Five Dine Out Melbourne Food Festival Events To Check Out
In case you missed it, Broadsheet has launched Dine Out, a new annual winter food festival in Melbourne and Sydney. There are 40 epic events taking place in Melbourne from Monday August 4 to Sunday August 10, with venues including Ho Jiak, Cam’s Kiosk, Bistra and Suupaa all getting involved.
As Broadsheet’s Melbourne food and drink editor, I’m facing a serious dilemma: I want to go to everything, but time (and the laws of physics) won’t allow it. But these five events are at the top of my list – and should be on yours, too.
Founded by Indian-born winemaker Shashi Singh and her husband Devendra Singh, family-run Avani is my favourite Mornington Peninsula winery. And I find Armadale wine bar Albert’s to be one of the best places in Melbourne to sit and linger over drinks and snacks.
Stay in the know with our free newsletter. The latest restaurants, must-see exhibitions, style trends, travel spots and more – curated by those who know.
On Sunday August 10 from midday to 4pm, the two are teaming up for a long lunch with one-off Indian dishes including Rajasthani chicken skewers and Goan choris pao (buns filled with chopped sausage) served alongside Avani wines.
Shashi and Devendra’s son, winemaker Rohit Singh, will be on the floor and happy to chat about any of the wines. Plus, everything is à la carte and wines are available by the glass, so it’s a chill, low-commitment way to enjoy the fest. Book here.
What happens when a sushi master, a steak pro and one of the country’s most exciting Malaysian chefs join forces? We’ll find out when Junda Khoo cooks with Sydney chefs Toshihiko Oe of Sushi Oe and Corey Costelloe of 20 Chapel (number 93 on the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list in 2025), at his newly opened Malaysian restaurant Ho Jiak.
The Japanese Malaysian European dinner on Thursday August 7 will be the ultimate meeting of technique, fire and flavour, and a rare chance to see these three powerhouse chefs in the same kitchen. Book here.
Alejandro Saravia, originally from Peru, will bring his Latin American cantina-inspired Morena Barra to Commune Group’s Moonhouse for a one-night-only dinner on Saturday August 9.
Saravia will showcase chifa, a cuisine that blends Cantonese cooking techniques with traditional Peruvian flavours, with dishes including Peruvian fried rice and braised pork spare ribs with a fermented black bean and garlic sauce. Book here.
I can’t say I was familiar with a volcano taco before Dine Out. But now that I’ve learnt it involves grilled steak, chorizo and melted Oaxacan cheese on a crisp tostada, I simply have to try one. The team at Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos will be serving them all week during the festival, so there’s no excuse not to.
I love a good hotel restaurant. So I’ll take any excuse to drop into Ross and Sunny Lusted’s Melbourne Place restaurant Marmelo. During Dine Out, the team is putting on a $36 mini Martini and bikini special. The Martini is truffle-infused, and the “bikini” is Spain’s version of a toasted sandwich. It’s layered with truffle bechamel, slices of black truffle and plenty of melty manchego cheese, then pressed and toasted until golden.
