Travel Diary: Melbourne Travel Diary – Foodie Race

Welcome to the second part of my Melbourne travel diary, which also the highlight of the trip! Most of my activities while traveling is trying out local delicacies as well as restaurants to try there. I’ve been researching the restaurants and cafes I wanted to visit before departing. Yes, I researched more about resto and cafes than the point of interest. LOL! I'm missing the foods and vibes in Melbourne, so I decided to post this. But, since I had so much things to do, I couldn't post it on time. Nevertheless, here are the lists of my culinary experience in Melbourne. Enjoy!

MENYA RAMEN

This is one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in Melbourne. They specialized in Ramen, but the most popular menu is their Gyu tan Don or ox tongue rice. They have a large portion, so when you are short of money, you can split the portion for two. The gyu tan don cost for AUD 16. Let me explain you how good this gyu tan. First, they have their special sauce with slices of chili. Second, the beef is melty. The combination of sweet, hot, and salty was beyond perfect. Surprisingly, I finished one portion of it in one seating. Maybe flying took too much of my energy.

Find Menya Ramen at:
437-439 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Price Range:

AUS$3.00 - AUS$18.90

Recommended menu:

Gyu Tan don

FAMOUS HOTPOT AND BBQ

Melbourne in May was chilly AF, especially at night. To warm our body, my brother and I chose to have hotpot. I don’t usually eat Chinese hotpot. I prefer Sukiyaki (Japanese hotpot), because of the broth is mild and they don’t use spices. My brother said that they have the best fish balls and they do have various fish balls. But, I couldn’t say that I really like it, but I don’t hate it either. So, it was a little miss from me. Their most popular broth is the “Drunken Chicken”. I do love chicken broth, but not this one. It has the oriental taste and they use too much MSG I guess. I hurt my throat right after I ate there. Maybe the other broth is probably better? If you like Chinese hotpot, go try for dinner because it is buffet.

Find Famous Hotpot and BBQ at:
113 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Price Range:
AUS$38.80/pax

Recommended menu:
Fish ball with Drunken Chicken base

SIR CHARLES

Hands up for Sir Charles to have the most flavorful brunch menu. Their most popular menu is Sir Charles Benedict. Their hollandaise sauce is rich of flavor and the composition for one person is perfect. The background of this brunch café is Asian fusion foods. So, most of their menu is rich of flavor, not like other western food, which is more plain. The price of this benedict menu is AUD 16. Their interior was cozy and quite instgramable. 

Find Sir Charles at:

121 Johnston St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
https://sircharlesfitzroy.com

Price Range:
AUS$50.00 for 2 pax

Recommended menu:
Sir Charles Benedict

MESSINA

Done with main meal, it’s time for dessert. Actually, I’m pretty full with my brunch at Sir Charles but, there is always a space for dessert! My friend said in Melbourne there are two type of groups, Mezzina team or Freddo team. She was in the later one. Btw, I tried Mezzina twice when I was in Australia. I couldn’t choose one when I’m in Mezzina because the flavor were too many and I don’t really like weird flavors. I didn’t even remember which flavor I tried but, it was pretty okay. Btw, Mezzina is not an ice cream shop, but a gelato shop. 

Find Messina (Melbourne) at:

237 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
https://gelatomessina.com

Price Range:
Start from AUS$4.00 (Tiny size)

GJ’S GRILL

Ate another type of Asian food. It was my first time eating Filipino cuisine. I am new with pork belly fan club and they have a very nice crispy pork belly. It was crispy but not hard. It was fried and baked perfectly. Their rice is also nice. It has a special fragrance, like Hainan rice. It was not white, but more yellowish. I also like their fried chicken! Oh it’s been a long time since I ate those kind of fried chicken. Asian food is never wrong. It is a must try!!

Find GJ’s Grill at:
 2/243 Franklin St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Price Range:
AUS$30.00 for 2 pax

Recommended menu:
Lechon

WHITE MOJO

I always had the best brunch in Australia! And this brunch place is another thumbs up. Right from the interior to the menu itself. The menu's price are relatively standard for Australian brunch places. I ordered Signature Croissant Burger (23 AUD) and it was a pleasant one! It consist of soft-shell crab, chiptole mayo, smoked eel, pickled cucumber, chroizo crumb, fried eggs and buttery croissant. I love the croissant and the mayo was amazing. If you are not allergic to seafood, I recommend you this one. Well, Big Breakfast is a safe move, so order what you like. I forgot what my brother ordered, so I could only recommend you what I ordered or usually ordered.

Find White Mojo at:
115 Hardware St, Melbourne VIC 3000
182 - 184 Whitehorse Rd, Balwyn VIC 3103
83 - 85 Kingsway, Glen Waverley VIC 3150
https://www.whitemojo.com.au

Price Range:
AUS$30.00 for 2 pax

Recommended menu:
Signature Croissant Burger

REPUBLICA

Visiting beach during non-summer days are very novel for me. But I really liked it! Because there is less crowd. Never thought I will be enjoying hot tea near the beach in my life. But, I did that, because it was freakin' windy near the beach. I sat down at this bar/resto. I didn't remember ordering food, so let's skip that one. My brother go to this cafe often, whenever he came to St. Kilda beach areas. The restaurant is spacey and I guess they are very crowded whenever it's summer.

Find Republica at:
10/18 Jacka Blvd, St Kilda VIC 3182
republica.net.au

Price Range:

AUS$100 for 2 pax

MELBA AT THE LANGHAM MELBOURNE

Free flow Lobster at discounted price! My brother has been waiting for this day, because they have a special promotion, so we had a little fancy dinner. This restaurant serves fresh seafood, buttery grilled lobster, steak, Asian wok, and much more. All I can remember from this buffet dinner is that I ate 3-4 pieces of lobster, to note that I don't like shrimp and it's family. But I like lobster! Cause I think lobster more similar to crab rather than shrimp. Also, I ate a lot of chunk of steak. Other than that, I couldn't even remember how their dessert looks like. I usually couldn't resist dessert, but I forgot about it, totally. If you have spare money and really could eat a lot, go to try this buffet restaurant. Reservation is needed.

Find Melba at:
1 Southgate Avenue, Southbank, Melbourne, VIC 3006
https://www.melbarestaurant.com.au/

Price Range:
Start from AUS$97.00 (Adult price)

Recommended menu:
Dinner buffet - free flow Lobster

SHANGHAI STREET DUMPLING

Chinese food is always in the list whenever I travel. Not really a fan of dumplings, because usually my family, especially my mom only eat shrimp dumpling, but as I said before, I didn't really fancy shrimp. But most dumplings are filled with minced pork and chicken, so I tried this out. For few years now, I'm not really picky on food, so if the ingredient is familiar, I will try to eat it. Except raw food. Anyway, this dumpling shop have a very long waiting list, so better to visit this shop as early as possible!

Find Shanghai Street at:
146 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
https://www.shanghaistreet.com.au

Price Range:
Start from AUSS$6.80 - $48.80

Recommended menu:
Xialongbao

SCHNITZ

The best fries I've tried in my whole life! It's not a regular potato fries, it's a thick-cut fries with perfect seasoning! The saltiness is beyond comprehension. Actually, this shop sells other than chips, their main menu is schnitzel (similar to katsu, originated from German) and anything pan-cooked. I haven't try their other menu, but looking at their website and instagram page, it might worth the try. They have several locations throughout Australia, so check it out through the store locator feature on their website. I didn't even took the fries, because I directly ate the fries.

Find Schnitz at:
https://schnitz.com.au/locations/
https://www.instagram.com/schnitzau/

Price Range:
AUS$3.90 - $16.90

Recommended menu:
Chips

JINDA THAI

The most favorite restaurant of my brother. He really recommended and approved this restaurant to be the best Thai restaurant. I'm a Tom Yum Gung and Pad-Thai fan, so whenever I go to Thai resto, I always buy those menu. But, Jinda Thai changed my life. We ordered something other than those food. I never liked any type of curry, but I liked the one from here. 

Find Jinda Thai at:
1-7 Ferguson St, Abbotsford VIC 3067

Price Range:
AUS$80 for 2 pax

Recommended menu: 
Soft Shell Crab Curry Sauce
Crispy Pork Chinese Broccoli
Fish with Tamarind Sauce
Pad See Ew

LUNE CROISSANTS AND COFFEE

Oh la la~! The best croissant in my whole life. My brother brought me home this croissant when he came back to Indonesia for the first time. Even the take-away and have to go through 7 hours flight croissant still taste amazing! And finally I tried the fresh one!!! I'm so happy. My love for the croissant is beyond words and I finally found my soul croissant at Lune Croissants. Their Ham and Gruyere should be your number one list as well as the original one. They made the croissant everyday, so it is fresh and hand made. If they sold all their freshly made croissants, they are going to close the shop. So, better come there early. Before I went to the airport, I stopped by to buy some of this and I had to line because the shop hasn't opened yet. #NIAT I'm that eager to bring that babies to Indonesia. HAHA. Come early, okayyy?

Signature Croissants

Cruffins

Extravaganza Croissants

Look at that bacon x cheese combi!

Find Lune Croissants and Coffee at:
119 Rose St, Fitzroy, VIC 3065
Shop 16 161 Collins St (enter via Russel St), Melbourne, VIC 3000
https://www.lunecroissanterie.com/

Price Range: 
AUS$25 for 2 pax

Recommended menu: 
Ham and Gruyere

THE CORNER CHICKEN SHOP

Glad my brother take me to visit Queen Victoria Market and let me try his best wings & fries combo option in Melbourne. He really know his sister, proud of you bro! Who can resist it, anyways? The shop itself sell raw poultry as well the ready to eat one. They put on gravy sauce on it and it was amazing! Not too salty and greasy. You can try both the fried wings or the roasted one. Both are amazing.

Find The Corner Chicken Shop at:
Queen Victoria Market right beside the exit to Therry Street

Price Range: 
AUS$15 for 2 pax

Recommended menu: 
Wings and Chips

MC ILROY QUEEN VIC JUICE

While Australia have the freshest fruits in hand, I tried my best to drink as much as juice and smoothies I can there. This shop have fresh juice and it was pretty okay. The price is pretty reasonable. You can have a semi-healthy life when you are in Australia, actually. Any juice shop might use the fresh and juicy fruit, so you can try any shop available.

Find Mc Ilroy Queen Vic Juice at:
Queen Victoria Market
Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000

AMERICAN DOUGHNUTS KITCHEN

Not a fan of filling doughnut, but this one is an exception. Hot strawberry jam filled doughnut covered with sugar are best consumed in the fresh open air, it's like a picnic. Should try this one, cause they don't open for so long. So, come early to get your hand on this sweety. You can see the shop right away because of their iconic van. They sell their hot jam doughnut in a van at Queen Victoria Market along the Queen Street since 1950.

Find American Doughnuts Kitchen at:
Queen Victoria Market
Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
http://adk1950.com.au

Price:
AUS$1.20 each

LAMB ON CHAPEL SOUTH YARRA

Another adventure of filling in my tummy with fries. This time, I tried HSP (Halal Snack Pack), more of a Arabian kind of food. HSP consist of choices of meat (halal category of meat), toppings and sauces, and fries! I kinda copied my brother's order cos he has a very good taste bud. You can order to your liking. Think this like Subway.

Find Lamb on Chapel South Yarra at:

394 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141

Price Range:
AUS$35 for 2 pax

Recommended menu: 

Halal Snack Pack (HSP) with lots of fries

BREIZOZ

Tried the French crepes for the first time I guess. It was a really nice dessert night. Their specialty is the Banana and Rhum crepe, which my brother ordered. Since I don't like banana, I choose my all time faves, chocolate crepe. It was not too sweet, so not so much guilty. All flavour is good, because the base of the crepe is well made and cooked (?) perfectly, not so crispy not so gooey. They also serve Flambés crepe which is amazing to watch those burning flambés. My brother ordered the flambés one, you can see it on my Travel Diary video here.

Find Breizoz at:
Entrance On, 2/49 Brunswick Street, Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065

Price Range: 
Average AUS$15 each

Recommended menu: 
Banana and Rhum or Chocolate

Liverpool Street Alley

RICE PAPER SCISSORS

My first tapas experience! This house is one of the best tapas restaurant in Melbourne. I liked their Sticky Pork Belly the most. They serve Asian-fusion specialty restaurant, but mostly Thai, Vietnam, and Singapore style of cooking. They have a cute ambience and interior, so it might be in your consideration list! Fyi, they use LOTS of coriander, so if you don't like it, just opt for the safe menu like the one I've mentioned.

Grilled Pork Betel

 Banh Mi (maybe)

Tofu, Cracker, Corriander, Tomato, and more (Couldn't find the right name)

Steamed Pork Bun

Sticky Pork Belly

Find Rice Paper Scissors at:
19 Liverpool St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
https://ricepaperscissors.com.au

Price Range:
AUS$59 (lunch) or AUS$65 (dinner) 
choose 5 dishes for 2 person

Recommended menu:

Sticky Pork Belly

MART 130

Another iconic brunch place in Melbourne. This brunch place is located beside tram railways. It was used as a stationmaster, but it doesn't operate anymore. To revive the abandon facilities, they whip it to a cozy cafe. It also connected to Middle Park, so you can take a walk after eating. I ordered Mart Eggs #1. They already have fixed menu, so you couldn't alternate it. Psst, fyi the word 'mart' is 'tram' spelled backward! So, the station is Tram number 130. #mindblown
P.S: Currently they are temporarily closed.

Find Mart 130 at:
107A Canterbury Road, Middle Park, Melbourne

Price Range: 
AUS$50 for 2 pax

Recommended menu:

Mart Eggs of your choice

BLACKSTAR PASTRY

Got my hands on the infamous watermelon-strawberry cake. Yes, they are awesome. There are few copies of this cake, but the original is always the best. The strawberry was sour, but balanced the sweetness of the cake and the watermelon add crunchy texture to the cake. Amazing combination! We ordered the Lemon Zen too, but not really satisfying like the Strawberry and Watermelon cake.
The Melbourne store is a pop-up store, so you should find it in Sydney.

Find Blackstar Pastry at:
Level 2, 500 George St, Sydney
and 3 other stores in Sydney
https://blackstarpastry.com.au

Price Range:
AUS $4.5 - 10.00 (cake only)

Recommended menu:
Strawberry and Watermelon

ZAB THAI

Low-cost Thai food. We ate at a Thai food canteen for dinner. This place is my brother and my friend's go to for more affordable option of Thai food. They don't have a lot of option, but their main courses are pretty good. If you miss rice, you can come here to have some Asian staple food. #asianbloodFTW

Find Zab Thai at:
1132 Riversdale Rd, Box Hill South VIC 3128

Price Range:
AUS$8.5

Recommended menu:
Spicy Crispy Pork with Kailan

IL DOLCE FREDDO

Closing my tummy with last gelato in Australia. We went to Il Dolce Freddo for dessert. They have durian gelato and I'm a fan of durian, so it's a must go. I don't really liked durian-flavored foods, but the one here doesn't taste like durian, so I kinda like it. Not really recommending that one tho, but it's worth to try if you like durian.

Find Il Dolce Freddo at:
116 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053
https://www.instagram.com/ildolcefreddo/

Price Range:
AUS$6.60 (Small cup, 2 flavors)

Recommended menu:
Durian Gelato

That's all that I can record for you all! Hope it help! If you happen to visit Melbourne, you might check the recommendations I've mentioned above. It's all approved by my chef-brother. All of the recommendations are based on my own experience and according to my personal taste. Have a wonderful culinary experience, everyone! #foodforlye 
Sorry for the lack of photos, I'm still shy to take out my camera and take a shot. Some of the food are mostly displayed on my video, so check it out there too!

Thank you for reading till this part! 
Watch the full travel diary on my YT Channel here. 
See you on my next post soon!