1. Salt and Pepper Calamari
A distinctive Australian adaptation of the traditional calamari dish from Cantonese cuisine is salt and pepper calamari. After being deep-fried and coated with a salt-and-pepper batter made of rising flour, the calamari is served with a salad and is dunked in a hot, sweet-and-spicy sauce that enhances its taste. The dish's lightness and unique flavour result from the dish's flavouring, the crunch and crispiness of the final batter, and the firm texture of the calamari rings. The batter's simple spice complements the chilli sauce's thick consistency and sweet heat.
Best places to have Salt and Pepper Calamari:
- Hunky Dory
- MoVida Aqui
- San Telmo
- Claypots Barbarossa
2. Chicken Parma
Although Parma has Italian roots, it is frequently encountered in restaurants and pubs in Australia-style. Similar to the Italian version, Australian chicken parma also includes ripe eggplant, chicken, or other meats in addition to melted mozzarella cheese and a tomato-based sauce with Italian spices, which proves to be a good combination of healthy and taste! Some recipes use complementary-flavoured ham or prosciutto for a unique twist. Parma maybe is added to pies, sandwiches, spaghetti, salads, chips, and sandwiches. Parma is a well-liked pub food staple, and Melbourne even has a restaurant dedicated to serving chicken parma.
Best Places to have Chicken Parma:
- The Napier
- Grace Darling Hotel
- The Spread Eagle
- The Leveson
3. Pigs in a blanket
Pigs in a blanket is a meal made with sausage frequently served as an hors d'oeuvre, side dish, or appetizer at bars, restaurants, and cocktail parties. For a salty and savoury flavour, a cocktail frankfurter wrapped in bacon is used in this meal which adds to the twist! Puff pastry is also used to counterbalance the firmness of the meat with the light, airy texture and flavour of the pastry. These little snacks are generally served with special condiment recipes, such as aioli or mustard dipping sauce. In addition, the little sausage may occasionally be stuffed with cheese to enhance the dish's flavour.
Best places to have Pigs in a Blanket:
- Gypsy and Pig
- Guinea Pig Hotel
4. Spag Bol
Spaghetti Bolognese, often known as spag bol, is an Italian-inspired meat-based sauce that is used to garnish and enhance the taste of pasta or lasagne. In the Italian version, diced beef or pig is cooked with celery, onion, and carrot in a sofrito that also includes sautéing and braising techniques. In the Australian version, the spag bol is made using tender Australian beef or veal, as well as locally farmed mushrooms, truffles, and herbs, giving the meal a unique twist and authentically Australian flavours.
Best places to have Spag Bol in Melbourne:
- Cicciolina
- Grossi Florentino Cellar Bar
- Pellegrini's Espresso Bar
- Marios Café
5. Pie Floater
The pie floater is a typical Australian dish that mixes regional flavours with British settlers' culinary traditions. A typical Australian-style meat pie is blended with pea soup with meat, a long-standing recipe in English culinary history, to create a distinctive meal. If you are a British traveller, this will be your first-choice dish!
To change the flavours, cooks frequently add various sauces to the dish made with different leaves to the thick pea soup made with blue boiler peas in which the pie itself is either sitting or immersed. To make a leaner, healthier dinner with a milder flavour, the meat pie may use various types of meat popular in Australia, including beef, deer, rabbit, chicken, or even kangaroo.
Best places to have Pie Floater in Melbourne:
- Keith’s Pies
- Pie in the Sky
- Young and Jackson
- Gladysdale Bakehouse
6. Chocolate Kooglhoupf
The Jewish population of Melbourne, mainly located in the bayside suburbs south of the city centre, gave Melbourne one of its favourite desserts, a spongy ring of delicious comfort, which is of Central European provenance. This ring-shaped cake's texture is similar to the chewy inside of a croissant since it is created with leavened dough. So, it is like having a croissant with chocolate topping! It makes a fantastic addition to a cup of tea in the afternoon since it is savoury, comforting, and flavoured with dark melted chocolate.
Best places to have Chocolate Kooglhoupf in Melbourne:
- Monarch Cakes
- Any Jewish Bakeries
7. Tagliolini al Nero
Even if the dish's name might be unfamiliar to you, the joy you get from eating it won't make you forget about it. The meal is the product of frequent tests done using classical and traditional foods, and the scent and tastes are hand-selected by top-tier chefs worldwide. Being a tourist, you might find the dish name absurd but will eventually fall in love with it once the trip comes to an end! The meal consists of steamed pasta and rabbit! The selection of sauces and the spices added to the bowl will brighten the mood!
Best Places to have Tagliolini al Nero in Melbourne:
- Tipo 00
- Pentolina
- Osteria Ilaria
- Park Street Pasta and Wine
8. Lamb & Cucumber
A properly grilled lamb and cucumber often spring to mind when you're thinking about the greatest street cuisine in Melbourne. This traditional Melbourne meal has the tastiest lamb, roasted cucumber hearts, and wide beans.
Best places to have Lamb & Cucumber in Melbourne:
- Sezar Restaurant
- Maha Restaurant
- Stalactites Restaurant
- Grill Steak Seafood
9. Ricotta Hotcakes
We added another fantastic dessert to the list to sate your sweet craving even further! Who would want to pass up such chances when they only want delicious meals at affordable pricing? Due to the wide range of flavours available, the cakes are beloved by both locals and visitors. They are produced with a variety of ingredients as they are sweet and wine-flavoured.
Best places to have Lamb & Cucumber in Melbourne:
- Higher Ground
- Top Paddock Café
- Grain Store
- Stokers Fine Pancakes
10. Deconstructed Tiramisu & White Chocolate Mini Pots
The family-run Merricks Creek Winery Cellar Door is another popular destination on the Mornington Peninsula with excellent reviews. In addition to being a clinical psychologist in South Yarra, Diminish Parker has been producing the greatest Pinot Noir over the past few decades, which most tourists love! This winery gem on Merricks Road in Merricks has a 5-star rating from James Halliday, adding to its popularity.
Best places to have Deconstructed tiramisu & white chocolate mini pots:
- Limonium
11. Turmeric Pancakes
You may get some truly delicious and healthy pancakes that are silky and well-caramelized for your taste buds. It guarantees both health and exquisite flavour; we advise you to give this a try!
Best places to have Turmeric Pancakes:
- Grain Store
- Café Issues
- The Kettle Black
- Stokers Fine Pancakes
12. Fish Mackerel Dumplings
Everyone loves dumplings, and this particular variety is undoubtedly among the best in terms of street cuisine in Melbourne. There is a sudden increase in dumplings likings since they come in so many delicious filling options and can be topped with various sauces to give them any flavour you choose! If you want it to be a little sweeter, add sweet lime sauce. Alternatively, if you'd prefer it to be tangier or even hotter, consider adding such kinds of sauces.
Best Places to have Fish Mackerel Dumplings:
- Shandong MaMa Mini
- Camy Shanghai Dumpling House
- Din Tai Fung
- Shanghai Street
13. Golden Gaytime Cheesecake on a Stick
A Golden Gaytime is a dessert made of toffee and vanilla ice cream that has been coated with honeycomb crumbs and drizzled with chocolate. An immediate favourite Melbourne snack was produced when Lisa Dib, proprietor of the pop-up dessert shop Stix, turned this renowned Australian delight into a cheesecake taste, froze it, and then slapped a piece on a stick. The taste is comparable to a Golden Gaytime but 10 times better, according to Australians.
Best place to have Golden Gaytime Cheesecake on a Stick in Melbourne:
- Sticksies Carlton
- Baby J’s
- Jock’s Ice Cream & Sorbet
- Gelateria Primavera
14. Beetroot Burger
Burger preparation differs somewhat in Melbourne. They are large and delicious and are beautifully adorned here. There are gourmet toppings, squid ink buns, doughnut buns, matcha buns, charcoal buns, and many more. A zucchini fritter burger topped with grilled halloumi, spicy mayo, beetroot, tomato, onion, and lettuce is offered by PHAT Pizza Burger Bar as a vegetarian option. Another option is One Plus Piece, which offers a tasty Angus beef cheeseburger with beetroot, lettuce, jalapenos, caramelized onions, sweet chilli, and mayo.
Best Places to have Beetroot Burger in Melbourne:
- Metro Burger
- Simpson Burger
- Betty’s Burger
- Rocket Burgers and Fries
15. Chicken Parmesan
The dish consists of a sizable breaded chicken breast that has been cooked and then slathered in melted mozzarella cheese and red sauce. It often comes with a little side salad and a tonne of French fries. It's a hearty dinner that you should eat if you're in Melbourne.
Best Places to have Chicken Parmesan in Melbourne:
- La Roche
- The Local Taphouse
- The Grosvenor Hotel
These were some of the amazing dishes of Melbourne that are worth trying! It ranges from the traditional flavour to the modern taste in desserts. These dishes have held the tradition and the culture of Melbourne firmly and showcases a strong bond with diversity!