Sydney certainly has no shortage of Chinese restaurants, but there are few places that offer as authentic and an all-encompassing experience as Mahjong Room on Crown Street in Surry Hills. Perhaps that is because this trendy modern Cantonese eatery focuses not only on delicious food but other aspects of Chinese culture. As the name suggests, this includes the all-important game of mahjong, which you can take lessons in over lunchtime dim sum and Chinese street food on Fridays and Saturdays, and at all other times the traditional wooden mahjong tables are used as cute, kitschy serving trays. Mahjong Room have various themed dining rooms, like a 60’s-style private room, a 14-person banquet room and even a re-created scene from the film Mao’s Last Dancer. Of course the food is the main attraction though, with a focus on healthy eating (including gluten-, dairy- and nut-free dishes) and fresh, local produce uncommon around other Chinese restaurants in Sydney.