Chin Chin ★ 4.2
Chin Chin on Flinders Lane is the no-bookings Southeast Asian diner: arrive on a weeknight, order the whole fish and a cold beer from the freezer bar.
Order: Whole barramundi with green herbs and tamarind sauce
Pho Hung Vuong 2 is a vietnamese restaurant in Richmond, Melbourne.
The defining pho on Victoria Street: long-simmered beef broth with rare beef and brisket in a no-frills Richmond room that has fed the city since the 1980s.
Must order: Rare beef and brisket pho, large
Address: 108 Victoria Street, Richmond VIC 3121, Melbourne
Chin Chin on Flinders Lane is the no-bookings Southeast Asian diner: arrive on a weeknight, order the whole fish and a cold beer from the freezer bar.
Order: Whole barramundi with green herbs and tamarind sauce
Pappa Laksa in Burwood slow-cooks its coconut broth for five hours: rich, layered and served with barramundi or king prawns over rice noodles.
Order: King seafood laksa with barramundi fillet
Ho Jiak on Rainbow Alley references Penang and KL regional traditions: precise Malaysian cooking with handmade roti at the counter in a compact laneway space.
Order: Char kuay teow with wok hei and fresh cockles
Green Man's Arms on Lygon Street is Carlton's fully vegan pub: Middle Eastern small plates, house falafel and kombucha on tap in a corner hotel with live music.
Order: House falafel with hummus and Yemeni lahuh bread
Cumulus Inc. on Flinders Lane is the CBD's best all-day operator: raw bar at the counter, whole roasted chicken for the table and a wine list worth exploring.
Order: Whole roasted chicken with seasonal sides
Maison Batard's ground-floor boulangerie feeds the CBD from 7am; by noon the bistro above opens for French classics and a wine list without a bad bottle.
Order: French onion soup with a gruyere crust