Chinatown stalwart Hingara restaurant serves last dumplings

Sydney's Chinatown has lost one of its oldest restaurants, with the closure of Dixon Street's 46-year-old Hingara restaurant.

An old-school Sydney Chinese restaurant, Hingara was the turf of those in search of short soup, long soup, garlic chicken or congee.

Food writer Kim Terakes​ was already a long-time regular at the Hingara when the Herald reviewed it in 1996.

"They still ask if I want a fork and spoon or chopsticks. The only time they take any notice of me is when I produce a race form guide and they want a tip," Terakes said at the time.

King Fong, president of the Chinese-Australian Historical Society, confirmed Hingara opened in 1971.

A neighbouring general store, which closed a few years ago, had traded on the site since 1918.

The recent sale of the Hingara building, for $19.9 million, will most likely see a change of use.

Word on Dixon Street is a new "concept retail shop" will slide into the space rather than a restaurant.