Where Is The Best Soup In Melbourne Food Experience?

When the temperature drops, our appetites increase for the more filling fare. The time for salads is passed; it is the era of soup. We've burned our tongues on some of Melbourne's most popular soups, ranging from hearty classics to sinus-clearing hot broth.

When the weather turns cold (or you catch a particularly awful cold), and Mom isn't available to help you feel better, refer to this list.

A warm cup of soup, whether spicy, creamy, chunky, or smooth, is one of the simplest pleasures in life. The liquid lunch is a popular choice, particularly this time of year, because it is satisfying, reassuring, and inexpensive.

Grab a spoon and a crusty baguette and head toward one of the following establishments for some of Melbourne's best soups to warm your numb stomach from the inside out.

Highly Recommended Melbourne Soup

As woolly scarves, hot water bottles, and waterproof shoes are necessities during Melbourne's cold winters, so is a steaming cup of soup, which combines all the needed nutrients into one huge bowl of love. So instead of reaching for a diluted, pre-packaged choice, try one of these hearty, internationally-inspired soups.

The Pellegrini Espresso Bar

The old lady of Melbourne's dining scene serves up homestyle favourites at reasonable pricing (unless you have a sensitivity to gluten, in which case you should look elsewhere).

There's something magical about digging into a sliding behemoth of lasagne ($16) while perched on a 65-year-old seat and a 65-year-old seat and perusing a menu that's also 65 years old. So we advocate for it strongly, not so much with a white shirt.

Hem 27

Although Flemington's national-famous race, the Showgrounds Villages shopping centre is home to Hem 27, a Vietnamese restaurant where you may bet on the winning meal for much less than $20.

Although it is positioned on the edge of a parking lot (Hhem 27), the restaurant successfully evokes the atmosphere of a Saigon street stall.

Tables are lined against the wall with mounted shutters, providing an unobstructed view of the kitchen from the front door. Local branch workers and shoppers pack the venue at noon, elbowing each other for space as they eat their bowls of noodle soup or bowls of rice.

If you think all Vietnamese soups taste like pho, you haven't tried the Naan Canh Cua at Hem 27. It's a creamy soup cooked with smooth tapioca noodles comparable to udon. Spicy and sour, with bits of crab meat, this thick soup is made with crab gravy.

The deep-fried soft-shell crab highlights the copious toppings, including fish cakes, asparagus, and pork loaf. We advise putting the crab somewhere safe or eating it fast before it gets wet.

Beef teriyaki soup is another popular dish.

The satay sauce is swirled into the beef stock and topped with beef slices, making it more of a stew than a soup, and if you're used to thinking of satay as a heavy peanut sauce, you might be shocked at how delicate it can be when combined with a spicy soup scented with ginger and star anise.

Hem 27 is known for more than only its soup; its rice dishes also feature delicately scented ingredients and bold flavours. One of the most well-liked dishes in central Vietnam is tam ky chicken, served over ginger rice, and it's easy to see why.

Boiled and shredded chicken is combined with raw carrots, and coriander for the tam ky salad served alongside steamed rice flavoured with ginger.

The entrée is served with a spicy ginger oyster sauce that amplifies the delicate flavours. However, with the superb chilli oil conveniently placed on each table for those who want spicy food, the focus is on the chicken & rice.

For a sample of local Vietnamese specialities not typically seen in Melbourne's suburban noodle restaurants, Hem 26 is the local cheap eats jewel worth racing towards, even if Flemington is where the big events are held.

PHO

Pho, the traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup with bean shoots, mint, and chilli, plus your choice of meats or vegetables, is a firm favourite here at TUL.

But not all pho is the same, and we can state with certainty that We Love Pho 264 serves up the greatest soup in Melbourne. We ranked their Tai pho as one of the top 50 meals every Melburnian should try.

Moroccan Soup Bar

The diner business is incredibly competitive for such a tiny establishment that offers no food, no alcohol, and no meat. Come at 6, or you'll have to endure an hour's delay. For crying out loud, what is the commotion about?

Despite the name, the place is not a watering hole, and soup is not the major attraction. The fact remains, though, that it is unmistakably Moroccan. All orders are taken verbally, and the menu hasn't changed in decades, making items like the chickpea bake and the dips legendary. You may also buy a vegetarian buffet that is a steal for $23 or $28.

The restaurant's charming owner has served its North African cuisine for almost a decade without much fanfare or apologies to the regulars. Instead, you are greeted and given a menu or whatever the chef has prepared as though you were a visitor rather than a paying customer. Simple.

Some may take offence at the lack of attention to detail, but given the relaxed atmosphere of Assafari's dining room, a song and dance accompanied by fluttering napkins would be completely out of place.

The food is delicious that the chefs provide. First, a thimble of fragrant mint leaves tea is served alongside warm flatbread topped with tangy hummus, olives, and a bumpy cardamom cauliflower dip. Vegetables and spices can be used in many different ways; the following plates are a testament to that. Glistening pans of lentils with saffron rice serve as the foundation for hearty stews and nourishing vegetable tagines seasoned with pepper, turmeric, and the ever-present lemon.

One popular dish is the chickpea bake. But Assafari explains that we have been exploiting only a tenth of chickpea's potential, much as scientists constantly tease us for only employing ten per cent of our brain. This dish, made with toasted flatbread chips and chickpeas bound with ghee, tahini, and almonds, can potentially alter your entire existence due to its luscious blend of textures.

This is a social spot, so bring a group of people. Unfortunately, a sit-down supper is out of the question. Instead, wraps made entirely of vegetables are now available at Moroccan Soup Bar.

In a Rush

At In a Hurry, you may get a variety of tasty soups, salads, toasted paninis, and hand-cut flatbread sandwiches.

Hot Moroccan broth with potato, leek, and bacon and the delicious zaatar flatbreads loaded with meatballs or falafel will keep you warm during the cold winter. Gluten-free and dairy-free selections are plentiful as well.

Have you just woken up? To get your day started, choose from the many breakfast options available.

Old Raffles Place

Perhaps one of the best veggie laksas in Melbourne can be found at Old Raffles Place's Bishan laksa. This is what we have come to believe. Noodles in a rich coconut broth are topped with fried eggplant cubes, calamari, green peas, bok choy, tofu, and a healthy dose of peppery heat.

This vegan laksa is off-limits to vegetarians due to the use of pork lard in the cooking process, which is great news for meat lovers.

Shop Ramen

When you enter Pat Murphy and Lydia Wegner's soup establishment, you won't see a group waving bandanas and shouting, "irasshaimase!" Instead, these two are buckwheat noodle rolling renegades selling a menu that includes the popular Japanese soup, Foreign pork buns, icy shakes, and caramel pie. So get down with the party.

Their sleek little tuck shop was inspired more by the Momofuku imperial power in New York than by traditional Japanese ramen joints, with big blonde communitarian chairs stacked with tools of a noodle trade.

If you're wondering whether or not it's a smart idea to mix a bowl of soup with a milk drink, the answer is no. No matter what, get it done.

Strawberry shakes are a staple at every decent milk bar, and with good reason. But, then, you could gorge on a caramel sauce and coconut number.

Rather than a heavy pig bone tonkatsu, this meat broth is made with chicken stock and dashi in the style of Tokyo, making it salty and snappy but not overly heavy.

Our pig ramen is piled high with caramelised, slow-roasted belly pieces, king brown mushroom "tongues," nori, a soy-stained soft egg, and fresh scallions. Almost like springy spaghetti, the noodles have a good bite to them.

A location where you can follow up your vegan meal with a slice of sweet biscuit caramel pie like Shop Ramen is bound to be crowded. However, the competition will only heat up if they successfully secure a beer licence. So either arrive early and claim the front-row seating for your party or plan to dine solo. This is the nicest restaurant in town to have supper alone because the people are nice, there are piles of design magazines, good music, and enough space.

The Soup Place

The Soup Place serves hearty soups like vegetables, lentils, or Middle Eastern meatballs with fresh olive bread to keep you warm. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives exist in any soups. Once you pick up your soup, you can purchase a "pay it forward" bowl for an additional $3.50.

Chapter House Coffee

Chapter House Coffee, located beneath St. Paul's Cathedral's arches, features a $10 soup and toasted sandwich lunch special. Choose one of two soups with a traditional ham, cheese, and tomato - or cheese and ham - toastie. There's a coffee, egg, and bacon breakfast special for the early risers for $10. The entire winter season is at your disposal.

Ramen

If you're in the mood for ramen, one of the best bowls around Melbourne can be found at SHIZUKU along Regent Street in Abbotsford. For 15 hours, they use traditional Japanese techniques to cook their famous Shizuku ramen gently. Handmade noodles, juicy pork belly, and a runny egg make up the rest of the delectable ingredients in the soup. Hearty and satisfying food to warm you up on a chilly winter day or night.

The soup army has a soft spot for Shop Ramen near Collingwood, another of our favourite ramen restaurants.

We also recommend Fukuryu Ramen on Corrs Lane for its classic and contemporary offerings and the hole-in-the-wall Tiny Ramen Bar, where CBD punters may get their daily ramen dose.

Soi 38

Soi 38 churns out boat noodles throughout the day and fires up the gas stove for Thai BBQ in the evening, specialising in regional varieties of Thai food; if you're craving Australian classics like pad thai or Channa masala curry, look elsewhere.

Despite its out-of-the-way location in Melbourne (a concrete parking garage underneath the renovated Pavillion), Soi 38 has managed to maintain a devoted following. Since 2015, it has been a hit with office employees thanks to bowls of boat noodles laden with five-spice powder and star anise.

Early this year, when Soi 38 began serving dinner, customers began flooding out into the parking lot, like them, excited to try the restaurant's new menu items without rushing back inside the hour. Nonetheless, a reservation is highly recommended if you don't want to waste time trying to suppress the enticing aromas in the queue.

Get things rolling with Kung chae nahm, a popular Thai drinking snack consisting of raw black tiger shrimp marinated in Thai oyster sauce and lemon zest and placed atop tendrils from bitter melon. Fresh, spicy, dense, and acidic from the chopped, deceptively scorching red chillies with cream fish roe, each bite is an explosion of flavour and texture and the ideal starter before diving into the more substantial main courses.

Tom oji, beef and tendon soup is the only item on the menu marked as "recommended," For a good reason: its ethical issues can arise, filled soup with a heat that starts at the tip of your tongue spreads to the rear of your mouth. Deliciously acidic and viscous, this soup hails from Northeastern Thailand and is served with cubes of gelatin fat and cooked tendon.

Annam

Warm Vietnamese-style hot pots are served at Annam for $25 for up to four people every Monday during the winter. Meats, fish, tofu, fresh basil and veggies, noodles, and more can all be ordered separately and boiled at the table as customers watch (and consume).

There are three different broths to choose from: a pig hock and artichoke broth in the Hanoi style, a lemongrass mixed chilli soup, and a spicy and sour broth in the style of the street food of Saigon. Vegetarians will appreciate the shiitake broth.

Mr Ramen

Authentic noodles from Kyushu, Japan, are served at Mr Ramen San, a small but homey Japanese bar. The white broth soup is made from pork bones, as is customary in the Kyushu region. Charu (roast pork) is served after being seasoned with peppercorns and cooked till fork-tender. There are also vegetarian and vegan choices.

Want some ramen at 3 in the morning? Japanese ramen with fresh ingredients and handmade noodles is available around the clock at Shujinko. Also, don't forget to look at all the anime figurines they display.

China Ria Soul

Chinta Ria Soul is the place to go if you're craving the smoky heat and fragrant coconut milk of curry laksa. This trendy eatery serves up modern takes on classic Malaysian hawker fare. Their distinctive laksa has a fragrant and flavorful coconut base.

Auntie Franklee is for the more daring eater. Their pork-bone herbal broth is a wintertime staple in Malaysia.

Soup of the Day

Non-Profit Organization Having family around triples the fun. The volunteers at this unique cafe in the city's centre range in age from students to seasoned workers looking to give back to the community. Soup is always on the daily rotating menu, and the restaurant's chaotic, endearing vibes are guaranteed.

When we stopped in, they were serving a dish made of Jerusalem artichoke and leek that had been slow-cooked in milk, pureed, and topped with a sprinkle of crunchy bread breadcrumbs fried in butter. Customer donations and company earnings are pooled to fund various humanitarian projects, from anti-slavery efforts in Rwanda to educational programmes for Indigenous youngsters on Palm Island. Beneficial on all levels of being.

Conclusion

As the temperature decreases, we find ourselves craving heartier dishes like soup. At this time of year, the liquid lunch is very popular due to its ability to fulfil, reassure, and cost little. Melbourne's top restaurants serve soups, from hearty classics to steaming broth bowls that will clean your sinuses. You can warm up from the inside out by ordering a bowl of soup at one of these restaurants in Melbourne, which provides some of the city's greatest. In the Pellegrini Espresso Bar, you may get affordable versions of classic comfort food (unless you have a sensitivity to gluten, in which case you should look elsewhere).

Located on the outskirts of a parking lot, Hem 27 is a Vietnamese eatery designed to feel like a stall in a Saigon street market. At midday, the venue is crammed with local branch workers and consumers eating noodle soup and rice bowls. At Hem 27, you may get Naan Canh Cua, a savoury soup made with tapioca noodles as silky as udon. Fish cakes, asparagus, and pork loaf are just a few of the toppings that come with it, along with a generous helping of crab gravy. Another favourite is beef teriyaki soup, which features satay sauce woven throughout a broth of meat and topped with thinly sliced beef. Tam ky chicken is served with a spicy ginger oyster sauce and ginger rice. While the major events may be hosted in Flemington, the local cheap food jewel Hem 26 is worth racing towards.

Here at TUL, pho, the traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup with bean shoots, mint, and chilli, is a fan favourite, but not all pho is created equal. The Tai pho at We Love Pho 264, one of the top 50 meals in Melbourne, has been named the best soup in the city. You won't find any eatables, drinks, or meat on the menu at the modest Moroccan Soup Bar. It would be best to arrive at the diner no later than 6 p.m., as a business is extremely fierce for such a small place.

Over ten years ago, Moroccan Soup Bar opened its doors and began serving authentic North African fare. It's a spoken-order establishment with a menu that hasn't been updated in decades. Warm flatbread with zesty hummus, olives, and a lumpy cardamom cauliflower dip is served with a thimble of aromatic mint leaves tea. The menu has numerous vegetable- and spice-based dishes, such as comforting stews and healthy vegetable tagines spiced with pepper, turmeric, and the ever-present lemon. The chickpea bake is a fan favourite; it consists of toasted flatbread chips and chickpeas bonded with ghee, tahini, and almonds.

In a Hurry may offer soups, salads, toasted paninis, and hand-cut flatbread sandwiches. In addition, inc can Soup Bar now serves vegetable-only wraps instead of a sit-down meal.
One of the best vegetable laksas in Melbourne can be found at Old Raffles Place, specifically at the Bishan stall. Stir-fried eggplant cubes, calamari, green peas, bok choy, tofu, and a hearty amount of spicy heat-top noodles in a rich coconut broth. Good news for carnivores: it is unsuitable for vegetarians because pork lard is used in the preparation. The menu at Shop Ramen, operated by a group of renegade buckwheat noodle rollers, features the ubiquitous Japanese soup with pork buns from overseas, frozen yoghurt, and caramel pie. The chicken stock and dashi used to make the Tokyo-style beef broth give it a salty, sharp flavour without making the soup too heavy.

There are plenty of design magazines, decent music, and comfortable seating, making this the best restaurant in town for a romantic dinner for one. A bowl of warm vegetable, lentil, or Middle Eastern meatball soup and fresh olive bread from The Soup Place chase away the winter chills. The $10 soup and toasted sandwich lunch offer at Chapter House Coffee is a steal for its location beneath the arches of St. Paul's Cathedral. Located on Regent Street in Abbotsford, the well-known Shizuku ramen at Shizuku Ramen is cooked by traditional Japanese methods. Some well-liked Melbourne ramen spots include Fukuryu Ramen in Corrs Lane, Shop Ramen in the Collingwood neighbourhood, and Little Ramen Bar.

During the day, Soi 38 cranks out boat noodles, and in the evening, they heat the gas stove for authentic Thai barbeque. Customers started spilling into the parking lot earlier this year to sample the restaurant's new offerings without feeling rushed to return within the hour. Raw black tiger shrimp marinated in Thai oyster sauce and lemon zest are served on tendrils of bitter melon in a classic Thai drinking snack known as kung chae nahm. Tom oji, a beef and tendon soup served with chunks of gelatine fat and cooked tendon, is the sole item on the menu labelled "recommended." On Mondays throughout the winter, Annam offers $25 for four people to share a hot pot in the style of Vietnam.

Choices of broth include Hanoi-style pig hock and artichoke broth, lemongrass mixed chilli soup, and hot and sour Saigon street food broth. Originally from Kyushu, Japan, Mr Ramen San serves deliciously genuine ramen. Charu (roast pork), seasoned with peppercorns and cooked until fork tender, is served over a white broth soup prepared from hog bones. Japanese ramen can be found at Shujinko, which uses only the freshest ingredients and handmade noodles, and Malaysian hawker classics are given a contemporary twist at Chinta Ria Soul. Pork-bone herbal broth from Auntie Franklee is a mainstay in Malaysian households during the colder months. The day's soup contains Jerusalem artichoke and leek that have been slow-cooked in milk, pureed, and finished with a sprinkle of crunchy bread breadcrumbs fried in butter.

Content Summary

• When the weather outside gets chilly, we crave heartier meals.
• It's now soup season, not a salad.
• When sampling some of Melbourne's most popular soups, we've scalded our palates on everything from notable classics to sinus-clearing hot broth.
• Please refer to this list when the temperature drops or you have a particularly nasty cold and Mom isn't around to help you feel better.
• One of life's basic joys is a steaming bowl of spicy, creamy, chunky, or smooth soup.
• At this time of year, the liquid lunch is very popular due to its ability to fulfil, reassure, and cost little.
• Try one of these restaurants in Melbourne for a hearty bowl of soup that will warm you up from the inside out.
• Try one of these substantial soups with a global twist instead of a watered-down, pre-packaged option.
• The grandma of Melbourne's restaurant scene, serving up affordable classics (unless you have a sensitivity to gluten, in which case you should look elsewhere).
• Something is amazing about sitting in a 65-year-old chair, studying a menu that's also 65 years old, and delving into a sliding monster of lasagne ($16).
• So, we push for it vigorously, though not necessarily while wearing a white T-shirt.
• Despite Flemington's national-famous event, the Showgrounds Villages shopping centre is home to Hem 27, a Vietnamese restaurant where you may wager on the winning meal for less than $20.
• The eatery has managed to create the feel of a Saigon street stall despite being located on the edge of a parking lot (Hhem 27).
• You can see right into the kitchen from the entrance, which is why the tables are lined up against the wall with fixed shutters.
• At midday, the venue is crammed with local branch workers and consumers eating noodle soup and rice bowls.
• A soup with silky tapioca noodles that can be thought of as a close relative to udon.
• This hearty soup is enriched with crab gravy and is tangy, spicy, and full of chunks of crab.
• The soft-shell crab that has been deep-fried is the star of the many toppings, including fish cakes, asparagus, and pork loaf.
• Putting it away or eating it quickly would be best to avoid the crab getting wet.
• There is also a soup version of beef teriyaki that is quite well-liked.
• More of a stew than a soup, the satay sauce is stirred into the beef stock and topped with beef slices; if you're used to staying as a thick peanut sauce, you might be surprised at how light it can be when mixed with a spicy soup flavoured with ginger and star anise.
• The rice dishes at Hem 27 are just as well-known as their soup, thanks to the subtle aromas and powerful flavours of their ingredients.
• It's simple to see why tam ky chicken, eaten over ginger rice, is one of the most popular meals in central Vietnam.
• Steamed ginger-flavoured rice is served with tam ky salad, which consists of shredded chicken that has been boiled and then tossed with raw carrots and coriander.
• The dish's spicy ginger oyster sauce complements the subtle flavours of the main course beautifully.
• Those who prefer things on the fiery side will appreciate the excellent chilli oil thoughtfully supplied at each table.
• Even if the major races are in Flemington, the local cheap eats treasure Hem 26 is worth racing towards for a sample of Vietnamese specialities not normally seen in Melbourne's outlying noodle restaurants.
• Of course, not all pho is created equal, and here at We Love Pho 264, we can confidently say that our soup is the best in Melbourne.
• We considered it worthy of inclusion in the top 50 meals that every Melburnian should sample, and the Tai pho was a clear winner.
• It's not a watering hole, and the soup isn't the main draw, despite the name.
• Yet, there's no denying that it has strong Moroccan roots.
• Several dishes, like the chickpea bake and the dips, have been served for decades and became legends only because they can only be ordered over the phone and haven't been altered in that time.
• You can also get a cheap (and delicious) vegetarian buffet for $23 or $28.
• The amiable proprietor of this restaurant has been dishing out North African cuisine for nearly a decade, and he has done it without a lot of fuss or apologies to his regulars.
• You are treated more like a guest than a paying customer, offering a menu or whatever the chef has prepared.
• Some may be offended by the restaurant's apparent carelessness, but in the casual setting of Assafari's dining room, a song and dance replete with flapping napkins would be totally out of place.
• The chefs serve us some seriously tasty fare.
• Warm flatbread with zesty hummus, olives, and a lumpy cardamom cauliflower dip is served with a thimble of aromatic mint leaves tea.
• Here are some platters that showcase the versatility of vegetables and spices.
• Lentils and saffron rice are cooked in shimmering pots and used as a base for flavorful stews and vegetable tagines seasoned with pepper, turmeric, and the ever-present lemon.
• Like scientists often mock us for only using 10% of our brain power, Assafari explains that we have only been utilising 10% of the potential of chickpeas.
• The dish's exquisite combination of textures, including toasted flatbread chips and chickpeas bound with ghee, tahini, and almonds, may change your life forever.
• This is a gathering place, so feel free to invite some friends.
• There will be no time for a leisurely dinner.
• Moroccan Soup Bar has swapped over its meat wraps for vegetarian wraps.
• There are several delicious soups, salads, toasted paninis, and hand-cut flatbread sandwiches that may be obtained quickly.
• We have come to think this to be true.
• Stir-fried eggplant cubes, calamari, green peas, bok choy, tofu, and a hearty amount of spicy heat-top noodles in a rich coconut broth.
• Vegans need not apply, as the pork lard used in preparing this laksa makes it unacceptable for vegetarians.
• In Pat Murphy and Lydia Wegner's soup shop, no one will be waving bandanas and yelling, "irasshaimase!"
• These two outlaws roll buckwheat noodles and sell Japanese ramen, pork buns from the Orient, cold shakes, and caramel pie.
• They took design cues from the New York City tavern Momofuku rather than Japan's conventional ramen shops, with communal tables and wide, blonde chairs.
• No, combining a bowl of soup and a glass of milk is not a good idea.
• Do what needs to be done and do it now.
• There is a good reason why strawberry shakes are always available at any good milk bar.
• You could, of course, pig out on anything covered in caramel and coconut.
• This meat broth is cooked in Tokyo with chicken stock and dashi, so it's salty and sharp without being too heavy.
• Caramelized, slow-roasted belly chunks, king brown mushroom "tongues," nori, a soy-stained soft egg, and fresh scallions are just some of the ingredients that go into our pig ramen.
• Noodles have a satisfying bite, almost like springy spaghetti.
• Shop Ramen's sweet biscuit caramel pie is a popular dessert, so it's no surprise that the restaurant is often bustling.
• If they can get a beer licence, the competition will only increase.
• To avoid eating alone or in the back of the restaurant, it is recommended that you arrive early and secure a table near the front.
• The soups are all-natural, without any added artificial ingredients.
• Pick up your soup and spend an extra $3.50 on a "pay it forward" dish.
• The $10 soup and toasted sandwich lunch offer at Chapter House Coffee is a steal for its location beneath the arches of St. Paul's Cathedral.
• Choose one of two soups with a classic ham, cheese, and tomato - or cheese and ham - toastie.
• The early birds may get a $10 breakfast deal with coffee, eggs, and bacon.
• Our entire cold season is at your disposal.
• If you're craving ramen, you should stop into SHIZUKU on Regent Street in Abbotsford for one of the greatest bowls in Melbourne.
• Famous Shizuku ramen is cooked slowly for 15 hours using traditional Japanese methods.
• This soup is made even better by adding homemade noodles, a tender pork belly, and a runny egg.
• Delicious and filling fare perfect for a cold winter's day or night.
• Shop Ramen, located near Collingwood, is another of the soup army's favourite ramen joints.
• However, CBD punters can get their ramen fix at the hole-in-the-wall Little Ramen Bar, and we recommend Fukuryu Ramen on Corrs Lane for its classic and modern ramen dishes.
• Suppose you're looking for Australian favourites like pad thai or Channa masala curry. In that case, you'll have to search elsewhere because Soi 38 spends the day cranking out boat noodles and the night firing up the gas grill for Thai BBQ, all featuring a regional variety of Thai food.
• Soi 38 has maintained a loyal following despite its natural setting (a concrete parking structure underneath the remodelled Pavilion) in Melbourne.
• Bowls of boat noodles seasoned with five-spice powder and star anise have become popular among office workers since 2015.
• When Soi 38 first started serving dinner earlier this year, people flocked into the parking lot, eager to enjoy the restaurant's new offerings without rushing back inside the hour.
• To start the party, serve Kung chae nahm, a traditional Thai drinking snack of raw black tiger shrimp seasoned in Thai oyster sauce, lemon zest, and over-tendrils of bitter melon.
• It's the perfect appetiser before digging into the heartier main dishes; each bite is an explosion of flavour and texture thanks to the combination of fresh, spicy, thick, and acidic ingredients (the cream fish roe and chopped deceptively hot red chillies).
• There is only one "recommended" item on the menu, a bowl of Tom oji, beef and tendon soup. For a good reason: it's a hot soup whose spiciness begins at the tip of your tongue and travels back to the back of your mouth, posing some interesting ethical questions.
• This thick and tangy soup is a speciality of Northern Thailand and is typically served with cubes of gelatine fat and tender grilled tendon.
• Separate orders of meats, fish, tofu, fresh basil and vegetables, noodles, and other items are boiled before the diners (and consumed).
• Choices of broth include Hanoi-style pig hock and artichoke broth, lemongrass mixed chilli soup, and hot and sour Saigon street food broth.
• The shiitake broth is a great choice for vegetarians.
• Mr Ramen San is a cosy Japanese bar that serves authentic noodles from Kyushu.
• It is traditional in the Kyushu area to use hog bones to make white broth soup.
• Roast pork, or charu, is served after being rubbed with peppercorns and cooked until easily pierced with a fork.
• Options for vegetarians and vegans are also available.
• Shujinko serves authentic Japanese ramen all hours of the day, using only the freshest ingredients and handmade noodles.
• Check out the many anime figurines they have on display.
• It's a hip place to eat, and they have a fresh take on traditional Malaysian hawker food.
• The aromatic and savoury coconut base is a hallmark of their signature laksa.
• More adventurous eaters should head to Auntie Franklin.
• They serve a pork-bone herbal broth that is a staple during the colder months in Malaysia.
• Students and retirees alike are welcome to lend a hand at this one-of-a-kind cafe in the city's heart.
• The restaurant is known for its hectic yet lovable atmosphere and daily soup special.
• We walked in on a meal of Jerusalem artichoke and leek that had been slow-cooked in milk, pureed, and finished with a sprinkle of crunchy bread breadcrumbs fried in butter.
• Donations from customers and the business's profits are pooled to finance various humanitarian initiatives, such as the fight against slavery in Rwanda and the education of Indigenous children on Palm Island.
• Positivity on every level.