Where Sofia Levin actually eats in Melbourne
MasterChef Australia judge, food & travel writer · 25 picks
Where does Sofia Levin eat in Melbourne? Sofia Levin has named 25 places in Melbourne: Nana Thai, CIBI, Co Thu Quan Richmond, Minamishima, T. Cavallaro & Sons and 20 more. Each one is listed below in their own words, with the source.
Sofia Levin is a Melbourne food and travel writer, a judge on MasterChef Australia, and the founder of Seasoned Traveller, a newsletter about lesser-known food stories. These are the Melbourne places she has named in Broadsheet and SBS Food, from mookata hotpot in the CBD to cannoli in Footscray.
Nana Thai
It's BYO, the kitchen closes at midnight and I love how the electric atmosphere feels more Bangkok than Bourke Street.
Said on SBS Food · read
order: mookata
This is mookata hotpot at its finest, and the kitchen doesn’t close until midnight. It’s a bustling, street-foodesque atmosphere with the menu to match.
Said on Broadsheet · read
order: mookata hotpot
This is mookata hotpot at its finest, and the kitchen doesn’t close until midnight.
Said on Broadsheet · read
order: mookata hotpot; larb; grilled ox tongue; grilled pork neck; som tum; lotus stem salad with raw prawns; sticky rice
CIBI
CIBI is a Japanese cafe and retail space that I frequent.
Said on SBS Food · read
order: traditional Japanese breakfast
Co Thu Quan Richmond
Co Thu Quan stands out because there are dishes on the menu here that you won't find anywhere else in Melbourne, and perhaps Australia.
Said on SBS Food · read
order: regional noodle soup
Minamishima
I'm yet to find a dining experience anywhere else in Australia that makes me feel more like I'm in Japan.
Said on SBS Food · read
order: omakase
T. Cavallaro & Sons
Having just returned from Sicily, I can put my hand on my heart and say they make the best ricotta cannoli in the world.
Said on SBS Food · read
order: ricotta cannoli
Philhellene
It's an incredibly special, family-run Cretan restaurant.
Said on SBS Food · read
La Tortilleria
The tacos here are the most similar to what I've eaten in Mexico, but its regional specials, like tacos de birria from Guadalajara, are what excite me the most.
Said on SBS Food · read
order: tacos de birria
Dainty Sichuan Noodles QV
It’s got to be some of the better Sichuan food in the country, plus you can pre-order some fabulous dishes (cue lobster mapo tofu), and it’s BYO.
Said on Broadsheet · read
order: lobster mapo tofu
Zareh
It punches as hard in atmosphere as it does in flavour – one of my absolute favourites in Melbourne.
Said on Broadsheet · read
Dua Bakehouse
around the corner at the Collingwood Yards has been a total treat.
Said on Broadsheet · read
order: shiopan
Embla
Etta
Caretaker's Cottage
Taqueria Sin Nombre
It’s moody and dimly lit, without any windows, serves tacos as good as any I’ve eaten in Mexico City, and epitomises Melbourne cool.
Said on Broadsheet · read
Falco Bakery - Smith St
Little Sister Bakery Chadstone
I especially like the heavily seeded Sofia loaf at the latter. Unfortunately, it’s not named after me.
Said on Broadsheet · read
order: Sofia loaf
Bar Olo
Cordelia
The food is fresh, modern and produce-driven. The staff is lovely and the space is humble yet charming.
Said on Broadsheet · read
in Carlton. The food is fresh, modern and produce-driven. The staff is lovely and the space is humble yet charming. Maybe we shouldn’t tell everyone about it, eh?
Said on Broadsheet · read
To Be Frank Bakery
in Collingwood since it first opened. I love how small and intimate it is, and the viennoiserie is creative and underrated there. Hopefully they read this and bring back the kimchi twist!
Said on Broadsheet · read
Three Horses
Standing Room Coffee - Carlton
Calēre Coffee
in Fitzroy. It’s tiny, and while all the nerdy detail is there for those who want it, it’s also unpretentious.
Said on Broadsheet · read
cá com
You’ll pay about $17 at Ca Com, and all the fillings are made from scratch by Thi Le and her team. My favourite is the house-made Lao pork sausage. They get whole pigs in and make the snags themselves.
Said on Broadsheet · read
order: banh mi, Lao pork sausage
Eat Pierogi Make Love
You’d be hard-pressed to find a place as vibey. Guy, Dominika and chef Ola know how to host like Eastern Europeans, and they’ll probably pour you a shot of vodka, whether you’ve asked for it or not.
Said on Broadsheet · read
Scopri Italian Food and Wine
always makes me feel special. It’s old-school without being stuffy, has arguably the best Italian in Melbourne, and certainly some of the best service in town.
Said on Broadsheet · read
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Published 2026-10-09