Your spread might include spicy pork ribs, squid tentacles and, for dessert, matcha tiramisu. Enjoy an authentic Cantonese banquet with a view, set above Melbourne’s iconic Esplanade Hotel. Pair duck pancakes, spicy pork chilli wontons and sesame prawn toast with a fusion cocktail. This 160-seater used to be a hotpot spot, but now it's a grill-yourself Sichuan restaurant. Come for sizzling skewers, whole grilled cod and dozens of side dishes. Red plastic stools and steel tables imported from Thailand are scattered around the space to emulate the country’s street-food scene.
Premium pan-Chinese dishes with a great and innovative cocktail list. A bar and nightclub that honours the childhood fables and fairytales we all know and love. In Midcity Arcade, serving a range of teppanyaki, sushi, sashimi, bento boxes, 墨尔本 火锅 店 tempura and noodles. A three-level dim sum restaurant recreating the moody ambience of a Chinese dumpling house. The bad news is the closing of Anchovy, otherwise known as chef Thi Le’s personal exploration of Vietnamese cuisine.

Delicious Korean barbecue with loads of banquet options. A lobster and champagne bar with pescatarian and vegan-friendly menus. Colourful and buzzing,Chinatownis a sparkling jewel in Melbourne’s cultural crown. With Lunar New Year officially starting on 10 February, here's the lowdown on where to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Find top places to eat, quirky arcades to explore and hidden bars to discover.
First time trying out this place after hearing how good it was for a few months from the misses. The selection was decent the broth was not bad but it’s prob not worth the money for what I got. But for spicy hotpot lovers this would be the best place to enjoy hot soup. All of them more less have same ingredients on offer, unless you have your favourite that you just have to have. What I liked about here was that they offer 3 different soup bases and I didn’t mind the collagen bone base. Expect to always be squished in and seated next to randoms but overall I love this place!!
Super loaded martabak, traditional pandan kueh, salted egg fried chicken and more. Pretty much every item on the menu is halal-friendly, too (a handful of dishes use cooking wine - ask the staff for more info). The kitchen uses halal certified suppliers to source meat for dishes like chicken katsu curry, nasi goreng and chilli crab noodles. Benyue Kitchen is a family-owned restaurant specializing in homestyle Cantonese cuisine, using only the freshest ingredients.

Cooked over a five-metre-long charcoal grill and oven, steaming dishes of barbecued pork skewers, Chang Mai sausage and a flame-grilled T-Bone steak with a Nam Jim Jaew swing around the sleek restaurant. Just off the Crown Riverwalk, there's a lot to like aboutGing Thai. The menu is a harmonious fusion of Thai classics and innovative dishes that artfully intertwine with traditional flavours. From kingfish ceviche and gai yang salad to half-roast duck, yellow vegetable curry, pad see ew, and pork eggplant, the offerings are diverse. It may look unassuming but Nana Thai is one of the most authentic Thai restaurants Melbourne has to offer. Their menu is filled with street food-style goodness, and we’d be remiss to not mention the spice factor.
Soups range from $15-20 each then there is an additional $4 for sauce not advertised. We ordered soft drinks without being shown a drinks menu and ended up paying $7.50 for Coca cola. For a more intense, in-your-face, flavour, pick the hot and sour broth, flavoured with Chinese vinegar, chilli oil and Sichuan hot and sour sauce. Some of Melbourne’s restaurants and bars are best visited well after dark. Whether you’re in need of sustenance after a show or a night owl just getting started, here are a few of our finest late-night venues. Vegetables Como & Seafood ComboHaving seen many YouTube videos of Sichuan styled hot pot dinners, we popped into David’s Hot Pot Restaurant one evening to satisfy our curiosity.

There was a time when Brunswick East threatened to throw itself into a positive feedback loop of mince and suds. Alas, it’s now more likely to be a loop of polished neighbourhood wine bars – probably the better outcome –skippered by Hannah Green’s pick-of-the-litter Etta. Two hours of omakase power later, the chef show is over. The temptation is to clap, but even this dining spectacle demands some deference.
Other stand-out additions include their thinly sliced M6+ Wagyu beef slices ($68.80), fresh tofu, pieces of purple corn and cucumber filled with prawn meat. Even dessert is soup-ified, with a sweet Chinese-style soup made of brown sugar jelly, red bean, sultanas and goji berries ($4.90). Orders are served banquet-style, and tables are topped with hotplates, so you can experiment with your culinary skills to your heart's content.
Simon’s Peiking Duck is home to some of the most ultra-affordable Peking duck in Melbourne. Sadly, the man himself, Simon Lay, the godfather of Melbourne Chinese food, passed away in early 2017. There’s also an extensive wine and drink list, so grab the team’s recommendation of what booze will work best with your meal. A little different from your local Chinese restaurant, the South Yarra location boasts a huge and luxurious interior.

Jacinta Moore is a photographer and stylist based in Melbourne. At Dainty Sichuan’s sister city restaurant, located inside one of Bourke Street’s many arcades, the bizarre is considered ordinary and chilli is truly king. Isan Soul transports you to the streets of Thailand with its authentic Thai food. If you can’t handle the heat, go for the rich and creamy collagen bone broth. When it comes to eating Greek in Melbourne, it doesn’t get more old school than Stalactites Restaurant, which opened in 1978.

If you're still hunting city gems, try hitting up our favourite Korean BBQ joints or test your spice levels with Melbourne's hottest dishes. Lau, or Vietnamese hotpot, has Chinese steamboat origins. Raw ingredients are dipped into a central, simmering broth. It’s a colourful spot with blue neon signage and bamboo baskets in the window, a modern-industrial fit out and laneway tables. Lau comes with rare sliced beef, mushrooms, fish cakes and seasonal vegetables. Best known for their viral Barbie dolls draped in slices of wagyu beef, this Melbourne hot pot venue is one of more than 500 stores internationally.
You can also visit a number of different Korean barbeque restaurants in Melbourne. These eateries all offer delicious dishes, and the staff is always friendly. The interior features stone, wood, and ornamental lighting. In addition to hot pot near Melbourne their delicious hot pots, they also serve beer and soju. The restaurant boasts a 16-metre steel dragon that weighs 1.5 tonnes. They also offer a build your own condiment bar that allows you to choose from 20 different condiments.

The menu features a variety of Chinese dishes, ranging from classic favourites to unique creations, all prepared with an emphasis on flavour and quality. You'll no doubt walk out full and victorious, right past the other hungry revellers desperately wishing the eatery accepted bookings. Dessert isn’t served but isn’t necessary at Melbourne’s first Thai hot pot and barbecue joint. And, if this is the first to grace our city, we’re ridiculously lucky. Mala broth – a deeply bovine base that coats all comers with the inimitable lip-quivering hum of the Sichuan peppercorn, and whose rich aroma tends to cling to idle outerwear. Fortunately, David’s has a human-sized deodorising machine that rids you of your stench at the touch of a button as you leave.
Gogyo is the sister of the International ramen chain Ippudo, so you know it has some serious noodle-y pedigree behind it. Although they're known for their Kogashi ramen, we suggest giving their chilli shoyu a try. Light soy-based broth with chilli, coriander and citrus, it's a flavoursome alternative to some of the heavier ramen options.
The menu is long, but anyone who’s been a couple of times will know which dishes to beeline for. Chicken congee, flecked with ginger, accompanied by Chinese doughnuts. The soothing minced pork, eggplant and salted fish hotpot. Your pick of glistening roast meats – the suckling pig and duck are consistently popular. There are some hungers that only the fermented acidity of kimchi, the soft bubble of boiling tofu, tender marinated beef and a whole lot of deep-fried chicken can sate.

Head into Follies for a plant-based menu served bite-sized on toothpicks, as a nod to the pintxos bars found in Barcelona and San Sebastian. Use this list as a look back on some of your favourite eats from 2023 — and as a guide to planning the rest of your meals before next year hits. So, with the year at its halfway point, these are the results. Our most-viewed restaurants of the past six months provide a snapshot of your recent faves and a roadmap of places to visit — either for the first time or the sixth. Next door, you can take in a show at the karaoke bar. Alternatively, you can go down to the kitchen to watch chefs prepare the food.
You can adjust the spice levels, broth type and style of noodles served in your hot pot. Who doesn’t love a clandestine, late-night bar serving cocktails and French comfort food? Hidden behind a nondescript staircase behind a door that simply says ‘MGX’, you’ll find just that. Bar Margaux is sultry and sophisticated, serving seasonal wines and substantial supper dishes. Saddle up at a counter table or slide into an intimate booth. The Euro-style dishes are available right up until they close the doors at 1am on Thursdays, and 3am Friday and Saturday.

“We could see that international students were interested in our group, so our other restaurants have been designed to offer them comfort when they’re craving food from home or are generally homesick,” He says. Did you know there’s a pocket of Mexico City in a basement on the edge of Chinatown? Moodily lit but bright with conversation and Mexi-kitsch decor, Bodega Underground is about good times. The taqueria has a gluten-free Mexican supper menu available between midnight and 3am Friday and Saturday nights. Snack on late-night combos like a palomo and street corn or a mezcal negroni and fried chicken. Keep your energy levels high with espresso martinis and churros for dessert.
The tantalising mix of curry paste, coconut milk, two types of noodles and vegetables is an intoxicating way to warm your belly. There's a variety of protein or veggie toppings, but we suggest the fish head. This cut is the underappreciated MVP of the seafood kingdom. It tends to impart a stronger flavour than other bits of the fish, along with having the most succulent meat. The sweet and spicy broth is a sure-fire way to forget any winter blues.
This menu features a variety of protein options, including tofu, chicken and beef. If you’re looking for a great place to enjoy a hot pot in Melbourne, Guhng the Palace is one of the best. Located on McKillop Street in the CBD, this restaurant serves traditional Korean barbecue. The laksa bomb dumplings in a broth are next-level, as is the fried chicken. David’s Hot Pot came from the hot pot’s hometown, which is famous for Sichuan Hot Pot.

You can pick from a variety of toppings, but we suggest trying something new in the form of pork chitterlings. These are the small intestines of the pig and deliver a mild flavour, calamari-like texture that absorbs the delicious broth extremely well. It's been around since and amassed a dedicated following of laksa enthusiasts.

King Hotpot offers a different approach to your hotpot experience! The concept behind King Hotpot is a mix of traditional hotpot and “sushi train” giving you instant access to the freshest ingredients for your dish. Respected Melbourne chef Alejandro Saravia has brought his vision to establish an embassy for Gippsland in the heart of the CBD. All areas of the striking three-level Farmer's Daughters champion the true essence of Gippsland, celebrating the diversity and richness of produce from the region. You'll find the restaurant on the middle floor, and the food is more formal; best suited to long business lunches, formal dinners, and special occasions.
Best dishes include soft-shell crab on a green papaya salad, traditional Pad See Ew, and grilled Moo Yang . Infused with modern methods, Rice Paper Scissors is the perfect lunch or dinner destination, thanks to its share-friendly menu . They’re also one of the best Thai restaurants Melbourne hot pot restaurant Melbourne has for vegan dining with a whole plant-based menu, not just vegan options. The whole fried barramundi with sweet, spicy sauce is a winner too. Can’t go wrong with the best Thai Melbourne’s southeast burbs can boast. Indulge in desserts like caramelized roti and lychee pannacotta.

It perfectly marries Native Australian ingredients with South East Asian flavours to create a distinctive interpretation of modern Australian cuisine. Combined with its unique interiors of steel, glass and mesh, that are inspired by the glowing lanterns of Asia, Sunda is a destination that is as essential Melbourne eating as it gets. In addition to the food, TEN BBQ & HOTPOT offers a variety of drinks, including cocktails, soft drinks, and wines.
Theatre Restaurants are a fun night out offering food, entertainment and laughs. Use our guide for theatre restaurants that offer dinner and show packages. The delicious deep-fried crab legs are served with a dry green curry on rice.
Super loaded martabak, traditional pandan kueh, salted egg fried chicken and more. Pretty much every item on the menu is halal-friendly, too (a handful of dishes use cooking wine - ask the staff for more info). The kitchen uses halal certified suppliers to source meat for dishes like chicken katsu curry, nasi goreng and chilli crab noodles. Benyue Kitchen is a family-owned restaurant specializing in homestyle Cantonese cuisine, using only the freshest ingredients.

For a new take on Korean BBQ, head to Hwadam on Elizabeth Street. Choose from premium meats (the perfectly-marbled Wagyu is a must), grilled cheese and pork skin. Just wrap your freshly grilled meat around sushi rice and add a dollop of wasabi. Sure you can order menu staples like kimchi stew at Paik’s, but then you’d miss out on the star of the show.
Think of it as the Asian version of fondue – a bubbling pot of broth sits in the middle of the table surrounded by platters of meat, seafood and vegetables, all ready to be cooked in a cauldron of soup. The signature broth contains over 23 herbs and spices, including the prized Sichuan pepper, as well as star anise, clove and black cardamom. It’s cooked for more than 12 hours with pork and beef bones. “It’s a bit spicy, a bit numbing, and very well-balanced. If you come for the first time, it’s the one you should try,” says Kuo.

And by ambience, expect an intimate, smoky environment, where you’re crammed up against your neighbour—the true way Korean bbq should be eaten. We recommend the cheesy Tteokbokki, which is Korean rice cakes that have been mixed in a spicy red pepper paste sauce and topped with cheese. This pillowy soft dish also has excellent cheese pull. The sticky pork ribs dressed with sesame seeds also comes highly recommended. On the lighter side of things, the cucumber side dish is a nice palate cleanser. Offers a premium K-bbq experience that really excels in its top-of-the-range ingredients and a wonderful warm ambience.
If this is your first time, ask the staff how it works, or go with friends and family who know this format. The food is excellent, the ingredients are fresh and good quality, and the place is pumping. We came for a work dinner and it’s a great way to cook and eat together and have some quality time together. We loved the Bingsu frozen dessert station to finish off, as well as the pancakes and ice cream.
This menu features a variety of protein options, including tofu, chicken and beef. If you’re looking for a great place to enjoy a hot pot in Melbourne, Guhng the Palace is one of the best. Located on McKillop Street in the CBD, this restaurant serves traditional Korean barbecue. The laksa bomb dumplings in a broth are next-level, as is the fried chicken. David’s Hot Pot came from the hot pot’s hometown, which is famous for Sichuan Hot Pot.

Finally, it’s worth noting that Dainty Sichuan also have a fast food presence. Over at the Chadstone Shopping Centre they have a busy counter in the food court, knocking out bowls of handmade noodles and wontons. HuTong pumps out dumplings faster than you can eat them, although you’re welcome to have a go. These famous Chinese restaurants are always busy, but they’re worth lining up for. If you’re after a solid dinner, you can't go past their smoked dug legs with salted duck egg creme, or their Dongpo pork belly with pan-fried mini Baos.

I don't know if the waiter didn't give a damn about his job that day or if it was just the poor communication between the waiter and chef. She ended up collapsing on the train and did not have her epi pen with her. She is now currently on life support and is brain dead. My partner didn't believe the broth was up to scratch though, so I've not been back.
Saul’s Sandwiches do some bangin’ bites – pretty much every sandwich they do, they do right. But the Muffuletta is a fan favourite and it’s off the charts. Think stacks of mortadella, artichokes, provolone cheese, salami, pesto, spinach and chilli. It’s an antipasto board in a sandwich and it’s goddamn good. hot pot restaurant near Melbourne Every weekend, Stan’s Sandwich Deli put up incredible sandwich specials and honestly, we can’t pick a favourite. One week you might be dazzled by a veal schnitzel bun with tomato and fennel slaw, and the next you’ll get a Jerusalem artichoke toastie with aged parmesan, horseradish mayo and Guindilla peppers.

Go for the banquet menu if you’ve got cash to spend and you’re after a bit of everything, or go a la carte for a more modest approach. Generous portion sizes, authentic recipes, and over 20 years old. King & I is a local legend around Surrey Hills, and there’s no question as to why. They’ve got an esteemed rep, and their duck wraps are to die for, aka duck, cucumber and carrot strips encased in roti bread and dipped in their own special sauce. Be prepared to wait during the lunchtime rush though, as there’s no doubt this is one of the best Thai Restaurants Melbourne has right now. We’ve all got our local Melbourne Thai restaurant that we swear by and practically have on speed dial—or at least saved in our favourites on our food delivery app of choice.
The stunning restaurant is perfect for special occasions—or, if you’re like us, make it a fancy Wednesday night feed. This one will probably require a booking, it’s one of the more popular Thai restaurants you’ll find on the north side. Contemporary and fresh food awaits you at Pad Cha, and they’ve got a massive variety to keep the whole gang fed. The Thai milk tea is the perfect blend of strong and sweet, and try out their fermented pork and crispy rice salad, plus they’ve got a huge array of street foods to try.
It's one of China's most popular hot pot brands, with over 4,000 locations worldwide. Grab a bowl, chuck in your ingredients of choice and select your soup base from flavours like the signature malatang to restoring bone broth. The Zhanglang team will cook it all up for you while you create your own dipping sauce.

But if you’re after the gold standard for Cantonese cuisine in the city, look no further. The drinks list includes Thai milk tea and “pink milk” flavoured with syrup from a Southeast Asian palm fruit called salacca – both good options when you’re hit with too much chilli. Beers are all Thai, with Singha, Chang and Leo represented, alongside soft drinks and a simple Thai lemon iced tea. This is a kitchen bringing the kind of modern Turkish food you’d find in Istanbul’s vigorous restaurant scene to Balaclava with a program of pickling, preserving, fermenting and hanging . Untitled, sister restaurant to adjacent cocktail bar Ugly Duckling, is the latest in a slew of restaurants to resuscitate Swan Street’s aspirations to be a dining destination. Anyone with even the slightest interest in Melbourne’s food and hospitality scene has been talking about Reine and La Rue of late.
Soups range from $15-20 each then there is an additional $4 for sauce not advertised. We ordered soft drinks without being shown a drinks menu and ended up paying $7.50 for Coca cola. For a more intense, in-your-face, flavour, pick the hot and sour broth, flavoured with Chinese vinegar, chilli oil and Sichuan hot and sour sauce. Some of Melbourne’s restaurants and bars are best visited well after dark. Whether you’re in need of sustenance after a show or a night owl just getting started, here are a few of our finest late-night venues. Vegetables Como & Seafood ComboHaving seen many YouTube videos of Sichuan styled hot pot dinners, we popped into David’s Hot Pot Restaurant one evening to satisfy our curiosity.

Try it with or without a dipping sauce to experience Mongolian hotpot for yourself. Walking down Hardware Lane means running the gauntlet of cheek-by-jowl waiters trying to entice potential diners into their venues with proffered 15-page illustrated menus. But not all venues rely on their front-of-house to charm the masses on the hoof, and restaurants like Hardware Club prove this with one-page menus full of straight-up Italian-inspired hits. Perfectly cooked, pasture-fed, Cape Grim angus porterhouse served with a secret herb butter sauce, and, of course, frites.
All our David’s Master Pot stores are decorated in a traditional style to bring a part of our hometown to Melbourne. David’s Hot Pot arrived in Melbourne in 2017 and expanded to Doncaster East and Point Cook last year.
You can’t miss the neon yellow lights blaring ‘pizza pizza pizza’ encapsulated within an arrow. What you may miss is the cosy cocktail bar nestled out the back, accessible by paring back a glossy black curtain – the perfect nook for a nightcap. The pizzas – available both by the slice and whole – range from the classic Margherita and pepperoni to the jazzier Magic Mushroom and triple cheese . For more late-night antics, peruse our guides to Melbourne's best late night bars, nightclubs and bars for dancing. Nestled discreetly in the heart of Melbourne's city center, refined Welive 2.0 experience, epitomizing the zenith of fine dining in an intimate, subterranean haven.

List of the Best Hot Pots in Melbourne Victoria – If you are looking for a place to have a meal in Melbourne Victoria, you will want to check out some of the best hot pots in the city. Whether you want to try the infamous Jiyu or the Panda hot pot, there are plenty of different places to go. Specialises in Japanese ramen noodles with pork bone broth. There's also a range of Japanese snacks and entrees, such as edamame, sashimi, Japanese dumplings, salads, tempura and fried chicken.

Choose your soup bases and then decide between dipping meats like your basic pork belly slice and fish meat ball, and more spenny options like lobster tail and abalone slice, as well as noodles and sides. The menu even tells you how long to cook everything which is handy if you’re a newb. Warm up from the inside with a big hearty bowl of hot pot. Using a century-old recipe, Dragon Hot Pot simmers its broth for over 12 hours to get that rich flavour. Choose your level of spice then customise your meal with more than 100 fresh ingredients. Satisfy your cravings for noodles and spicy soups right up to 2.30am on weekends and 1.30am Monday to Thursday.
The food is reasonably priced but it can be hard to estimate how much to put in your pot and pay more than you planned. The restaurant is very small so Sichuan hot pot it's best to be decisive when choosing ingredients. It also means squeezing onto small tables with strangers and waiting for a seat most of the time.

Melburnians seeking comfort food and an icy brew head to Sam Sam Korean Chicken and Beer on Swanston Street in the heart of the city. This modern two-storey restaurant buzzes with a late-night vibe... All meals come with complimentary side dishes of Kimchi, pickled onion and spring onion salad. Mrs Kim’s Grill is founded on sharing all things good; food, drinks and company. We promise the famous marinated Kalbi beef ribs and chilli/soy marinated chicken are worth the visit. This casual diner – by the Dainty Sichuan crew – is dedicated to Chongqing-style noodle soup.
Try crispy and flavourful sticks of lamb, chicken wings or pork ribs with green chilli. The barbecue restaurant at 202 Bourke Street also does plates for two if you can bear to share. Panda BBQ is open until 3am for your midnight munchies, although the kitchen closes a little earlier. This bustling first-floor Cantonese restaurant is renowned for its seafood-forward dishes. Tables are large, so big group catch-ups or extended family gatherings are usually conducted here, with ginger and scallion stir-fried lobster over egg noodles and winter melon soup crowning each table. Genuine home-style Shandong cuisine doesn't get better than in this little shopping arcade dumpling den, which now has a mini outpost off Flinders Lane, too.
Pick a spice level, then make it your own, ordering add-ins from a hefty selection of meat cuts, seafood, offal, fresh veggies and noodles, each item listed on the menu with its own suggested cooking time. A self-serve dipping sauce station allows you to add another level of flavour to your bowl. Shape your own culinary adventure based on century-old Chinese recipes at Dragon Hot Pot on Kingsway in Glen Waverley.

Add the optional ramen noodles to fill your winter carb quota and throw in a side of KBBQ whilst you’re at it. If you struggle to pick toppings from the delicious selection, may we suggest the DoDee Variety? It comes with spongey fishballs, pork ribs, pepper meatballs and crunchy peanuts and wonton skins. It is important to remember that this spice level refers to Thai spice, so unless you are particularly well versed with this kind of heat we suggest starting at the lower end.
David’s is a contemporary Shanghainese restaurant inspired by Zhou’s hometown Zhouzhuang, a water village in which his family’s recipes originated. Loved by locals for over 20 years, it’s no secret that David’s authentic menu showcases some of the finest dumplings and yum cha in town while treating customers as an extension of Zhou’s own family. Different from your typical Cantonese yum cha, David’s harnesses the authentic flavours of Shanghainese cuisine in 11 varieties of delectable dishes. Think dumplings, spring rolls, signature loaded veggie fried rice, pork and prawn shumai and homemade pork buns… and there’s even a vegan menu if you’re eating plant-based. David also has a great a la carte menu with all of your classic faves, plus a few things you may not be familiar with but will certainly be ordering again. Great variety of ingredients including meat, seafood, and veggies that you can mix and match.

Panda hot pot was a well thought out and amazing experience. The service was Devine with the waitress being very helpful and kind about what we had to do. At any given time, we’ll show you on this page the Hot pot spots that are currently available for delivery.
Continue reading to discover the best Chinese dining experiences in Melbourne. On top of the delicious food, you’re also treated to a feast for the eyes. The stylish ambience makes it a great spot for a trendy night out, with a vibrant atmosphere to match. Here, it’s all about authenticity – think juicy, mouth-watering Shanghai-style dumplings that practically burst with flavour. The restaurant offers a variety of beloved Cantonese dishes.
Among these, you can choose from spicy curry, a milder version of laksa, or tom kha. Another choice is shabu-shabu, a Japanese version of hot pot. If you’re in the mood for a quick lunch, you can order from their Express Lunch Menu.

This then often leads into an elegant dinner for the ages, and it really is like stepping back in time as you take in the mirrored walls and Bentwood chairs, vintage posters and wood panelling of the dining room. Whether you're looking for a delicious new wine or well-made cocktail, Hazel also has you covered, with tantalising options that range from a lush orange pour to a strawberry Negroni. Iconic streetwear inspired by Carhartt's workwear origins. If you think about it, you’ve just spent the entire night before poisoning yourself.

A popular Chinese restaurant chain that was the top corporate donor to the Melbourne lord mayor is facing court action for allegedly exploiting overseas workers. It’s all built a solid foundation for a startling variety of exceptional places to eat. That’s further emphasised by the fact that, for every place on this list, a case can be made for the inclusion of several others. It says something about the breadth and depth of Melbourne’s restaurant scene that we have so many long-lived restaurants operating at consistently high standards. At a time when any restaurant that keeps the lights on beyond five years almost needs a standing ovation, longevity alone can attract an “icon” or “institution” tag. A city of great minds and a place where the world’s brightest thinkers gather to inspire, innovate and deliver real change.
With its crochet blankets, doily tablecloths under clear protective plastic, mismatched chairs and Turkish floor rugs, it felt like entering a time capsule or an older relative’s suburban home. Baba’s Place, the ultra-cool Sydney restaurant that smears taramasalata on 墨尔本早茶 shokupan toast and swirls bouillabaisse through bolognese and noodles, is coming to Melbourne in February. True to its genre-crossing personality, Baba’s chef Jean-Paul El Tom is teaming up with Lee Ho Fook’s Victor Liong for a one-off party that breaks all the rules.

It would be an understatement to describe Greek cuisine as lively; maybe boisterous would be more appropriate. In addition to Ferdinand, the three D.O.C Pizza & Mozzarella Bars are also popular destinations for scrumptious artisan pizza. However, our personal favorite from the D.O.C. D.O.C. The restaurant's name is Espresso, and they specialize in scratch-made pasta. One of Melbourne's greatest assets may be seen in our list of the best BYOs. People in Melbourne, which has a BYO culture that matches Sydney's, can generally get anything they want for dinner in terms of food.
Surrounded by soft interiors, you’ll dive into a menu that showcases regional and provincial recipes. Find fresh and vibrant seasonal flavours, with signature dishes like steamed barramundi fillet, numbing beef, kingfish ceviche and more. You can also choose either a five course or seven course menu. Treat yourself to a fun cocktail while you’re there, like lychee martini or Szechuan mule.

"The biggest compliment you can get from a Chinese person is, 'Oh, this tastes like home food.' But then the biggest compliment you get as a home cook is, 'Oh, you should open a restaurant,' " says Liong. Apparently there are people who dine here without trying the mackerel dumplings. The superb gingery morsels come steamed or as potstickers, made using a family recipe from co-owner Meiyan Wang. But there are many other reasons it’s rare to find a spare seat at this no-frills restaurant, including squid ink dumplings and the definitive cucumber and garlic salad. Well into its second decade, The Abyssinian continues to celebrate the joy of East African spicing, with a focus on Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes.
Shark Fin Inn has served hungry Melburnians in Chinatown since 1982. Feast on traditional and modern Cantonese meals, like fresh seafood, barbequed sweet pork, drunken free range chicken and more. There are banquet options available, as as authentic yum cha.
A little-known spot with some of the best Peking duck around. Here, they carve the duck at your table and – for a bit of extra cash – will batter and fry the last morsels of meat for you once you’re done eating. The flagship location of a string of restaurants specialising in cuisine from north-east China. Tackle a hotpot or go for a platter of smoked pork with Chinese corn bread. In the old Golden Century site, this 400-seat Cantonese diner is ushering in a new era for Chinatown. The seafood tanks are full, the yum cha trolleys are back in action and late-night dining runs until 3am.

Above all, France-Soir is beloved because it intrinsically knows how to show its patrons a good time. Tina Li’s house of fiery Sichuan brilliance opened in Collingwood 20 years ago and now has offspring scattered across the city. The sprawling South Yarra outpost, currently undergoing renovations, is set to be the most glamorous of the family, offering a kind of immersion therapy for the chilli-averse and a much-coveted fix for the fiends. Toe-in-the-water dishes include dry-fried green beans while the chicken laziji is exuberantly scorching. Among the many reasons why the Afghan Gallery Restaurant in Fitzroy is a local favorite are its neighborhood charm, romantic ambiance, and Afghani food. In addition to the fact that it's BYO, you may bring your own beverage.
China is blessed with countless regional variations of noodles, dumplings, bread and rice dishes that extend far further than Australian-Chinese iterations of honey soy chicken and Mongolian beef. The best part is that you can find many of these dishes right here in Melbourne. Although fish isn’t the only thing on the menu, this restaurant has a big seafood focus.

Food experts say this is probably one of the oldest dishes going back as far as the Qin Dynasty over 2000 years ago. Families used boiled pork as offerings in traditional ancestor worship rituals, and then afterwards, to ensure the pork wasn’t wasted, cooked it again to be enjoyed by everyone. But such a practice wasn’t without controversy in ancient China. For a long time, it had been considered an affront to consume offerings meant for one’s ancestors.
From stalwarts such as Flower Drum to growing empires like HuTong and Dainty Sichuan, the city's Sino scene is thriving. If it's dumplings, Peking duck or yum cha you're after, these restaurants, featured in the 2019 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide, are the places to go. Cheap, delicious and fun, as all great malatang joints should be. Fill your golden pot with meat, tofu, noodles and vegetables from the self-serve fridge, then bathe your spoils in hot-and-sour Sichuan-style broth. SHU's 10 course vegan degustation is a unique set menu that consists of 10 dishes inspired by the iconic Sichuan cuisine.

When stopping by the woman-owned business, expect traditional Vietnamese dishes like pork noodle soup and a warming vermicelli bowl. The three have Macedonian, Greek and Lebanese heritage, respectively. Red Emperor gives diners that high-and-mighty feeling while they indulge in delicious Chinese cuisine. The menu is comprehensive, with a fantastic selection of both traditional and modern dishes to please all palates. We aim to unite foodies, plant based diners, wine lovers, night-life enthusiasts, the queer community, fashionistas, tastemakers and creatives. Neil Perry is a man who needs no introduction in the food world, and so when he turned his hand to Chinese cuisine in 2012, Melbourne's interest was piqued.

The chief domain of dumpling fans, here you’ll happily leave with change from your $20 after indulging in what’s sure to be a boisterous meal. While it might be low on frills, Shanghai Village more than makes up for it in both taste and atmosphere. A light-filled contemporary eatery serving up award-winning fare, Cumulus Inc. is well-loved within the Melbourne foodie scene. Acclaimed chef Andrew McConnell is a jack-of-all-trades, plating up deceptively simple breakfasts and sophisticated yet wholesome lunch and dinners. Chancery Lane, a European bistro by Scott Pickett welcomes diners to the historic Normanby Chambers building.
At Amiconi, you can have a classic Italian meal whereas at D.O.C., you can get a modern Italian meal. For the whole of its history, dating back to the 1950s, it has been owned solely by the same family. In certain cases, it's tough to figure out where you're allowed to drink wine. Sichuan restaurant Melbourne To make things easier for you, Sitchu has already done the homework. You can now kick back and toast to some of Melbourne's finest places to enjoy your own wine. The cuisines of Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and China, as well as the Middle East and Italy, are all represented here.

Because of its authentic Sichuan and Shanghainese dishes, HuTong has become the restaurant of choice for us in the neighborhood. On the menu you'll find a crispy duck breast with sichuan pepper and a side of sweet vinegar pig ribs, along with tofu stuffed with pork and bean sauce, entire barramundi, and crispy duck breast. While it may be difficult to find, Carlton's Paris Go Bistro is an unexpected treat that provides a taste of France to the neighborhood.
The consistency, availability and known familiarity among individuals make this cuisine popular. Due to commercialisation, you might not get the authentic version of Asian dishes but every version of this cuisine is awesome and tastes delicious. With the easy and wide preference of dishes, everyone can find something they will enjoy and allow them to dine with ease and comfort. Learn how different countries often use the same ingredients in different ways, like coconut milk or chili peppers.

Many Melbourne restaurants appreciate your financial constraints, and we do as well. If you’re craving the mind-numbing heat of hotpot institution Dainty Sichuan’s spicy broths but want something quicker than the full hotpot experience, Little Sichuan is a safe bet. It’s classic Chinatown dining at this august stayer of the scene. As comforting as chicken and corn soup, Shark Fin Inn is replete with white linen, lazy Susans and the certainties of an excellent daily yum cha. Bargain-hunters should check out the $44 banquet menu that flits through the Chinese regions across nine courses.
When your food gets served with disposable gloves, you know that things are getting serious. Each diner gets one when they order the boiled pork bones ($13.80), a mountain of assorted pork pieces simmered in aromatics. Abandon any notion of cutlery and get straight into it with your hands. It’s a treasure hunt to get to the meat as you nibble, chew and suck your way through, but your plastic glove will help you maintain some dignity by the time you’ve finished. Fortunately, lately we've seen an exponential boom in the depth and diversity of what’s available, with myriad options for both cheap eats and sprawling banquet feasts now on the table. Cumin-dusted lamb skewers from Xinjiang, dazzlingly spicy hot pots from Sichuan, and steamy breakfast baos from Tianjin – here's how you can eat your way around China with nothing but a loaded Opal card.
This classy Chinese Restaurant is a far cry from your average Chinese eatery. The sophisticated interior will have you feasting in style on their distinctively northern-Chinese specialties such as Peking Duck, Sichuan Tea Smoked Duck and pan-fried dumplings. This new all-vegan pizza shop is by Shannon Martinez, the plant-based dining pioneer behind Smith & Daughters and Smith & Deli. But you’ll have to be quick to experience it – the ordering window is open for just 24 hours each week.

The mapo tofu is then poured over sticky Japanese short- grained rice. This mild dish is a good introduction to Sichuan cuisine for those who can't quite handle their spice yet. Not only is it Australia’s best Chinese restaurant, it’s one of the finest in the world.
A rustic vibe of recycled timber, black subway tiles and potted... Campground Kitchen & Bar on Errol Street is a true hidden gem located in a unique rustic warehouse in Braybrook. Casual, friendly, and fun, with a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, this is the ne... If you’re in the mood to party, we also take larger bookings of up to 40 people, which we can arrange in a private area with a specially tailored menu at your request. Though our unique decisions and techniques may seem small on their own, they add up to an extra helping of deliciousness every time you visit.

The sleek venue seats over 100 guests, but the most sought after spots are at the kitchen bar, where you’ll get a close-up view of chefs working the grills. Unlike Cantonese food, traditional Sichuan food is bold, aromatic, sour and often very spicy. That’s because of the variety and intensity of the spices used, the most famous of which is the tongue-numbing Sichuan pepper. The most well-known dishes here are probably mapo tofu and kung pao chicken. In China, it’s probably dan dan noodles and Sichuan hot pot, a dish found pretty much everywhere in the country.
If you reach around 6 ish on a weekday, you will find it pretty empty but just before 7, many start coming in. We walk to Ana Yurt, a Dolan Uyghur restaurant with branches in the CBD and Box Hill. North-western Chinese and Afghan pop music plays as I comb over the multitude of hand-pulled noodle dishes, braises and buns. Overwhelmed and far from hungry, we order tender, fatty lamb skewers fragrant with cumin and a cucumber salad that may be the most garlicky thing we'll eat this year. We could have opted for Gold Leaf's extraordinary yum cha, but instead we start with Taiwanese breakfast at The Sunny Cafe. Next door, men crowd around outdoor xiang qi tables, while inside the restaurant there are no more than five tables, walls plastered with proverbs and a counter crowded with traditional sweets and buns.

This covers the cost of using stemware, keeping the bottle cool and the service of the waiting staff. The following is a list, given for your convenience, of some of Melbourne's greatest breweries where customers are allowed to bring their own beer or wine. The cuisines of Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and China, in addition to those of the Middle East and Italy, are all included here in some capacity. It is also essential to keep in mind that the vast majority of insurance policies only cover wine, with certain exceptions made for beer. Do take note that in Melbourne, even a coomon routine activity, like going out to eat, can seem like a special event. This amazing city is filled to the brim with eateries selling delicacies from all over the globe around every bend, crook, and alleyway imaginable.