David's Hotpot

But there’s also a focus on fresh seafood and sashimi, as well as sushi and other dishes from the Chinese province. “It’s a modern Sichuan restaurant, but also gives you the chance to taste Asian flavours from Sichuan and all over – Thailand, Japan, Vietnam,” says Zhou. Opened in its current digs on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD – but it was previously housed in a discreet car park near Parliament Station.
There are a handful of Korean hotpots, but the most popular are budae jjigae and jeongol. There are countless varieties of jjigae, but budae jjigae, aka army stew, is usually served over a flame. Their all-you-can-eat specials range from $35 to $50 per person. Scan the wall to choose cult-status instant noodles, sausage, hot pot Melbourne kimchi and more meaty delights to add to your feast. The staff is highly knowledgeable about the menus and can quickly make suggestions if you’re on the fence about what to order. Choose from over 100 fresh ingredients, several soup bases, and various stir fry options then get your soup on at David’s Master Pot.

Fiery Indian cuisine with a refined and contemporary touch is what you can expect from this CBD mainstay, tucked off one of Melbourne’s most iconic laneways. The luxe white tablecloths won’t be pristine for long after you devour Tonka’s glorious saucy and succulent dishes. The lamb curry with roasted coconut and black cardamom is hard to pass up or try something from one of the Tandoor ovens, like the whole spatchcock or Petuna ocean trout. This dark, wood-lined CBD wine bar is as sophisticated as it is laid-back.
Make sure to try the Larb Moo salad, a minced pork salad with red onion, mint, chilli and pork liver. Also, another must-try is the stir-fried Thai basil with crispy pork, served with rice. An absolute banger, so make sure to put it on your ‘Thai Restaurants To Try’  list. It may look unassuming but Nana Thai is one of the most authentic Thai restaurants Melbourne has to offer.

Lunch hours are from 11.30am–3pm for $39.90 per person and dinner 5.30–10pm for $49.90 per person. Lunch is the time to go for hot pot where a slew of different soups from spicy chicken to the famed Tom Yum encircle the restaurant. Housed in a very sizable bowl the slow-cooked broth rice noodles dance seamlessly with sliced pork as well as pork liver, heart and stomach—a nutritional serving of everything needed for the day of work ahead.
Old Beijing and its elevated take on traditional Chinese dining is a true spectacle. The 200-seat diner is located in an unlikely place, the fringe alcove of QV in the CBD. While Footscray is known for its African food, if you head a little closer towards the city to the Abyssinian for your dose of injera bread, you won't be disappointed. Perfectly cooked, pasture-fed, Cape Grim angus porterhouse served with a secret herb butter sauce, and, of course, frites. The bad news is the closing of Anchovy, otherwise known as chef Thi Le’s personal exploration of Vietnamese cuisine. The good news is its replacement by the Laos-leaning Jeow.
You can add a range of meats and seafood ingredients from tendon and tripe to pork and wagyu beef. Most broths begin with fresh prawns and fish boiled with aromatics such as lemongrass and ginger for eight hours to deepen the flavour. I also went to Italy for the first time this European summer; it was never on my radar. I thought it was a place for lovers or where you go with a partner.

It landed the Chinese market in 2015 started out in Chengdu. Jiyu has successfully stood out in the extremely competitive Sichuan-style hot pot market. Our premium-level ingredients and experiences have reached tens of billions customers. Warm up with this spicy winter essential before the season’s out.
And because the Crown team know we’re suckers for a good deal, unlimited coffee, tea and soft drink are always available when you visit. CBD Japanese hot spot Takumi does an all-you-can-eat menu from $50pp ($55 on weekends). Specifically karubi beef and tender squid (there’s also finely sliced ox tongue for the brave). You could pretty much close your eyes and  hope for the best when it comes to the menu (it's all good), but our tip is the BKK fried chicken with red curry spice, Nam Jaew and roasted rice. Wear loose pants for this one because you’ll want one of everything. Perched on Ferguson Street in Abbotsford, Jinda Thai has been famous for its incredible service, venue and cuisine since it opened its doors in 2013.

Its classic giros platters and souvlaki have been lining the stomachs of late-night revellers since 1978, and not much has changed. A Melbourne institution that’s open until 2.30am every night. Come here for affordable and filling Cantonese food without the frills. The cheeseburger at this cool little diner is excellent and costs less than $10, so you might want to reconsider that midnight Macca’s run. There are also steak sangas, snacks and a whole lot more on the menu.
Try it with or without a dipping sauce to experience Mongolian hotpot for yourself. Chi’s decision to expand into areas like Box Hill and Doncaster was driven by the sheer number of Asian immigrants living there. Today, Wonton House and Secret Kitchen, a yum cha specialist, are the most sought-after tables. The price range is quite reasonable, making it a great value for the quality and variety of food offered.

This once low-key Korean restaurant overrun by displaced students wanting a taste of home is now being infiltrated by locals. They’ve hit social media pretty aggressively and now everyone is lining up for all the banchan you can handle. Hansang means ‘table full of food’ in Korean, and that’s exactly what you get. Alternatively, you can take a walk on the wild side with the 5 Course Vegan Experimental option – $55pp ($130 with wines). This runs from Tuesday to Thursday and is all about the kitchen trying new things. Again, the menu as I write this includes a ‘Raw Plate’ of Watermelon, Pickled Cabbage, Silken Tofu, Preserved Soy Beans & Tahini.