Roti Road

For proper Malay-Chinese fare in Melbourne's west, all roads lead to Roti Road. Not only does this place serve up a greatest-hits selection of hawker classics, it puts on one hell of a show. Watching the chefs and roti wizards stretch and spin endless amounts of roti dough is all part of the experience here.

The menu is extensive to say the least – but most come for that crisp, flaky roti, which arrives at your table on a tin platter ferrying dahl, curry and sambal. Meanwhile, dishes such as nasi lemak and slow-cooked chicken curry are true to the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Peranakan nyonya flavours imbue bowls of seafood laksa. A nod to China comes in the form of a popular weekend yum cha service.

If you’ve really turned up the heat, dial it back with a bowl of ice kacang, a classic Malay dessert of shaved ice, red beans, sweet corn and "grass" jelly. There are also icy blended drinks studded with taro pearls and fruit jelly, and tall glasses of sweet and traditional teh tarik tea. We also love the Milo Dinosaur; milo over ice-cold milk that’ll take you back to your childhood.