This is Dàjí Dàlì, a street food stall specialising in traditional warm, freshly roasted sugar-tossed chestnuts. The stall operates from its main setup at the Burwood Chinatown night market, with periodic pop-ups at regional markets. We visited the Eastwood setup on a Saturday afternoon.
The sugar-roasted chestnuts were priced at $10.00 for 180 g, $15.00 for 300 g, $24.00 for 500 g and $46.00 for 1 kg.
The chestnuts were served still warm, with a pronounced dark caramelised nuttiness from the roasting. The shells proved remarkably easy to peel, breaking cleanly while the inner husk separated readily from the chestnut. The exterior retained a mild stickiness from the sugar roasting, while the chestnut itself delivered mellow earthy nuttiness with restrained sweetness.
Texture varied slightly between pieces, with some chestnuts tending towards dryness, although most maintained a balanced level of moisture with a soft, yielding texture and clear chestnut flavour. The warmth also helped carry the roasted nuttiness and caramelised sweetness, making the chestnuts particularly well suited to casual snacking.
Overall, a warm roasted chestnut snack defined by deep caramelised nuttiness, restrained sweetness and generally consistent moisture, strongest where the chestnuts remained soft and yielding while retaining their earthy flavour.
Dàjí Dàlì was worth trying for its freshly roasted chestnuts, particularly when served warm. The combination of easy peeling, pronounced roasting character and mellow chestnut sweetness distinguished the better pieces, although moisture varied slightly between individual chestnuts.
Dàjí Dàlì operated as a stall in Eastwood Village Square, outside Leung Kam Kee, at 1 Lakeside Rd, Eastwood NSW 2122.