IN THE MEDIA

Hello Kitty, a celebrated Japanese animated character who first appeared in 1975, is taking up residence at Darling Square. View the inflatable, explore the free outdoor gallery and join in the fun with Hello Kitty themed foods.

If quirky service is high on your restaurant priority checklist, mark Haidilao down for a visit.

Hello Kitty-themed ice-cream sandwiches and ramen, a one-kilogram heart-shaped cookie and a gilded steak.

Hello Kitty Town has officially opened in Australia with familiar characters, colourful decorations, DIY activities and refreshing food and drinks for the whole family.
Whether you’re in iso or keeping away from crowds, an ace banquet cooked by someone else is still on the cards. Enjoy dumplings, pippies, prosperity toss salad and more from Golden Century, Ho Jiak and others.

Sydney’s Darling Square is no longer recognisable – the Haymarket destination has been transformed into Hello Kitty Town.

Anyone who’s a fan of Hello Kitty and other super-cute Japanese characters like Gudetama, Badtz-Maru, and Keroppi will be pleased to know that the cult-favourite characters have descended on Sydney for an epic street festival.

Say hello to a five-metre inflatable version of the iconic character then dig into themed toasties, noodle dishes and burgers from a slate of the precinct’s fantastic eateries.

The Exchange – a spiralling, six-storey building clad in ribbons of timber designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma – is the impressive backdrop for this magical Christmas lights installation. Golden Christmas is a tunnel of fairy lights that will enchant the kids and win over any adult Scrooge with its irresistible holiday cheer.

Born out of a love for authentic home-style curries and a passion for supporting refugee and asylum seeker chefs, Uma Curry & Roti is a social enterprise curry house from the team behind Parliament on King. The “love project”, refugee-run Darling Square kitchen showcases Burmese-inspired dishes with a simple menu and plenty of big flavours.

Darling Square which is next door to Chinatown, is buzzing with new life post-lockdown.

"XOPP at Darling Square has reopened with installation of live seafood tanks and a new menu more aligned to the original Golden Century," Wong explains. "We listened, and many of our chef and front of house team members have joined from Sussex Street to continue serving our customers their GC favourite dishes."

Urban List has labelled Kuon Omakase as an absolute must-try. Executive chef Kideaki Fukada offers an ever-changing menu of 20+ courses to the small number of lucky guests that features an eclectic assortment of dishes.

IIKO Mazesoba is giving its brothless ramen a spooky halloween makeover this October. Read more on Concrete Playground.

"A bit of luxury - a bit of self care." That's how head chef Chase Kojima at Simulation Senpai describers his incredible sushi to Good Food and we couldn't agree more.

With its glittery skyline and avant-garde architectural offerings including Darling Square's unique building, 'The Exchange,' Sydney has been heralded as one of the World's Greatest Places by Time.

Savoury dishes may stake claim to the black diamond of the kitchen, but with more and more menus featuring these fragrant fungi in desserts, it seems that truffles have a soft spot for sweets as well. Check out these sweet treats from KOI Dessert Bar, Auvers Cafe and Hello Auntie.

The man behind food-focused social enterprise Parliament On King has a new eatery — Uma Curry & Roti. Its menu is worldly and cooked by refugees.

Cuisine is “the soul of a place”, says Curtis Stone. If cuisine is the soul of a place, it’s clear that NSW and Darling Square have plenty of soul.

Found in The Exchange at Darling Square, new Haymarket curry house Uma Curry & Roti is the latest development for the social enterprise led by founders Ravi Prasad and Della Zhang.

A permanent sashimi and chirashizushi stand by Sokyo’s Chase Kojima.

Chinta Ria Buddha Love finds a home in Good Food's guide to the hottest Sydney CBD restaurant openings in the last year.