarasi Paan (from Varanasi), Calcutta Paan (from Kolkata), Saada paan, Khasi paan, ice paan, the gimmicky fire paan etc. These days, paan is also served in many flavours (which I enjoyed as well) such as kiwi, butterscotch, chocolate, strawberry, mango, coffee, caramel etc. I have also devoured paan flavoured ice creams.
Paan is a fantastic fusion of a mouth freshener wherein you can sprinkle your choice of fillings from nutrition-rich dry fruits to crunchy betel leaves, fennel seeds, gulkand and what not!
Chinese restaurants of Harris Park: The Angry Chinese baker
Fancy eating in a Chinese restaurant in Harris Park Sydney? Here is the drill! First things first! The Chinese food served in Indian restaurants of Australi is not the authentic Chinese. A real Chinese person will never even look at ‘that sort of a thing.” However, I did observe some Chinese presence in Harris Park!
During my stay in Australia, I have also visited an entire street lined with Chinese restaurants and cafes and even museums in Melbourne. I was equally impressed with a similar area for all things Indian in Sydney. I walked around Harris Park and was surprised to see some Chinese presence in the area.
A lone Chinese shop sold Chinese snacks and groceries as I strolled around Harris Park curiously. She looked unhappy as if she was forced to become the lone Chinese vendor in a pre-dominantly Indian location. I bought spinach and cheese pasties (AUD 2.80) from her. It was the only vegetarian and cheap savoury snack she was selling apart from the lacklustre cakes and pastries.
Soul Window Observations
I was surprised to see a large number of Chinese diasporas in Sydney and other parts of Australia during my trip to this part of Oceania. For example, while visiting the iconic 12 Apostle during the Great Ocean Road, I was amazed with the sheer number of Chinese tourists.
The Chinese tourists comprised of more than 80 % of the tourists I saw in 12 apostles. They easily outnumbered the Indians or white people of Australia by a large margin. So, it is easy to figure out that finding authentic Chinese food in Sydney is not all that difficult!
Seasonal Festival Indian Food in Harris Park
Here is a tip. Watch out for the food festivals in the South Indian restaurants of Harris Park Sydney. This is also when the desi restaurants serve special food, much of which is out of the menu. For example, Gujarati restaurants serve special seasonal food such as Undhiyu poori and ponk in winters. Sweet Pongal is more commonly available in South Indian restaurants during the Pongal festival.
Likewise, expect to enjoy til laddu (sesame jaggery balls which keeps you warm) during the annual Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti in the month of January. Til laddus are available in both, North Indian restaurants as well as Indian grocery stores of Harris Park.
Here is a tip. While some til laddus are hard, some til laddus are designed for a toothless king; so soft it literally falls apart in your mouth. Just ask. I like both versions though.
Similarly, gujhia is another delicious North Indian sweet available in both restaurants as well as grocery stores during the Hindu festival of colors known as Holi. Holi falls in the Gregorian month of March. Both til laddu and gujhia have a long shelf life. This means you can buy a big batch and enjoy them for months.
Bengalis served special food during Durga Pooja, which falls mostly in the month of September October. Many Indian restaurants of Harris Park hold such special food festivals during prominent Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Pongal, Gudi Padwa etc. You can try to find some modak during Ganapati Chaturthi and special vrat thali (upvas) during Navratri.
During Mahashivratri and Ram Navami, two major Hindu festivals, you can see somelocal restaurants offering special menu for a limited period of time, sometimes for merely a day. Do not miss sadya during Onam. Many places required you to book sadya a day in advance so that they can prepare the same without wasting food.
Ambiance of restaurants in Harris Park
Best part is that many restaurants play Ram bhajans, Shiv bhajan, Mahamritunjaya jaap, Bollywood music or even Indian ghazals during opening hours. It is very common to enjoy Indian music while just walking through the wide streets of Harris Park.
Can Western People cook Indian food at home?
Yes, it is very easy to cook basic Indian food at home. I know many people from western countries have perfected the art of cooking Indian food with some practise and repetitions. It is so easy to find premium quality Indian food in Sydney in the Indian superstores of Harris Park.
Since many Indians live here, all Indian spices, condiments, a variety of lentils and rice are easily available in Sydney. Do read my detailed blog on Indian grocery shops of Harris Park.
Soul Window Facts
First things first! Home cooked Indian food is not the same as the Indian food one gets in restaurants whether in India or outside of it! The food in Indian restaurants, especially North Indian food has more grease, color, spices and have thicker gravies unlike the food cooked in Indian homes.
However, the food one gets in South Indian restaurants of Sydney is pretty much same as what you get in the households of South India with some exceptions, of course!
My British friend Mark Bibby Jackson who hails from Saint Asaph, Clwyd in United Kingdom adores daal bhat or daal chawal (rice with boiled lentils). I met Mark in Nepal during the Poonhill Trek on the epic Annapurna Base Camp Trek circuit.
While I stuck to European food such as pizza, pasta, Rösti or rööschti during the trek, Mark would eat daal bhat every day for both lunch and dinner. It amused me because I rarely see a westerner so excited about daal bhat. I even shared red-chilly pickle, made by my mom, with Mark.
A perfectly healthy melange of proteins and carbohydrates, daal chawal is a common meal across all parts of India and the Indian subcontinent as well.
In the words of Mark,
“I absolutely love Daal Bhat. Every time I am in Nepal or India, I ensure that all my meals include daal bhat. In fact, I had lots of daal in Sri Lanka recently as well.”
Rebekah who runs an Instagram handle by the handle of @thewellnessreward tells me,
“On my first trip to India, after 5 days of eating Indian food, I just wanted a salad with garlic Mayonnaise. However, that changed on my second trip to India. Surprisingly, I didn’t miss my food at all. That’s because I discovered Indian home cooking. That food is next level!”
Why Western vegans must learn how to cook Indian food?
It is very common to see western people making home cooked Indian food at home because it is very healthy, nutritious, light and mostly naturally vegetarian or vegan and still high on protein.
So, if you are a vegan and struggling to include protein in your diet, then I highly recommend that you should learn some high protein Indian dishes such as daal, dhokla, khaman, khandavi, chola, sattu drink or sattu baati, sattu paratha, soyabeans, rajma etc.
These are high in protein and 1005 vegan. Some people top these with desi ghee or clarified butter. You can easily avoid it as a vegan in Sydney because ghee is mostly poured on the dish after it is prepared.
If you are a vegetarian and not vegan, then you can learn how to cook all paneer (cottage cheese) based dishes and curd-based dishes such as raita, lassi etc.
Indian cooking classes for Western People in Sydney
Many Western people or Caucasians living in Sydney or other parts of Australia try to learn successfully how to make home cooked Indian meals. There are many cooking classes in Sydney where you can learn cooking Indian cuisine.
You can join one of the Indian cooking courses in Sydney or learn the six-course feast class by joining the art of Indian cooking masterclass. As a male brown Indian, I recently self-learned Indian food and loved the fact that it is so easy to master.
As a beginner, I would recommend that western people should start with learning easier every day Indian food such as idli (rice lentil cakes), utthapam (rice lentil pancakes), sambhar (lentil based), rasam, daal, rajma (kidney beans), chola (garbanzo), tava roti (bread), dahi puri, papdi chat, bhelpuri, sev puri etc. It is very easy and quick to make these dishes at home.
With time, the western students must improve their skills by learning how to cook slightly complicated dishes such as momo, biryani, dahi vada, masala dosa, vada pao, missal pao etc.
Can I learn cooking Indian food in a restaurant?
Alternatively, you can also request a restaurant owner to teach you how to cook Indian food. Some of them may oblige while some may not. However, bear in mind that chefs are very busy during the lunch and dinner time.
So, it is advisable to check with them about their availability and fix a time suitable for both you and the chefs of Indian restaurants. Some owner also may not allow the chefs to teach you dishes. Some owners also want to keep their recipes secret.
Many of the restaurant chefs are also hotel management graduates. I passed out from Institute of Hotel management, Lucknow and chef Ranveer Brar was my senior in college. If you can contact any such chefs working in an Indian restaurant in Sydney, it is all the better and more professional. It really depends on how you negotiate and deal with the restaurants.
My experience: Why Indians crave for Indian food when living outside India?
Unlike most of my traditionalist/orthodox friends, I am more adventurous when it comes to food (and other mentionable things and unmentionables!). However, after 3-4 days in a new country, I start to crave for familiar Indian food. Even a simple daal-chawal (lentil and steamed rice) feels like ambrosia after half-heartedly chewing breads and cheese for days.
In fact, when I was preparing for my first ever solo trip to Australia, I had also packed in several packets of ready to cook Indian food such as ‘heat and serve’ packets of Rajma Chawal, Kadhi Chawal etc. Trust me, these really helped me survive as a vegetarian in Sydney.
I dined at several Harris Park restaurants before writing this detailed guide on Indian restaurants.
How can the Indian restaurant scene in Harris Park improved?
Unlike many other nations, Indian food is very diverse. Every few kilometers in India, the food, beverages and the cooking method changes. Having travelled solo across India, I can vouch for this fact. Indian food is not limited to South Indian Dosa, Idli-vada and North Indian chola-bhautura etc.
Soul Window Suggestions
I would love to see more representation of regional Indian food such as jhunka bhakri, thalipeeth, thecha from Maharashtra, thepla, dhokla, khandavi, khichdi kadhi etc from Gujarat, Bamboo shoot curry from Mizoram, Dalma from Odisha, dal farra, bhakose and Nimona from Uttar Pradesh, Siddu from Himachal Pradesh, bhat ki dal, gahat ki daalfrom Kumaun in Uttarakhand, Nadru Yakhnifrom Kashmir and so on.
But then I understand that it is not easy to run a restaurant and take care of logistics. Neither is there a high demand of regional Indian food because even most Indians prefer to stick with Punjabi or South Indian food (which is sad!). I hope one day traditional regional recipes also find a place in the menus of Indian restaurants.
For perspective, I have never even seen parwal on the menu of Indian restaurants but it is a very popular vegetable in North India and West Bengal.
For example, during my solo trip in U.A.E., I was delighted to discover more diverse food scene in the old part of Dubai known as Bur Dubai. I feel Bur Dubai is U.A.E.’s version of unofficial Little India. It is very easy to find food from North India, Gujarat, Maharastra, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka etc in Bur Dubai.
Vegan food in Harris Park Sydney
Although it is easy to find vegetarian and vegan food in Sydney, nothing compares to the reasonably priced (by local standards), time-honored, naturally vegan dishes available in Indian restaurants of Harris Park.
Though vegan restaurants in Harris Park are not common, it is still easy to customize vegetarian food of Indian restaurants. Many Indian dishes such as Masala Dosa, Dahi vada, Alu Tikki, chats, Paneer dishes, Indian breads etc use dairy products such as desi ghee (clarified butter), regular butter, yoghurt etc. You can simply ask the chef to not use dairy or honey and the dish easily becomes vegan.
This is why I keep saying that India is the vegan capital of the world. But no one talks about it. Maybe because we Indian love our dairy and honey a bit too much and it is not common to see Indian vegetarians demand dairy or honey free food.
Many Indian restaurants in Sydney also clearly mention on their menu which of their dishes are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or nut free. That said, most vegetarian Indian food can be easily adapted as a vegan dish.
Vegetarian food in Harris Park of Sydney
The best Indian Vegetarian Restaurants in Sydney are concentrated in Harris Park. India is the largest vegetarian nation of the world. The sheer numbers of people identifying as vegetarians in India is mind boggling. I used to eat meat till 1994, when I was 12. I left meat on ethical grounds and ever since I never consumed meat again.
This is why I was delighted to see endless variety in the excellent Indian vegetarian food available in Harris Park, Sydney.
I am a vegetarian, by choice, so I mostly rely on bread, cheese, vegetables and fruits when visiting a new country because unlike India, it is not easy to find good vegetarian and vegan food at affordable prices in foreign nations. Sometimes I also pack ready to eat Indian vegetarian food before I leave India.
Here is a tip: If you are a vegetarian, then you can visit any of the Indian restaurants of Harris Park and Sydney. Where there is an Indian restaurant, there is always a pure vegetarian dish. This is true for anywhere in the world.
It is very-very rare (almost nil) to see an Indian restaurant which doesn’t serve excellent vegetarian food or vegan food. Feel free to try any of the Harris Park vegetarian Indian restaurants mentioned in this detailed blog.
Where to find the Best Indian in Harris Park?
Where can you find the Best Indian food in Harris Park? When I visited Harris Park in Sydney recently, I was spoiled for choices when it comes to Indian food. The Indian friend with whom I stayed guided me to Harris Park. This is why I think I am the best qualified person to write this blog.
The dizzying number of regional cuisines, lip-smacking evening snacks called as chats and food coma inducing desserts and mouth fresheners such as meetha paan provided me the much-needed comfort of familiar food while staying away from India.
Needless to say, I discovered during my solo Australia trip that you can easily find the best Indian restaurants in Harris Park, in Sydney. These Harris Park restaurants serve authentic Indian dishes and use only high-quality ingredients sourced from various parts of India.
Also read: Mysteries and secrets of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Why Western people love dining at Indian restaurants of Harris Park?
I am friends with many western people and all of them love (and even crave) Indian cuisine. It is no secret that many non-Indians also love dining at Indian restaurants of Sydney. A look at public discussion forums will give you a fair idea that many white people absolutely love dining at Indian restaurants of Harris Park.
During my solo trip to Australia as an Indian from New Delhi, I noticed Sydney has three major thriving communities viz the Caucasians, Indians and the omnipresent Chinese.
What this also means is that the social fabric of Sydney is continually enriched with influences from China and India. It’s a never-ending evolutionary process which is getting even more exciting with passing days.
This is why, many Caucasians are also warming up to the diverse Indian food. Their curiosity gets piqued when they pass by an Indian restaurant or taste Indian food which their colleagues bring to the office or school/college tiffin or when they hear great reviews of Indian food from their fellow Caucasian or Indian friends.
This is why there is a growing demand for Indian food in Sydney because not only Indians but also western people of Australia love to enjoy all that the rich and diverse Indian food has to offer. This explains why Harris Park and the Parramatta has some of the best Indian restaurants in not only Sydney but all of Australia.
Also read: Road Trip to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal by Road.
Why Can Some People Handle Spicier Food Than Others And How To Customise Indian Food?
So why do some cultures eat spicy foods and others don’t? There is also a scientific reason why some people tolerate spicy foods better than others. But we will talk about that later. Here is a guide to what you can do if you find the Indian food to be very spicy for you.
I have met many westerners who find some Indian dishes very spicy but for me those are mild. Some western people may find Indian food too hot to handle. In that case, just request the restaurant staff to tone down the spice level.
Soul Window Observations
Many 5-star hotels and luxury properties in India sell less spicy India which I despise with a passion. Initially I didn’t understand why the Indian food tastes so bland and lacklustre in luxury properties despite paying a bomb for the same. Later, I realised that the chefs have bene instructed to tone down the spices for the foreigner tourists.
I find this to be unfair. If it is not possible to provide a variation of spice levels in buffets then they must offer the same in a la carte menu.
This is also why I never order Indian food in luxurious hotels of India. I prefer eating Indian food at dhaba or roadside food carts called as thela or standalone restaurants targeted at the great Indian middle class.
Their food is authentic, spicy and far better than what you get at the overpriced restaurants of 5-star hotels in India. Being low-cost is just an added bonus!
Which Indian foods are good for low-hot-spice level?
As a white person living in Australia, you can easily find many less spicy foods in the Indian restaurants of Harris Park. Indian restaurants Harris Park never disappoint!
Surprisingly, some of my friends from western nations also have high tolerance level for spices, much like Indians. If that is the case, then I would advise you to stick to the original spicy taste.
Despite the low tolerance for spices, many Western people from Australia are a fan of Indian food. To add, not all traditional Indian food of India is spicy. In fact, chillies are not even Indian. Indians never ate chillies until colonisation happened.
There are many Indian food which are not as spicy such as plain dosa, idli, curd rice, dal khichdi, alu paratha, gobhi paratha, dahi bada, uttapam, daal chawal, momos, palak paneer, malai kofta, paneer tikka, the works! You can easily find these dishes in Indian restaurants of Harris Park.
Why are there so many Indian restaurants in Harris Park, Sydney?
Being an Indian, when I visited Australia for the first time on a solo budget trip, I was very keen to look at the life of the Indian diaspora closely. My itinerary included Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. You must try eating at all of these Indian Harris Park restaurants.
Harris park- Paradise for Curry lovers and Indian cuisine!
As I strolled around Harris Park, I noticed that a pani-puri counter opposite the Chinese shop claimed to be the first one in Sydney to offer multiple flavours. Priced outrageously (by Indian standards), I skipped it.
Needless to say, I found Harris Park to be a kaleidoscope of all the major regions of India. I even had a Maharashtra style vada pao in one of the shops. Be it South India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh or New Delhi, you name it, you will get a slice of it in Harris Park! Most of the Indian shops are concentrated around Wigram Street. You can also find some Lebanese shops in the area, thanks to the Lebanese population who also call it home.
Average Costs of food in Indian restaurants of Harris Park Sydney
A large community of middle-class Indian call Harris Park their home. This is why most of the Indian restaurants in Harris Park are reasonably priced. Almost all the Harris Park Indian restaurants are targeted at the middle-class Indian diaspora. Indians love to eat and when we eat out, it’s mostly in large group of family or friends. This means that cost plays a major role in selecting where to dine.
The Indian restaurant community understands this and this is why we can see a wide range of popular Indian dishes at affordable prices in Harris Park, Sydney.
Sydney’s best Indian restaurants are in Harris Park
Where are the best Indian restaurants of Sydney located? No prizes for guessing that the best Indian restaurants of Sydney are concentrated in the Harris Park area. This is also because many young Indians and their parents live here.
Sample regional food of India
No matter which lane of Harris Park I walked in, I noticed several restaurants and cafes offering a wide range of Indian food. I sampled food at some of the regionally specialized eateries, Indian street-food-inspired snack bars, and vibrant sweet shops, creating a lively scene akin to a carnival parade.
Soul Window Guides
This exhaustive local’s guide to best Indian restaurants in Harris Park includes all available regional cuisine from various parts of India such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh etc.
Thanks to the rising Global Indians, I am sure in a few years, you may also find lesser-known Indian food from Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and North Eastern Indian states such as, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur, and my favourite Nagaland in the Indian restaurants of Harris Park.
What I found the most impressive was the fact that the Indian restaurants of Harris Park are not limited to serving merely the run-of-the-mill tikka masalas, dosas, naan and kormas which are more well-known. There is more to Indian food than these few globally known dishes.
On the contrary, you can sample a wide variety of Indian regional food which is one of the most diverse in the world. From Maharashtrian and Gujarati to North Indian, Bengali and South Indian, you can find it all in the restaurants of Harris Park.
How to reach Harris Park Restaurants?
It is easy to arrive at Wigram Street Harris Park restaurants. I just got down at Harris Park railway station from Circulay Quay Railway station. Although, Harris Park is connected with many other railways station of Sydney as well, such as Blacktown. From the metro railway station, Harris Park restaurants are located at walking distance.
I figured out that some of the best Harris Park Indian Restaurants are located at close distance from each other. If you go on an Indian food trail, then I suggest that you must try at least 3-4 Harris Park restaurants. Since many of them are located right next to each other, therefore it is easily doable.
Best Time to visit Indian Restaurants of Harris Park?
While morning (10-11 a.m. onwards) is a great time for Indian breakfast such as poha, idli, upma, stuffed parathas, poori-bhaji etc, thalis and buffets are mostly available during lunch and dinner time in the restaurants of Harris Park. Paan is enjoyed as an after-meal mouth freshener after both lunch and dinner.
Here is a tip! Avoid weekends if you can, because this is when the Indian restaurants of Harris Park are the most crowded and noisy. Finding a seat can also be a challenge in in Indian restaurants of Harris Park on Saturday and Sunday.
I personally think that weekdays are the best time to eat at the Indian restaurant in this mostly residential area of Sydney because of lesser crowds. Maybe plan an office lunch party with your mixed group friends here. Or visit after work for dinner! Thank me later!
Can you take food in your suitcase to Australia?
After alighting at the Canberra airport, I was made to wait for 30-40 minutes in a queue because the Biosecurity officers found some ‘nasty food packets’ in my bag. When my turn came, I made a lost puppy face when the lady Biosecurity officers looked at me unsmilingly and interrogated me firmly. “It is just comfort food and seal packed. I really need those.”
I was overjoyed when the young lady officer allowed me to take it along. As a government policy, if you are carrying some food and drink items into Australia, you must proactively declare the same on your Incoming Passenger Card if you arrive via a flight or plane. The same also needs to be declared on the parcels which you mail.
Restaurant job in Harris Park Sydney
There are many Indians who seek jobs in Harris Park Restaurants on a regular basis. During my visit to Sydney, I met many Non-Resident Indians in Harris Park who study in the day and work off jobs throughout the day. I hired many cabs during my visit in Sydney and I was surprised to see many well-educated Indians doing the driver’s job.
Similarly, many Indians are employed in the staff of not only multinational chains like Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut and Dominos but also in the restaurants of Harris Park, Sydney. It is common to see an all-Indian staff at the Indian restaurants of Harris Park.
Here are some tips on finding the best jobs in the Indian restaurants of Harris Park. So, in case you are looking for a Restaurant job in Harris Park Sydney, just walk in and share your skill sets with the owners and ask them if they need Indian chef/waitor/cleaner/manager etc?
If you live in the vibrant Harris Park area, then keep an eye on the posters outside the restaurants announcing restaurant job in Harris Park Sydney. In my opinion, this is how many people find well-paying restaurant jobs in Harris Park, Sydney.
Where else can I eat Indian food in Sydney?
By the way, did you know that there are more Indian restaurants in Sydney CBD area? Also check out the Indian restaurants in Circular Quay! Indian buffet in Sydney is also available in many parts of this megacity. Indian restaurants in eastern suburbs are also quite popular!
However, for best Indian vegetarian restaurants in Sydney, I highly recommend that you visit Harris Park because it is much easier to reach, pocket friendly, and easily accessible. To add, Harris Park is where all the local Indians go. When in Rome, do as Romans, eh!
Conclusion: Is visiting Harris Park Indian restaurants worth it?
During my visit to Harris Park Sydney, I was pleasantly surprised to notice that there are so many exciting Indian restaurants all along Wigram Street competing with each other. I thought since I am the best person to write a detailed local’s guide to best Indian restaurants in Harris Park, I must publish this blog for the benefit of the readers.
Harris Park restaurants are very different from other restaurants of Sydney. Harris Park is also where you can find the only pure vegetarian restaurants of Sydney. I am happy that so many people have used this guide to discover delicious India food from different regions of India in Harris Park.
Whether it is the Hyderabadi layered biryani, samosa chaat, Mumbai Street food such as vada pao and sev poori, Punjabi-style paneer dishes (cottage cheese) with butter naan and lachcha paratha, Delhi style kebabs, a spicy butter paneer masala or even a refreshing post dinner paan, Indian restaurants of Harris Park and Paramatta, both in Sydney, will not disappoint you.
So, whether you are an Indian origin NRI (Non-Resident Indian) living in Sydney or a Western Caucasian person or even a Chinese person, I highly recommend that you dine at all the restaurants of Harris Park over many visits so that you can sample the wide range of dishes that the rich and diverse Indian cuisine has to offer to the adventurous food lover.
What’s more? Some of the cheapest Indian restaurants in Sydney are located in Harris Park.I keep updating this mega guide as and when I get to know about New Indian restaurants in Harris Park. So, when are you heading to one of these amazing restaurants in Harris Park NSW? Do share this complete list of Indian restaurants in Harris Park with your friends and family.
The view from my Soul Window is drool worthy!
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