Two Big Food Openings in Sydney This Week: Age.3 and Hay St Market Arrive

A cult fried sandwich shop from Tokyo, Age.3, is making its long-awaited debut in Sydney this week. Just days later, Hay St Market - a new 3,000-square-metre food hall in Haymarket - opens its doors, reimagining what a modern Sydney market can be.

Two major food openings in the same week, and two reasons to get excited about what’s next in the city’s food scene.

Age.3 Sydney: Japan’s Viral Fried Sandwich Shop Opens in Ultimo This Week

Age.3 (pronounced A-gay-saan), the world’s first specialty fried sandwich shop, opens its doors in Ultimo tomorrow, serving up the crispy, slightly absurd sandwiches that made it a cult favourite in Tokyo.

Launched in Ginza in 2023, Age.3 became a viral sensation for its golden-fried bread; crisp on the outside, soft within, and filled with unexpected pairings that range from savoury to sweet. After openings in Fukuoka, Hong Kong and Shanghai, it’s now Sydney’s turn.

I tried Age.3 in Tokyo last year and ordered the Crème Brûlée - torched to order with a caramelised sugar top and the Tsukimi Teriyaki, a rich teriyaki sandwich topped with a gooey egg. Yes, I still think about them regularly. Lucky for me, I don't need to jump on a plane to get them anymore.

The Sydney menu brings in a selection of cult favourites. There’s the Egg and Fried Noodles, a yakisoba-style classic that’s somehow comforting and chaotic all at once. The Grilled Keema Curry packs bold, warming spice, while the Tsukimi Teriyaki wraps sweet-savoury sauce and soft egg in perfectly crisp fried bread.

On the sweeter side, the Mont Blanc layers whipped chestnut cream over the signature base, the Pistachio pairs creamy green filling with raspberry tang and nutty crunch, and the Crème Brûlée remains an essential order - silky custard inside, crackly sugar top outside.

Age.3 Sydney opens Tuesday 25 March and will be open daily from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM. The Grand Opening Ceremony kicks off at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, featuring a traditional Lion Dance to mark the occasion.

Address: Shop 92, 732 Harris Street, Ultimo

From 1 April, regular trading hours will be:

Monday - Saturday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Sunday: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Hay St Market Opens in Sydney: A New 3,000sqm Food Hall in Haymarket

This week marks the arrival of Hay St Market, a 3,000-square-metre food hall opening inside Market City, right in the heart of Haymarket. More than just a new dining spot, it’s a reimagining of what a modern Sydney market can be - part hawker-style food hub, part produce market, part cultural precinct.

Three years in the making, the market brings together 47 food and drink concepts that span street food, small producers, licensed bars, and fresh seasonal offerings. There’s an on-site coffee roaster, a roaming selection of carts, and a glass-encased urban farm - elements that feel equal parts thoughtful and unexpected.

The goal here is more than just variety. Like Melbourne’s Queen Victoria and Prahran Markets, Hay St Market is designed as an experience - a place to linger, to discover something new, to return to. It blends tradition and innovation, reflecting Sydney’s cultural mix through food, while offering something distinctly its own.

Located alongside the long-established Paddy’s Markets, Hay St Market transforms the familiar space into something more future-facing: a daily destination for locals, a must-visit for travellers, and a sign that Sydney’s market scene is finally stepping into its next era.

Hay St Market opens Wednesday 26 March

Address: Market City, Hay Street, Haymarket

Open daily, early until late