10 Dishes You Must Eat in Melbourne
According to the Foodie Trails Guides
One of the questions we get asked most often on our tours is:
“What should we eat while we’re in Melbourne?”
So, we asked the people who know best — our Foodie Trails guides. These are locals who walk Melbourne’s streets daily, taste widely, and live and breathe the city’s food culture. The result? A list that blends iconic institutions, modern favourites, multicultural influences, and a few personal obsessions.
This isn’t a “best of” list from a magazine — it’s what our guides would actually order.
Here are 10 dishes to eat in Melbourne, according to Foodie Trails.
1. Lobster Roll — Supernormal
Melbourne does Asian-inspired dining exceptionally well, and this dish has become a modern classic. Soft milk bread, perfectly cooked lobster, and just the right amount of richness — it’s refined, comforting, and very Melbourne.
Guide tip: Pair it with the peanut butter parfait if you have room.
2. Dumplings — Shandong Mama
Dumplings are part of Melbourne’s DNA, and Shandong Mama’s handmade versions are a standout. Whether it’s the mackerel dumplings or the Melbourne dumplings, this is food rooted in migration history and everyday comfort.
3. Bánh Mì — Melbourne-style
Bánh mì is everywhere in Melbourne, and that’s exactly the point. Introduced by Vietnamese refugees and now a city staple, it’s the ultimate grab-and-go meal — crusty bread, fresh herbs, pickles, and bold flavours.
Foodie Trails insight: Every suburb has a favourite — ask locals where their go-to is.
4. Soda Bread — Farmer’s Daughters
This simple but perfect loaf represents Melbourne’s love of farm-to-plate dining. Served warm with butter, it tells a story of regional Victoria, seasonal produce, and thoughtful cooking.
5. Hot Meat Doughnut — Dexter
Yes, it sounds strange. Yes, it’s incredible. Crispy on the outside, rich and savoury inside — this playful dish captures Melbourne’s creative, chef-driven dining scene.
6. Lamb Shoulder — Cumulus Inc.
Slow-roasted, generous, and deeply comforting, this dish is consistently mentioned by our guides. It’s elegant without being fussy and perfect for sharing — very much Melbourne’s approach to dining.
7. House-Baked Flatbread with Za’atar — Maha
Middle Eastern flavours have shaped Melbourne’s food identity, and this dish is a beautiful example. Warm flatbread, good olive oil, fragrant za’atar — simple ingredients done exceptionally well.
8. Souvlaki — Stalactites
Greek migration has left a huge imprint on Melbourne, and souvlaki is part of that legacy. Late-night, fast, comforting, and unchanged for decades — this is history you can eat.
9. Croissant — Lune Croissanterie
Melbourne’s obsession with pastries is real, and Lune sits at the top. This croissant is technical perfection — flaky, buttery, and indulgent — and worth the queue.
10. Peking Duck — Flower Drum
An icon of Melbourne’s fine-dining history and its long Chinese culinary tradition. Classic, refined, and celebratory, this dish reflects how Melbourne embraced global cuisines early and elevated them.
Bonus Bites Our Guides Love
Because choosing just ten is impossible:
Anchoa with smoked tomato sorbet — Movida
Cannoli — Cavallaro
Mr Bo’s spicy wontons — Mr Bo
Coffee at Dukes Coffee Roasters (try a Magic)
Why This List Matters
Melbourne’s food scene isn’t about one cuisine or one style — it’s about layers of migration, creativity, and everyday rituals. From dumplings to flatbreads, pastries to souvlaki, these dishes tell the story of the city better than any guidebook.
If you want to taste these stories with context, our Foodie Trails walking tours connect the food to the people, history, and neighbourhoods that shaped Melbourne.
👉 Come hungry — and curious
Join our foodie guide on a tour