What to eat at Melbourne’s booming new Ramadan night market
This Dandenong market wants to match the roaring success of its western Sydney equivalent. Local vendors are serving camel burgers, Persian stews, loaded Malaysian pancakes and more, with many items under $20.
Sydney’s Ramadan night market in Lakemba is one of the city’s biggest events, drawing over 1.5 million visitors last year. Now, Melbourne is vying to create its own version with the inaugural Ramadan Night Market Dandenong.
The market was founded by The Bright Community Organisation, a not-for-profit dedicated to “fostering cultural harmony, community engagement and social inclusion”.
President Ahmad Ghowsi happened to be in Sydney during Ramadan last year. Inspired by the Lakemba market’s success, he worked with the Dandenong mayor and local sponsors to create a similar event.
“This is the most diverse municipality in Australia,” says Ghowsi. “We believe we have the potential to do an even greater one [than Lakemba].”
Running from March 25 to April 2, the market celebrates Ramadan, the Muslim holy month centred on worship, gatherings and fasting – one of Islam’s five pillars, meant to cultivate discipline and compassion for those in need. During Ramadan, those who observe the fast refrain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown, breaking their fast with iftar, the evening meal.
Reflecting this tradition, Dandenong’s market begins at 7pm and runs until after midnight, featuring more than 50 food stalls spanning Afghan, Lebanese and Ghanaian cuisine.
“This is the most diverse municipality in Australia.”Ahmad Ghowsi, The Bright Community Foundation
Since Tuesday night, the event has already drawn around 30,000 visitors, including some from interstate. Ghowsi expects at least 50,000 attendees each night this weekend – particularly on Sunday, which coincides with Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
While the festival is a destination for Melbourne’s Muslim community, Ghowsi encourages everyone to attend.
“It’s not only for Muslims,” he says. “Visitors are from every background, whatever kind of religious values they have.”
Five must-try dishes at the Ramadan Night Market Dandenong
Afghan Bolani
The dish: Bolani ($6.99)
Many Ramadan observers break their fast with water and a handful of dates, which are readily available at the festival and nearby grocers. But if you’re craving something savoury, this is a fitting first stop. Their specialty is the namesake dish – a crescent-shaped flatbread stuffed with spiced mashed potato, onion and coriander. It’s sliced and served with sauces; the most popular is a mix of garlic sauce and chilli. Mantu ($9.99), silky beef dumplings topped with yoghurt and tomato-garlic sauce, are another cost-effective and easy-to-stomach option.
BBQ Meets Lebanese Catering
The dish: Camel burger ($18)
Burgers might not be the most traditional iftar meal, but camel burgers have become a fan favourite at Lakemba’s Ramadan market (and across Sydney). In Melbourne, only a handful of spots serve them – try Hot Chills Cafe in the CBD, Docklands Den and the Burgertory chain (where they’re a Ramadan special). At BBQ Meets, the camel patty is grilled over charcoal then topped with American cheese in a sesame bun with lettuce, tomato and onion. If camel isn’t your thing, you can opt for lamb or beef kofta in a wrap, sandwich or platter.
Ama’s Delight
The dish: Ghanaian jollof with beef ($24)
This halal-certified food truck frequents festivals and has restaurants in Spotswood and Werribee South. It’s best known for jollof rice, a tomato-based staple popular across West Africa – including the owners’ homeland Ghana, where Islam is the second-largest religion. Order it vegan or topped with beef, chicken, lamb (or a mix of all three), with the meat kissed by the grill at the front of the stall. Ama’s also offers a twist on a burrito bowl: black beans, pico de gallo and chicken or beef on a bed of jollof rice.
Bonab
The dish: Ash reshteh ($14.95)
Few things are more warming than ash reshteh, the thick Persian vegetarian stew of noodles, chickpeas and various lentils. While it may not have the same street-food appeal as skewers of koobideh (minced lamb) or joojeh (marinated chicken), it’s a staple in Iran, often eaten as the first meal post-fast. At Bonab’s stall (an offshoot of their Keysborough restaurant), it comes in generous bowls with lots of herbs and the tang of kashk (fermented whey). It’s a hearty yet mild way to break your fast.
Apam Balik
The dish: Apam balik pandan ($10)
Apam balik (“turnover pancake” in Malay) is best described as a cross between a pancake and a waffle – crisp and golden on the outside, soft and spongy on the inside inside. Here, you can get two varieties: the crispy version, cooked in small metal pans right in front of you, and the larger, softer classic version, similar to the Indonesian dessert martabak manis. Get the latter with pandan batter for a true taste of Malaysia. The filling of crushed peanuts, sugar and creamed corn delivers a sweet-savoury contrast.
The Ramadan Night Market Dandenong runs until April 2, Thomas Street and Harmony Square, Dandenong, brightcommunity.com.au