Best things to eat trackside at Melbourne Cup Carnival 2024

It’s gloriously golden, perfectly salted and has crunchy bits to boot — you won’t pass up this cost-savvy snack trackside at this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Looking for something cheap to eat at the Cup? Tai ‘Buddha’ Graham, Lillian Liberg, Penny McEachern and Adam McAsey have you sorted. Picture: Jason Edwards

Short on cash but still want a day at the races? Back a winner with these great-value trackside eats under $20.

Wrap your laughing gear around the Easy Money Chicken Burger.

1.BO$$MAN Burgers Easy Money Chicken Burger: $19

Ringwood restaurateur turned Bali burger king Adam McAsey is making the ultimate homecoming at this year’s spring racing carnival. He’ll be slinging the holiday isle’s popular burgers trackside, along with hospo boss Tai ‘Buddha’ Graham. Our pick is the spiced buttermilk fried chicken number, with cabbage slaw, pickles and ranch dressing.

The Park

Nonna would be so proud.

2. Johnny, Vince and Sam’s Mushroom Arancini: $17

Italian comedy gang Sooshi Mango is bringing a taste of nonna’s kitchen to the Cup, with a carb and red-sauce heavy feast. Snack on traditional arancini, bouncing with rice, truffle, mushies and mozzarella snowed under by proper sharp Italian cheese; grana padano.

The Park

Fire up the belly with these red-hot chicken schnitzel wraps

3. You Little Schnit’s flamin schnits: $18

Fire up your schnitzel with this jalepeno and chilli spiked wrap. Think crumbed chicken tenders, wrapped snug with lettuce, cheese, mayo and those spicy accompaniments. Not fond of playing with fire? Take a trip to the tropics with pineapple, bacon and BBQ sauce.

The Park

Melbourne’s pizza king is behind this fiery number.

4. 400 Gradi’s Diavola: $19

By now everyone has tried Melbourne pizza prince Johnny Di Francesco’s world-famous marg. So mix things up with a devilish slice of diavola pie. This red-sauce slicked stunner is loaded with mozzarella and hot salami to spice things up.

The Club Lawn

Did we mention this calamari was ink-redible?

5. Ink-redible’s Salt and Pepper Calamari: $19.50

The Queen Victoria Market stayer is handing you a torch of flash-fried, golden calamari that’s easy to eat trackside and appropriately salty and peppery at every turn.

The Betting Ring

Makes the perfect post-race day mop up.

6. Yamas’ Lamb Souvlaki: $20

The 400 Gradi side hustle tucks tresses of tender lamb, lettuce, onion, tomato and tzatziki into a pillowy flatbread fold for the ultimate late Cup Day scratching.

The Betting Ring

Start the day right with EBBY’s egg, bacon and cheese loaded roll.

7. EBBY Street Food’s Bacon, Egg and Cheese Roll: $16.50

EBBY helps line the tum with this substantial pre-race day feed. This breakfast roll layers a fried googer, bacon and cheese on a soft fluffy white bun, served with a hash brown sidekick.

The Park

It’s never not the occasion for tacos.

8. Mister Alejandro’s Beef Tacos: $19.90

Food truck taco titan Mister Alejandro takes you to Mexico with a corny ensemble of snacks. Our pick is the soft beef taco: meaty hunks are cradled with coriander mayo and pico de gallo with corn chips on the side.

The Elms

Fried. Crunchy. Salty. Potato-ey. All of our loves in one mouthful.

9. Twistto’s Chicken Salt Twistto: $12

The cult Korean street food finely spirals spuds into a tornado, threads it on a bamboo stick and dunks it in the fryer until gloriously golden. Finish with a dusting of chicken salt for best results.

The Elms