Hunky Dory | Port Melbourne

The Verdict

The original hunk. This is the place Hunky Dory began, back at the dawn of time. Bay St Port Melbourne was a simple place in those days. But although cafes have come and gone along the trendy strip, Hunky Dory has stuck around, and it’s still as popular as ever.

If you live in Port Melbourne, you’ll know there’s a low level fish-based rivalry with Beluga, down towards the beach. Everyone’s got their personal preference, but for us—Hunky Dory edges out the competition.

There’s a couple of reasons. One, their salt and pepper calamari is finger lickin’ good. And two, their chips have the perfect crisp-to-fluff ratio. Golden and perfect on the outside, delicate and pillowy on the inside. And you never get those overcooked troublemakers that ruin the pack for everybody.

If you’re a first-timer, you can’t go too far wrong with any of the packs. Try swapping the fried flake for grilled—this can be a risk in smaller establishments, but Hunky’s seasoning means you still get great flavour. Little squeeze of lemon, an ice-cold beer, and you’re in fish n’ chip heaven.

See you down at Port Melbourne beach. Just watch out for those southside seagulls. They’ve got a taste for Hunky Dory by now...

Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis