Omakase Kobayashi on Burnley Street in Richmond is a pop-up restaurant and catering service delivering an intimate and personalised dining experience. Chef Maro Kobayashi brings his expertise from both Japanese and Italian Michelin-starred restaurants to create cuisine with a touch of both cultures, made using fresh quality Australian ingredients. Expect a 10-course menu with likes of prawn ganmodoki and ora King salmon with yuba, chives and dashi to start; before wild kingfish sashimi and yuzu salsa verde. Move on to larger plates like crayfish, eggplant and tosazu jelly, followed by abalone and shio kombu chawanmushi and duck and mushroom rice; don't forget to ask about catering for your next celebration or corporate event, or simply treat family and friends to the omakase experience.

Immerse yourself in a fire grill experience like no other at Friends of Fire on Bourke Street in Docklands. Located in Marvel Stadium Square on the ground level, expect a stylised, modern vibe at this American-inspired Melbourne dining destination with copper piping, individual grill stations and geometric patterned flooring. Say howdy to starters like a lobster brioche roll and gribiche sauce, or Maryland crab cakes, fresh herbs and smoked onion remoulade; before devouring wood-fired pork ribs, peach tea BBQ sauce and sides of baked mac and cheese and charred green beans. Steak lovers chow down on dry-aged rib eye on the bone, with chimichurri sauce, baked potato and a blue cheese wedge salad; finish decadently with a vanilla ice cream sundae and salted hot chocolate fudge sauce.

Experience a taste of Malaysian culture and cuisine at PappaRich on High Street in Epping. Created to emulate a modern version of traditional Malaysian coffee shops, take a break from retail therapy at Pacific Epping shopping centre to chill out in trendy surrounds of blond wood and cane furniture, trailing greenery and green subway tiles. Get things started with a dim sum platter of steamed dumplings like prawn and chicken, or Pappa garlic naan and curry sauce; then devour signature mains of nasi goreng – fried rice, chicken, egg, cucumber, sambal and a papadum. Seafood lovers opt for Pappa char koay teow with wok-fried flat noodles, prawns, fish cake, egg, bean sprouts and chives, or Hokkien noodles with prawn broth, prawns, hard-boiled egg, chicken, bean sprouts and water spinach.

Hungry Frankston amigos head down Beach Street to find Mexican Cantina From Los Argentinos to appease cravings for tacos and tequila. Step into a fun vibe of sombreros on the walls, a recycled timber bar and Mexican accents, while on balmy days sit street-side and watch the world pass by. Get the party started with beef empanadas, or charcoal-grilled marinated squid; then say gracias to chilli con carne with beef, red beans, chillies, tomatoes and onions, topped with cheese and served with flour tortillas. Carnivores slice a knife into a perfectly cooked T-bone steak, with mushroom sauce, grilled vegetables and a jacket potato; or eye fillet fajitas with fried onions, sweet peppers, beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and tortillas, washed down with an ice-cold cerveza.

Experience modern, Amsterdam-inspired flavours at the only dedicated Dutch eatery in Victoria at Mokum on Sydney Road in Brunswick. Mokum is a sentimental nickname given to the city of Amsterdam and it has come to mean 'safe place', which is exactly what this venue aims to be – a safe place where people from all walks of life are welcomed warmly and made to feel at home. Stop in for brunch and devour buckwheat pancakes, syrup, bacon and cheese; or dine later on starters such as snails with garlic butter, herbs and toast. For the main, perhaps whole flounder, lemon butter and parsley hit the mark, with mashed potato, poached apple, bacon and asparagus with Hollandaise. Vegetarians opt for a weed burger with tempeh, hummus, wakame, pepper, lettuce and toasted hemp seeds, on a charcoal bun.

Effortless serenity, community togetherness and chilled tunes along with sustainable Mod Oz cuisine are what you'll find at Lennox on Hampton Street in Hampton. Whether it's outside in the Melbourne sunshine, or inside by the fireplace in chilly months, Lennox is the perfect place to relax and unwind in a coastal vibe of cane and white furniture, shelves filled with interesting nicknacks and potted greenery. From the all-day brunch menu, devour dishes such as the Suffolk Smash – avocado with almond and seed dukkah, charred corn, fresh herbs, chilli, lime and tomato – or a spanner crab omelette with an Asian salad. Dine later on healthy bowls such as miso-baked Atlantic salmon, soba noodles, julienne vegetables, spring onion and bean shoots, tossed in ginger, sesame and lemongrass dressing.

Discover a culinary passage to Japan's heart at IKKAI on Hardware Street in Melbourne's CBD. Rooted in a passion for Japanese gastronomy, IKKAI is a haven where tradition, innovation and the finest Wagyu steak converge as skilled Chefs meticulously craft sukiyaki, izakaya and donburi dishes. Be transported to the vibrant streets of Tokyo with every bite, all enjoyed in a warm and welcoming vibe; team an ice-cold Sapporo beer with starters such as deep-fried crab claw balls, or crunchy chicken karaage and dipping sauce; before sharing a Wagyu sukiyaki set for two with certified Australian beef, miso soup and vegetables. Seafood lovers opt for unagi eel or curried prawn don, with sides of umami fries and salad; thirsty diners choose for the beer tower, paired with edamame and tacoyaki.

Tradition meets culinary excellence bringing the authentic flavours of Italy straight to your plate at Nonno's Pizzeria on Nelson Place in Williamstown. Rocking a bright and breezy vibe of neon signage, a mosaic-tiled counter and walls covered with posters, this is the ideal spot for a catch-up with family and friends over gourmet pizza and pasta sure to tempt all palates. From authentic Margherita pizza to lasagne, your taste buds will thank you for plates such as spaghetti marinara with prawns, clams and garlic in a rich Napoli sauce; or fettuccine carbonara with pancetta, Parmesan, cheese and cream. Gourmet pizza slices like Siciliana on a white base with mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, garlic, anchovies, basil and olive oil always entice, best enjoyed with a glass of red wine.