Best Asian Food in Kensington 2026: Vietnamese, Middle Eastern & More
Updated 16 March 2026 | 6 places tested | Yuki Tanaka reporting
Kensington doesn’t get the food credit it deserves. Tucked between Flemington’s Racecourse Road strip and the industrial pockets off Macaulay Road, this inner-west suburb packs an absurd amount of flavour into its modest streets. Vietnamese pho joints sit shoulder to shoulder with Cantonese BBQ smokehousees, while East African stews simmer next to Japanese izakaya plates — all within a 10-minute walk of the station.
I spent two weeks eating my way through Kensington (and just over the border into Flemington, where the boundaries blur) to find the Asian spots actually worth your time and money. Here are six that delivered.
1. Mama Le — Vietnamese Fusion Done Right
Address: 31 Stubbs Street, Kensington VIC 3031
Cuisine: Vietnamese Asian Fusion
Price range: $$–$$$ (mains $18–$32; feed me menu ~$65 pp)
Open: Wednesday to Saturday dinner, Sunday lunch
Phone: 03 8488 9288
Mama Le is the restaurant Kensington needed. Hidden down Stubbs Street in a multi-level space dripping with neon, potted greenery, and artwork, this spot takes Leanne’s family Vietnamese recipes and gives them a modern remix — think grilled beef betel leaf alongside Korean bulgogi and crispy pork gua bao.
The “Feed Me” menu is the move for first-timers. For around $65 per person, the kitchen sends out a parade of sharing plates: lemongrass beef pho rolls, XL panko fried chicken, and whatever seasonal specials the team has dreamed up that week. The cocktail list is just as considered — each drink named after one of Mama’s kids, which is both adorable and genuinely good.
The dining room fills fast on weekends. Book ahead or expect a wait.
What to order: Feed Me menu, lemongrass beef pho rolls, any of the cocktails
Vibe: Date night meets family reunion — warm, loud, and generous
2. Mikasa Fusion — Asian Meets Latin on Macaulay Road
Address: 520 Macaulay Road, Kensington VIC 3031
Cuisine: Asian-Latin Fusion
Price range: $$–$$$ (small plates $12–$20; mains $22–$35)
Open: Tuesday to Sunday
Phone: 03 7073 3436
Mikasa Fusion is proof that “fusion” doesn’t have to be a dirty word. This Macaulay Road newcomer mashes up Asian and Latin American flavours with a confidence that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner.
Start with the kimchi empanadas — crispy, funky, and gone in seconds — or the plantain spring rolls that somehow bridge two continents in one bite. Mains lean into the bold stuff: eggplant katsu tacos, Chinese-Peruvian fried rice (lomo saltado meets wok hei), and soy-braised ribs that fall off the bone.
The space is small and the menu is tight, which is exactly how it should be. Everything on the plate earns its spot.
What to order: Kimchi empanadas, eggplant katsu tacos, soy-braised ribs
Vibe: Experimental without being chaotic — the hits outnumber the misses
3. Parrot Seafood BBQ House — The Cantonese Smokehouse Racecourse Road Forgot
Address: 293–295 Racecourse Road, Kensington VIC 3031
Cuisine: Cantonese / Hong Kong-style BBQ & Seafood
Price range: $–$$ (mains $12–$25; congee from $8)
Open: Daily, 11:30am–10:30pm
Phone: 03 9372 6688
Parrot Seafood BBQ House is not fancy and doesn’t try to be. This no-frills Cantonese spot on Racecourse Road has been quietly smoking ducks and boiling congee for years while flashier neighbours come and go.
The roasted duck is the headline act — lacquered skin, juicy meat, and that deep five-spice flavour that separates serious BBQ from the rest. The congee menu is extensive and comforting, particularly the century egg and pork variety. On weekends, you’ll see families loading up on steamed fish, stir-fried greens, and plates of roast meat over rice.
Don’t expect Instagram aesthetics. Do expect honest Cantonese cooking at prices that feel almost too reasonable.
What to order: Roasted duck, century egg congee, steamed fish
Vibe: Old-school Cantonese canteen — efficient, unpretentious, flavourful
4. Sahara Restaurant — East African & Middle Eastern Soul Food
Address: 465 Macaulay Road, Kensington VIC 3031
Cuisine: East African / Middle Eastern (Somali-influenced, 100% Halal)
Price range: $$–$$$ (mains $25–$38; mix grill $35)
Open: Daily
Phone: 03 9372 5071
Sahara Restaurant sits on Macaulay Road with its geometric pendant lighting and dark wood interiors, serving up what might be the most underappreciated Somali-Middle Eastern food in Melbourne. Everything is halal, portions are enormous, and the spice game is serious.
The lamb kalankal ($35) is a revelation — slow-cooked lamb with a depth of flavour that comes from patience, not shortcuts. The fahfah ($27), a traditional Somali stew, is rich and warming, while the mix grill ($35) covers all bases with perfectly charred meats. Finish with fresh mint lemonade ($10) that cuts through the richness beautifully.
If you’ve only ever had African food in Footscray, Sahara deserves a spot on your radar. It’s a different style, more East African and Horn-influenced, and it’s excellent.
What to order: Lamb kalankal, fahfah, mix grill
Vibe: Family-style feast with stunning interiors — bring a group and order everything
5. The Abyssinian — Ethiopian & Eritrean on the Border
Address: 277 Racecourse Road, Kensington VIC 3031
Cuisine: Ethiopian / Eritrean
Price range: $$ (mains $18–$28; banquets from $35 pp)
Open: Daily, 5:30pm–10pm
Phone: 03 9376 8754
The Abyssinian has been holding it down on Racecourse Road for well over a decade, serving traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean food in a cosy room with bright orange walls and traditional crafts hanging overhead. It’s the kind of place where you eat with your hands, tear injera bread into spiced stews, and forget the outside world exists.
The doro wat (spiced chicken stew) is rich and complex. The vegetable platter — a spread of lentils, collard greens, cabbage, and beetroot — is one of the best vegetarian feeds in the inner west for under $25. If you’re new to Ethiopian food, start with the combination plate and let the kitchen guide you.
It’s BYO, which makes it even better value. Grab a bottle from the bottleshop on Epsom Road on your way through Flemington.
What to order: Doro wat, vegetarian combination plate, kitfo (if you eat raw meat, you’re brave and rewarded)
Vibe: Intimate, soulful, hands-on — bring someone you’re comfortable eating with
6. Wayo Japanese Dining — Quiet Excellence Just Over the Line
Address: 286 Racecourse Road, Flemington VIC 3031
Cuisine: Japanese (casual dining)
Price range: $$ (mains $16–$28; BYO corkage $3.50 pp)
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, lunch and dinner
Phone: 03 9376 5484
Technically in Flemington, Wayo sits right on the Kensington border and is too good to leave off this list. This quiet Japanese spot has a loyal following for good reason: the food is precise, the prices are fair, and the BYO policy (just $3.50 per person corkage) makes it one of the best value Japanese meals in the inner west.
The nasu dengaku (miso-glazed eggplant) is a standout — caramelised, smoky, and addictive. The sashimi is fresh, the teriyaki is properly made (not the syrupy stuff), and the bento boxes are a solid lunch option. It’s not a scene — it’s a neighbourhood restaurant doing things properly.
If you’re doing a food crawl from Kensington into Flemington, this is your Japanese stop.
What to order: Nasu dengaku, sashimi platter, chicken katsu bento
Vibe: Low-key neighbourhood Japanese — the kind of place you wish was on your street
What We Skipped and Why
Kazbah Egyptian Street Food (174 Bellair Street, Kensington): This beloved Egyptian falafel spot was a Best 30 Under $30 pick from Good Food in 2021, but it closed permanently after Melbourne City Council roadworks blocked its street access for months with no compensation offered. If it ever reopens, we’ll be first in line. Worth mentioning because the fava bean falafel was genuinely exceptional.
La Tortilleria (72 Stubbs Street, Kensington): Outstanding authentic Mexican — genuinely some of the best corn tortillas in Melbourne. But it’s not Asian food, so it doesn’t belong here. We’ll cover it in our standalone Kensington Latin food piece.
Hochi Mama (CBD and Richmond locations): Frequently shows up in searches for Kensington because of its Vietnamese-fusion overlap with Mama Le’s style, but it’s not in the suburb. Great restaurant — wrong suburb for this guide.
Footscray Vietnamese strip (Hopkins Street): We know. Footscray’s Vietnamese food scene is legendary and just a few minutes’ drive away. But that’s a different suburb and a different article. Check our Best Vietnamese in Footscray guide for that deep dive.
The Bigger Picture: Kensington’s Food Identity
Kensington sits in an interesting spot — literally and figuratively. It’s bordered by Flemington’s Racecourse Road corridor, North Melbourne’s urban fringe, and the industrial pockets that connect to Footscray. This geography matters for food. You get the Vietnamese and Chinese influence streaming in from Footscray and Sunshine, the Middle Eastern and African flavours from the diverse communities along Macaulay Road, and the Japanese and fusion spots that reflect Melbourne’s broader dining evolution.
What you won’t find in Kensington is a single dominant food identity — and that’s the point. This is a suburb that lets a Vietnamese fusion restaurant, a Cantonese BBQ house, and a Somali grill coexist on the same strip, each pulling their own crowd without competing. It’s Melbourne at its multicultural best, without the fanfare.
If you’re nearby in North Melbourne, you’re within walking distance and the food scene there skews more toward modern Australian and Italian — worth comparing in our North Melbourne food guide. And if you’ve got a car, Flemington’s Racecourse Road has more Asian options beyond what we’ve listed here — see our Flemington eats roundup for the full picture.
Have we missed your favourite Kensington Asian spot? Tell us on Instagram at @melbzfood or email yuki@melbz.com.au — I eat everything you recommend, eventually.
Prices listed are approximate and may vary. Always check with the restaurant for current hours and availability. This article was independently reviewed; no venue paid for inclusion.
🔥 POLL: What’s your go-to Kensington Asian feed?
Pho & noodles · BBQ & roasted meats · Fusion & experimental · Middle Eastern feast
📊 You Might Also Like
- Best Vietnamese in Footscray 2026 — The Hopkins Street deep dive
- Flemington’s Best Eats Under $20 — Racecourse Road on a budget
- North Melbourne Food Walking Guide — 4km, 5 stops, one afternoon
- Suburb Vibe Score: Kensington — Live scores, rent, transport, and lifestyle
💬 Over to You
Kensington’s Asian food scene punches well above its weight — but it changes fast. Restaurants open, menus shift, and hidden gems appear overnight. If we missed your favourite spot, or if you’ve tried somewhere on this list and had a different experience, we want to hear it. Drop a comment below or tag us on Instagram @melbzfood. Every tip gets checked. Every good rec gets added to the next update.
🥢 Quick-Kick Kensington Food Crawl (Saturday Night Itinerary)
- 6:00pm — Start at Mama Le for cocktails and the Feed Me menu
- 7:45pm — Walk 5 minutes to Sahara Restaurant for lamb kalankal and mint lemonade
- 8:30pm — Stroll to Parrot Seafood BBQ House for a late congee and roasted duck plate
- 9:30pm — Roll home happy, approximately $90–$110 per person total
Not affiliated with any venue. Just a good Saturday night plan.