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Birria tacos on the menu at CDMX.

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Melbourne hit list August 2023: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now

Hawker stalls and Mexican street food spin-offs, top-quality lunchtime sushi bowls and a grand-new French brasserie in one of the city’s most beautiful heritage buildings. Add these eateries to your hit list this month, Melbourne.

19 stories
Tan leather and perforated timber booths help divide the grand dining room.

Grand French brasserie Reine and La Rue bar open in city’s former stock exchange

  • Emma Breheny
Enter Via Laundry’s winter menu explores rich and luxurious Mughlai dishes such as shirin pulao, a goat biryani.

Bargain noodles, schnitzels and strudel: Six restaurants doing hot things this winter

  • Emma Breheny
Duck egg char kwai teow at Lulu’s Express.

Cult Malaysian noodle shop Lulu’s expands with dessert bar and CBD takeaway outlet

  • Emma Breheny
Birria tacos on the menu at CDMX.

Brunswick East taqueria CDMX is the taco restaurant Melbourne’s been missing

  • Emma Breheny
Ima owners Ako Miura and James Spinks are thrilled to be in a bigger venue.

Brunswick’s Ima Asa Yoru is the grown-up version of a popular ex-Carlton cafe

  • Emma Breheny
Snacks include the signature chicken liver parfait with potato chips (centre).

Cult Sydney bar and bottle shop, Odd Culture, brings its wild drinks to Fitzroy

  • Emma Breheny
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Go-to dish: Salami pizza.
12.5/20

Is Sooshi Mango’s no-bookings, nonna-style Italian restaurant worth the three-hour wait?

  • Besha Rodell
Morris House and its light, bright facade.

Morris House is the CBD’s new mega-venue with a rooftop bar and live comedy

  • Emma Breheny
French cooking technique is on show at Magnolia.

Magnolia bistro brings French flair to a century-old space on Sydney Road

  • Emma Breheny
Interlude is an Aboriginal-owned bar that puts native Australian culture and ingredients centre stage.

Aboriginal-owned South Yarra bar Interlude spotlights the people behind native ingredients

  • Emma Breheny
Go-to dish: Chirashi bowl.
Good Food hat15.5/20

Lunch-only gem Uminono offers ‘the best value high-quality sushi in Melbourne’

  • Besha Rodell
Hassun at Matsu in Footscray.

Matsu serves a ‘transfixing’ Japanese set menu to four guests at a time

  • Dani Valent
Scallops with cauliflower, pancetta, and a champagne vinaigrette.
13.5/20

Wine bar Ruckers Hill shows classic dishes aren’t over-the-hill when done well

  • Besha Rodell
Behind the marble bench, chefs slice salumi and shuck oysters.
Good Food hat15/20

Climb the stairway to Italian snacking heaven at Balwyn’s hatted Enoteca Boccaccio

  • Larissa Dubecki
Birria tacos at Chilpa Mexican restaurant in Highett.
13.5/20

Braised meats steal the show at La Tortilleria’s southside spin-off, Chilpa

  • Besha Rodell
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Grazia has struck a chord with Glen Iris locals.
14/20

Glen Iris locals flock to Italian restaurant Grazia - but is it worth the hype?

  • Besha Rodell
Spaghetti marinara at Bacash.
Good Food hat15/20

Icon review: If you’re a lover of seafood and wine, Bacash is the place for you

  • Besha Rodell
Custard buns with salted duck egg yolk at Golden Lily restaurant in Box Hill.

We lift the lid on a hidden yum cha treasure (and its golden ‘quicksand’ buns)

  • Dani Valent
Smoky pineapple pizza.

Is it OK to put pineapple on pizza? If it’s Roccella’s smoky spin, the answer is yes

  • Dani Valent

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/melbourne-hit-list-august-2023-hot-new-and-just-reviewed-places-to-check-out-right-now-20230731-p5dso4.html