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Restaurant

Emperor's Garden B.B.Q. & Noodles

213-215 Thomas St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia

Recommended by 46 people

Updated

Find Emperor's Garden B.B.Q. & Noodles

213-215 Thomas St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 2 9281 9899
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Emperor's Garden B.B.Q. & Noodles

A Thomas Street staple since 1991—unfussy, unrenovated, and thoroughly uninterested in trend chasing. Regulars bypass Chinatown queues and head straight for the street window hung heavy with Cantonese siu mei. Behind the butcher counter lies an old-school room untouched for decades, where lunch crowds pack in for quick plates over rice, steaming wonton soup, and roast pork with crackling that snaps on cue.

  • Window-Hung Cantonese Barbecue: Street-facing display windows loaded with tender roast duck, sticky char siu, and crackling roast pork sliced to order for takeaway or dine-in platters.
  • Preserved 1990s Dining Room: Operating unchanged since the early 1990s, offering classic wonton soups, duck san choi bow, and nostalgic dining hall character.
RestaurantChineseRestaurant

What's On at Emperor's Garden B.B.Q. & Noodles

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Emperor's Garden B.B.Q. & Noodles

Savour authentic Cantonese barbecue and retro dining hall nostalgia at this enduring Haymarket gem—reserve your table today.

  • Masterful Cantonese Siu Mei

    Cantonese barbecue prepared with traditional crackling skin, rich char siu glaze, and roast duck spiced to standards perfected over decades.

    I love the roast pork with crackling and the way they flavour it is better than other places in Sydney CBD.

    A W

  • The Signature Hanging Window Display

    A classic street-facing butcher counter where patrons select roasts by weight or settle in for sit-down platters served fresh from the hanging rack.

    They specialise in BBQ meat (just look at the front window).

    Casandra TP

  • Unchanged Retro Dining Hall

    An unapologetically preserved 1980s dining room delivering an atmospheric throwback complete with rich broths, handmade dumplings, and vintage charm.

    this beloved restaurant still serves wonton soup so comforting it feels like the 1980s renovation never ended—just upgraded itself into deliciousness.

    Kok Tong Tan

  • Old Hong Kong Diner Spirit

    A direct, no-frills Hong Kong diner environment that prioritises authentic comfort food over modern, tourist-focused trends.

    It's closer to the Old Hong Kong style than the rest of the touristy restaurants in the area.

    EY H

  • Reliability Spanning Decades

    Generations of diners return for the certainty of flavours that have remained steadfastly delicious across more than three decades.

    I have been eating here (on and off as I no longer live in Sydney) for over 35 years. I always order the BBQ pork and I am never disappointed.

    Matthew Healy

  • A Living Chinatown Institution

    A rare survivor of Chinatown's golden culinary era, providing the satisfaction of keeping living history thriving.

    This restaurant is one of the last of its kind and has been around for decades.

    Leonard T

Decades-proven Cantonese barbecue and comforting soup staples honed over thirty years.

  • Roast Duck

    The roasted duck was crispy on the outside and juicy inside, perfectly paired with soft rice.

    Asif Mahmud Shourov

  • Crispy Crackling Roast Pork

    I love the roast pork with crackling and the way they flavour it is better than other places in Sydney CBD.

    A W

  • BBQ Pork (Char Siu)

    I always order the BBQ pork and I am never disappointed.

    Matthew Healy

  • Wonton Soup

    serves wonton soup so comforting it feels like the 1980s renovation never ended—just upgraded itself into deliciousness.

    Kok Tong Tan

Before you head over

Practical advice for navigating Haymarket’s veteran Cantonese barbecue institution. Book your table to experience a vintage slice of Chinatown history.

  • Prioritise Front-Window BBQ Meats

    Anchor your order on the house-roasted Cantonese meats hanging in the front window—crispy crackling roast pork, char siu, and roast duck—served over steamed rice or in noodle broth, which consistently outshine standard stir-fried sides.

  • Choose Takeaway by Weight or Dine-In

    If dining in, walk past the takeaway counter into the rear hall for sit-down dishes; for meals at home, order siu mei directly at the streetfront butcher counter by weight. The counter accepts both card and cash.

  • Time Your Visit and Set Expectations

    Peak weekday lunches draw brisk crowds of regulars looking for quick meals, so arrive for an early lunch if you prefer a quieter room. Expect straightforward, no-frills service and retro decor focused entirely on hearty dining.

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