Best dishes of 2010

1. Veal Sweetbreads at Porteño

While it's possible to visit this restaurant without hitting the serious meat, you'd be missing out on the sweet-as-a-nut veal sweetbreads. These chubby, light-yet-rich clouds of thymus are as tender as only a young calf's glands can be. 358 Cleveland St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 8399 1440). $16. 

2. Sashimi of Mulloway at Bar H

Make sure to order the sashimi of mulloway dressed with olive oil and soy, with pickled beetroot and what tastes like a small amount of orange juice as well. This is the raw fish dish that puts most other raw fish dishes in town to shame. 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9280 1980). $18. 

3. Chorizo and salt cod croquettes at the Four in Hand

We can't get enough of Colin Fassnidge's crunchy fingers of salt cod and potato, interlaced with chorizo, served standing to attention in an egg carton. 105 Sutherland St, Paddington 2021. (02 9326 2254). $12/half dozen.  

4. Roti canai at Makan@Alice's

For outstanding Malaysian food, make tracks to this Thornleigh gem. You'll want to eat the whole damn menu but you'll kick yourself if you don't try their feather-light roti with a side of chicken curry. 262-264 Pennant Hills Rd, Thornleigh 2120. (02 9484 8288). $7.50. 

5. Rich and noble lobster congee at Rockpool

This luxed-to-the-max Asian nanna dish sees hunks of lobster bound with rice porridge and festooned with a mix of anise-y peanuts, chilli and pieces of fried Chinese bread, all topped with tiny little curls of deep-fried garlic. 107 George St, The Rocks 2000. (02 9252 1888). Four-course menu $145.

6. Beef short rib curry at Bistrode CBD

If you're dining with a few people and you've got your hunger on, try the incredibly fragrant, sticky, sweet beef short rib curry with rice. Lvl 1, 52 King St, Sydney 2000. (02 8297 7010). $78. 

7. White sausage, prawn and slow cooked egg at Bodega

Ben Milgate and Elvis Abrahanowicz, best mates and co-chefs, recently handed the tongs over to a new crew of young chefs. And before you ask, yep, Bodega is as bangin' as ever. Case in point? The white sausage with tiny bits of butterflied prawn, puffed grains, topped with a slow cooked egg. Shop 1/216 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9212 7766). $21. 

8. Wagyu oxtail and braised sea cucumber at Tetsuya's

It's all in the texture here: sticky, smooth, collagen-rich and very alluring with the smallest, almost undetectable amount of yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit). 529 Kent St, Sydney 2000. (02 9267 2900). Degustation $200. 

9. Ma po tofu at Spicy Sichuan

Chefs Zhang Xinrong and Li Xian are doing some incredibly spicy food. Their version of ma po tofu is a lifechanger - absolutely riddled with Sichuan pepper that's so fresh that it fizzes with soft tofu interwoven with pork mince and redolent with chilli. 2 Cunningham St, Sydney 2000. (02 9211 4900).  

10. Marinated charcoal chicken at House

It's all tender juiciness with pickles and plenty of chilli, served quartered but still on the bone. 202 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills 2010. (02 9280 0364). $16.  

Best of 2010 - complete list

Have you eaten here? Leave a review at the bottom of the page. No login required. Click for guidelines.