Best of South Indian cuisine in Parramatta

Indian cuisine is one of the most diverse in the world. From North, South, East to West, there's an incredible wealth of flavour across India's regions. South Indian dishes tend to be spicier, use coconut milk rather than the dairy products of North Indian cuisine, for example.

The Southern regions also favour rice and lentils over naan and roti, and provide more fish and vegetarian options rather than the meat-heavy Northern menus. 

Piping hot dosas served with chutneys and lentil soups, deep-fried doughnuts infused with herbs and spices, fragrant curries made with fresh fish … the iconic cuisine of South India is popular all over the world—and especially in and around Parramatta, home to Sydney’s best South Indian eateries.

Explore the delicious South Indian cuisine. Here’s your guide to six of the most delicious dishes on the neighbourhood menu.

Medu Vada Sambhar (Deep-Fried Black Lentil Doughnuts) at Chatkazz

When you’re thinking comfort food, think no further than Chatkazz. Among the many South Indian delights of this laidback neighbourhood eatery is Medu Vada Sambhar. This comprises two split black lentil doughnuts—infused with fragrant herbs and spices, and deep-fried to golden-brown perfection.

Accompanying the doughnuts is a trio of side dishes for dipping: spicy lentil soup, coconut chutney and tomato chutney.

A great vegetarian and vegan restaurant with authentic Indian Street Food, Chatkazz is the perfect spot for plant-based foodies looking for a good feed. 

Chatkazz, Unit 4, 14-20 Station Street East, Harris Park

Chicken Madras at Billu’s

If you like your curries hot, hot, hot, then get your fix with a serve of Chicken Madras at Billu’s, the restaurant where the Indian cricket team eats when in Australia.

This fiery red dish takes its name from the capital city of Tamil Nadu, now known as Chennai, which is perched on the Bay of Bengal on India’s southeast coast. Not keen on chicken? Billu’s Restaurant does a fine lamb version, as well.

Billu’s Restaurant, 62-64 Wigram Street, Harris Park

Malabar Curry at Not Just Curries

Take a mini-trip to the South Indian seaside with a Malabar Curry. This subtle dish hails from Kerala, a coastal region on the Arabian Sea, where wild-caught seafood has been a dietary staple for thousands of years.

At Not Just Curries, the Malabar is a subtle dish, spiced with mustard seeds, red chilli and curry leaves, and cooled with coconut cream. Choose from prawns ($26), basa fish ($23) and barramundi ($28).

Not Just Currries, 66 Wigram Street, Harris Park

Masala Dosa at Mughal Palace

Of the many dishes born in South India, the mighty Masala Dosa is the best known—and of the many stand-out versions in and around Parramatta is the one served at Mughal Palace in Epping.

Here, the chef’s secret to success is his dedication to cooking every dosa to order, from scratch. Plus, he takes his time, spending half an hour on each batch of fresh, piping hot pancakes, which are made from a moreish mix of rice and potato, and served with a variety of chutneys and sambar (lentil soup).

Mughal Palace, 63 Beecroft Road, Epping

Spring Roll Dosa at Dosa Hut

Find out what happens when South Indian and Chinese flavours collide with a Spring Roll Dosa.

This unique creation, which is one of the Dosa Hut’s most-eaten dishes, features crispy crepes filled with four fillings—chicken, lamb, paneer (fresh cheese) and masala—plus coriander and onion.

If that doesn’t sound like quite your style, choose another dosa; there are scores on the menu.

Dosa Hut, 69 Wigram Street, Harris Park

Goan Fish Curry at Itihaas Restaurant

Goa is a region on South Indian’s southwest coast, famous for its white sandy beaches, magnificent World Heritage-listed architecture and exotic dishes, influenced by Portuguese cuisine.

One of the most popular is the Goan fish curry. At Itihaas, it comes with barramundi, immersed in coconut milk and flavoured with mustard leaves. But the ingredient that gives the dish its zing is kokum, a sour butter made from the seeds of the kokum tree, which grows in the Indian tropics.

Itihaas Restaurant, 235 Church Street, Parramatta

RØDE Microphones manufacturing in the Parramatta region

RØDE Microphones at Silverwater is an example of a manufacturing business thriving in the Parramatta LGA.

The company, which manufactures microphones and allied equipment and employs 450 people at its Silverwater premises is an Australian innovation success story.

Founder Peter Freedman AM is a long-standing proponent of building products in Australia instead of importing lower-cost options from overseas. He focuses on pushing new boundaries and challenging the status quo within his business.

His company exports 97 per cent of its manufactured goods to the US, Europe, China and other countries. In 2019 the company sent 2.5 million products out the door.

“People find it amusing when we tell them we’re exporting electronic products to China but it’s a huge and growing market for professional audio equipment,” said CEO Damien Wilson.

“Silverwater is an ideal location for us with good access to transport links including roads, airports and ports. It’s also a central location for our staff to travel. When we recruit new staff, we put a strong focus on finding skilled workers who don’t have to travel for hours to work,” added Wilson.

RØDE first set up in Silverwater in 2007 in just one building but has expanded to many neighbouring buildings to create a campus-like workplace complete with large fully-equipped staff gym. They even employ a full-time fitness instructor.

Unlike many companies that claim to manufacture in Australia, RØDE is genuine about its Australian made tag. Metal components are manufactured on-site from metal rods which are sourced from Australia and overseas. The plastic components are made in the plastic injection moulding machines, circuit boards are manufactured onsite, and all products are assembled using a combination of robotic machinery and hand assembly.

RØDE also has a product development team onsite at Silverwater that is constantly working on the next innovation. “Having all our teams inhouse means we can be very agile and bring new products to market faster than our competitors. It also allows us to innovate,” said Wilson.

RØDE’s executive team is constantly challenging itself to make improvements to the way they do business and looks for opportunities to undertake work inhouse rather than sending it to other companies. A recent installation is a state-of-the-art $800,000 testing chamber that completely absorbs reflections of electromagnetic waves, for designing and testing the next generation of wireless audio technology.

The COVID pandemic has been good for business. “It’s a hairy time to be a leader because you have responsibility for the safety of the staff. With a focus on safety, we set up processes that would allow us to keep operating.

“At the beginning of the lockdown period, we had plenty of enquiries from people who had to quickly adapt – teachers, priests and yoga instructors need advice on how to set up their audio. We moved quickly and set up a custom website to provide advice, and our sales went up,” said Wilson.

“So many people were working from home or found themselves with extra time on their hands to do whatever it was they had been planning but never found the time. For many that’s podcasting so our products like the RØDECaster and PodMic sold well too,” he added.

“We will continue to grow at a similar rate in the future with new products in the pipeline, and an exciting outlook,” concluded Wilson.
And while manufacturing in the Parramatta LGA has slowly been declining, this trend is tipped to reverse as the Greater Sydney Commission has recognised the City of Parramatta and the Greater Parramatta region as an existing and future advanced manufacturing leader in NSW. [2]

[1] National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2018. Compiled and presented in economy by the population experts.
[2] Committee for Sydney. (2017). Western Sydney tipped to revive Australian manufacturing industry - Committee for Sydney.

Where to find great vegan and vegetarian eats in Parramatta 

If you’re an animal lover—as opposed to an animal eater—then you definitely won’t go hungry in and around Parramatta. The CBD and its satellite neighbourhoods are scattered with eateries that serve up meat-free fare, from the Indian restaurants of Harris Park to the cafes of Sydney Olympic Park. Here’s your guide to six of the best.

Saravanaa Bhavan

Started in Chennai in 1981, Saravanaa Bhavan has brought South Indian vegetarian food to the world. The chain has more than 39 restaurants in India and another 87 in other countries—from Africa to the United States to Australia. The extensive menu offers a cornucopia of meat-free delights, from dosas (freshly-cooked, crispy pancakes served with a variety of fillings and dips), to curries, to mini idlis (teeny-tiny steamed rick cakes). If you’re on a budget, go for a value meal which, for $10, gives you a veritable feast.

1/99 Phillip Street, Parramatta

Circa Espresso

Founder Aykut Sayan, opened Circa Espresso out of ‘passion for the gastronome industry’ and since then has attracted a similarly passionate local following and helped build a strong cafe culture in Parramatta. On a clear day, claim a table on the sunny terrace; on a cloudy one, sink into the Chesterfield couch inside. For sweet-toothed friends of animals, the blood orange and saffron curd brioche—piled with a salad of lemon myrtle-scented fennel, pear and apple—is hard to go past. Alternatively, satisfy a savoury craving with the herbed avocado smash: a stack of fermented beetroot relish, pomegranata, fennel and kale slaw, dukkah and poached egg, on house-made sourdough toast. 

21 Wentworth Street, Parramatta (Dine-in - Takeaway)

Mellow Me

Cheerful staff, a cosy atmosphere and hearty dishes loaded with fresh produce make Mellow Me one of the nicest cafes in Olympic Park. Brekkie is served all day long, which means you can indulge in the vege plate anytime. It’s a mountain of eggs, avocado, mushrooms, feta, roasted tomatoes, broccolini, edamame and corn on house-made toast. Looking for something lighter? Or maybe a snack on the run? Take your pick from the supercharged smoothie menu, whose nutrition-packed offerings include the raw cacao shake, the pitaya smoothie (featuring organic Amazonia pink dragonfruit) and the superseed smoothie (packed with goji berries, flaxseeds, chia seeds and more). For the perfect Summer brekkie or healthy snack, don't miss their popular and refreshing Healthy Bowls. 

Shop 11, 5 Australia Avenue, Olympic Park

Taj Indian Sweets & Restaurant

Another 100% vegetarian Indian restaurant is Taj. The menu here is based on diverse regional cuisines, which means that, in one night, you can taste your way from Punjab and New Delhi in the north to Mumbai in the south—and travel even further with an Indo Chinese dish or two. There’s also an impressive sweets menu. Try gulab jamun (soft, melty, fried milk dumplings soaked in rose sugar syrup), kulfi (like ice cream but more intense) or shrikhand (strained yoghurt infused with nuts and spices).

91 Wigram Street, Harris Park

Soul Bowl

This pint-sized bar is dedicated to one thing and one thing only: filling bowls with healthy, colourful, tasty ingredients. There are choices a-plenty for both vegetarians and vegans at Soul Bowl. If you need a fruit fix, get stuck into the pear and rhubarb bowl—layers of coconut yoghurt, chargrilled pear, rhubarb compote and banana, sprinkled with pecans, walnuts and maple cinnamon drizzle. Or, if you’re energy’s running low, order the acai and peanut butter cup, topped with raw caramel slice. Then there’s a new (and vegan) take on your daily coffee in the affogato with coconut ‘nicecream’.  

4/2 Horwood Place, Parramatta

Got Pho

When you crave pho and you’re a vegan, it’s not always easy to find satisfaction. But Got Pho is different. For every dish available to carnivores, there’s another—just as delicious—for herbivores. The vegan pho is a bowl of piping hot noodle soup with tofu, mixed mushrooms and vegetables. Beyond pho, there’s bun chay (vermicelli salad, with vegan spring rolls and fried tofu) and kho vegan (dry noodles with tofu, sauteed mushrooms and spicy pepper dressing).

827 Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford

The value of Parramatta

 “Western Sydney is currently home to more than 2 million people – that’s roughly one in every 11 Australians – and projected to grow to 3 million by 2031,” Mr Davine said.

“It is also home to more than 240,000 local businesses, so it absolutely makes sense for NAB to have a strong presence here.”
More than 300,000 NAB customers live in Western Sydney, and that figure is growing rapidly,” he said.

“Our retail branch at Parramatta Square will open in late September; it’s so important for us to be close to our customers in Western Sydney. Parramatta is part of an incredible growth region and being at the centre of activity ensures we’re always listening and learning from our customers.”

Future-proofing the financial workplace

 “As we’ve learned over these past few months in this current COVID-19 environment, while people have been able to sustain working from home, they miss the office workspace. Our commercial buildings are designed to bring out the best in our people so they can collaborate, connect with each other, be inspired and better serve our customers, Mr Davine said.

“3 Parramatta Square spaces and settings have been designed to support the community-oriented focus of our organisation. Smart building features will make it easier and faster for colleagues to navigate throughout their day - built for people, enabled by technology,” says Davine.

“It’s clear to see why the Centre of Global Sydney is such an attractive location for leading financial service institutions.

Cr Dwyer said the completion of 3 Parramatta Square along with the growing presence of business leaders, such as NAB, in Parramatta’s CBD marked the beginning of a new chapter for the City.

“Parramatta is an economic leader with a thriving commercial centre,” he said.

“We are attracting world-class businesses to Western Sydney and providing incredible lifestyle opportunities for our diverse community.

“As COVID-19 restrictions ease and more people return to their workplaces, I look forward to welcoming the rest of NAB’s workers to Parramatta and seeing them become part of our thriving and vibrant City.”

Justice precinct expansion proposes to boost local economy $350 million a year

City of Parramatta Council has unveiled an innovative proposal to expand the Justice Precinct in the Parramatta CBD, bringing more than 2,200 legal jobs to the City and boosting the local economy by $350 million a year.

Under the proposal, endorsed by Council in August 2020, the expanded precinct would include a permanent Supreme Court circuit, a new law school, and a legal start-up hub to encourage new ideas in the delivery of legal services.

“As a rapidly growing economic powerhouse in the centre of global Sydney, Parramatta needs bold initiatives such as this one to help realise its full potential over the coming years,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“We are home to the second largest legal centre in NSW, but only have 5 per cent of Greater Sydney’s legal jobs. By growing Parramatta’s Justice Precinct, we hope to see more barristers, solicitors, judges and judicial staff based in Parramatta, providing valuable legal services to the people of Western Sydney.”

Cr Dwyer said investment in an expanded Parramatta CBD Justice Precinct was vital given the number of legal professionals living within 30 minutes of Parramatta will almost double over the next 15 years.

“With the growth and transformation Parramatta is experiencing, it makes sense that our Justice Precinct grows with it,” Cr Dwyer said.

“Not only will an expanded Justice Precinct accommodate the needs of our growing population, but it will also help support and retain local legal talent and encourage new and innovative ways to improve the justice system.

“We look forward to working closely with the relevant state and federal government departments and industry experts to make this vision a reality.”

The idea was first brought to Council by former Lord Mayor Cr Andrew Wilson in 2018. In response, Council commissioned an independent report by SGS Economics and Planning analysing the demand for legal services in Parramatta, as well as the economic and service benefits of the precinct to the City.

Co-working space options in Parramatta attract small business owners 

The focus on working in Parramatta often falls on the big end of town but there are also lots of small businesses operating in the growing Central River City.

Small business owners and workers like Parramatta because it’s centrally-located, provides business growth opportunities, has great transport connections, and offers plenty of options like co-working spaces and serviced offices.

The impact of COVID on co-working spaces in Australia 

Before the COVID pandemic blindsided the business world, the number of co-working spaces worldwide was projected to reach almost 20,000 this year and cross over 40,000 by 2024. Australia is estimated to have nearly 600 co-working premises, ranking seventh in the world.

But despite the pandemic the future for co-working spaces is still bright. Like many businesses, co-working spaces have taken a hit but are already showing signs of recovery. This is because corporations are looking for ways to cut down on expensive office space. As workers adjust to the new world of remote work, however, they’re also learning that human connections are essential.

The benefits of co-working spaces

Co-working spaces suit many different types of businesses like startups, small businesses, companies in transition, and even office workers who are currently displaced from their offices by the COVID-19 pandemic but can’t or don’t want to work from home.

There are many different benefits of using a co-working environment.

Ease of use

It’s easy and fast to get set up, flexible with no long-term agreements, affordable in comparison to traditional office space and everything is provided like furniture and wi-fi.

Resource and knowledge sharing

Co-working spaces are attractive because people can share resources like office space and equipment, but also ideas.

Flexibility or full service

Typically, a worker who becomes a member of a co-working space can locate there on a full-time, part-time, or even one-off basis.

In contrast, the more traditional serviced office model provides individuals or small groups with an office with shared services like reception, meeting rooms, and more.

Networking

One of the lesser considered benefits of a co-working space is opportunities to network. Meeting new people with different business and life experiences is a great way to grow and gain more knowledge.

When many goal-oriented and accomplished people share the same space at work, there are chances to meet great thinkers, established businesspeople, and entrepreneurs.

Better connectivity and networking have been shown to help grow businesses. There is a possibility that the people with whom you are sharing the office space may become your clients or provide you with references.  And in non COVID times there are plenty of opportunities to network and attend events.

Co-working spaces in Parramatta

Co-working has developed in Parramatta in recent years with businesses like Grounded Space that has two locations – one in the traditional business district in George Street and another in Westfield.

Peter Doueihi and his business partner started Grounded Space three and a half years ago because Peter’s marketing agency needed an office space and he couldn’t find a suitable location in Parramatta.

“When we started the agency we shared an office and that didn’t allow us to bring people in for meetings so the idea to create a co-working space was born. As we’ve grown we’ve had to educate Parramatta locals about the concept because it was a fairly traditional office market.

“By opening a hole in the wall coffee shop in our George Street premises it allowed us to talk to people about it and it grew from there,” said Doueihi.

Grounded Space offers a variety of packages for members from full-time with a dedicated desk to hot-desk to casual options. At the Westfield location, they also have private offices available.

“The COVID pandemic has had a major impact on our business dropping from 100 per cent occupancy to around 30 per cent, but it’s starting to pick up again. Our enquiries have grown exponentially since the lockdown measures were eased,” added Doueihi.

Which companies use co-working spaces?

Most companies using co-working spaces are small businesses but there are also larger organisations like Urbis, an international planning and property advisory firm  that has a large office in the Sydney CBD and utilised Grounded Space as they established a base in Sydney’s growing second CBD.

Urbis Director Murray Donaldson said that Grounded Space provided an ideal stepping stone for his company to establish a western Sydney office. “We previously serviced our western Sydney clients from our CBD office which meant we were a long way from projects and other organisations like the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment that is located in Parramatta.

“Grounded Space offered us flexibility, a great location, and we also like their entrepreneurship. We started with two desks and grew to five. After 12 months we knew that a Parramatta office was viable so we set up an office not far from Grounded Space and now have 11 people based there. Our 12 months in Parramatta gave us a good feel for the local market and we made important business connections as well,” said Donaldson.

As Parramatta continues to develop as a commercial district the co-working concept will thrive. Grounded Space will continue to grow, adding events to its services as COVID restrictions lift.

Coco Cubano

A slice of downtown Cuba in downtown Parramatta; Coco Cubano brings the flashy Latino spirit with its lively tapas, cocktails and wine bar to Sydney's Central City. The quirky fitout, loud music and Caribbean cuisine hark back to Old Havana, and guarantee a festive night out. Rum is, of course, a staple on the drinks list, along with margaritas, mojitos, espresso martinis, Cuban wine and craft beers. If you’re in for the long haul, order some share plates from their dinner and tapas menu.

The Winston

The Winston’s expansive outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink with friends on a sunny afternoon. Sparkling, white, pink, and reds are on the menu and have been sourced from some of Australia’s best vineyards. With enthusiastic staff eager to make their vino recommendations, you’re sure to leave with a new favourite tipple. Don’t forget to order tasty finger foods from their share menu.

The Coffee Emporium Parramatta

A stylish assemblage of local and international wines, along with inventive cocktails and happy bubbles, await you at The Emporium Parramatta. The rustic Italian fit-out is a fitting backdrop to enjoy a night of fine wining and dining at one of the chicest spots in Parramatta. Whether you’re seated indoors or outdoors, the provincial ambience and picturesque foliage will make you feel like you’re at a Tuscan vineyard. Premium and delicately aged whites and reds grace the comprehensive wine list, proving that The Emporium folk certainly know their vino. Pairing a bottle with a selection of their cold and warm signature bites, will leave you wanting to come back again and again.

Bar 30 & Bistro

Celebrate the end of the working week with a chic martini at Bar 30 & Bistro. Located on the ground floor of the Parkroyal Parramatta, Bar:30 has all the comforts you’d expect from a stylish hotel bar. Signature cocktails, fine Australian wines, tasty tapas, and plush décor make unwinding or chitchatting with friends an easy feat. Bar:30 has regular live music nights for even more relaxing wining and dining.

Port Bar Restaurant

If you prefer to sip your wine with water views, Port Bar Restaurant won’t disappoint. A tranquil waterside setting is on offer at the outdoor bar and restaurant that’s located on the banks of Parramatta River and neighbouring parklands. Stop in to enjoy the warmth of the sun on a lazy afternoon or sip some French bubbly on date night. Port Bar’s thoughtful a la carte menu ensures you won’t have to go elsewhere for a delicious feed.