Friday nights in Sydney's Chinatown

The Golden Tree at Chinatown, Haymarket

It does have a proper name, I think, but as long as it's been in Chinatown, I have called the gold-tipped tree the Golden Tree. It's been the meeting place of many a Chinatown outing, and remains an easily recognisable marker for the Sussex Street and Hay Street intersection.

Trinkets and lucky charms in Chinatown

Chinatown is a riot of fun and colour, with more smells wafting around than your usual suburb, more food and jewellery stores per block, and just more. In Sydney, I find our Chinatown to be an excellent second home as well as a magnificient Friday night fall-back plan.

Sydney's Paddy's Markets, Haymarket

Starving at 2am? Forgot to grab some onions from the supermarket? Need some retail therapy closely followed by huge variety of food? Need a big range of Japanese/Korean/Thai grocery items? Have the urge to sing loudly into a microphone in a small room? Chinatown has you covered.

The window display at Bread Top, Sussex Street, Haymarket

Asian vegetables at Everspring, Sussex Street, Haymarket

Fruits at Everspring, Sussex Street, Haymarket

Dried seafood items at Everspring, Sussex Street, Haymarket

The light rail going past Market City, Haymarket

Friday nights in Chinatown only means one thing for me. Food. When I've had my fill of drinking in the city and need some cheap, no-bookings-required, guaranteed-yummy food, it's to Chinatown we hike (on that note, light rail from Circular Quay through the CBD to Chinatown would be lovely, thanks).

Diners in Dixon Street, Haymarket

Alfresco dining is popular on a Friday night

If you're not keen to be drawn in by the touts all along Dixon Street for some al fresco dining, every Friday night brings stall after stall of hot food by local stores and markets specialists.

The longstanding Chinatown Night Markets are, more often than not, packed. On a chilly night, this is ideal to share body heat, but failing that, there are plenty of barbeque stalls that emit plenty of warmth.

Cumin lamb skewers at Chinatown Night Markets

Takoyaki at Chinatown Night Markets

Bak kwa at Chinatown Night Markets

Fish ball skewers at Chinatown Night Markets

Plenty of grilled options at Chinatown Night Markets

Steamed dumplings at Chinatown Night Markets

Har gow (prawn dumplings) at Chinatown Night Markets

With crowds that most city operators would be envious of, check out what everyone is crowding around for on Friday nights in the main section of Dixon Street. And make sure to say hello to the panda at the other end of Dixon Street if he's hanging about (not really sure why).

Panda says hello - at the northern end of Dixon Street, Haymarket