Our Guide to the Best Restaurants in Box Hill

Melbourne’s suburbs each have their own culinary calling card — Carlton for Italian, Oakleigh for Greek, Caulfield and Balaclava for their Jewish favourites. And then there’s Box Hill, long celebrated as one of the city’s great Asian dining centres. What began as a hotspot for exceptional Chinese food has evolved into a full-blown pan-Asian powerhouse, home to everything from Vietnamese institutions to Japanese BBQ, Korean comfort dishes and modern fusion cafes.

If you’re hungry to explore, we’ve rounded up the best restaurants and cafes in Box Hill — the must-tries, the local icons and the flavour-packed gems worth travelling for.

Best Restaurants in Box Hill

Una Una

Una Una is Box Hill’s small, steady heartbeat — a room that changes character with the light. By day, it turns out toasted focaccia and whipped coffees; by night, it slips into bistro mode with roast duck, tuna crudo and lamb katsu. Owner Sam Hatherley, who spent twenty years in hospitality, including a stint at Neil Perry’s Rosetta Ristorante, has shaped a spot that feels personal and confident, with four tables and a menu that stays sharp, seasonal and deliberate.

G2/712 Station Street, Box Hill 

Tien Dat

This family-owned and run Vietnamese restaurant is the very first that opened in Box Hill over 40 years ago. Tien Dat is serving up traditional northern Vietnamese dishes with spices and flavours influenced by the south, bringing the best of both worlds to the table. From crisp spring rolls served with refreshing iceberg lettuce to piping hot bowls of sliced rare beef pho and vermicelli salad, every dish at Tien Dat is made using the freshest ingredients. What’s not to love?!

3 Carrington Road, Box Hill

Simon’s Peiking Duck

If you’re craving duck in the eastern suburbs, Simon’s Peiking Duck is non-negotiable. Founder Simon Lay earned cult status at Collingwood’s Old Kingdom before opening his own spot in 2010, and although he passed away in 2020, his legacy lives on in what many consider Melbourne’s best Beijing Imperial Duck. Don’t come for flash — come for the craft. The menu is short, the pancakes are handmade, the toppings are generous, and the noodles (crispy or soft) aredeeply satisfying. Every dish lands with flavour and comfort, the kind that keeps you booking ahead.

197B Middleborough Road, Box Hill South

Dodee Paidang

Dodee Paidang brings a hit of Bangkok street-food energy to Box Hill, serving tom yum noodles with real fire, glossy pad see ew, aromatic curries and bowls built for slurping. Flavours are bold and lively, like a wake-up call in the best way. Quick, cheerful and satisfyingly hearty, it’s an easy favourite for lunch or a casual night out.

1 Main Street, Box Hill

David’s Master Pot

David’s Master Pot brings Sichuan malatang into sharp, irresistible focus. Here, you build your bowl from the ground up: crisp greens, slippery noodles, ribbons of meat and tofu waiting to meet a broth that’s been coaxed into richness over 12 slow hours. More than 20 herbs and spices are stir-fried before the stock even hits the pot, giving every ladleful a deep, aromatic thrum. It’s customisable, comforting and quietly addictive — a soulful bowl that chases the cold out of your bones.

606 Station Street, Box Hill

Katori

For an elevated Japanese dining experience with a playful twist, head to Katori in Box Hill. This Yakiniku-style restaurant invites you to cook bite-sized pieces of premium meat and vegetables right at your table on a sizzling grill. Experience Japanese BBQ at its finest, where you can handpick your choice of meats and sashimi à la carte, or dive into one of their indulgent set menu options for a true feast.

If you’re craving a fine dining Japanese BBQ experience, Katori is hands down one of the best restaurants in Box Hill.

G01/850 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

DooBoo

DooBoo gives Box Hill something rare: a Korean tofu hot pot that feels both soulful and meticulously made. Their soondubu jjigae arrives bubbling, the tofu impossibly soft, the broth rich with chilli heat and depth. Add pork, beef, seafood or keep it clean — either way, it’s deeply comforting. Pair it with boneless fried chicken or wagyu bulgogi and you’ve got a feast built for lingering catch-ups. A must-try, and one of Box Hill’s most distinctive bowls.

1 Main Street, Box Hill

Haidilao Hotpot Box Hill

Haidilao Hotpot delivers one of Box Hill’s most immersive dining experiences. This globally loved Chinese hot pot chain is known for its pristine ingredients, silky tomato and fiery Sichuan broths, and the sheer joy of customising every element to your taste. Beyond the food, the service is famously attentive — aprons, phone covers, even a hand-pulled noodle performance at your table. With endless meats, seafood and vegetables to choose from, it’s interactive, social and ideal for hotpot newcomers and devotees alike.

Level 2/545-563 Station Street, Box Hill 

Zero Mode

Zero Mode runs on appetite and ambition. Morning brings miso salmon scrambles, truffled eggs and poke bowls bright with ora king salmon and yuzu. By afternoon, the menu widens: wagyu fried rice heavy with striploin, dry-aged duck tucked into bao, and a Scotch fillet that arrives with truffle cream or pepper sauce. Then dinner deepens everything — foie gras on toast, charcoal pork, Hokkaido scallops, and a ribeye so decadent it quiets the table. It’s Box Hill at full tilt: bold cooking, confident hands, and plates that refuse to be ignored.

G03/850 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

Best Cafes in Box Hill

The Penny Drop

The Penny Drop remains one of the best cafes in Box Hill, known for its exceptional coffee and an all-day menu that blends modern Australian cooking with clever Japanese influence. Breakfast and lunch are equally strong — think crisp, savoury plates alongside beautifully composed sweets.

What began as a tiny pop-up has grown into a beloved local fixture, thanks to a community that quickly realised it had something special on its hands.

Sitchu Tip: The tiramisu French toast is pure indulgence — don’t skip it.

913 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

Red Cup Cafe

Red Cup Cafe is a true Box Hill staple, pouring Industry Beans coffee, local wines and craft beer alongside a menu of comforting, well-made café classics. It’s the kind of spot that suits every forecast — sunny afternoons on the terrace or cosy, coffee-filled escapes indoors. Lunch leans fresh and satisfying, with the fried calamari a standout: tender, lightly crisp and served with a bright cabbage salad, herbs and a lemon-tartar dressing that ties everything together.

1124 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

Can’t get enough of all the hidden gems in Melbourne and want to uncover more? Now you’re done reading about the best restaurants in Box Hill, take a drive slightly closer to the city and brunch at the best cafes in Camberwell. Or, if you’re westside, check out these incredible Footscray restaurants.

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

11 December 2025

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.