Night Noodle Markets 2015, Sydney

Cebu-style Lechon from Hoy Pinoy

One of the most anticipated events of Good Food Month is here! The Night Noodle Markets has become one of my favourite events of this food festive month. The street-like dynamic vibe  and 50 stalls across Hyde Park is a sight to behold. There are newcomers like the famed Black Star Pastry/N2 gelato collaboration, Devon, Ramen Zundo and the popular Neutral Bay Japanese establishment - Jugemu & Shimbashi. Hoy Pinoy from  Melbourne is back and bigger with two stalls including Cebu Lechon at the main stall (yes, just like last year just follow the smoke!).

We arrived before 5pm on the first night to avoid the big crowd and long queues. I knew that 50 stalls of Asian, Pan-Asian and fusion cuisine to chose from would be quite overwhelming. So I created a narrowed down list of stalls to visit:

Lechon with rice and lechon sauce

When I found out that Hoy Pinoy was bringing Cebu Lechon ($15 with rice, atchara and sauce) to event, it sealed the deal for me. The extra tender flavoursome meat was amazing! The meat was the highlight as I could taste the distinct garlic and herbs stuffing flavour in the smokey meat, which is what Cebu-style lechon is known for. It came with a sweet liver-based sauce. I was in happyland whilst devouring the lechon! The lechon is only available Thursday to Sunday during the Night Noodle Markets. 

Pork bbq skewers

Their famous large pork bbq skewers ($12 = 2pcs with rice and atchara) were also available. This time the meat was more fatty and juicy. The sweet banana ketchup based bbq glazed was spot on and legit as usual! 

Bao Chicka Bao Bao

Gelato Messina's Lucky Fortune Bar is back with their Asian-themed gelato desserts including fried gua bao desserts. Messina gave me a sample of their sexy Bao Chicka Bao Bao dessert ($12). It consists of peanut gelato, peanuts, and melted milk chocolate in a fried gua bao. The peanut gelato went so well with gua bao that was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This is one item you should not miss. 

Oh hai Ed!

Brokeback moment

 

Teafogato

Strawberry watermelon cake

Then there's that awesome plate combo ($25) plate from the Black Star/N2 collaboration, which consists of the Brokeback Moment, Teafogato, and strawberry watermelon cake. When those two get together, delicious culinary alchemy is born. The Brokeback is a lovely vanilla gelato with bites of honeycomb, choc topped and pipette of salted caramel sauce. Most of us know the Black Star's beautiful classic strawberry watermelon cake, which has layers of almond dacquoise, fresh whipped cream, watermelon, pistachios, strawberries and rose petals. The Teafogato was absolutely beautiful! It consists of strawberry watermelon cake smashed N2 gelato drowned in Tippity Hibiscus Rooibos Tea Soda with freeze-dried cherries.

Here are other dishes that we tried:

Roti making action at Mamak stall

Roti Canai from Mamak

Gyozas from Harajuku Gyoza

Flavoured edamame from Jugemu & Shimbashi

Okonomi pork belly pita sandwich from Jugemu & Shimbashi

Ramen fried chicken from Everybody Loves Ramen (From the folks that brought us Hoy Pinoy)

Update:

Fried Peking duck and braised pork belly gua baos

I went back on Saturday to try out Bao Stop. Word on the street is that their gua baos are insanely awesome. Believe the hype! The trifecta is a choice of three gua baos of your choice for $20. I opted for 2 braised pork belly gua baos and the fried peking duck gua bao. The tender pork belly braised in masterstock had a amazing sweet caramelised flavour. It worked perfectly with the other fillings, which includes pickled mustard greens, coriander, sweet soy, roasted crushed peanuts and Taiwanese mayo. The fried peking duck gua bao was also delicious. The glorious duck skin and the sauce were the highlights. 

It feels like the Night Noodle Markets gets better every year! The event will run from October 8 - October 25, 2015 and the entry is free. But get there before or by 5pm to avoid long queues on weeknights. 

Night Noodle Markets

Hyde Park, Sydney (closest train station is St James Station)

October 8–25;
Mon–Tue 5pm–9pm,
Wed–Thur 5pm–10pm,
Fri 5pm–11pm, Sat 4pm–10pm,
Sun 4pm–9pm