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Clockwise from left: Al pastor taco, oysters, tuna tostada, brisket taco and choripapas at Taqueria Sin Nombre.

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Your October hit list: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out this month

Melburnians love a hidden gem, but this month we were spoilt with quirky venues in unlikely locations, including a post office selling chicken schnitzel rolls through a porthole window, a “nameless” late-night taco joint in Chinatown, and a pizza shop in a laundromat. Gotta catch ’em all! (Plus, you can now create your own custom saved hit list on the Good Food app.)

27 stories
The signature biryani burrito.

Lankan Tucker cafe brings its biryani burritos to an even-more-hidden location

  • Tomas Telegramma
Shunde Cuisine restaurant includes a mezzanine level.

The city’s huge new 400-seat Chinese restaurant Shunde Cuisine boasts BYO, karaoke, Lune-inspired yum cha

  • Quincy Malesovas
Taqueria Sin Nombre.

Dingo Ate My Taco crew open Taqueria Sin Nombre in a Chinatown laneway

  • Quincy Malesovas
Martini and husband Michael Sapountsis have taken over South Yarra’s Bar Carolina.

Karen Martini takes over South Yarra Italian favourite Bar Carolina

  • Tomas Telegramma
Sotteok sotteok: glossy skewers of rice cakes and hot dogs.
14/20

Korean restaurant Dodam’s skewer would have been the perfect after-school snack

  • Dani Valent
Ageyo Coffee owner Dan Seyoum.

Ageyo Coffee flies under the radar, but is sought out by international tourists

  • Sanka Amadoru
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Assorted dishes at Boon Choou.
14/20

‘I’ve been to Thai restaurant Boon Choou three times, and can’t wait to go back’

  • Besha Rodell
Sandwiches are passed through the porthole window.

Pop’s Postie Roll slings $11 chicken rolls through a porthole in the leafy east

  • Tomas Telegramma
The vanilla slice at Dulce Bakehouse’s new Southbank location.

Melbourne’s ‘best vanilla slice’ is now even easier to get at Dulce’s third location

  • Dani Valent
Navi restaurant in Yarraville.
Good Food hatGood Food hat17/20

Why neighbourhood gem Navi is among Victoria’s finest places to dine

  • Dani Valent
Assorted dishes at Carpenter’s Ruin.

The Walrus team open ‘mini-pub’ Carpenter’s Ruin in a legendary St Kilda site

  • Dani Valent
The pizza shop is housed inside a functioning laundromat in a glass-walled space that was about to be demolished.

A working laundromat is now home to Sega, a pizza shop with a difference

  • Tomas Telegramma
Dogs are welcome to sit in the booths at Pendant.

Is Pendant Melbourne’s most dog-friendly bar?

  • Tomas Telegramma
A slice of Basque cheesecake.

La Colmena’s take on Basque cheesecake is better than the original in San Sebastian

  • Dani Valent
Staff in national costume at Otakoi Ukrainian Restaurant.
14/20

‘The food, oh the food! It’s so good’: Homespun Ukrainian venue Otakoi will ‘wow’ you

  • Dani Valent
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Pasta di casa.

Hatted Fitzroy trattoria Alta reopens as southern Italian restaurant Cantina Moro

  • Tomas Telegramma
The Quiet Man Hotel in Kensington has been revamped as a modern Irish pub called Auntie Annie’s.

Kensington Irish pub The Quiet Man becomes Aunty Annie’s, and it’s pouring Guinness pints twice as fast

  • Tomas Telegramma
Eye fillet with massaman curry jus.
14/20

Under-the-radar Swanston Street spot Regale is primed for your next big night out

  • Dani Valent
The butter chicken burger at Tiffin Box.

If you’re a butter chicken lover, you need to try Tiffin Box’s burger

  • Dani Valent
Vinesmith has views to Treasury Gardens.
Good Food hat15/20

Hatted ‘urban cellar door’ Vinesmith swaps vineyard views for Treasury Gardens

  • Besha Rodell
Shunde Cuisine restaurant includes a mezzanine level.

The city’s huge new 400-seat Chinese restaurant Shunde Cuisine boasts BYO, karaoke, Lune-inspired yum cha

  • Quincy Malesovas
Andrew Joy, one of the new owners of The Brandon Hotel in Carlton North.

Carlton North’s beloved Brandon Hotel is back, with a hospo pro in charge

  • Besha Rodell
Super Norma on Rathdowne Street has become a community hub for Carlton locals.

‘An infectious sense of joy’: Supernorma puts a fresh spin on pasta in Carlton

  • Besha Rodell
Tiled walls and terrazzo floors are among the heritage features highlighted.

‘Overlooked’ Mornington Peninsula spot scores a destination diner, Orson

  • Tomas Telegramma
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Shunde Cuisine restaurant includes a mezzanine level.

The city’s huge new 400-seat Chinese restaurant Shunde Cuisine boasts BYO, karaoke, Lune-inspired yum cha

  • Quincy Malesovas
The cotechino, comte and egg muffin meets Besha Rodell’s exacting breakfast sandwich standards.
14/20

Le Pub is serving one of Melbourne’s best breakfast sandwiches – with one catch

  • Besha Rodell
On the Good Food app, you can save all of your favourite recipes and restaurants in one easy place, and create your own custom saved lists.

Save your favourite recipes and restaurants now on the Good Food app