Melbourne's best new restaurants you might have missed

The big ticket spots are probably on your radar, but these hidden gems might have slipped by undetected. Lock in a visit for when you're in town.

Mannaka Izakaya 

We’ve found a Japanese diner serving the mega-sized sushi. Book a spot at Mannaka Izakaya and browse through the menu. Then order must-try dishes like creamy mushroom udon with caviar, huge slabs of unagi on rice and sashimi ‘tacos’. Love a bit of drama with your drink? Be bold and go for the orange highball, it comes stacked high with a giant tower fresh citrus slices.

Dokutoku

They’re big on set menus at Dokutoku – Melbourne's newest Japanese diner. Each one comes with a bunch of side dishes like miso soup, pickles, rice, onsen eggs and more. Go for the gyukatsu set and grill your own panko-crumbed beef on a mini sizzling hot plate. Or bring a pal and feast on sukiyaki for two. You’ll get a big serving of Wagyu, enoki mushrooms, tofu and more to simmer in a steamy hot pot.

Mikasa Fusion

Asian and Latin cuisines are an uncommon pair, but Kensington’s Mikasa Fusion really makes it work. Start with kimchi empanadas and plantain spring rolls. Then tuck into eggplant katsu tacos, Chinese-Peruvian fried rice and soy braised ribs. And be sure to leave room for sweet treats like guava and dulce de leche wontons or traditional Mexican flan with seasonal fruits.

Peninsula HK Café

Located right on the edge of Chinatown is Melbourne’s best Hong Kong-style. The standout dish at Peninsula HK Café has got to be the golden brick french toast. This huge slab of fluffy shokupan is stuffed to the brim with savoury fillings like curry, pork or sweet corn. You’ll also find a long list of authentic rice, noodle, soup and BBQ dishes. 

Kakilang Char Koay Teow  

Find authentic Malaysian street food at Kakilang Char Koay Teow. Bring an empty stomach, because the servings here are more than generous. Try the signature Penang-style char koay teow. This flat noodle dish comes with your choice of prawns, squid or razor clams. Or go for a big bowl of char mee – a rich noodle stir fry with prawns, egg, pork and water spinach.  

Yamamoto Udon

For fresh, handmade udon, Yamamoto Udon is a must-visit. The restaurant's noodle machine from Japan produces two varieties—thick, square Sanuki udon and ultra-wide, silky Himokawa udon. Whether you go for a light dipping broth, a classic beef udon, or a creamy salmon and mushroom variation, the texture is always spot-on. 

Lucky Dumpling

A dozen dumplings for under $10 – in this economy?! Lucky Dumpling is at the top of our cheap eats list with all sorts of tasty options on the menu. Grab a plate of twelve boiled pork dumplings for $7.90. Or go the crispy route with pan-fried chicken and mushroom for $8.90. Don't forget to add side dishes like a jumbo crispy prawn, chilled shredded potato salad and popcorn squid to your order.

Ten BBQ & Hot Pot

Roll up your sleeves and cook up an all-you-can-eat storm at Ten BBQ & Hot Pot. Indulge in a smorgasbord of ready-to-grill meats including smoked beef and pork. Or pick from nine soup bases and fill a pot to the brim with steamboat balls, veggies and instant noodles. Unlimited bingsu and DIY bubble tea is available if you're craving something sweet. 

Kajiken

Famous Japanese noodle bar Kajiken has found a new home inside Melbourne’s Southern Cross train station. Before you dash to your platform load up on the signature aburasoba (soupless ramen) bowl. This quick and budget-friendly meal is loaded with pork chashu, bamboo shoots, green onion and nori. Then dig into side dishes like $9 plates of takoyaki or pan-fried pork gyoza. 

Misty Pot 

A Korean hot pot with soft tofu, braised beef or ginseng chicken soup is just the ticket on a chilly day. All the dishes from Misty Pot come with kimchi, rice, pickled radish and dipping sauce. We love the look of the small bites too like the savoury beef pancake and the deep fried oysters with sweet and spicy dipping sauce. You’ll also find bibimbap, bulgogi rice bowls, fried chicken and more classic dishes on the menu.  

Temaki Sushi

Tucked away in the Paris End of Little Collins Street is Temaki Sushi – a tiny build-your-own handroll restaurant. Ingredients here are seasonal and features vegetables sourced directly from the owner’s farm in Sassafras. The temaki sushi course features a platter of delicate sample dishes for you to create your own temaki sushi rolls. Think seared scallop, blanched zucchini with basil miso, garlic soy marinated duck breast and grilled eel.