Where Chefs Eat: The New Thai Restaurant Past Port’s Sarah Chan Has Already Dined at 12 Times

In November, The Waterside Hotel, a 100-year-old pub on the corner of Flinders and King streets in the CBD, reopened after a years-long renovation that began in 2019. The now seven-storey pub has an outdoor terrace, three private event spaces, a ground-floor beer garden and public bar, and a three-level restaurant called Past Port. And executive chef Sarah Chan, former head chef at Mya Tiger and Morning Star Hotel, oversees the menu across the entire venue.

Chan’s food at The Waterside covers a large range. While Past Port is about Southeast Asian food that draws largely from her Chinese Malaysian heritage, it’s mostly standard pub dishes in the beer garden and public bar. We caught up with the chef to find out where (and what) she’s been eating in Melbourne lately. 

Favourite bakery:
It would be Betterburnt in Hawthorn. The Basque cheesecake is so well made, and my favourite is the yuzu meringue curd. The team drops new flavours every fortnight, so there’s always something new and creative to try. 

Go-to breakfast spot:
Operator Diner. It’s in my neighbourhood, so when I get a morning off that’s my go-to. I always order the Usual Suspect, which is a bacon and egg breakfast roll on an English muffin, and the Stack on Stack pancakes. Simple breakfast staples but done very well. 

Date night recommendation:
Definitely go to Boon Choou. I’ve been there more than a dozen times since they opened and I’m still making my way through the menu. It’s my go-to Thai restaurant because it features dishes that aren’t common but are authentic, and I love seeing underrated Southeast Asian meals get the attention they deserve. The menu is based on family‑style cooking, which is exactly how I love to cook as well. You’ll find me there at least once every week, and if I’m not there I’ll be ordering it for delivery.

Favourite ice-cream or gelato spot:
Kori Ice-Cream. I love the range of flavours they create. Creative, Asian‑inspired flavours that are refreshing and delicious. It makes me really happy to see fellow Malaysians excelling in their craft.

Favourite dessert:
It’s at Pepe’s Italian, without a doubt: the Symphony a Limone and Pepe’s Kisses. I nearly cried the first time I tried them because of how good they are.

Best place to eat as a solo diner:
I would say Mensho Tokyo. I was very late to the ramen game, so this was the first ramen spot I’d been to in Melbourne. There’s usually a queue, but the end result is worth it. The garlic-blazed ramen is a great option for dinner. It’s the perfect quick and delicious one-dish meal to enjoy solo. 

Best place for a late-night feed:
My go-to is Butchers Diner. They’re open till 2am and when I’m there late, I get the duck heart skewers, and steak and eggs. This is where we got the inspiration for our Early Opener Minute Steak on our Waterside Pub menu.

Most underrated restaurant in Melbourne:
Chaozhou Malaya Bistro Cafe. It’s more of an “if you know, you know” spot. It’s a cafe by day, and a restaurant by night, run by a Southeast Asian mother-daughter duo. They’ve built a strong base of regulars, and the food is authentic, hearty and comforting. Makes you feel at home.