Chooka’s serves soulful omusubi (Japaneserice balls) worth lining up for
TikTok might have spread the word about this “aesthetic cafe”, but it misses the Japanese soul that makes it special.
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Best of Places
Fill your belly and car at this Thai canteen in a suburban petrol station
Melburnians might think a petrol station is an odd spot for a Thai curry-over-rice cafeteria, but it represents the essence of khao kang culture.
Roslyn Thai Cafe wants Melbourne to eat Thai food for breakfast
This Thai chef couple has worked tirelessly behind the scenes opening top hotel restaurants, Long Chim, and supporting international students during COVID. Their first venue isn’t just the culmination of their experience – it’s deeply personal.
Malaysians are lining up for char kway teow at Kakilang
Malaysians are queuing for char kway teow at Kakilang, a Melbourne restaurant run by a Penang family who has been making sesame oil since the Qing Dynasty era.
FIRST TASTE: “We literally flipped a coin” – Nazar Turkish restaurant, Kew
Nazar restaurant in Kew was a coin toss away from being Colombian. Now a fine-dining chef is turning Turkish classics into modern dishes matched with wine.
War & ‘Matjip’: Why Korea is obsessed with Cheese
Over the last 60 years, cheese has become one of the most popular foods in South Korea, thanks to war, globalisation and a social media phenomenon known as “matjip”.
Weird or Wonderful: Colombian Hot Chocolate with Cheese
When chef Juan Berbeo couldn’t find Colombian cheese to put in his hot chocolate at his Melbourne restaurant, he turned to Australian dairy.
Leonie Upstairs is Melbourne's First Temaki Sushi & Sake Bar
Elevated home-style temaki sushi has landed upstairs at a converted warehouse in Carlton.
Malaysian Hawker Breakfast at Myth Cafe
Two former eBay employees merged their lockdown side hustles into a Malaysian cafe specialising in traditional yong tau foo and khao jam.
Mongkok is a boozy Melbourne version of a Hong Kong teahouse
Expect theatrical cocktails and fine-dining-standard food at this reimagined cha chaan teng.
Philhellene Cretan restaurant defies Greek food stereotypes
“More than dips and meat platters”: Philhellene wants you to eat regional Greek food from Crete.
Big Esso puts Indigenous Australian food on the map
Melbourne is blessed with multiculturalism, but there’s one cuisine we haven’t quite figured out yet: Indigenous Australian food.