A culinary melting pot of delicious dishes and flavours from Turkey to Vietnam, Lebanon, Italy, Japan and beyond – Melbourne’s Sydney Road precinct is heaven for a foodie, and a wide-eyed journey of intercontinental discovery for the tastebuds of a hungry visitor.
Newly local to Tinning St Brunswick, hospitality equipment supplier and financier Flexikitch interviewed 40 local Sydney Road venue owners and managers to find out their most popular menu item – the one delicious dish their customers keep coming back for.
Sweets, treats, brunch, lunch and more – cafes, restaurants, takeaways, pubs and bakeries – Sydney Road’s hottest bites are all listed below. Happy eating!
~Guest article contributed by Flexikitch
Most Popular Dishes: Cafes
Bagels & Co | 627 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Crumbed Chicken Bagel
Generously coated house crumbed chicken, lettuce, tomato, red onion and house made mayo – owner Tom tell us their simple classic schnitzel bagel is a lunchtime hit.
Green Refectory | 115 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Vanilla Slice
Locally renowned for delicious homemade cakes, Green Refectory and owner Sandy cater perfectly to the sweet tooths among us. Sandy’s spin on this classic Australian dessert is not to be missed.
Lobbs Café | 589-591 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Green Chilli Scrambled
Alex, Lobbs Cafe venue manager tells us the Green Chilli Scrambled is not for those with a low tolerance for spice!
Northern Perk Cafe | 710 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Breakfast Tower
A monster brekky share platter with multiple hash browns, eggs, more breakfast staples and layers of pancakes with ice cream on top … something for everyone both sweet and savoury.
O’KAHVE (OK POP UP) | 633 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Turkish Lentil Soup + Izmir Kumru (Turkish Toastie)
Onur, owner of this trendy business says in chilly Melbourne, you can’t go past her warming Turkish burnt lentil soup accompanied by a salami, cheese and mayo Kumru Toastie.
Ratio Cocoa Roasters | 186 Sydney Road, Brunswick
House Blend Dark Chocolate 63%
A local chocolate emporium, Ratio Cocoa Roasters creates the perfect blend of bitter and sweet. Chocolatier Liam says his customers can’t get enough of the 63% house blend.
Savour Café and Juice Bar | 41 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Pakistani Falooda
The authentic Pakistani flavour of sweet dessert Falooda is beautifully blended at Savour café by Owner Sayada and her dedicated team.
Small Axe Deli | 1/625 Sydney Road, Brunswick
House Made Lasagna
Small Axe Deli’s Lasagna is uniquely authentic because according to owner Kirstyn, it is made in small batches by hand with locally sourced free range meat. Deliciously Italiano.
Sorrento Cafe | 801 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Smashed Avo
Sorrento Café’s smashed avo is infused with lemon and mint, Spanish onion and the classic accompaniment of eggs and sourdough.
Three Hands Café | 446 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Gourmet Toasties
Owner Vince loved telling us about his gourmet toasties, a huge range of 5+ flavours to choose from, Salami, to Triple Cheese, Pulled Beef and of course classic Reuben.
Most Popular Dishes: Bakeries
A1 Bakery | 643-645 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Cheese Pie
A1 Bakery is well known and loved in Brunswick. But did you know their most popular dish? Manager Eden tells us the Cheese Pie is the hottest item on the menu of this iconic Lebanese bakery.
Alasya Bakery | 555 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Doner Kebab
Alasya Bakery creates hand-made Turkish breads and wraps, which, according to their team makes their unique Doner Kebab as popular as can be.
Balha’s Pastry | 761-763 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Knafeh Cheese
Baked layers of semolina, sweet cheese, syrup and pistachio – enhanced with clotted cream makes this classic Lebanese sweet a best-seller.
Choukette | 318 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
French Croissants
Sometimes you can’t go past a classic. Anika, manager of Choukette tells us their Plain French Croissant leaves customers dreaming of the City of Love.
Pantheon Continental Cakes | 483 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Galaktoboureko
Pantheon’s take on this classic Greek dessert is a huge hit according to manager Michael. The syrup-soaked filo pastry in particular is a customer favourite.
Tabet’s Bakery | 607 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Halloumi Cheese Pie
The first Lebanese bakery in Melbourne, Tabet’s is famous for their Halloumi Cheese Pie – a dish owner Charbel tells us customers flock back for daily.
Wild Life Superette | 365 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Portuguese Tarts
Huw from Wild-Life Superette reckons his customers say that the popular Traditional Portuguese Tarts are the tastiest in the area – high praise!
Most Popular Dishes: Takeaway
Billy Van Creamy | 146 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Honeycomb Ice Cream
Billy Van Creamy’s Honeycomb Ice Cream regularly sells out according to the team. With honeycomb chunks made in-house from organic raw honey that create a delicious gooey swirl, and creamy fior di latte ice cream – it’s not hard to see why.
Kevabs | 89 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Vegan Lamb Steak
Australia’s first all vegan kebab shop, Kevabs Vegan Lamb Steak Kebab is a massive hit with the locals, according to owner Angie.
King Tut | 647 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Koshary
Ahmed, owner of Egyptian eatery King Tut tells us his vegan-friendly Koshary dish with rice, pasta, lentils, chickpeas and 3 different sauces is a huge seller.
Souvlaki Story | 452 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Lamb Souvlaki
Their timeless Hellenic lamb souvlaki is the unbeatable best seller according to owner Teresa, who claims Souvlaki Story as the #1 takeaway in town.
Pokero Roll and Bowl | 90-106 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Grilled Poke Bowl
With various fast bites across the wide-ranging Japanese cuisine, Pokero Roll and Bowl’s #1 for lunch is the Grilled Poke Bowl, according to owner Bing.
Semosh Mum’s Kitchen | 451 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Mousaaka
Semosh Mum’s Kitchen makes a beautifully authentic mediterranean Moussaka which owner Gabby tells us is their most popular dish – just like mum makes.
Docks Fish and Chips | 669 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Burger (Lot) with Brisket Patty
Owner Con tells us his Burger with the Lot is a unique take on the Fish and Chip shop classic – with a melt in your mouth beef brisket patty, it is a hit with locals.
Most Popular Dishes: Restaurants & Pubs
Adanali Turkish Restaurant | 835 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Full Mixed Grill
The mixed grill is a Turkish staple and Adanali does traditional Turkish food like no other. Turan tells us that his regular customers can’t get enough.
Aghadeer Restaurant | 874-876 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Marinated Lamb Kebab
Located in the heart of Brunswick, Aghadeer Restaurant serves a delicious, flavourful marinated lamb kebab straight from the spit. Ahmad tells us the boneless lamb is always tender, bringing customers back everytime.
Alasya Restaurant | 555 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Mixed Grill Banquet
Famous for old school Turkish food, Helen the chef at Alasya tells us her lovingly crafted Mixed Grill Banquet is always flying out of the kitchen for groups of hungry locals.
Barkly’s Kitchen | 63 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Creamy Kitchen Fettucine
Modern Italian with an authentic feel, Barkly’s serves a deliciously creamy marinated chicken fettucine which can also be served in their famous cheesy cob.
Desi Cuisine | 850 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Goat Butt Karahi
Cooked in Desi Ghee, black pepper and special spices, this authentic Pakistani dish is loved by locals and visitors alike according to manager Abdul.
Green Field Restaurant | 376-378 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Stir-fried Lemongrass Beef
Green Field Manager Tran tells us her fresh Vietnamese staple stir-fried lemongrass beef has all of the flavour and unpretentious quality of the street food found in Ho Chi Minh City.
Hunger Den | 306 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Chicken Chutney Wrap
Lip-smacking street food is how Asad from Hunger Den describes his most popular dish – marinated overnight in tandoori species with puffy bread, it’s a hot-seller.
Lui.Boss Brunswick | 173 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Soy Garlic Korean Fried Chicken
Korean Fried Chicken just gets bigger and bigger in Australia, and Lui Boss authentic Soy Garlic Fried Chicken packs in all the delicious flavour and crunch to be expected, and more.
Mazi Brunswick | 317 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Beef Moussaka
Brunswick’s Mazi mediterranean cuisine and bar offers classic Hellenic-style dishes, the most popular of which, David tells us is their scrumptious Beef Moussaka.
Mokum | 359 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Bitterballen Dutch Croquettes
Mokum is a Dutch café and bar in the heart of Brunswick. Albert tells us his kitchen is constantly pumping out a traditional dutch entrée – Bitterballen croquettes.
Momo Central | 600 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Buffalo Chicken Momo Dumplings
Subash from Momo Central tells us the restaurant’s namesake dish filled with a modern twist – Buffalo Chicken keeps customers walking in and out of Momo Central with a smile.
Old Durbar | 671 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Panfried Kothey Momo Dumplings
Serving authentic Nepalese cuisine, Old Durbar again specialises in Momo. Sabrina tells us the panfried kothey is incredibly popular with locals.
Savour Eats | 43 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Chicken Pulao
Sayada, owner of Indian and Pakistani restaurant Savour Eats, raves about the popularity of their signature Chicken Pulao.
The Hall at Welcome to Brunswick | 400 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Bottomless Dimmies and Dumplings Special
For the extra hungry amongst us – The Hall offers a bottomless feast of dim sum and dumplings every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Tuck in.
Duke of Edinburgh Hotel | 430 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Parma & Pot Deal
Page and Amy from Brunswick’s Duke offer a parma and pot deal for those after a classic, delicious pub meal.
The Cornish Arms | 163A Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Vegan Souvlaki
Catering to the local palate, Ben and Tom from the Cornish Arms offer both vegan and non-vegan options – but have found their Vegan Souvlaki to be super popular amongst locals.
The post Sydney Road Eats: 40 Most Popular Dishes You Can’t Miss appeared first on Discover Sydney Road, Brunswick.