First operating as a food truck in 2022, Smoky Cravings developed a cult following so quickly that it opened a no-frills permanent restaurant a year later and has since expanded to four sites across Sydney. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular.

The menu is both a perfect introduction to Filipino food for anyone unfamiliar with the cuisine (try the barbecued, vinegar-sharpened chicken inasal, or sticky soy-glazed skewers of pork belly grilled over charcoal), along with plenty of deep cuts for the well-versed (batangas goto, a slow-cooked offal soup served over rice).

And while it’s difficult to resist the (extremely) purple halo-halo shaved iced for dessert, we’re also big fans of the cakes and sweets on display at the counter, all made locally by Sydney’s best Filipino bakers. Get craving. (Also in Campsie, Tempe and Kings Cross.)

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