A Multi-Cultural Feast in Merrylands Sydney

Last Sunday, around the same time I am writing this, I was in Merrylands, Sydney, known as Little Kabul by the locals. The sky was grey, and the weather was gloomy, but not the vibes. I was delighted to be sharing tables with three friends and thirteen strangers, feasting on Syrian, Persian and Afghan dishes—all were new to me.

A Syrian Brunch

Our first stop in the late morning was Al Shami for a feast of Syrian cuisine. We shared bowls of Fattah (chickpeas, yogurt, tahini served on a crispy fried Lebanese bread)— which was my favourite, and Fuol (chickpeas & fava beans cooked to perfection the dressing is lemon juice & olive oil). Both were served with a generous side of pickles.

While eating, we got to introduce ourselves, and I learned that Janice, a vegetarian (she grew up on a farm eating too much red meat before eventually becoming sick of it and became a vegetarian), who sat on my left, received the food tour as a birthday gift. There were eight or so ladies who belonged to a walking group and decided to do the tour for fun, and then there were us.

Al Shami Syrian Restaurant Address: 102/106 Railway Terrace, Merrylands, Sydney.

Sweet, Sour and Salty in Persian Grocery

The second stop was in the heart of Merrylands, an Iranian grocery store. Here, we learned that drinking tea with rock candy is a significant part of Persian culture. The guide recommended saffron rock sugar before opening a box of flavoured cotton candy, Hajabdol. I took one bite of the vanilla-flavoured cotton candy and immediately decided to get myself a whole box to bring home; it was that good.

We also learned about Doogh, an Iranian refreshing drink made of water, yogurt, and salt, perfect for a hot day. Additionally, we discovered that barberries, small and sour red berries, are essential to Iranian cooking culture.

Ryyan Persian Grocery address: 148 Merrylands Rd, Merrylands, Sydney.

Carrot Jam on Tandoori Naan

We stopped in front of a hole-in-the-wall bakery, Green Wheat, where we saw how Tandoori Naan (bread) was made in a clay oven from afar. Our tour guide spoke to the shop manager in Dari, and minutes later, we shared the same fish-shaped bread we had seen earlier.

It was huge, thin, still warm and crusty outside. We had it with a generous dollop of carrot jam. It was my first carrot jam, and I was a bit apprehensive, but OMG, it was absolutely delicious. Warm and sweet, it was such a treat! It was easily my favourite thing I had during the tour.

Green Wheat Bakery address: 2/172 Miller St, Merrylands, Sydney.

A Feast of Afghan Traditional Cuisine

For lunch—the main meal of the day—we visited Kabul House. We were served Mantu, Afghan dumplings freshly made with minced lamb, onions, and garlic, garnished with split peas and yogurt sauce. My favourite dish, however, was Borani Banjan, an eggplant dish prepared with tomatoes and various spices, featuring the standout flavour of smoky paprika.

The meal included a choice of Roti or Tikka Pulao for carbs. The pulao was made using Iranian rice, which requires soaking for at least three hours in water with a pinch of salt before cooking. It was served with lamb skewers and garnished with shredded carrots and raisins.

During our meal, the guide kept the tour engaging by sharing insights into Afghan culture, such as the traditional horse game played on New Year’s Day and the history of Afghan immigrants arriving in Australia over a century ago with camels. She also answered questions about the tradition of eating with hands and the intricate artistry of woven carpets.

Once we left the restaurant, I got to talk to Janice again, who asked how I found the food so far. I answered her honestly that all of it was really good, but for me personally, it lacked punchy spices. Again, I think it’s just a personal preference of my spice-loving palate.

Kabul House address: 186A Merrylands Rd, Merrylands, Sydney.

The One Stop Shop in Merrylands

Our next stop in Merrylands is a large supermarket that has everything you could need from a market, which is pretty impressive. It offers everything from wall decor to butchered meat, pink tea to prayer beads, spices by the gram to serveware—there’s even a deli cart in the middle of it.

We spent some time here, and I saw too many things I would have bought had I not headed straight to the airport with my already overpacked backpack immediately afterwards. Nonetheless, I did manage to pick up fresh dates for Fafa and pink Kasmiri tea for my colleagues.

Outside, the tour guide let us try yet another snack—this time, it was dried apricots, and they were delicious.

New Sydney Supermarket address: 181 Merrylands Rd, Merrylands, Sydney.

Persian Sunset Drink – Ab-Havij Bastani

Finally, for dessert, we walked to a cake shop on the same line as the supermarket. NGL, I expected to sample some Middle Eastern sweets, much like what we had in Harris Park, but instead, we were served the famous Sunset Drink—a freshly made carrot juice with a dollop of saffron ice cream. When I saw this, a thought came into my mind: this tour has been dominated by carrots.

Listen, as always, I came with an open mind to try new foods—that’s the point of a food tour, anyway, but I despised carrot juice and couldn’t take more than a couple of sips, so I passed it to Jik, who happily took care of it. She and the rest of the group loved it, so this is definitely a personal preference.

Shiraz ice cream shop address: 195 Merrylands Rd, Merrylands, Sydney.

All in all, this tour has been a great experience and a warm introduction to diverse cultures and yet another neighbourhood in Sydney that I’ll always remember fondly—Merrylands.

More Taste Tours in Sydney: Harris Park Sydney Little India The Best Butter Chicken in The Southern Hemisphere // Exploring Eastwood North Sydney Koreatown // Trail of Korean Food Tied with Culture and Traditions // Cabramatta A Slice of Vietnam Culture in Sydney Australia // A Multi-Cultural Feast In Merrylands Sydney.

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