Most Sydney restaurants close kitchens by 9pm including weekends, which catches international visitors completely off guard. This isn't Barcelona or Buenos Aires dining culture.

Late options that actually exist: McDonald's at Central Station concourse roughly 24/7 with brief cleaning closures. Kebab shops along Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross until 2-4am especially weekends. Chinatown around Dixon Street has a few places until 11pm like Emperor's Garden BBQ and New Shanghai, but not many.

Always check closing times before heading out after 8pm or you'll end up at Maccas on George Street like the rest of us night owls. Even Newtown's King Street strip mostly shuts down kitchen service by 9:30pm despite the bohemian reputation.