From hulking beef bulgogi sandwiches to savoury pancakes and sticky rice rolls, it’s possible to snack your way through the city on a shoestring – even in this economy.
Quincy Malesovas
As Melbourne’s battalion of small-plate wine bars have proven, snacking is one of the most exciting ways to eat right now, offering a far more varied dining experience that spans multiple dishes, venues and cuisines.
The list below lends itself to a DIY snack crawl, with stops across the CBD to help you build a satisfying mix-and-match feed, or bridge the gap between meals. Most verge on a light meal in their own right, bundling carbs, protein and fat into one portable, affordable package. And every one costs $10 or less.
Spicy beef pancake ($9.80), Wang’s Crispy Pancake
This pint-sized spot has its signature dish down to a science. Known as guokui, the filled pancake is native to northern China but comes in many regional variations. At Wang’s, a ball of dough is filled, stretched paper-thin, then baked in a drum oven – a cooking method introduced to China via the Silk Road. Spicy beef is a highlight, though lamb, chicken curry or red bean are also on offer. Add cheese to mellow the heat, or brush on chilli oil to amp it up.
1/339 Swanston Street, Melbourne, 0451 100 628
Spicy chicken burger ($7.90), Hanbaobao
This Chinese-inspired burger is a refreshing change, made with hand-rolled sesame seed buns more akin to Turkish flatbread than supermarket brioche. Fried chicken, the hero, is available in spicy, Sichuan pepper or original. Tack on sweet and sour plum-spiced sweet potato chips or a taro pie to make it a meal.
234B Russell Street, Melbourne, hanbaobao.com.au
Sausage and egg muffin ($10), Warkop
This Indonesian sandwich shop and cafe makes a mean breakfast muffin. A house-made sausage patty and fried egg are lifted by “Bazzinga sauce”, a blend of mayo, chilli paste, fried shallots, spring onion, dill and tarragon. There’s also an egg, bacon and black garlic variation for the same price.
13 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, warkop.com.au
Onigiri (from $5), Norissong
Onigiri – rice balls wrapped around savoury fillings – are a snack-time staple across Japan and increasingly, Melbourne. Norissong serves options like miso eggplant, bluefin tuna and avocado, and chilli brisket with mushroom. Order a few a la carte or build your own set with soup and sides.
120 Collins Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/norissong
Beef bulgogi sandwich ($9.50), Seoul Toast Bong
In South Korea, gilgeori toast is a common street food – typically an egg, ham and cabbage omelette between sliced white bread. Seoul Toast Bong, a long-running Korean chain, expands on the format with fillings like bulgogi beef, Korean fried chicken and chewy japchae noodles. Not in the mood for bread? They also do kimchi dumplings, seaweed rolls and ramyeon noodles for $9.
Shop 6, Healeys Lane, Melbourne, instagram.com/seoultoast_bong
Dabeli ($9), Chai and Chilli
The west Indian street food, dabeli, packs tonnes of texture and flavour into one snack-sized package. Ladi pav, a soft, yeasted bread roll, is sliced and stuffed with masala-spiced mashed potato and tamarind chutney. It’s then rolled in sev (crunchy chickpea noodles) and garnished with roasted peanuts. If that’s not enough, you can add cheese for $1.
181-183 King Street, Melbourne, chai-n-chilli.com
Lunch combo ($10), Dulce Dia
This Colombian dessert bar is best known for obleas (wafer sandwiches), but their lunch special is just as compelling. For $10, Colombian hot chocolate or coffee is paired with the cornmeal pancake arepa, envuelto (a steamed corn cake) or sweet plantain – each filled with molten cheese. Available weekdays from 12.30 to 3.30pm.
192B Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/dulcedia.desserts
Sausage rice ball ($10), Tingtea
Fantuan – sticky rice balls rolled around fillings such as youtiao (savoury crullers), egg and pickles – are an everyday breakfast in parts of China and Taiwan. At this tea shop, they’re made to order and served all day. The base includes purple rice, fresh veg, pork floss, crisp wonton strips and mayo, but you can add salted egg, sausage, kimchi and more.
50 Swanston Street, Melbourne, instagram.com/tingteamelbourne
Pizza slice (from $7), Pizza Pizza Pizza
This New York-style slice shop has been feeding late-night crowds for nearly a decade. A full restaurant and cocktail bar are tucked behind, but the front counter is where to grab a quick bite. Slices rotate but usually include options such as margherita, pepperoni, chorizo with red onion, or truffled mushroom. All start from $7.
16 Meyers Place, Melbourne, pizzapizzapizza.com.au
Cheese, spinach and egg pide ($6.50), Borek & Gozleme
Despite the name, this offshoot of Queen Victoria Market’s Borek Bakehouse is just as popular for its Turkish-style pides. Shaped like little boats, they’re filled with chicken and mushroom; cheese, spinach and egg; and more. At $6.50, they’re a few dollars more than the better-known boreks – but the extra filling and crisped dough edges are worth it.
473 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, (03) 9329 5553
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