We’ve rounded up five of Melbourne’s very best Asian restaurants.
Last week, Raya and the Last Dragon was finally made available for regular access on Disney Plus. And, no spoilers, but you’re going to get hungry watching this movie. There’s a lot of food. And it looks so good. You might get cravings after watching it. So, if you’re feeling inspired to try some Southeast Asian cuisine, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne to get your Raya food fix.
1. Tom Yum at Dodee Paidang
Raya’s father prepares a soup and he’s very clear about the ingredients. Lemongrass, shrimp paste, bamboo shoots, chilli and palm sugar. This blend of harmonious flavours was inspired by tom yum from Thailand. If you’d like to try some, Dodee Paidang have a famous rendition of this soup at both their Little Collins Street and Swanston Street stores. It’s a perfect dish for winter, so get slurping!
Dodee Paidang is in the basement of 353 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 and 245 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
2. Congee at Supper Inn
One of Raya’s friends is a young boy who serves congee on his boat. If watching him cook on the boat made you hungry, Melbourne has plenty of places that serve congee. One favourite place is Supper Inn, an old Melbourne establishment that’s perfect for a late night adventure, as they close at 2.30am every day. Open since 1977, they’ve had a reliable variety of Cantonese dishes to cater to the evening crowd. When looking at the long menu, order the congee for something simple, delicious and warm.
Supper Inn can be found at 15 Celestial Ave, Melbourne VIC 300
3. Satay at Mamak
It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but there’s a character in the film who passes out satay at a night market. These marinated meats on sticks are absolutely delicious. If you’d like to try some, Mamak, a Malaysian restaurant on Lonsdale Street, has paired the skewers with their own brand of satay sauce. Choose between flame-grilled chicken or beef, eat it with cucumber and red onion and pair it with the sauce for a satisfying meal.
Find Mamak at 366 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000.
4. Pho at Pho Hung Vuong Saigon
Kelly Marie Tran, the voice actress for Raya, has said in interviews that her mum makes the best pho. If you’d like to try this popular soup from Vietnam, go to Footscray and visit Pho Hung Vuong Saigon. Get lost in the rich broth and try the soup with different meat combinations, from the beginner-friendly, like chicken, to the adventurous, like spicy beef and pork with pig trotters.
Find the restaurant at 128 Hopkins St, Footscray VIC 3011.
5. Jackfruit and longans at Kariton Sorbetes
Scattered throughout Raya, you’ll see the gang eating nibbling on fruits like longan, or being repulsed by Raya’s jackfruit jerky. Now, jackfruit may not be the best in jerky form, but in dessert, it’s great. And you’re going to need some dessert after all this eating!
Artisanal Filipino dessert store, Kariton Sorbetes, has the answer. Inspired by the ice cream carts that wander the streets in the Philippines, Kariton Sorbetes aims to bring favourite Filipino desserts to life through gelato. Try the Turon or the Halo Halo, which has jackfruit, or the Proot Shake, made from fruits like longan, lychee and rambutan.
They deliver around different council areas of metropolitan Melbourne every week.
To see their flavours and browse their website, click here.