Spice Alley

Spice Alley is an open-air dining laneway on Kensington Street in Chippendale, close to Central Station and UTS. Its hawker-style stalls bring several Asian cuisines together around shared seating, so your group can order from different vendors and eat at one table. Pick up char kway teow, laksa, roti canai or dumplings, then add another small plate if you want to sample more. The lantern-lit setting is liveliest at night; portions can be modest, which suits a multi-stall meal.

A laneway of separate food stalls

Spice Alley is part of the Kensington Street precinct in Chippendale, near Central Station and the University of Technology Sydney. Rather than choosing from one restaurant menu, you can order from separate eateries gathered along the laneway. The range includes Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese and Singaporean food, with other Asian cuisines represented too.

Shared seating makes it easy for a group to mix orders from different vendors. It also suits solo diners who want to pick up a quick meal without committing to one restaurant. You can dine in or take food away.

Build a meal from several cuisines

The menu choices cited for the laneway include char kway teow, satay skewers and Hainanese chicken rice, alongside laksa, roti canai, ramen and dumplings. Some eateries serve familiar dishes such as fried rice, while others focus on a particular cuisine. Check the individual stall menus before ordering, since each vendor has its own selection.

For a roaming meal, start with a dish that appeals to you, then add another from a different stall. Portions can be modest, so sharing several plates is a practical way to try more than one option. Some venues permit BYO drinks, but that depends on the individual place.