Spice I Am

Though it’s been serving the city for over a decade, the Spice remains Sydney’s go-to for ultra-trad, ultra-spicy Thai food. It’s BYO, there’s no advance booking, and the food comes fast and furiously, but that’s all part of its charm. Thai food is ubiquitous in Sydney but this is the real deal. You don’t make friends with salad, unless you’re eating one here. Order their som tum—shredded green papaya with peanuts, tomato, and snake beans—for fiery refreshment between bites of kanom jeen nam ya—fermented rice noodles in fish curry sauce, topped with mustard greens.