8Things Eatery — Restaurant in Sydney

Approaching a bus stop on Katoomba Street on a bitter winter’s evening, & seeing strangers waiting for a bus that can’t come soon enough—their hands deep in the pockets of their puffers, hoods like balaclavas, & ear buds providing a respite to the bleakness of the day—the indifference with which they greet you as you join them—a sideways glance & a half-serve of indifference—that’s how we were greeted by the staff of 8Things when we arrived for dinner, recently.

Like the Golden Arches, you order remotely & pay with your phone. No need to interact with the staff. They’ll occupy themselves with half-tasks to look too busy, while you adjust to the realisation that not only is no one going to greet you when you arrive, but no one is going to interact with you as you consider the main meal of your day.

But unlike the Scottish family restaurant, the prices at 8Things appear to include service. For street food. It’s a paradox that remains unresolved by some of the great philosophical minds of our time.

(If you don’t have your finger on the pulse of Katoomba prices, go into restaurants up the nearby arcade, or up the hill towards the Carrington, or down towards Hapenny Lane.)

As I pondered the staffs’ inertia & the depths to which the establishment wanted to reach into our pockets, the most visible team member displayed hygiene practices that prompted me to think that if you’d like to CATCH 8Things, this could be the place.

COVID-19 is the prime contender—it’s the virus du jour. All the cool kids have been getting it. Then there are this year’s flu strains. And of course, the common cold is on the menu this season. One exotic possibility is Monkey Pox! Fresh off the boat. Who knows what else you might get from the person behind the counter who sneezes into her hand & then picks up condiment bottles without washing her hands in the interim.

We couldn’t wait to see the specials. We just couldn’t. My mother would have been ashamed to think that she raised a kid who grew up to accept shoddy service, & other people’s germs during a pandemic, while paying a food vendor inflated prices. So, we left.

We...

We initially picked this place as it had a high rating, the highest in the area actually. I was quite hungry to the point where I could not risk being unsatisfied.

The prices were also quite high, so I assumed it'd be quite premium.

When you first get there, it's a great hipster vibe. The food looked very presentable. I jumped straight in, ordering was done through the QR code online system, which is kinda silly given the size of the place, but nonetheless, embracing technology added a point for me any way.

We ordered two burgers as the tacos (on the other table) looked a little small to fill me up. There was quite a bit of a wait, the restaurant was chocablock full to be fair. The burgers came and man they looked great.

Then reality hit. The chips were just bad. They tasted microwaved (not saying they were), but it was the soggyness I guess.

The burger, while there was an option for WELL DONE, I assumed the standard was medium rare. Boy was I wrong, half of it was cooked well done, the middle of it was literally raw meat. I had chunks of raw meat in my mouth after a couple bites.

I wish we just went to maccas.

Overpriced, cooked BADLY and not just rare (if it was supposed to be rare, it'd have been cooked the same way throughout).

Parking is difficult being in a shopping district, not many places to sit, seating wasn't the most comfortable, service is fine, the online ordering made it fast, didn't appreciate the extra surcharge you...

🌧️ Stumbled on 8 Things on a chilly, misty Katoomba afternoon and it was exactly what we needed. Small menu, big flavours, and just the right amount of hipster energy. They don’t try to do everything — they just do eight things and do them really well. Obsessed with that confidence.

🌮 First up: the Mexican Tacos (GF). Ohhh my. Slow-cooked lamb that practically melts, paired with creamy refried beans, fresh crunchy cabbage, and that perfect corn tortilla hug. The hot sauce + minted yoghurt combo?! Dead. Add coriander on top and it’s a full-blown flavour party. Legit couldn’t stop talking about it mid-bite.

🥟 Then came the Korean Bao and it was love at first squish. Sticky, rich pork belly balanced with crisp daikon, cucumber, and carrot, plus a little fiery kimchi to wake up the palate. Wrapped in the fluffiest steamed bun and topped with spring onion and black sesame seeds. 10/10 texture game. Would order again instantly.

🍽️ The vibes? Casual, cool, and no-frills in the best way. You order at the window, grab a seat outside, and just vibe. Perfect pitstop in between exploring.

👀 Already eyeing the katsu sando and Thai fried chicken for next time. Honestly might just work my way through all eight because… why not?

💥 If you’re in Katoomba, skip the basic tourist eats and hit up this little flavour bomb of a spot. 8 Things, you’re a whole mood. Thanks for feeding our souls (and...