Ascot Vale Restaurants at a Glance
- Date night: Jovani’s Pizza & Pasta
- Budget bite: Saigon Soul
- Local favourite: Hop & Spice Ascot Vale
- Something different: The House of Mandi
Best Restaurants in Ascot Vale (2026)
Choosing where to eat in Ascot Vale depends on the night. With 52 restaurants spanning 17 cuisines, you could eat somewhere different every week for 13 months and still have places left to try.
46 have confirmed street addresses. 14 have listed phone numbers. No restaurant has paid to appear on this list.
Cuisine Breakdown
Ascot Vale covers 17 distinct cuisine types:
| Cuisine | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Malaysian | 3 |
| Pizza | 3 |
| Ethiopian | 2 |
| Indian | 2 |
| Sri_Lankan | 1 |
| Spanish | 1 |
| Italian | 1 |
| Dum | 1 |
| Vietnamese | 1 |
| Greek | 1 |
Restaurants with Full Details
#1 Hop & Spice Ascot Vale — 230 Union Road
Sri_Lankan | ★ 4.8/5 (505 reviews)
What makes it great: You could walk past Hop & Spice Ascot Vale without noticing it. Regulars prefer it that way. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. You will not Instagram it. You will remember it.
505 Google reviews and a 4.8 average. The numbers track with the experience.
What locals say: “I recently ordered catering from Hop & Spice Ascot Vale for an event with 60 people, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the moment I enquired, Jill, the restaurant…”
Phone: +61 3 9454 1806 | Website: Hop & Spice Ascot Vale | Google Maps
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#2 bar libretto — 155 Union Road, Ascot Vale
the food | ★ 4.8/5 (101 reviews)
What makes it great: bar libretto earns its crowd the honest way — through the food. The kitchen here has found its rhythm. The menu is focused, the execution is steady, and the regulars know what they are coming for. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Ascot Vale, you can still walk in.
Rated 4.8 by 101 locals on Google — and the ones who come back do not bother leaving reviews.
What locals say: “The food was delicious. They had an organic wine which was amazing. I am a vegetarian and was able to find an entree and main to suit my palette. I LOVE the warm fresh bread ! The…”
Website: bar libretto | Google Maps
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#3 The Abyssinian — 277 Racecourse Road, Kensington
Ethiopian
What makes it great: You do not end up at The Abyssinian by accident. You end up there because someone told you to go. The menu reads simply. The food arrives with more thought than the menu suggests. That gap is the mark of a kitchen that cares more about the plate than the description. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Ascot Vale, you can still walk in.
Hours: Mo-Sa 17:30-22:00 | Phone: +61 3 9376 8754 | Website: The Abyssinian
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#4 Cariño Tapas Bar — 492-494 Mount Alexander Road
Spanish
What makes it great: The first thing you notice at Cariño Tapas Bar is the smell of charcoal and spice hitting you from the kitchen. The kitchen here has found its rhythm. The menu is focused, the execution is steady, and the regulars know what they are coming for. Come once for curiosity. Come back because the food demands it.
Hours: Tu-Su 18:00-23:00 | Phone: +61 3 9326 0328 | Website: Cariño Tapas Bar
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#5 Jovani’s Pizza & Pasta — 437 Mount Alexander Road, Ascot Vale
Italian
What makes it great: You could walk past Jovani’s Pizza & Pasta without noticing it. Regulars prefer it that way. The pasta is made in the building — you can usually see it happening if you sit near the kitchen. The sauce has the depth that only comes from time, not shortcuts. The kind of place you recommend without being asked.
Phone: +61 3 9370 3635 | Website: Jovani’s Pizza & Pasta
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#6 Chef Lagenda — 16 Pin Oak Crescent
Malaysian
What makes it great: Chef Lagenda has been doing this since before Ascot Vale got its reputation. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. There is a reason the regulars do not talk about it much. They do not want the wait.
Hours: We-Mo 11:00-15:30,17:00-22:00; Tu off | Phone: +61 3 9376 2668 | Website: Chef Lagenda
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#7 I Love Dumplings — 297 Racecourse Road
Dum
What makes it great: There are flashier places on Racecourse Road. There is nothing more reliable than I Love Dumplings. The kitchen here has found its rhythm. The menu is focused, the execution is steady, and the regulars know what they are coming for. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Ascot Vale, you can still walk in.
Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-15:00,17:00-22:00 | Phone: +61 3 9372 5248 | Website: I Love Dumplings
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#8 Saigon Soul — 175 Union Road, Ascot Vale
Vietnamese
What makes it great: Every suburb has one restaurant that defines it. In Ascot Vale, the argument starts with Saigon Soul. The broth takes the better part of a day to build. You can taste every hour in it. Not the flashiest option in Ascot Vale. Possibly the best.
Phone: +61 3 8596 8230 | Website: Saigon Soul
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#9 Sinq Foods
Ethiopian | ★ 4.9/5 (158 reviews)
What makes it great: There are flashier places on this stretch. There is nothing more reliable than Sinq Foods. The menu reads simply. The food arrives with more thought than the menu suggests. That gap is the mark of a kitchen that cares more about the plate than the description. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Ascot Vale, you can still walk in.
Rated 4.9 by 158 locals on Google — and the ones who come back do not bother leaving reviews.
What locals say: “Amazing experience at Sinq. We were a group of 9 incredibly well taken care of. The food here is delicious and our hosts were kind, accommodating and very friendly. Happy to share…”
Phone: +61 480 491 051 | Website: Sinq Foods | Google Maps
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#10 Laksa King — 6-12 Pin Oak Crescent
Malaysian
What makes it great: The first thing you notice at Laksa King is a dining room that has not been redecorated in years and is better for it. What works here works because the kitchen has stopped trying to be clever and started trying to be consistent. Worth crossing Ascot Vale for. Worth crossing Melbourne for, honestly.
Hours: Mo-Su 11:30-15:00, Su-Th 17:00-22:00, Fr,Sa 17:00-22:30 | Website: Laksa King
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#11 Pete’s Charcoal Chicken — 562 Mount Alexander Road, Ascot Vale
Greek
What makes it great: Pete’s Charcoal Chicken is the place Ascot Vale locals take visitors when they want to show off the neighbourhood. The dips are made from scratch. The lamb has been cooking since before you decided to come here. The hospitality is not a performance — it is a default. There is a reason the regulars do not talk about it much. They do not want the wait.
Phone: +61 3 9375 1169
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#12 Turkish Gozleme Pide & Sweet House — 311 Racecourse Road
Turkish
What makes it great: Nobody goes to Turkish Gozleme Pide & Sweet House for the decor. They go for the food, obviously. The grill does the heavy lifting. Charcoal, not gas — you can taste the difference on every skewer. If this place were in Fitzroy, there would be a queue. In Ascot Vale, you can still walk in.
Hours: Mo,We-Su 10:00-20:00 | Phone: +61 481 269 556
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#13 Pizza Minded Italian Cafe Bar & Restaurant — 221 Union Road
Pizza
What makes it great: The word of mouth around Pizza Minded Italian Cafe Bar & Restaurant has done more than any review ever could. Margherita is the test. San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, basil, olive oil. Nothing to hide behind. This kitchen does not need to hide. Worth crossing Ascot Vale for. Worth crossing Melbourne for, honestly.
Phone: +61 3 9370 6666 | Website: Pizza Minded Italian Cafe Bar & Restaurant
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#14 Hon’s Kitchen — 218 Union Road
Chinese
What makes it great: Walk into Hon’s Kitchen on any given Tuesday and the dining room is still half full. That says something. The menu is long. Ignore the front page — the back page is where the kitchen really talks. You will not Instagram it. You will remember it.
Phone: +61 3 9041 4680 | Website: Hon’s Kitchen
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#15 Crisp Pizza — 279 Racecourse Road
Pizza
What makes it great: The kitchen at Crisp Pizza runs on precision and repetition — the same dish, perfect, every time. Margherita is the test. San Marzano tomato, fior di latte, basil, olive oil. Nothing to hide behind. This kitchen does not need to hide. The menu changes. The quality does not.
Website: Crisp Pizza
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#16 Pho House — 318 Racecourse Road
the food
What makes it great: Every suburb has one restaurant that defines it. In Ascot Vale, the argument starts with Pho House. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. Come once for curiosity. Come back because the food demands it.
Hours: Mo-Su 10:29-21:30 | Phone: +61 3 9372 1426
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#17 Myong Tofu — 314 Racecourse Road
Malaysian
What makes it great: Myong Tofu opened quietly and got loud fast. The menu reads simply. The food arrives with more thought than the menu suggests. That gap is the mark of a kitchen that cares more about the plate than the description. You will not Instagram it. You will remember it.
Phone: +61 3 9376 0108
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#18 New Somali Kitchen — 284 Racecourse Road
African
What makes it great: The kitchen at New Somali Kitchen runs on precision and repetition — the same dish, perfect, every time. What works here works because the kitchen has stopped trying to be clever and started trying to be consistent. The kind of restaurant that makes you eat slower because you want it to last.
Website: New Somali Kitchen
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#19 Jollof Vibe — 268 Racecourse Road
the food
What makes it great: The first thing you notice at Jollof Vibe is the staff moving with purpose, not performance. This is the kind of place that a neighbourhood builds around. Not a destination — a reason to stay local. Come once for curiosity. Come back because the food demands it.
Hours: We-Fr 16:00-23:00; Sa 13:00-23:00; Su 14:00-23:00 | Website: Jollof Vibe
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
#20 Escagrill — 650 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia
the food | ★ 4.6/5 (695 reviews) | $$$
What makes it great: Grilled meat, oysters and pasta in a modern Italian venue with leather chairs and a large wine menu. You will not Instagram it. You will remember it.
Rated 4.6 by 695 locals on Google — and the ones who come back do not bother leaving reviews.
Not cheap, but the quality justifies the spend. This is a deliberate night out.
Website: Escagrill | Google Maps
Source: OpenStreetMap + Google Places, verified March 2026
All Other Restaurants in Ascot Vale
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Pacinos Italian Family Restaurant | — | 28/300 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031, Australia |
| Ascot Vale Hotel | — | 447 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| District 5 Bistro | Steak_House | 447 Mount Alexander Road |
| Parrot House Restaurant | — | 293 Racecourse Road |
| Edziban | — | 307 Racecourse Road |
| Saina | Indian | 264 Racecourse Road |
| Zamzam Kitchen | — | 329 Racecourse Road |
| Safari Restaurant | — | 159 Union Road, Ascot Vale |
| Old Man Drew | — | 359-361 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Little Byrd | — | 160 Union Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Riverside Kitchen & Bar | — | 75 Newsom St, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Merhaba Biryani | — | 332 Racecourse Road |
| Cravin’ Crepes | — | 33 Cumberland Drive |
| Red Sea Coffee & Restaurant | — | 305 Racecourse Road |
| Pacinos | — | 300 Epsom Road |
| Sahra’s Kitchen | — | 303 Racecourse Road |
| Via Vale Trattoria | — | 385-387 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Borgo Food & Wine | — | 152 Union Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Piccolo Vicolo | — | 5A North St, Ascot Vale VIC 3036, Australia |
| Classe 90 Vice Pizzeria (Ascot Vale) | — | 136 Union Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Third Wave BBQ Ascot Vale | — | 508/510 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Lulu’s Social | — | 162 Union Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| La Burrata Moonee Ponds | — | 12 Hinkins St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia |
| Trombar | — | 492 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Purple Rabbit | — | Check our insta @purplerabbit_vegan for upcoming events as we are moving around and not in a permanent spot, 448-462 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| GK Tapas Bar & Restaurant Moonee Ponds | — | 14 Margaret St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, Australia |
| Wayo | Japanese | — |
| Canlar Türkü evi melbourne | — | 528 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale VIC 3032, Australia |
| Indian Star | Indian | — |
| Pizza Hut | Pizza | — |
| The House of Mandi | Yemeni | — |
| Yim Yam | — | — |
How This Data Works
Every restaurant listed comes from OpenStreetMap — a collaborative mapping project maintained by volunteers worldwide. Data is verified by local contributors who walk the streets of Ascot Vale.
Limitations: Some newer restaurants may not yet be mapped. Hours and phone numbers may change. Call ahead for reservations.
Related Guides
- Best Cafes in Ascot Vale
- Best Bars in Ascot Vale
- Cost of Living in Ascot Vale
- Ascot Vale Neighbourhood Guide
- Family Guide to Ascot Vale
- Is Ascot Vale Safe?
- Ascot Vale Transport Guide
- Ascot Vale Property Market
Last updated: March 2026. This guide is refreshed when OpenStreetMap data changes — new openings, closures and corrections are reflected automatically. Found something wrong? Let us know.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap Contributors — openstreetmap.org — accessed March 2026
- ABS Census 2021 — abs.gov.au/census
- REIV Quarterly Median Prices — reiv.com.au
