Melbourne’s Asian Food Is World-Tier
With one of the most diverse populations of any city in the Southern Hemisphere, Melbourne’s Asian food scene is not an add-on — it is the backbone of how this city eats. Every major Asian cuisine is represented, and most have dedicated suburbs.
Vietnamese: Footscray, Richmond, Springvale
Melbourne’s Vietnamese community has shaped the food culture of three suburbs. Richmond’s Victoria Street was the original hub; Footscray followed with larger, more traditional menus. Springvale in the south-east has quietly become the most authentic.
Standouts:
- Pho Hung Vuong 2, Footscray — pho that locals argue about
- Thy Thy 1, Richmond — banh mi benchmark
- Kim Thanh, Springvale — weekend-only specials draw crowds from across the city
Chinese: Box Hill, Glen Waverley, CBD
Box Hill is Melbourne’s Chinese food capital. The food court alone could fill a week of dining. Glen Waverley has grown fast, especially for Sichuan and northern Chinese cuisines.
Standouts:
- Sichuan House, Box Hill — fiery and technical
- New Shanghai, CBD — soup dumplings done properly
- Dumplings Plus, multiple locations — affordable and reliable
Japanese: CBD, St Kilda, Prahran
Melbourne’s Japanese food scene runs deep — from izakaya to ramen to fine-dining omakase.
Standouts:
- Shujinko, CBD — 24-hour ramen
- Izakaya Den, CBD — sophisticated small plates
- Kappo, Prahran — high-end Japanese with local ingredients
Korean: CBD, Doncaster, Carnegie
Korean BBQ and fried chicken have both exploded in Melbourne. The CBD has the highest concentration, but suburban options are catching up.
Standouts:
- Gami Chicken, multiple — the city’s fried chicken addiction
- Hansang, CBD — solid bibimbap and stews
- Chang Go, Doncaster — neighbourhood Korean with proper banchan
Thai, Malaysian, and Indian
These cuisines are spread across Melbourne rather than concentrated in single suburbs. Thai is strong in Prahran and CBD, Malaysian in Clayton and Carnegie, Indian in Dandenong and Footscray.
Standouts:
- Laksa King, Flemington — been here forever for a reason
- Jinda Thai, Abbotsford — upscale Thai with local sourcing
- Punjab Curry Cafe, multiple — lunch deals under $15
The Food Court Factor
Melbourne’s Asian food courts deserve their own guide. Box Hill Central, Victoria Gardens, QV, and Footscray’s Barkly Square all provide genuine, affordable meals. They are not fancy, but the food often outperforms sit-down restaurants.
Check our suburb guides for Asian food recommendations specific to where you live.