Greensborough, VIC

bar • cafe • restaurants

Infuse Greensborough

The exciting new addition to Greensborough with an Asian-infused Modern Australian menu - Infuse Greensborough is both a cafe and restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks! We were so excited to be invited to try their food, and it definitely blew us away! The venue is hip, modern and industrial-style. The wall decorations are stunning and there is plenty of seating too. We came at lunch time and wanted to try everything on the menu! In the end, we decided on the Gado Gado, the Croissant Banh Mi, the Roast Pumpkin Barley Bowl, and The French. The Gado Gado (vegan) was delicious. Such a huge variety of vegetables - sprouts, wombok, sweet potato, snake bean, fried tofu, and cassava crackers! But the best part was that amazing peanut dressing - it was thick and creamy, nutty and fragrant, and really brought the whole dish together. A delicious and healthy, yet very flavourful , lunch dish! The Croissant Banh Mi was one of the highlights. Such a unique combination of a croissant with Asian flavours! The croissant itself was perfectly flakey and buttery, and the roast pork belly and lemon mayo were delightful. The French was the perfect dish to end off on a sweet note. The toast was thick, fluffy, crispy and warm - everything you’d want for a French toast. The candied walnuts and almond crust gave a delightful crunch, while the vanilla creme fraiche added a nice creaminess to the dish. The tartness of the berries and lemon meringue balanced out the sweetness of the dish. Overall, we had an amazing time at Infuse Greensborough, and I’ll definitely be back to have dinner here! An awesome venue and amazing food - you don’t want to miss it!

Melbourne, VIC

restaurants

HWKR

I have been craving bingsu all summer, so I can’t tell you how excited I was to see a store dedicated to bingsu at HWKR in the CBD! Of course, I made my way there as soon as I had the chance, and it did not disappoint! On my first occasion, we got the Mai Thai Times and the Milky Brew. Both bingsus were amazing! Even a small size had a generous portion, and the shaved ice is so smooth, soft and fluffy - a cross between sorbet and ice cream. Pouring the condensed milk on top fives an added richness and flavour, and doesn’t make it too sweet either. I loved the variety of toppings and whipped cream on each one. My favourite has to be the Thai tea flavoured one though - the combination is just sensational! I came back a second time with my friends, and we decided to try all the other flavours - Dusky Dream, Matcha Bonsai and Royal Taro. The chocolate-flavoured bingsu was not our favourite, as we prefer the more Asian flavours which seem to match with the bingsu the best. Our favourite was by far the Royal Taro - the taro flavour was very prominent and reminded me of Taro milk tea. So so so good! Scoopy Milk Bar is definitely one of my favourite stalls in HWKR to date. It’s my go-to dessert now on a hot summer day, and I really hope they open a permanent store somewhere in the CBD soon!

Carlton, VIC

cafe

Appy Eatery

Appy Eatery is a cute and aesthetic little cafe located just a stroll north from Lygon St. The interior design is clean, bright and minimalistic - from the wall decor and gorgeous hanging light to the wooden light wood tabletops. Its hard not to fall in love with it at first sight! The coffee is sensational - it’s piping hot, and oh-so-smooth and warming. If you’re after something alcoholic, they’re also doing a bottomless brunch at the moment which is only $39pp! The menu is short and simple, but they‘ve got every single dish nailed to perfection. We decided on the Croissant Banh Mi, the Smashed Avocado on Toast, the Appy Bowl, and the Chocolate Hotcake. I had the Appy Bowl which changed weekly - on this occasion it was a beets, peach, watercress, spiced almond citrus salad with lemon and black pepper yoghurt, with added chicken for protein. It was a very light and refreshing dish - perfect for a summer day. The beets and peach added a nice juicy sweetness, while the almonds gave crunch and texture. The black pepper yoghurt coated the salad leaves and brought the whole dish together. The Smashed Avocado on Toast was as good as smashed avo can be. The fennel added a nice freshness and tartness to the overall dish. The Croissant Banh Mi was such a stunning dish. The fried egg was just perfect, with the yolk just on the verge of oozing out! The pork crackling was extra crispy and the flavours paired very nicely together. The Chocolate Hotcake, however, was the star of the show. Possibly one of the best - if not THE best - hotcakes any of us have had! They were thick, moist and fluffy as can be. The coconut syrup gave a delightful, light and fruity sweetness while the blackberry curd added the perfect tartness. Topped with fresh berries and hazelnuts for additional crunch. This is definitely a MUST-TRY dish! Not only is the food spectacular here, but the staff are extremely welcoming and friendly. The boys are often speaking in gorgeous Italian with the locals that come in and they just give such a fun and “appy” vibe. Overall, we had the most wonderful experience at Appy Eatery, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re in the area! Thank you for having us!

Heidelberg, VIC

cafe • restaurants • shopping

Zeins Authentic

Zein’s Authentic is a cute Lebanese-inspired cafe/restaurant that’s pretty new to the brunch scene. Located on the busy streets of Heidelberg, the venue isn’t big, but it’s got a very rustic, home-y feel to it. On this occasion we came for breakfast, but they also offer lunch and dinner options. The menu consists of some unique Lebanese dishes, and some of your regular brunch dishes with a Lebanese twist. We ordered a dish each and a sweet dish to share. I decided on the Shakshuka, which was vegan! Instead of eggs, it contained chickpeas and a delicious vegan cheese on top. The chickpeas added a nice, soft texture to the dish and it was so flavourful. It’s served with grilled tilma bread which is amazing - it’s light and crispy and I do prefer it over sourdough! The famous Zeins Fritters tasted as good as they looked. They were crispy and moist, cooked to perfection. It came with a dipping sauce which had a balsamic-like sourness taste to it - but I LOVE sour flavours and I found that it complimented the dish nicely! It made the dish very unique and I’ve never tried anything like it. The Smashed in Beruit is Zein’s take on the classic smashed avo, and it’s a stunning dish! It comes with a beautiful vibrant beetroot hummus and topped with crumbled falafels. The Way It’s Done In Lebanon is a feast in a plate! With eggs, yoghurt, sausages, halloumi, olives, and zaatar bread - you get the full experience. Definitely try it if you’re hungry! Finally, we ended off with Zein’s Pancakes (vegan!) - and boy were they good! With caramelised banana and walnuts, and vegan coconut ice cream which was delicious. Not too sweet nor heavy, and the pancakes were fluffy and tall. A nice, light dessert that left us content but not sickly full! Loved every bite. I also got the Tropical Romance juice which was lovely and refreshing. A slight sweetness and a super fresh taste from the mint. A great drink on a sunny day! Lastly, the staff here were so friendly and service was so quick and accommodating. We loved our experience here! Thank you for having us!

Melbourne, VIC

restaurants

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen is a beautiful, hidden ramen joint in the heart of Melbourne. The brand concept was established by Yamagoya Ramen in 1970, with over 200 stores worldwide now. Their specialties include their famous Chikuho noodles, Tonkotsu soup bases, Gyoza, and Chashu. The noodles and gyoza skin are made fresh in store daily, and all the ingredients are of the highest quality, imported straight from Japan. Heading down the stairs to the basement, you’ll find yourself in an extravagant dining room. It’s clean, spacious, and bustling with customers. But the most breathtaking part is their private function room, which offers traditional horigotatsu-style (low tables with with a recessed floor) seating. An authentic Japanese dining experience that took me straight back to Japan! Ikkoryu offers a very special take on tonkotsu ramen. Their signatures include their unique Yuzu Kosho Tonkotsu (the only place in Melbourne to have it), and Black Garlic. The ramen is very customisable too - from the broth, the oiliness, the pork, the noodles to the toppings - so it can suit even the pickiest of eaters. A variety of Izakaya items are also offered on the side, as well as vegetarian/vegan and rice options too. I decided to go for their special Yuzu Kosho Tonkotsu with normal oil level and soup broth. It was one of the most unique broths I’ve ever tasted - it was rich with a deep flavour, very pepper-y, and had a very nice hint of yuzu citrus which cut through the richness and balanced it out perfectly. The colour is a beautiful green from the spinach base too. The noodles (normal) were perfectly cooked - soft, but still has a bite, and soaked up all the delicious broth. They also offer free kaedama (extra noodles) which is amazing! My friend had the Original Tonkotsu which was faultless. For toppings, I’d definitely recommend trying the Ajitama Egg and the Pork Belly/Slow Cooked Belly. The Egg is infused in a delicious soy sauce and the yolk is creamy and oozy as it should be. The Pork Belly was a highlight as it’s cooked till it’s so tender and melt-in-your-mouth. The layers of fat to lean meat are in the perfect ratio. The Izakaya sides are a must here. We tried the Karaage, the Gyoza and the Half Rack of Slow Cooked Marinated Pork Ribs. Fried chicken is everyone’s favourite, and the Karaage is so crispy, juicy and addictive. The Gyoza is amazing too - they make their Gyoza skin in-house so it’s super thin and delicate! It’s simple, light and the perfect side snack. And the Pork Ribs were some of the best we’ve had. Half a rack of the most tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, served with a side of wasabi mayo (which it doesn’t even need because the pork itself has so much flavour already). For drinks, we had three varieties of Umeshu - Choya Mutenka Umeshu (the original - sweet and fruity), Choya Green Tea (very light and refreshing, and Satsuma Kokuto Umeshu (deep and syrupy). I definitely recommend trying the Choya Green Tea as it’s so light on the palate and goes very well with the ramen and sides. Lastly, the service here was exceptional. The staff were so kind and attentive, and we were looked after throughout our whole meal. It may be slightly pricier than your average ramen joint, but it’s definitely shown through the high quality, the passion and the love that comes in everything they do. If you’re looking for an exceptional ramen experience, Ikkoryu is your place to go. I would highly recommend anyone to come and try this place, and I will most definitely be coming back! I would like to thank Ineke for having me here to try their delicious menu.

Epping, VIC

shopping

Louis Melbourne Pty Ltd

Just off the busy streets of Fitzroy lies an amazing little cafe called Louis. Opening only 7 months ago, it has already been recognised as one of the ‘Most Beautiful Cafes in Melbourne’ by Broadsheet. The venue is extraordinary. It’s a warehouse-turned-cafe, with a very industrial and rustic interior. It’s very spacious, comfortable and clean, with modern and minimalistic decorations. Their award-winning Head Barista makes one of the best cups of coffee in the area, and he’s also a talented latte artist (I got a cute bunny on my latte that day!). They recently launched a new menu which still has some of the old favourites like The Benny and the Scrambled Eggs, but they have a number of new interesting dishes like the Jap Che noodle salad. It was so difficult to choose as we wanted to try everything, and the waitress was extremely patient and helpful in giving us recommendations and explaining the dishes. We had the Jap Che noodle salad with added poached chicken which was very light and refreshing. A very generous portion of fresh vegetables and Korean glass noodles which were very silky and smooth. The soy dressing was divine - sweet and savoury, and very flavourful. The addition of poached chicken balanced perfectly with the salad. It’s a very unique brunch dish, and I would definitely recommend you give it a go! The other savoury dish we had was the Smoked Salmon, which came on a grilled semolina cake. The semolina cake had a delightful texture - it was moist and soft, and very light. The sweetness of the beetroot purée and pomegranate seeds balanced well with the smoked salmon and the ricotta smash. The poached egg was, of course, perfect and the yolk was as runny as can be. Finally, we ended off with the Cacao Pancakes (which are vegan!). The pancakes were amazing - the combination of all the fresh fruits and subtle cacao flavour created the perfect balance of sweetness. The lime-coconut minted gelato was so light and refreshing, and added a nice zing to the dish. It was such a clean-tasting dessert and I didn’t feel one bit sick at all! It‘s definitely one of the best brunch desserts I’ve had! I also got a Green Juice on the side which was very refreshing and just subtly sweet. The Yuzu Lemonade was also delicious - zesty and citrusy, and not too sweet. I really loved my experience at this cafe and I think that all the dishes we had were very suited to my palate - everything was light, clean and refreshing, yet still very flavourful and delicious. The staff are so friendly and accommodating too! Louis is truly a hidden gem in Fitzroy, and I would highly recommend checking this cafe out some time! Thank you so much for inviting me to come in, and I’ll definitely be back again!

Ascot Vale, VIC

cafe • restaurants

Little Byrd

Little Byrd is a cute little cafe on Union Road in Ascot Vale, and we were lucky enough to be invited to try their food. The interior has a warming and rustic vibe, with wooden table tops and brick walls, and it’s bustling with customers. The coffee here is wonderful - possibly one of the best in the area. They also offer shakes, herbal teas, and fresh juices which are perfect on a warm summer day. Food-wise, we had the Coconut Chia Bowl, the Shakshuka, the Broken Avocado and the French Toast. The Chia Bowl was delightful. A generous portion of chia pudding, topped with fresh fruits and granola, and coconut cream which made it rich and decadent, whilst still being healthy and refreshing. The Shakshuka was another stunning dish. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the yolk was still runny and oozy, which paired so well with the sourdough bread. A very warming and hearty dish! The Broken Avocado tasted just as good as it looked. The combination of pink beetroot hummus and green smashed avocado created a vibrant, colourful dish. The added poached eggs were, of course, poached perfectly with a very runny yolk. A simple dish done well! For dessert, we ended with the French Toast, and I’m so glad we did! The toast was amazing - so thick, soft and crispy on the outside. Drenched in maple syrup and topped with plenty of berries which gave it a bit of tartness. A must-try brunch dessert! Overall, we had an amazing time at Little Byrd. Service was efficient and the staff were extremely nice and welcoming. I would definitely recommend checking this cafe out if you’re in the area!

Abbotsford, VIC

restaurants

Jinda Thai Restaurant

Jinda Thai must be the most well-known and highest-rated Thai restaurant in Melbourne, and I was excited to finally see what the hype was about. We dined as a group of 6 for a friend’s birthday for lunch (note: they do not take bookings for lunch), and easily got a seat as it was a weekday. The venue is large, spacious and clean, with a rustic vibe. The staff are warm and welcoming and the menu is extensive. Our waiter was happy to recommend us their most popular dishes. We ordered a huge variety of dishes, including: - Moo Ping Sticky Rice - these were grilled pork skewers served with sticky rice and nam jim. The skewers were amazing and the pork was very flavoursome and charred nicely. It went perfectly with the sweet and sour homemade nam jim and the sticky rice too. - Som Tum Thai - an essential in Thai food. The salad was light and refreshing, sweet and sour, and had a nice kick from the spice. - Red Curry Roast Duck - an amazing coconut-y curry, with a variety of tropical fruits and delicious roast duck. The consistency is more ‘soup-y’, and it goes perfectly with rice. It’s mild in spice but I found it not spicy at all! - Panang Curry Beef - this curry had a thicker consistency, making it perfect to scoop up with roti. It was coconut-y and sweet, and perfect for those who prefer to have something non-spicy. - Deep Fried Fish in Tamarind Sauce - an amazing dish! The tamarind sauce was sweet and sour and so addictive! The deep fried barramundi fillet was crispy and absorbed the flavour from the sauce. An epic dish (and one of their most popular). - Soft Shell Crab in Curry Sauce - another delightful dish. It comes with two large whole soft shell crabs which are fried golden and crispy. The yellow curry sauce is thick and cooked with egg, which clings onto the soft shell crab and adds a nice flavour and soft texture too. We also got Coconut Rice (4 serves) and Roti on the side to go with the dishes. The rice is delightful and fragrant, and the roti is perfectly soft yet crisp. It was definitely one of the best, if not best, Thai food experiences in we’ve had in Melbourne. The food is decently priced and everything tastes amazing and authentic. Definitely a must-try if you haven’t already!

Box Hill, VIC

restaurants

Kong Fu Spicy Hotpot

Malatang has to be one of the most trending foods in Melbourne at the moment, with more and more stores opening up every few months. Tang Huo Kung Fu is one of the newer stores in the CBD (with one store in Box Hill), and I was so stoked to be invited to try it. The venue is clean, spacious and organised. When you enter, a friendly staff member will give you a bowl and tongs, and you make your way to the enormous fridge to pick your own ingredients. There is a very nice variety here - from meat to seafood to various fish balls and types of noodles. After selecting your ingredients, you make your way to the counter and pay by weight ($3.00/100g - cheaper than most places!). You can choose between soup or dry, and your spice level (mild, medium, hot). I opted for the mild soup base, which was very pleasant. The mild level was perfect for me - not too spicy but still has a slight kick. The soup base itself is very savoury and light, yet super flavourful - it’s different to any other malatang I’ve had and I’d definitely recommend you give it a try. I love the topping of roasted crushed peanuts and chickpeas (I think?). There’s also a self-serve sauce bar which is very convenient! They also make their own fresh-brewed tea, which comes in a pretty bottle and would be the perfect accompaniment for malatang. Overall, it’s definitely a place that I’d recommend if you’re looking for some good malatang!