Sydney's Best Cheap Eats - Fast and Friendly Chinese
Any Newtown local (or employee of RPA) can tell you where to go when you are in need of a decent meal. If the sustenance you desire is of the Chinese variety, there is only one choice, the Wonton Noodle Inn (153 King Street Newtown ph +61 2 9550 1922).
Near the Marlborough Hotel, which is convenient to pick up some BYO (at the corner of King Street and Missenden Road), you will find this small fronted eatery. Don't judge this book by its cover, there is more seating out the back. Singles enjoy eating at the raised stools while watching the traffic of King Street go by, both on foot and on tarmac. Past the open kitchen you will find a small dining room, complete with a TV playing weird and wonderful Asian programming. Continuing out the back door, their largest space is reserved for dining under the stars.
It isn't hard to fathom that the most popular dishes are their signature Wonton Noodle Soups. Cheap, tasty and packed full with their hand made (on the premises) wontons and your choice of beef, chicken, king prawns, bbq pork, duck, fish cake, vegetables or all of the above. For those after something with a little more kick, their Laksa's (with the same choices of meat and seafood) are just the thing to get your motor running. Whether eating in or taking away, a Wonton Noodle Soup is a great lunch, dinner or supper. Speaking of take away, be sure to hang around the kitchen and watch the skill and art of the frantic chefs. If you have just come from the pub and are finding it hard to face more fluid, try a stir fry. Beef and rice noodle is a firm favourite of mine or for a special occasion I go combination.
If your idea of Chinese food is deep fried lemon chicken or bright red sweet and sour pork, the Inn has you covered. For the cautious who are willing to take at least a few steps towards the wild side, try their Empire Chicken or the very tasty Chilli Pepper Squid. Chinese style Omelettes come in every flavour under the sun as well as the standard Spring Rolls and Dim Sims. If you can handle the calories (if not, share with a friend), you need to sample their hand crafted Savoury Shallot Cake. A perfect crescent of buttery pastry encases a sweet and savoury filling that is hard to stop at one.
While living in Newtown, and a regular at the Wonton Noodle Inn for the past ten years, I have seen staff come and go. One thing that never changes is the warmth and tenderness of all that work here. Since my first visit I continue to be greeted by cheers and smiles. This is the place to go when you are in need of a compliment or just a great Fried Ice Cream.
