CABRAMATTA MOON FESTIVAL DAY OUT - PT3 -- 28-9-2025

 

'Brad N Virls' Take on the 

Cabramatta Moon Festival

Part 3

Ah, the Cabramatta Moon Festival — that one glorious day in September when the streets overflow with food, lights, and enough people to make sardines feel like they live spaciously. Officially, it celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival — a time to honour the harvest moon, family, and mooncakes. Unofficially, it’s an excellent excuse to eat until you are borderline about to chunder.

We showed up bright and early (No, I lie as we really slept in like the lazy buggars we are) and were instantly swept into the glorious mayhem that comes with huge crowds. There were sizzling skewers, noodle soups so fragrant they’d make a grown man tear up, and deep-fried everything — if it wasn’t nailed down, someone was dunking it in oil.
Strangely, my first stop was a chemist, which ain't the sort of guff that most people attend the event for.

In between snacks number twelve and thirteen, they tried their luck at carnival games — which, shockingly, did not result in any stuffed toy victories, just mild humiliation. A few questionable rides later (and beginning to think all the food wasn't a wise idea), we stumbled into the shopping stalls, where you could buy anything from bubble tea plushies to fake jade dragons blessed by someone’s cousin.
Though we settled for these skewers with a very small bit of meat, and something called, I think, a Mochi Donut. Both a tad unusual, but enjoyed.

The dragon dancers burst through the crowd next, accompanied by drums that could probably be heard in Bankstown. Then came the live entertainment — singers, dancers.

By the end of the day, we were full, sunburnt, totally buggared, mildly sticky from mystery sauce, and spiritually enlightened — mostly about which stalls give free samples. Truly, a cultural experience for the ages.

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Above and two below.

Tucked into the always-busy food chaos of Cabramatta, Super Fried Skewers 100% is one of those places you stumble into and immediately smell before you see it. It’s loud, casual and unapologetically greasy in the best possible way, serving up Chinese-style fried skewers dusted in cumin, chilli and mystery seasoning that somehow always works. You point at what you want, choose how brave you’re feeling with the spice level, and a few minutes later you’re holding a bundle of crispy meat-on-sticks that feel halfway between street food and a guilty late-night snack. It’s not fancy, it’s not subtle, but it absolutely fits Cabramatta’s reputation for honest, chaotic, delicious eating.

Photos: Brad Peadon

One of the multitude of vendors there on the day.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Virls in Freedom Plaza.

Freedom Plaza sits at the heart of Cabramatta and was created in the early 1990s as a symbol of the suburb’s growing multicultural identity, particularly its strong Southeast Asian community. Officially opened in 1991 with the installation of the distinctive Pai Lau gateway, the plaza was designed as a pedestrian link and gathering space celebrating freedom, harmony and cultural pride. Over time it has become a focal point for daily life and major events such as Lunar New Year festivities, reflecting Cabramatta’s transformation since post-1970s migration into one of Sydney’s most culturally vibrant centres.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

Cha & Co in Cabramatta is a popular casual bubble tea and dessert spot on John Street known for its creative drinks and sweet treats. It’s a lively place where locals and visitors stop by for colourful milk teas, fruit-based beverages and indulgent desserts — think creamy Thai-inspired teas, refreshing lemon flavours and fun toppings — all in a relaxed takeaway or quick-stop setting for those needing to rack off.

Photo: Brad Peadon

The looked ridiculous, but it was warm and lots of others were wearing them anyway. LOL

Photos: Brad Peadon

Chiric, better known as Mochiric Mochi Donuts, is a small but popular dessert stop on John Street Cabramatta specialising in soft, chewy mochi-style donuts in colourful flavours like matcha, pandan, ube and Biscoff. It’s a quick, place to stop into while wandering the area, offering a sweet break from Cabramatta’s famously savoury food scene and something a little different from the usual donut fare.

To be honest, they were quite unusual for those more used to the normal donut. However, they were strangely appealing.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and seven below

We finished off the day on the rides near Cabramatta railway station. Well, the gals did........I just took photos as usual. :-)

Photo: Brad Peadon

Virls gives a good indication of how she drives :-)

Photo: Brad Peadon

Virls just before we set off forth back home.

Photo: Brad Peadon

A80 stops at Cabramatta on a Sydney bound service while we wait on our southbound. 

Photo: Brad Peadon

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