melbourne american

San Telmo

MELBOURNE

An Argentinean restaurant and wine bar that features a traditional parrilla barbeque.

The Black Toro

GLEN WAVERLEY

The menu here isn't especially authentic – e.g. fried chicken ribs with chipotle mayo – but it's not thoughtless fusion, either. Visit for creative spins on quesadillas, "tlayudas" (Mexican pizza, in effect) and achiote chicken.

Casa Iberica Deli

FITZROY

Authentic Hispanic ingredients and smallgoods since 1975.

Pastuso

MELBOURNE

Pastuso brings Peruvian flair with a menu of ceviche, grilled meat and plenty of pisco. The dining room is a riot of colour, but we say grab a seat at the marble-clad bar and take in all the action, Pisco Sour in hand.

Acustico

BRUNSWICK

A sustainable eatery that embraces Melbourne’s artistic community.

Palermo

MELBOURNE

An Italian-influenced Argentinian spot from the team behind San Telmo and Pastuso. Expect meat and fish cooked over the asado firepit – a specialty here. The layout is a nod to a classic steakhouse, plus there are private rooms for special occasions.

Asado Bar and Grill

SOUTHBANK

Asado is Spanish for roast. And that’s exactly the focus at this tan-leather-filled restaurant, which showcases grilled meats and big flavours. From the team behind San Telmo, Pastuso and Palermo, Asado encourages you to share a spread of tapas as well as meat, seafood and vegetables charred on the parrilla.

Arepa Days

PRESTON

An arepa cafe serving the Colombian flatbread snack with spiced hot chocolate, sugarcane juice and Aussie-style coffee.

Repeat Offender

ELWOOD

At this vibrant all-day Latin American eatery, the entire menu is gluten free and most dishes are vego or vegan. Swing by for cheesy cheesy empanadas and crisp patatas bravas, and a happy hour with cheap frozen Margaritas and tacos.

Little Drop of Poison

ELTHAM

A Spanish tapas bar. A Mexican taqueria. A Chilean picada. This Latin American oasis in the suburbs is a mash-up of all three. Come for classic pintxos and raciones, backed up by a thoughtful drinks list heavy on sour cocktails.

Papelón

FOOTSCRAY

This Venezulean spot graduated from ghost kitchen to full-fledged diner. It shows that South American food is more than just tacos – from Venezuelan empanadas and arepas to platters of rice, beans and sweet fried plantains.

Morena

MELBOURNE

This slick restaurant and wine bar, by the Farmer’s Daughters chef, was decades in the making. Come for ceviche with a spicy Peruvian citrus-based marinade and Venezuelan spanner crab arepas served in a Tulum-inspired space.

Le Bon Ton

COLLINGWOOD

A late-night bar bringing the flavours of New Orleans and Texan barbeque to Melbourne.

Belles Hot Chicken Fitzroy

FITZROY

The colonel’s got nothing on this fiery Nashville-style fried chicken joint. Choose your cut, heat and condiments and let the good times roll. You’ll also find a fluid list of excellent wines from around the country.

White Oaks Saloon Bar & Dining

PRAHRAN

A touch of the Deep South on Greville Street.

Meatmaiden

MELBOURNE

A bona fide meat dungeon.

Juanita Peaches

BRUNSWICK

Some of the best fried chicken in town.

Candied Bakery

SPOTSWOOD

A research trip to the US was the inspiration behind this Aussie bakery with a twist. Find pies in flavours such as key lime and bourbon pecan. Plus, European influences in its Russian honey cakes and tiramisu croissants.

Fancy Hank’s

MELBOURNE

Empty stomachs are a prerequisite at this upscale American barbeque joint. Go for the signature share platter, which might include hearty beef brisket, pork shoulder or pulled mushrooms. Pair it with the beer tasting of Australian and American lagers.

Bad Shepherd Brewing Co.

CHELTENHAM

Tending the flock with fresh beer brewed on-site, and more-ish American barbeque.

Trunk Diner

MELBOURNE

Caters to those on the hunt for breakfast and lunch, with an American twang.

The Gem Bar and Dining

COLLINGWOOD

This saloon-style pub has an Elvis fixation. The boot-worn floorboards feel lived in, and you might even catch a cowboy hat-wearing country act. The food sticks to the Americana theme: think Southern fried chicken and cheeseburgers.

American Hotel

ECHUCA

Craft beers, burgers and barrel-smoked eats in an 1865-built pub.

The Hot Chicken Project

GEELONG

Roll in for red-hot Nashville-style fried chicken.

Green Light Diner

MELBOURNE

Pancakes for dinner, bagels until 1am and batched cocktails. This old pokies venue is unrecognisable.

Bluestone American BBQ

COBURG

Texas-style barbeque powered by red gum and applewood.

Fat Jaks

ST KILDA

Fast food without the mystery-meat aspect on Barkly Street.

Hightail Bar

DOCKLANDS

Take your pick from three different kitchens (Belles Hot Chicken, Mr Burger and Super Taco) and two bars at this sprawling casual food hall in the Docklands. The enormous venue was designed to channel an island oasis, with hanging plants and murals of jungle flora behind the bars.

This Borderland

PRESTON

This old-school diner does three-cheese poutine, beef brisket burgers, deep-fried pickles and slices of classic cherry pie. And every item on the menu can be made vegan.

Bluebonnet Barbecue Brunswick East

BRUNSWICK EAST

The DIY spirit is alive at this Southern-barbeque specialist.

Sir Duke

MOONEE PONDS

$12 cocktails and DIY doughnuts at an all-day diner.

300 Grams

NORTHCOTE

This compact 25-seater flips beef and plant-based cheeseburgers, and serves southern fried chicken and vegan Cocowhip sundaes.

The Naked Tree

YARRAWONGA

American-style comfort food thrives on Yarrawonga’s main drag, from stacked burgers and pork belly bites to truly ambitious dessert platters.

Mission District

RIPPONLEA

This “Cali-style” Mexican joint takes inspiration from the San Francisco suburb it's named after. Come for hulking burritos filled with pork carnitas, saucy queso tacos and house-made horchata. You can’t miss it – look for the glowing, burrito-worshipping neon sign.

Canecutters

SOUTH YARRA

Stop by this dimly lit dive bar for local beers and Guinness on tap, plus American-style bar food. With its neighbourly service, dog-friendly status and creative beer roster, it’ll easily become your local.

Lulu’s Bar & Burgers

YARRA GLEN

If it’s not gonna be the burger, it has to be the chicken and waffles at this low-key suburban diner. It's by the team behind fine diner Heartswood (which is across the road), and the extensive cellar there informs the wine list here.

Deep End

FITZROY

Chances are you haven’t had these in Melbourne. Deep End’s owner studied in the US and brought its pizza back here. Choose from thin New York-style; crispy-cornered Detroit-style; and hulking Chicago deep-dish pizzas.

Deep End

FITZROY

Chances are you haven’t had these in Melbourne. Deep End’s owner studied in the US and brought its pizza back here. Choose from thin New York-style; crispy-cornered Detroit-style; and hulking Chicago deep-dish pizzas.

Hector’s Deli Fitzroy

FITZROY

A Melbourne sandwich institution in a northside backstreet. You might go for a chicken schnitzel sanga with an undersized potato bun, a decadent egg-and-cheese breakfast muffin or the standout vegan sanga.

Hector’s Deli South Melbourne

SOUTH MELBOURNE

A perennially popular sandwich shop in a former bakery with a Victorian frontage. It’s serving all the classic sangas, plus rotating specials (expect porchetta, roast beef or meatballs), potato salad and sodas.

Walrus

BRUNSWICK

Order up at Walrus, a low-key spot inspired by America’s west coast diner scene. It boasts a menu of pancake stacks with whipped butter, crisp US-style bacon, pecan pie by the slice and more in a lo-fi, *Twin Peaks*-style fit-out.

Steer Dining Room

SOUTH YARRA

Local and Japanese Wagyu steaks are the focus at this New York-style steakhouse, ranging from $80 up to $500. For mains, see the roving Wagyu trolley or scour the list of more than 30 steaks to choose by producer, cut and score.

Operator Diner

MELBOURNE

You know the old-school, untouched-for-decades diners dotted all over the US? This CBD spot is a slick recreation of those retro relics. Go for syrupy pancake stacks, loaded brekkie muffins and filter coffee in classic diner mugs.

Big Pig Canteen

MOORABBIN

This American barbeque joint goes through a whopping 200 kilos of brisket a week. There’s also a killer range of burgers, fried chicken and even some star vegan picks, all accompanied by local beers.

Goodwater

NORTHCOTE

A welcoming spot for whiskey dates, cocktails with friends or just sitting at the bar. Make mates over a beer and bowl of pickle fries, while you learn your ryes from your bourbons.

Sundae School Ice-Creamery

CLIFTON HILL

A curved schoolhouse window welcomes you into this American ice-creamery. Here, an ex-Fat Duck pastry chef makes ice-cream flavours like mango lassi, and cardamom, burnt honey and pistachio. And, naturally, loaded sundaes.

Hector’s Deli CBD

MELBOURNE

Hector's Deli brings its North American-style sangas to the city suits at its fourth Melbourne site. Perch at the timber bench for signatures like the tuna melt, salad sandwich, or fried chicken potato bun. Or, opt for the meatball sub, a CBD-only special.