Dining Guide · The Grand Palace, Sydney CBD
12 Best Asian Fusion Restaurants in Sydney - Compared
Sydney's Asian dining scene spans Chinese, Korean, Malaysian, Thai and Indian kitchens all reinventing tradition. Here's how 12 of the city's best compare, side by side.
At a Glance
Basement, 261 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 (02) 8021 7696 bookings@thegrandpalace.com.au"Asian fusion" in Sydney covers a lot of ground - Chinese-Korean mashups, Malaysian street food reinvented, hawker-style laneways, and traditional Indian cooking sitting alongside it all as one of the region's defining cuisines. Rather than a long, thin list, this guide compares 12 of Sydney's most talked-about Asian dining rooms side by side - address, hours, dietary coverage and how to book - starting with The Grand Palace, our pick for Indian fine dining in the CBD.
Quick Answer
The Grand Palace (Sydney CBD, Indian fine dining, halal-certified) is our top pick for Indian cooking in Sydney's Asian dining scene. For other styles: China Lane and King Clarence for contemporary Chinese-led fusion, Chin Chin and Hustlers. Syd for Southeast Asian, Ho Jiak for Malaysian, Soul Dining for modern Korean, and Spice Alley for hawker-style variety. Full address, hours and booking details for all 12 are compared below.
Compare at a Glance
Dietary column shows only what each restaurant explicitly confirms - not every kitchen publishes the same level of detail.
| Restaurant | Area | Style | Dietary Highlights | Good for Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grand PalaceOur Pick | Sydney CBD | Indian Fine Dining | Halal - Veg - Vegan - Jain | |
| China Lane | Sydney CBD | Chinese Fusion | Veg - Vegan - GF options | |
| Soul Dining | Wynyard, Sydney CBD | Modern Korean | Contact restaurant | |
| Chin Chin | Surry Hills | Southeast Asian Fusion | Veg - GF options | |
| King Clarence | Sydney CBD | Chinese/Korean/Japanese Fusion | Veg - GF options | |
| Ho Jiak (Town Hall) | Sydney CBD | Malaysian Fusion | Veg - Vegan - GF section | |
| Hustlers. Syd | Sydney CBD | Southeast Asian Fusion | Veg - Vegan - GF options | |
| The Colonial | Darlinghurst | British-Indian | Vegan and Veg menu - GF | |
| Soi 25 Xpress | Pyrmont | Thai Fusion | GF menu - Veg/vegan on request | |
| The Malaya | Sydney CBD | Chinese-Malaysian | Vegan-friendly | |
| Spice Alley | Chippendale | Hawker-Style Food Court | Veg menu available | |
| Kid Kyoto | Sydney CBD | Japanese Izakaya | Vegan options |
The Grand Palace
Our PickSydney CBD · Indian Fine Dining
Halal - Veg - Vegan - Jain
Good for groupsChina Lane
Sydney CBD · Chinese Fusion
Veg - Vegan - GF options
Good for groupsSoul Dining
Wynyard, Sydney CBD · Modern Korean
Contact restaurant
Good for groupsChin Chin
Surry Hills · Southeast Asian Fusion
Veg - GF options
Good for groupsKing Clarence
Sydney CBD · Chinese/Korean/Japanese Fusion
Veg - GF options
Good for groupsHo Jiak (Town Hall)
Sydney CBD · Malaysian Fusion
Veg - Vegan - GF section
Good for groupsHustlers. Syd
Sydney CBD · Southeast Asian Fusion
Veg - Vegan - GF options
Good for groupsThe Colonial
Darlinghurst · British-Indian
Vegan and Veg menu - GF
Good for groupsSoi 25 Xpress
Pyrmont · Thai Fusion
GF menu - Veg/vegan on request
Good for groupsThe Malaya
Sydney CBD · Chinese-Malaysian
Vegan-friendly
Good for groupsSpice Alley
Chippendale · Hawker-Style Food Court
Veg menu available
Good for groupsKid Kyoto
Sydney CBD · Japanese Izakaya
Vegan options
Good for groups
The Grand Palace — Indian Fine Dining, Sydney CBD
If you're searching Sydney's Asian dining scene, Indian cuisine is one of the pillars of it — and The Grand Palace is Sydney CBD's standout for it. Unlike most entries on this list, it isn't a fusion kitchen blending cuisines together; it's traditional Indian cooking done properly, in a basement dining room styled after India's royal palaces, a 90-second walk from Wynyard Station.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Halal certified · Full vegetarian & vegan menu · Jain (no onion/garlic) on request
China Lane
Tucked into the Angel Place laneway beneath the "Forgotten Songs" birdcage installation, China Lane blends 1950s Shanghai-glamour styling with contemporary Chinese cooking — a popular pre/post-theatre spot next to City Recital Hall.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegetarian and vegan dishes marked on the menu, plus gluten-free options
Soul Dining
Recently relocated from Surry Hills to a larger CBD space overlooking Wynyard Park, Soul Dining brings modern Korean share-plate cooking right into the same corner of the city as The Grand Palace.
- Dietary: Contact the restaurant directly to confirm current options
Chin Chin
A buzzy Southeast Asian share-plates restaurant in a heritage-listed former tea warehouse, known for its lively no-fuss energy — walk-ins welcome, though bookings are available too.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
King Clarence
Chef Khanh Nguyen's contemporary Asian kitchen built around a custom BBQ grill and live seafood tanks, drawing on Chinese, Korean and Japanese flavours.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegetarian and gluten-free options available
Ho Jiak (Town Hall)
Chef Junda Khoo's bold, playful reinventions of Malaysian hawker classics, in the heart of the CBD near Town Hall — part of a small Sydney-wide Ho Jiak group.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Dedicated vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu section
Hustlers. Syd
A subterranean modern Asian bar and restaurant beneath York Street, built around sharing plates and cocktails — 2026 AGFG Chef Hat winner. Book ahead for dinner; walk-ins for drinks only.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available
The Colonial British Indian Cuisine
British-Indian cuisine developed under colonial rule, in a Darlinghurst terrace — think dal, biryani and slow-cooked curries alongside dedicated vegan and vegetarian menus.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Dedicated vegan & vegetarian menu, gluten-free options
Soi 25 Xpress Thai Fusion
Award-winning Thai fusion, now a smaller "express" venue in Pyrmont after relocating from its original larger Darlinghurst site — same owner throughout.
- Dietary: Gluten-free menu · Vegetarian/vegan on request
The Malaya
A Sydney Malaysian dining institution since 1963, recently relocated after 23 years at King Street Wharf into a two-storey space inside Grosvenor Place.
- Dietary: Vegan-friendly options available
Spice Alley
An open-air, hawker-style laneway food court with multiple independent Asian stalls — Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Korean and Vietnamese — plus a dessert bar and two cocktail bars. No reservations for regular dining.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegetarian menu available
Kid Kyoto
A grunge-themed Japanese izakaya from Sam Prince Hospitality Group (the team behind Indu and Mejico), serving izakaya-style small plates built around fresh Australian produce.
Must-Try Dishes
- Dietary: Vegan options available; vegetarian set menu can be made vegan
Conclusion
Sydney's Asian dining scene spans a genuine range — Chinese-led fusion at China Lane and King Clarence, Southeast Asian energy at Chin Chin and Hustlers. Syd, modern Korean at Soul Dining, and Junda Khoo's Malaysian cooking at Ho Jiak. The Grand Palace sits alongside all of them as the CBD's standout for Indian dining — halal-certified, a short walk from Wynyard, and built to handle everything from a quick lunch to a full private event.
Whichever of these you're choosing between, book ahead where you can — tables fill up fast on weekends.
Ready to experience it yourself? Tables fill fast on weeknights.
Nirav Shah
Nirav Shah is a hospitality professional with a strong passion for food culture, restaurant design, and exceptional customer experience. From over 10 years, he has explored Sydney’s diverse culinary scene with a thoughtful and informed perspective, gaining hands-on insight into how successful restaurants deliver quality dining.
With a deep appreciation for flavor, ambience, and service, Nirav focuses on both lunch and dinner experiences when evaluating dining venues. His recommendations are shaped by personal visits and careful research, highlighting restaurants that consistently offer memorable and well-rounded dining experiences worth returning to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a restaurant "Asian fusion"?
Asian fusion restaurants blend techniques and flavours across Asian cuisines — or combine Asian cooking with Western or other regional influences — rather than sticking to one country's traditional menu.
Does The Grand Palace count as Asian fusion?
Not in the strict sense — The Grand Palace serves traditional Indian cooking rather than a fusion menu. It's included here because Indian cuisine is a core part of Sydney's Asian dining scene, and it's the standout option for it in the CBD.
Which of these restaurants are good for groups?
The Grand Palace accommodates up to 125 guests with private dining options. Chin Chin and Hustlers. Syd are also well suited to larger group bookings — check each restaurant's own site for exact group policies.
Which of these restaurants have halal options?
The Grand Palace's entire non-vegetarian menu is halal-certified. For other restaurants, check directly — halal certification isn't standard across Sydney's Asian fusion scene, so always confirm before booking if it matters to your group.
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