Buffets to pause your #fitspo plans
Don’t succumb to Maccas’ temptations. If you’re having a cheat day, go for broke – head to a buffet instead. Don’t worry about it being exy, though, thankfully, in this list, we feature 9 buffets in Melbourne serving Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and even Australian cuisine that won’t disappoint your wallet.
1. Naked For Satan
Source: @nakedforsatan_
Disclaimer: This is not your traditional buffet.
Naked For Satan offers an amazing tapas-style all-you-can-eat spread. Their food, popularly known as pintxos (pronounced ‘pinchos’), are served buffet style for.. *cue drum roll* …only $1 per skewer on weekdays! At that price, even big eaters won’t spend any more than $50 on a single visit. So you’re safe.
The restaurant is our favourite hang out with its glamor and good food, but booze is part of the naked satanic (lol) experience too – head up to the rooftop bar called Naked In The Sky for the popular fruity vodka and enjoy the view overlooking a lively neighbourhood.
Price: $1 per tapas skewer or try the ala-carte menu with its various price tags
Address: 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9416 2238
Opening Hours: Sun – Thu, 12 pm – 12 am | Fri – Sat, 12 pm – 1 am
Website
2. Okami Japanese Restaurant
This all-you-can-eat buffet serves all things Japanese – from our favourite teppanyaki, agedashi tofu and tempura prawns to prawn gyoza, chicken teriyaki and sashimi. You name it. The biggest pull factor, however, is the delicious free flow of matcha ice cream.
Source: @sawansera
There are 4 Okami Japanese Restaurants around Melbourne, but we recommend the casual and intimate space of Brunswick branch for its accessibility from Melbourne CBD. My visit to the restaurant replayed memories of my Japan trip and its restaurants. The quaint Japanese experience costs only $29.80 per person!
Price: $29.80
Address: 192 Moreland Rd, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9386 2600
Opening Hours: Mon, 530 pm – 10 pm | Wed – Thu, 530 pm – 10 pm | Fri – Sat, 5 pm – 11 pm | Sun, 12 pm – 3 pm & 5 pm – 10 pm
Website
3. Maya Tequila Bar & Grill
Source: @ubereats_aus
We hope Friday Mexican night out sounds interesting enough to catch on with the populace – hanging out with your mates over mate’s rates tacos and going loco over margaritas at a quaint Mexican courtyard is a brilliant weekend celebration plan.
Located in the most affluent inner-city suburbs in Melbourne, Maya Tequila Bar & Grill often offers promotional all-you-can-eat deals on Scoopon for as little as $9 per person. What lacks authenticity is compensated with cheap tacos and fun times – Maya Tequila Bar & Grill promises new friends to be made with help from their friendly and supportive staff.
Price: $9.00 (Click here for details)
Address: 74 Toorak Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9866 8836
Opening Hours: Tue – Thu, 6 pm – 11 pm | Fri – Sat, 6 pm – 1 am
Website
4. Crossways Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant
Among other Indian vegetarian buffets in Melbourne, Crossways, located at Swanston Street in Melbourne CBD, stood out the most because of its central location and never-ending promotional rates. The all-you-can-eat buffet costs only $7.95 per person – which is too good to be true.
There are only two dishes whipped up every Monday to Saturday but seconds are free. The humble restaurant serves a pre-defined menu – Malaysian curry on Thursdays, Thai curry on Fridays and a lavish ‘special’ curry on Saturdays. The best thing about its unassuming setting is the positive vibes it promotes and its well-knitted community.
We’d suggest college students add Crossways into their list since a saviour is in order when your wallet gets thin in the last few days of the month. The lunch menu only costs $5.95 with concession – that’s as cheap as a meal in Maccas! And shhh… just between us, Crossways is a perfect economical pre-rage dinner ritual.
Source: @mimi.nom
Price: $7.95
Address: 123 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9650 2939
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat, 1130 am – 8 pm
Website
5. Kitchen Workshop
Source: @alexsong0
As one of the cheapest buffets in town that serves modern Australian cuisine, Kitchen Workshop has it all – wide buffet spread, fancy setting, exceptional service, and a low price tag despite being located inside the prestigious Crown Casino and Entertainment complex.
Source: @abimaecruz
Savouring their fresh seafood is best done during lunch time when it’s only $22.90 per person because dinner costs $29.90. Kitchen Workshop is currently located inside the casino due to renovations, so be sure to bring your ID. Also, give them a ring beforehand too because the restaurant tend to have long queues during meal time.
Price: $22.90 (lunch), $29.90 (dinner)
Address: Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9292 5777
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu, 1130 am – 230 pm & 530 pm – 930 pm | Fri, 1130 am – 230 pm & 5 pm – 930 pm | Sat, 12 pm – 230 pm & 430 pm – 1030 pm | Sun, 12 pm – 230 pm & 430 pm – 930 pm
Website
6. Takumi
I’ve had a good time savouring quality BBQ beef while in Japan so it’s naturally frustrating to see a limited number of Japanese BBQ in town. Lucky for us, the good old saying “quality over quantity” still applies.
Takumi is a contemporary Japanese restaurant specialising in Wagyu beef with its 90-minute promotional Wagyu sets for $50 per person. Its premium charcoal grilled wagyu cuts melt in your mouth! You can also opt for seafood that includes delicious salmon but it comes with an additional $15.
Source: @jasminechinsm
Price: $50
Address: 32 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9650 7020
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 12 pm – 2 pm | Sat – Sun, 6 pm – 10 pm
Website
7. The Conder
The Conder is a Japanese and International gourmet buffet serving 2 hours of its all-you-can-eat menu for lunch ($23.80) and dinner ($42.80) on weekdays. It’s known for good selection of sushi and delicious sashimi! The menu changes often, but nonetheless, The Conder has just the right amount of variety and combination of traditional and experimental international selections to choose from.
One of the restaurant’s highlights is the stunning view of Docklands waterfront and the pier. It’s a beautiful place for couples to roam right after a buffet date.
Source: @l.vnda
Price: From $23.80
Address: 8-10 Newquay Promenade, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9670 8388
Opening Hours: Everyday except Tue, 11 am – 3 pm & 530 pm – 10 pm
Website
8. Guhng
Source: @stacey_eats_melbourne
When it comes to Korean BBQs, Guhng’s luxurious setting and price can be identified at the higher end compared to other Korean restaurants. But be assured that you’ll still spend below $50 despite the exceptional experience.
Guhng is the place to go if you’re looking for quality meat, exceptional service and authentic Cheongdam-dong – a place in South Korea known to be a hotspot for the wealthy – dining experience.
Starting from $35 for the Lunch Express Banquet, you’ll be served dumplings, chicken salad, Bulgogi and a choice of pork belly or chicken thigh fillet for barbequing, along with some side dishes to top it off. The hip restaurant and bar is a perfect place for first dates or large gatherings.
Source: @guhngthepalace
Address: 19 McKillop St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Phone: +61 3 9041 2192
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu, 1230 pm – 230 pm & 6 pm – 930 pm | Fri, 1230 pm – 230 pm & 6 pm – 1030 pm | Sat, 6 pm – 1030 pm | Sun, 6 pm – 930 pm
Website
9. Spice Temple
Spending $49 per person for a Yum Cha Banquet menu was a tough call, knowing that the price counts as premium. Thankfully, it was a decision worth making. Turns out, one of Australia’s leading and most influential chefs, chef Neil Perry, has the magic hands to serve traditional yum cha with a modern twist. Also, we love the stylish decor and lavish ambiance!
The banquet comes with a full spectrum of Chinese cuisine dishes – pork and prawn siu mai, pork puffs, and even wagyu brisket pot sticker. Don’t wait to try the egg custard tart. It’s usually first in every diner’s priority list!
Address: Crown Towers Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
Phone: +61 3 8679 1888
Opening Hours: Mon – Wed, 6 pm – 11 pm | Thu – Sun, 12 pm – 3 pm & 6 pm – 11 pm
Website
Melbourne is a buffet paradise
Set those diet plans aside. Eating time is now! Crowned as the best city to live in the world numerous times, it’s only natural that its laneways are filled with scrumptious cuisines – from Japanese, Korean and Indian to Modern Australian and other international dishes.
There are still heaps of dining precinct featuring humble and affordable options to satisfy any cravings and budgets in town. We just can’t wait to unravel them!