Nhu Lan, Footscray

One of Melbourne’s finest Bánh mì.

3.5 / 5 yums! 
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Where? 116 Hopkins Street, Footscray, VIC
What? Around $6

Saigon Pho, Footscray

A sweet, beefy broth.

3 / 5 yums! 
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Where? 73A Nicholson St, Footscray, VIC
What? Under $10

Awash, Footscray

Do as the Ethiopian’s would, and eat the doro wat and everything with your hands. When in Awash…

4 / 5 yums! 
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Where? 64 Hopkins Street, Footscray, VIC
What? Around $15

Toodouri, North Melbourne

Quasi DIY Korean BBQ - the lovely staff do most of the work, leave smelling like you've done it all.

Café Vue, Airport

So the mile high club is probably a bridge too far for most. But at least you’ll be able to get your rocks off with two feet on the ground before you board that international cattle class flight.



Go for a little bit of luxury at Café Vue.

4 / 5 yums!
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Where? Melbourne International Airport, T2, Tullamarine, VIC
What? $5-30

Laksa King

In order to be successful, one must project an image of success at all times. Indeed, the name of this place is a massive call. If anything, the place is packaged more like a caravan getaway in Bears Lagoon than a 5 star spa and massage treatment on the Greek Islands. But I can tell you, that you’ll probably be screaming out “Yes, your majesty!” when you get asked if you liked getting nailed, I mean laksa-ed by the King.

Malaysian Chinese of course is the cuisine, and all the classics are there including roti, rendang, char kuay teow, mee goreng and nasi lemak. Lor Bak makes a good entrée before the main event, mince wrapped in bean curd sheets that’s deep fried that comes with a sweet chilli sauce. Har Mee is an extremely scrimpy broth but the laksa is the thing that all and sundry come here for. The reason why restaurants nearby don’t have a bum on a seat. It is very good, there is a good level of coconut cream but it’s the blend of spice which has plenty of depth sets it apart from pretenders, coating and flavouring the strands of vermicelli and yellow egg noodles, fried tofu and generous amounts of lean chicken pieces. Fried eggplant might not be a common garnish but just adds to the luxury.

Get your laksa fix here. It’ll be exactly what you need. The royal treatment, so to speak.


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? Shop 3, 320 Racecourse Road, Kensington, VIC
What? Under $10

Hung Vuong Saigon

When you see a Viet noodle shack this good looking with it’s clean, shiny veneer table tops, LCD screen showing Viet pop classics and neon lights, you’ve got to treat it like the season’s prospects of the Richmond Tigers. With extreme scepticism. But walk into this busy Footscray Vietnamese food shop and you’ll be greeted by the shouts of conversation and the sounds of something being slurped out of large white bowls in front of them. Probably should have one of those.

Having just reached for the soup spoons and choppers, out comes a white bowl of your own filled with a browny tinged broth, white rice noodles, slices of rare beef garnished with a bit of onion and chopped spring onion. A pho worthy of the machete gauntlet run, the meaty broth has depth, a little on the saltier side as the flavour lingers after a mouthful. Basic pork spring rolls executed well coming with a quality fish dipping sauce.

With so many along Hopkins, it’s one of the better places along the busy street. Unlike that hapless crew from Richmond, it’s one that lingers in the top four.


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? 136 Hopkins Street. Footscray, VIC
What? Under $10

Hien Vuong Pastuer

Walk into this busy Footscray Vietnamese food shop and you’ll be greeted by the murmurs of conversation and the sounds of something being slurped out of large white bowls in front of them. Probably should have one of those.

Having just reached for the soup spoons and choppers, out comes a white bowl of your own filled with a browny tinged broth, white rice noodles, slices of rare beef garnished with a bit of coriander and chopped spring onion. Not a pho worthy of the machete gauntlet run, the meaty broth is light, a little on the sweeter side as the flavour disappears quickly after a mouthful. Basic pork spring rolls executed well, the other staple of crispy chicken and tomato rice not so with the meat and skin on the outer extremely dry.

With so many along Hopkins, it’s not one of the better places along the busy street. Certainly won’t be left high and dry with options.


2 / 5 yums!
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Where? 144 Hopkins Street. Footscray, VIC
What? Under $10