Melbourne has a rich and vibrant Malaysian community, with new must-go Malaysian eats popping up left, right and centre. Now the question stands, which ones must you absolutely visit? As a Malaysian studying in Melbourne, I yearn to indulge in the comfort of my country’s food, it’s just simply the best. In my search to find the yummiest, most authentic Malaysian food in Melbourne, I can confidently say I have my top picks. My top criteria are finding soul-stirring sambal, mouth-watering laksa, and the kind of nasi lemak that’s worthy of childhood nostalgia.
From food quality to price to atmosphere, this guide spotlights 11 standout restaurants, each excelling in their own way, with dishes that bring a true Malaysian vibe to Melbourne’s neighbourhoods. Drawing on both local reviews and personal experience, here’s where you’ll find the food that makes Malaysians truly feel at home, and everyone else feel like they’ve discovered something special.
ROTIBAR: The Malaysian Indian Experience in the CBD
Location: 416-418 Little Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
Stepping inside Roti Bar instantly makes you feel transported back to Kuala Lumpur because of its lively atmosphere and the amazing service! They mainly specialise in fresh roti – crispy, chewy, and perfect for soaking up their hearty curries – which by the way are actually spicy on top of them being flavourful, which is pretty hard to come by in Asian restaurants in Melbourne.
Vegetarians also have a field day at this place! Their range of dahl, lentil curries, and delicious sides will fail to make the resident vegetarian in the friend group feel left out, with recent reviews describing the dahl as “the best outside of Malaysia”.
The real draw though, is Roti Bar’s Banana Leaf Saturdays, a weekly all-you-can-eat ritual (from 11AM-3PM) that features unlimited rice, curries, and sides, all served on a banana leaf as tradition dictates. Prices generally range from $15-$23 per meal, making Roti Bar accessible even for students on a budget. This experience is so well-loved by local Malaysians and expats alike as it invokes the communal spirit of weekends back home.
Beyond its signature dishes, Roti Bar is praised for its affordability, their exceptionally friendly service, and the authentic vibe it brings; the crowd is diverse, and the mood is always celebratory. Loud and lively, and unapologetically Malaysian.
CCWOK: Heart and Nostalgia in North Melbourne
Location: 464 Victoria Street, North Melbourne 3051
CCWOK is an underrated gem (in my opinion) for anyone in pursuit of authentic Malaysian flavours and big, satisfying portions. They’re not just about taste – they give you emotion. I personally love their nasi lemak, with the classic ingredients – coconut rice, sambal, fried chicken, crunchy peanuts, and fried anchovies which is both comforting and comes in a generous serving size. Honourable mention to their curry puffs too, with the decadent layers of crispy pastry and hearty filling, they just do it so right.
The venue itself carries an inviting, homey vibe: think friendly staff and quick turnaround, with sunlight enveloping the whole space from their large windows. You’ll notice a steady mix of Malaysian expats and local foodies – all united by the comforting aromas of sambal and coconut rice. You’ll pay about $17-$22 for most mains, which is great value for money given the generous portions.
What truly sets CCWOK apart are the stories shared by its customers. One memorable review that really made me want to visit this place recounted the emotional impact of eating there – how a bite of curry left her “almost in tears” as the flavours unlocked her childhood memories from Malaysia. Although, I haven’t tried their curry yet, this review alone just made this place that much more worth visiting and it really lived up to the claims for me. This is food that sparks nostalgia, with its Google reviews hovering over 4 to 5 stars, a leap forward from older critiques. Their signature dishes like rendang and char koay teow round out the menu, with specialties rotating each week to keep regulars hooked.
Ayam Chef: Comfort Fast Food in Southbank
Location: 67 Coventry Street, Southbank 3006
Ayam Chef channels the warmth of a Malaysian family kitchen, drawing crowds looking for comforting home-cooked style meals and lightning-quick service. Nasi lemak here is the litmus test for authenticity: perfectly cooked rice, sweet and spicy sambal, and tender chicken. Pair that with Ayam Chef’s standout laksa – a coconut broth, generous with seafood or chicken (I always opt for chicken), packed with a deep spicy and creamy flavour – and you’ve now got a crowd favourite! Most dishes also sit comfortably at the $14-$25 range.
Ayam Chef wins praise for its ability to deliver “homemade” food to large groups of people without sacrificing quality. My friends and I are truly a testament to this! We always come here in groups of 10-15 on Sunday nights and they are able to accommodate us right away, making this spot so ideal for celebrations and catch-ups. This is such a rarity that Malaysian communities deeply value. If you’re after variety their Kam Heong Prawns, San Low Fried Beehoon, and Salted Egg Chicken Ribs are also to die for. These dishes are really hard to come by in Melbourne and they just do it so well.
JOM: Hidden Gem for Chicken Rice and Curry Laksa
Location: 378 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000M
Tucked away off the main street bustle is a little corner shop that delivers one of the city’s most highly rated Malaysian dining experiences – an impressive 4.9/5 stars. It’s a quiet achiever whose reputation is built on an unwavering commitment to signature dishes: chicken rice and curry laksa.
Its modest size and quieter location mean you might miss it at first, but the welcome is always warm, and the food never disappoints. Dinner for two rarely exceeds $45 here, and they even have a $30 weekday offer on Mondays – Fridays from 5PM-8PM for 2 plates of Jom Chicken Rice (what a bargain)!
Ask any Malaysian what makes chicken rice authentic, and they will say it’s all about the chilli sauce – something Jom nails with their house-blend, bright, spicy, and addictive. Their chicken also comes in two different variations: poached or crispy, both options tender to perfection and just so simply delicious. They are served with fragrant chicken rice and just the right hit of ginger and scallions. Laksa lovers will find plenty to crave: rich coconut cream, plump noodles, and elaborate aromatics in every bowl. With multiple variants on offer, including vegetarian options where reviewers have raved about its full-bodied broth despite there being no meat, Jom is where it’s at for comforting classics and new flavours alike.
Raya Melbourne: Nyonya Kueh, Bakes and Kopitiam Vibes
Raya Melbourne feels like one of those little CBD secrets you only learn about from a friend. Tucked down a laneway off Little Collins Street, it has the cosy, slightly nostalgic vibe of a Malaysian home kitchen, but with the buzz of city life just outside the door. You line up for handmade cakes, savoury bites and traditional Nyonya kueh, then suddenly find yourself debating whether to go for bite‑sized kuih lapis, pulut inti, or something extra pandan‑rich to have with your coffee or matcha.
Instead of a full restaurant experience, Raya gives you that “pop in for a treat” ritual that quickly becomes a habit. It absolutely earns a place on any “best Malaysian food in Melbourne CBD” list for the way it brings Malaysian home‑baking culture right into the city’s laneways, with prices that feel kind to students and office workers. It’s the kind of spot you remember when you are planning a Malaysian food crawl in the CBD, either as your first sweet stop or the dessert detour after dinner nearby.
Da Bao: Quick Malaysian Street Eats in the CBD
Location: Rainbow Alley, Melbourne 3000
Da Bao for me, feels like a CBD spot I keep in my back pocket for those “I need something tasty, fast and affordable” days. Sitting street‑level in Rainbow Alley, it is the casual, mostly takeaway side of chef Junda Khoo’s Malaysian hub, dishing up char koay teow, Hainanese chicken rice and nasi lemak that taste like they could have come straight from a hawker stall rather than a city laneway.
You order at the window, watch the woks fire up, then either grab a stool outside or carry your steaming box of noodles back to the office before lunch break is over. It is easy to see Da Bao popping up in any “best Malaysian food near Melbourne CBD” write‑up, especially for readers searching “Malaysian takeaway Melbourne CBD” or “quick Malaysian lunch in the city,” because it nails that mix of convenience, proper flavour and mid‑teens pricing that works for regular weekday lunches.
Lulu’s Malaysian Hawker: The Char Koay Teow Specialist
Locations: Chadstone Shopping Centre | 27-31 Hardware Lane, Melbourne 3000
Char koay teow is one of Malaysia’s most iconic street food dishes, and Lulu’s has earned a cult following for its ‘wok hey’ – the elusive char and smokiness that can only be found in the best stalls of Penang. As a recent nominee for the critic’s pick in The Age Good Food Guide 2026, Lulu’s menu offers multiple versions of its famous dish – including a vegetarian one which is surprisingly also really good – using both classic ingredients and elevated ones like duck egg (my absolute favourite version of char koay teow), each packed with bold flavours and generous portions.
They also make multiple versions of char mee – wok fried hokkien noodles that are smoky and rich in flavour, especially the version with smoked pork fat for extra authenticity. A bonus point is also that most dishes are under $20 so you can indulge without breaking the bank!
Reviewers have praised Lulu’s for recreating the tastes and textures of authentic Malaysian noodles – with chewy rice noodles, juicy prawns, crisp bean sprouts, and crunchy pork fat. Whether you are in search for a boujee crab meat version or a vegetarian spin, you’re guaranteed a dish that’s fast, hot, and satisfying for your fried noodle cravings.
The Grand Tofu: Yong Tau Foo and Laksa Comfort
Ho Liao Melbourne: Rooftop Malaysian Beer Hall Energy
Location: Level 2 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne 3000
Ho Liao is a Malaysian restaurant that somehow that instantly lifts the mood. You step out of the lift onto the rooftop and it hits you: the buzz of conversation, long tables packed with shared plates, and that feeling that you have stumbled into a Malaysian beer hall hovering above the CBD. The food comes out in bursts – squid fried with butter, salted duck egg and curry leaves that everyone keeps reaching back for, and crispy loh bak rolls stuffed with pork jowl, prawns and five spice that disappear before they even cool down.
It is the sort of spot where you end up staying longer than planned because someone orders another round of beers and “just a couple more dishes to share.” Friends pass plates up and down the table, someone claims the last piece of squid, and there is always that one person who insists on getting a char koay teow from the Da Bao menu because “it is only about fifteen bucks and too good not to share.” By the end of the night, Ho Liao feels less like a random rooftop bar and more like the place your group keeps coming back to whenever you want Malaysian food, drinks and a loud, happy atmosphere in the city.
Kakilang Char Koay Teow: Penang‑Style Wok Hei
Location: 190 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000 | 6/190 Belmore Road, Balwyn 3103
Kakilang Char Koay Teow has quickly built a cult following on St Kilda Road for Penang‑style char koay teow that Malaysians say genuinely rivals their favourite hometown stalls. It is the sort of place friends text you about with, “You have to try this,” and once you go, you understand why. The small, bustling shop is all about smoky wok‑fried noodles loaded with prawns, lap cheong, crunchy bean sprouts and that garlicky, fish‑sauce depth that hits you the moment the plate lands on the table.
Even though it sits tucked under an older hotel on the edge of the CBD, Kakilang has that word‑of‑mouth magic; Malaysians bring their mates, families come back with visiting relatives, and everyone seems happy to queue for a taste. You can hear conversations switching between English, Malay and various Chinese dialects while the wok clanging in the background keeps the energy high. It has become “the place” for char koay teow in Melbourne – the one you recommend when someone asks where to find real Penang‑style wok hei in the city.
Gai Wong: Chicken Rice Specialist in North Melbourne
Location: Shop1/5-17 Flemington Road, North Melbourne 3051
Gai Wong in North Melbourne is a little chicken‑rice sanctuary, the kind of place you wander into once and immediately want to claim as “your spot.” The whole room smells of gently poached chicken and aromatic stock, and almost every table seems to have that signature plate of Hainanese chicken rice front and centre. The chicken comes out silky and tender, draped over mounds of fragrant rice that taste like they’ve soaked up hours of careful cooking, with a clear, comforting soup on the side and punchy chilli and ginger‑garlic sauces that would impress even homesick Malaysian diners.
Once you settle in, you start noticing the other dishes weaving through the room – bowls of curry chicken with rich, warming gravy, plates of chap choy piled with braised vegetables, and comforting noodles like char siu kon loh mee and kai see hor fun. The space itself is small and homely, more like a neighbourhood canteen than a polished restaurant, but that is exactly what makes it feel so welcoming: a tight menu, cooked with care, served at prices that make regular visits easy.
Melbourne’s Malaysian food scene is alive with authenticity, variety, and warmth. Whether you’re seeking the spicy heat of sambal, the creamy comfort of laksa, or the communal joy of banana leaf dining, you’ll find yourself at home at these five restaurants. They excel in different ways – CCWOK delivers nostalgia, Ayam Chef serves up family favourites fast, Roti Bar has top-tier Malaysian-Indian food, Jom perfects chicken rice, and Lulu’s sets the wok standard.
What unites them is tradition, hospitality, and a commitment to Malaysian identity for every hungry soul eager for a taste of home.
Let your next meal be an adventure. These restaurants bring Malaysia’s vibrant culture and unforgettable flavours to Melbourne, one dish at a time.
