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An expert's guide to Sydney's Night Noodle Markets 2015

Myffy Rigby
Myffy Rigby

Carb loading: The Night Noodle Markets takes in old favourites and new treats.
Carb loading: The Night Noodle Markets takes in old favourites and new treats.Supplied

So you think you can noodle? Think again. Good Food has the behind-the-scenes skinny when it comes to making the most of the city's largest celebration of carbs.

Once again, it's a festival of experimentation and deliciousness, taking in old favourites and adding new treats, both sweet and savoury. And probably the most exciting piece of treat news concerns Momofuku​ Milk Bar's dessert queen and inventor of the compost cookie Christina Tosi. The US MasterChef star and progenitor of the infamous ''crack pie" will be coming to Australia to attend the opening of Sydney Night Noodle Markets to launch the pop up The Singleton Whisky and Sugar Bar that will be running for 18 fun-filled evenings.

And did we mention the folks from Bang, that fun Surry Hills hotbed of mod-Bangladeshi food, will be launching a version of their new restaurant, Singhas? Night Noodle Market-goers will be the first to taste the new menu and concept. So many snacks, so little time. To that end, we've put together an easy-to-follow guide that'll help you get the most out of your Night Noodle Markets experience. Dinner is sorted for 18 nights in a row; all it takes is a little preparation. You're welcome.

Crowds enjoying a spring evening.
Crowds enjoying a spring evening.Ross Duncan
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Order the roti from Mamak
A long-standing member of the Noodles family, this Malaysian hawker stall offers classic, tissuey roti with curry sauce. The queues outside their Goulburn Street restaurant are legendary, and for good reason - very few Malaysian restaurants in Sydney can offer the famous-and-very-addictive flatbread this light.

See - then eat - noodles prepared by a robot
Taste of Shanghai, those purveyors of delicious handmade noodles are going one step further, upping their game by employing the help of a robot. Yes, really. Apparently it chops noodles faster than any pair of human hands could. We haven't seen this magic at work yet, but we're looking forward to it. You know what they say: one day it's fresh noodles, the next it's a dystopian future where robots rule the world.

Try a ramen hotdog
Yes, really. Ramen Zundo is serving stir-fried ramen in a roll, topped with your choice of a crumbed prawn or chicken karaage. That's just a few small steps from the ramen flavoured ice-cream we just read about at the Tokyo Ramen Museum (yes, that exists too).

Roti canai from Mamak.
Roti canai from Mamak.Supplied

Oh, and ... Timing is everything
Yes, the markets are open till 11pm on Friday evenings (hello, after work drinks) but to really beat the queues and do NNM like a pro, you'll want to turn up at 5pm, when the gates swing open.

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Catch public transport
Duh. This is Hyde Park, folks. Trying to park in the middle of the city is like trying to eat soup with your hands. And as any soup eating fool will tell you, this is no mean feat. Get off at St James Station and you'll be just a two-step from all the noodles you can handle.

Print a map
The Night Noodle Markets engulfs Hyde Park and while the sights, smells and sounds of this huge colourful hawker market are extremely exciting, it can also be a bit of sensory overload. Make sure you don't miss out on your favourite stalls by checking out a map of the area first.

Christina Tosi, runs the Momofuku Milk Bar
Christina Tosi, runs the Momofuku Milk BarSupplied

Delegate
The real ninjas when it comes to doing the markets properly know their strengths, and they know to divide and conquer. Take a group, and give everyone a job. Send someone to the bar (there's free water there, by the way), and send your other delegates to grab snacks, while someone gets prime position with a picnic rug. Extra points if you look at the menu online first.

Tap and go
Don't mess around with cash - that's a rookie error. So dangerously easy to use, such instant gratification.

The Night Noodle Markets run from October 8-25 at Hyde Park North, part of Sydney Good Food Month. See goodfoodmonth.com.

Myffy RigbyMyffy Rigby is the former editor of the Good Food Guide.

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