A record number of people chowed down at Sydney's Night Noodle Markets this year.
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More than 550,000 people - up nearly 60 per cent on last year - wined and dined under the glow of lanterns at the annual hawker-style markets held in Hyde Park.
New to night noodling, stall holder Hoang Nguyen said the experience had been a steep learning curve for he and his family.
"We're new to the food industry. We had a lot of fun but we learnt a lot. I think the excitement brought all of the family together and there was a big community atmosphere," said Mr Nguyen, who sold beef pho at the markets for the first time.
The markets were held as part of the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Food Month, which wrapped up on Friday.
Festival director Joanna Savill said street food markets had growing appeal.
About 8000 ramen and rice burgers were sold at the markets, buckets load of dumplings and more than 12,000 serves of specially concocted Messina icecream,
"I think it's the theatre of it all. We don't just eat, eating is also about atmosphere. It's the sounds and the smells and the spring evenings," Ms Savill said.
Chef and television personality Yotam Ottolenghi managed to hold his own against the wafting smell of wok-fried food. His three cooking and conversation events sold out quickly and attracted more than 1000 foodies.
Other well known chefs including Neil Perry, Luke Nguyen and David Thompson joined culinary forces in a one-off street food marketplace in Pyrmont.
* A 10 day pop-up food and drink market dubbed the Lunar Markets to mark the start of the Chinese New Year will be held in Pyrmont Bay Park as part of The Sydney Morning Herald NSW Food & Wine Festival presented by Citi.
The inaugural markets, presented by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Star, will take place in February to welcome in the Chinese Year of the Sheep.