Must do
Fast facts
- Sydney’s pocket of South-East Asia
- South-western suburbs
- A 60-minute train ride from Circular Quay
Why go there
Known as Sydney’s culinary united nations, Cabramatta delivers an authentic slice of South-East Asian sights, tastes and exotic foods. In the arcades and alleys around Freedom Plaza, the lively hub in the centre of the town, you'll find Vietnamese soup stands, butcher shops selling ‘wind-dried’ sausage and Thai herb emporiums.
Shopkeepers are always eager to explain how to use their produce in your cooking, or you can discover the real thing by eating at Cabramatta’s popular restaurants and cafés.
Things to do
- People-watch in Freedom Plaza as families meet, old men play mahjong and women sell home-grown herbs.
- Slurp on a bowl of pho (noodle soup) with a sugary lemon drink.
- Visit a Chinese herbalist shop and watch as remedies are prepared.
- Find serenity at the Kuan Yin Buddhist Temple.
Don’t miss
- Taking a Day Trip to Asia tour, run by chef and food writer Carol Selva Rajah.
- Sipping a freshly squeezed durian from Tan Thach Hong.
- Shops offering stunning fabrics and Asian jewellery.
- The Moon Festival, usually in September, with 15 days of celebrations.
- Cabramatta Seafood Festival, in December.