Potato cake, potato scallop, whatever you call them they’re an integral component of any balanced diet. Deep-fried and crisped to golden perfection, it’s the potatoes finest form.
We’ve all gone under the guise of getting fish and chips just to solely put four of the buggers to the sword, and there should be zero shame in that.
Here’s where to get the best potato cakes in Melbourne for 2023:
Hunky Dory
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
The classic potato cake, a timeless beauty. Perfecting a traditional delicacy is no easy feat, but Hunky Dory has nailed it with this one—touted as the best potato cake in Victoria by the Uniquely Aussie Awards. It truly lives up to the limelight.
Easey’s
COLLINGWOOD
Double fried, Melbourne bitter battered potato cakes. What a heavenly sentence. The cakes at Easey’s are truly revolutionary, and at $3 a pop, they’re kind on the wallet as well. You can also add them to your burgers and hot dogs, levelling up the entire experience.
Beluga
SOUTH YARRA
If you live in Melbourne's south, you're probably either Team Hunky Dory or Team Beluga. Both chipperies have their upside, and both smash out a crispy, perfect potato cake. The Beluga potato cake is perfectly battered with a textured golden exterior that emits an incredibly ASMR-worthy crunching noise with every bite. Hands down one of the best potato cakes in Melbourne.
Hide & Seek
TULLAMARINE
The experts over at Hide & Seek have created the Mona Lisa of potato cakes. As soon as these lightly battered, handcrafted puppies hit the scalding hot oil they form crispy AF, delicate waves—no two ever quite alike. Go the extra mile and add these flawless little suckers to their Wagyu beef burgers. A match made in potato heaven.
Kiwi Fish and Chips
EAST MELBOURNE
New Zealand is notably a big leader in the fish and chip dining scene, and these guys are staying true—doing some of the best hand-carved potato cakes in town. Perfect scallops, cut from Desiree potatoes, then fried in a pillow-light tempura batter. They're only $1 each and go great with a fried slice of King George Whiting. Check them out beneath the Tribecca apartment building in East Melbourne.
Tommy Ruff
VARIOUS LOCATIONS
Alongside Tommy’s stellar range of fish, there’s one side dish that outshines them all. The crunchy golden numbers from this local favourite are worthy of mention in the conversation of the best potato cakes in Melbourne. The relatively thin slice of potato means the batter is perfectly crispy and the potato inside is soft and buttery to the taste. Big score for Tommy Ruff.
Andrew's Hamburgers
ALBERT PARK
One with a big legacy, Andrew’s Hamburgers has been grilling and frying since 1939. Over the decades of refinement, they’ve gotten their potato cakes down to a fine craft. Slyly ask them for their secret menu and locate The Hulk burger—the ultimate combo of cheese, beef, bacon, onion and tomato sauce sandwiched between two golden potato cakes.
Pink Flake
ST KILDA
There’s nothing better than visiting Melbourne’s Bondi Beach, St Kilda, on a hot summer’s day. Just a short walk from the foreshore on Acland Street is Pink Flake. This is the kind of fish and chip shop where they throw in an extra potato cake, covered in golden chicken salt, every time. Trust us, for the perfect beachside salty snack look no further.
Hooked Fish & Chipper
FITZROY, WINDSOR
Just because Fitzroy and Windsor are landlocked doesn’t mean you can’t find excellent fish and chips with some of the best potato cakes in Melbourne. Look no further than Hooked Fish & Chipper. If you’re a fan of British-style fish and chips, the mushy peas are a must-order next to the potato cakes.
Fish on High
THORNBURY
Located on High Street Thornbury, this fish and chip shop has a legacy of over 70 years. Or at least the site itself does. The store stands out with green tiles adorning the entrance. Their potato cakes come with extra salt and are best served covered in sauce.
Scalable
ESSENDON
Situated on Mount Alexander Rd, Scalable has a familiar and accessible feel, it's just like the corner stores of old but this time with premium ethically-sourced produce and a more modern menu. Their approach brings a line-up of thoughtful and considered options, with an astoundingly crunchy yet light soda-based batter which engulfs hand-size potato cakes. If you’re looking for the best potato cakes in Melbourne for 2023, this may just be it.
Sea Salt
CARLTON
You know the potato cakes are going to be well seasoned when the name of the joint is literally Sea Salt. This Carlton institution has everything you need for that fried, tasty potato snack. While you’re ordering the potato cakes, try the flathead served in a chilli ginger marinade. The perfect combo.
Theo’s Fish Bar
THORNBURY
Nothing can beat the low-key style fish and chip shops that your parents would take you to on a Friday night, and Theo’s Fish Bar is exactly that. Their potato cakes are covered in a gluten-free batter and they’re fried until they’re perfectly crisp and golden. Trust us, these are some of the best potato cakes in Melbourne for 2023
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Image credit:
Hunky Dory - Annika Kafcaloudis
Andrew's Hamburgers - Michelle Jarni
Scalable - Lewis McQueen