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Restaurant

Willis Canteen

Unit 197/392 Jones St, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia

Recommended by 71 people

Updated

Find Willis Canteen

Unit 197/392 Jones St, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia

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+61 2 8056 0636
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Willis Canteen

Ultimo gets an unvarnished slice of Jakarta canteen energy on Jones Street, trading dining-room polish for uncompromising regional cooking. Locals line up for the Sate Padang—tender grilled skewers drowned in a thick, savory bumbu—and massive plates of gado gado tossed with rice cakes, tofu, and rich peanut sauce ground from scratch. The room runs like a relaxed, family-run mess hall, dishing out oversized portions of crispy ayam goreng and beef noodle soup at student-friendly prices. Bring physical cash or set up your bank transfer app before sitting down at the counter.

  • Authentic Regional Staples: Known for authentic regional staples like tender Sate Padang and rich, house-sauced gado gado.
  • Massive Portions: Generous plates of ayam goreng, noodle soups, and vegetable salads tailored for hearty appetites.
  • Warm Family Hospitality: Intimate, welcoming owner hospitality that makes diners feel like extended family.
  • Cash or Transfer Only: Operates on an unfussy, cash-or-direct-bank-transfer-only counter model.
RestaurantIndonesianRestaurant

What's On at Willis Canteen

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Willis Canteen

Discover why diners flock to this Ultimo canteen for regional Indonesian favorites, massive portions, and heartfelt care.

  • Authentic Regional Indonesian Specialties

    Willis Canteen is revered for regional Indonesian dishes like Sate Padang with tender meat and perfectly balanced lontong, alongside standout crispy batagor.

    The Sate Padang with lontong is absolutely incredible—rich, flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and the kind of food that makes you pause mid-bite and think, “Okay… THIS is the one.”

    Cindy Gunawan

  • Handcrafted House-Made Peanut Sauce

    The venue is famous across Sydney for its signature house-prepared peanut sauce dressing, freshly made rather than reliant on commercial shortcuts.

    The peanut sauce was not the usual store bought one or the gross one made with peanut butter.

    Kim Oscar

  • Substantial, Generous Portion Sizes

    Dishes like Gado Gado, Ketoprak, and rice plates arrive in massive, deeply satisfying servings that frequently leave guests with leftovers.

    Portion was MASSIVE, i had to take half of it home. Generous variety of veggies, tofu, lontong & sauce

    Kelly

  • Accessible Everyday Value

    Prices remain exceptionally fair and accessible for diners seeking hearty, homestyle meals compared to central Sydney dining options.

    budget friendly and authentic Indonesian food.

    Clarence Beeks

  • Familial and Personal Warmth

    The owner-operators deliver familial warmth, attentive care, and generous hospitality that immediately makes guests feel at home.

    She even gave me kue lapis to take home, which honestly made me feel like I was being sent home from my Indonesian auntie’s house with snacks.

    Cindy Gunawan

  • Nostalgic Comfort of Home

    Guests find immense satisfaction and genuine nostalgia in discovering authentic traditional flavors that faithfully mirror regional home cooking.

    Clean and simple decor transport you straight back to Indonesia as does the quiet chatter in Bahasa!

    Joachim Cohen

Traditional regional favorites featuring authentic scratch-made sauces and hearty portions

  • Gado Gado

    The peanut sauce was not the usual store bought one or the gross one made with peanut butter. The portion was very generous.

    Kim Oscar

  • Sate Padang

    The Sate Padang with lontong is absolutely incredible—rich, flavorful, perfectly seasoned

    Cindy Gunawan

  • Ketoprak

    came here for Gado Gado and Ketoprak and wrre truly impressed by how tasty and authentic they were

    Tim Matt

  • Batagor

    the batagor was SO good. Crispy, delicious, and the sauce? I could probably drink it with a straw.

    Cindy Gunawan

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful personal gestures and caring hospitality from the owner-operators

  • Accommodating Kitchen After Hours

    The kitchen accommodated patrons who arrived after lunchtime closing, welcoming them in to sit and cook a freshly prepared meal.

  • Personal Currency Accommodation

    When an overseas visitor carried only foreign currency, the chef personally stepped in to accept USD directly so the customer could eat lunch.

  • Complimentary House Kue Lapis

    Ibu Willis generously packed traditional sweet kue lapis to take home, creating a personal family-like hospitality experience.

  • Custom Gluten-Free Meal Adaptation

    To accommodate a gluten-free dietary need, the chef cooked a fresh chicken fried rice following a family grandmother recipe.

Before you head over

Key details on payments, prep times, and portion sizes for an easy visit

  • Prepare Cash or Bank Transfer

    Bring physical Australian dollars or be prepared to use direct bank transfer on your phone, as standard credit cards are not accepted.

  • Allow Time for Made-to-Order Dishes

    Freshly grilled skewers and scratch-made peanut sauces can mean half-hour waits during busy rushes, so budget extra time rather than rushing.

  • Plan for Massive Portions

    Portions for staple dishes like Gado Gado and Ketoprak are exceptionally large, so consider sharing or planning for takeaways.

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