A$12-A$20collingwoodMon-Sun 6pm-12am
Jim's Greek Tavern on Johnston Street has had charcoal-grilled lamb souvlaki in Collingwood since 1980: the institution that defined the area's food identity.
Order: Lamb souvlaki with pita, tzatziki and onion
A$14-A$18richmondDaily 9am-9:30pm
Pho Hung Vuong 2 on Victoria Street is Melbourne's pho standard-bearer: 12-hour bone broth, fresh herbs and the no-frills room that earns repeat visits.
Order: Large beef pho with tendon and tripe
A$5-A$12st-kildaDaily 8am-9pm
Acland Street in St Kilda is lined with European patisserie windows selling cakes since the 1950s: Black Forest, cheesecake and lamingtons in a heritage row.
Order: Polish apple cake or black forest slice from any of the long-running shops
A$1-A$5cbdTue, Thu 6am-2pm; Fri-Sun 6am-4pm
American Doughnut Kitchen at Queen Victoria Market has fried jam donuts in the same formula since 1950: hot, sugar-dusted and still sold from the red caravan.
Order: Cinnamon-sugar jam donut, fresh-fried and handed through the window
A$10-A$18cbdWed evenings Nov-Mar, 5pm-10pm
The Queen Victoria Market Night Market runs Wednesday evenings in summer with street food traders, live music and the outdoor energy the CBD loses each night.
Order: Rotating seasonal stalls: Korean pancakes, Vietnamese banh mi, Greek souvlaki
A$7-A$12yarravilleMon-Sat 8am-5pm
Phuoc Thanh inside Footscray Market is the banh mi benchmark for Melbourne's west: house-made pate, house-picked vegetables and a queue that never shortens.
Order: Banh mi with pork, pate and pickled vegetables