YOI

No matter where you go in the world, no matter how disparate the cultures and communities, there’s one truth that is universal: no one can make that dish like your mum can.  It’s comforting, filling, and so very yummy, and no matter what’s wrong with you, it can fix it. For brothers Dion and Michael Sanusi, that hug-in-a-bowl is noodles with salted egg sauce. The Indonesian fusion restaurant they’ve opened with their mum Lie Lie. Once you try it for yourself, you’ll understand why. The Sanusi brothers – with mum in tow – are here to change that by serving up their favourite Indonesian dishes, with a modern, Melbourne twist.

Address: 1/155 Franklin St Melbourne 3000

Website: yoirestaurant.com.au

Phone: (03) 9043 1530

Email: info@yoirestaurant.com.au

Price range: $$ ($35 for two people)

SinJeon

Sinjeon is a popular Korean street food chain offering soju, beer and Korean snacks. Their specialty is cheese tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) in a red pepper sauce. The menu also includes other famous Korean snacks like gimbap, dosirak, K-corn dog, sweet chilli chicken, fish cakes and kimchi fried rice with cheese. These sweetly spiced rice cakes pack a chilli-powered punch. Try dipping fried fish cakes into the spicy sauce. Or top with a pot of melted cheese. Of course there’s much more on the menu at Sinjeon, including kimbap (Korean sushi), fried chicken and bibimbap. Born in Korea, Sinjeon now has 700 stores across Korea, Canada, Vietnam and the USA.

Address: Shop C2 550 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000 &  6/33 Blackwood St North Melbourne 305

Phone: (03) 9942 6422

Email: shymelbournean@gmail.com

Price range: $$ ($20 pp)