A Chef's Guide To… Melbourne, Victoria

From Afghani bread to the best omakase, chef Thi Le shares her tips for eating in Melbourne.

- Thi Le

Richmond has long been regarded as one of Melbourne’s best Vietnamese food destinations, but the 2015 arrival of Anchovy marked a new chapter in the city’s Indochine food history. Chef and Andrew McConnell alum Thi Le has created a restaurant that owes as much to her family’s Chinese-Vietnamese heritage as it does her upbringing in Sydney’s inner-west. Factor in a strong belief in girl power (see Anchovy’s impressive track record of guest chef events) and you’re looking at an exciting new force in Australian dining. When it comes to off-duty eating and drinking, Le’s picks are as global as the cuisines that inspire Anchovy.

THE BEST VIETNAMESE BAKERY

I’m going to call it. Family-operated Phoc Thanh Bakery on Victoria Street does the best bread in Victoria. It’s fluffy, light and stays super crisp. There’s a line out the door every time I go. I opt for crisp pork belly banh mi, jam-packed with crackling. If I’m really hungry I might jam a few xiu mai (Vietnamese meatballs) in as well.

GAME-CHANGING PHO