A selection of South American dishes at Papelon.
Critics'Pick

Papelon

Welcoming Venezuelan restaurant on the edge of Footscray Market.

Brazilian prawn curry.
14.5/20

Pancho

Sophisticated yet soulful country cafe.

Morena’s beef empanadas.
Good Food hat15/20

Morena

Latin America comes to Martin Place.

Corn tamale is a corn triple play,the ground nixtamalised corn dough steamed in corn husks blanketed by corn sauce.
14/20

Farewell,fusion tacos. This sunny CBD bar may be the start of Melbourne’s Latino age

The Mexican,Central and South American food scene here is stronger than ever. And this Little Collins Street newcomer delivers some of the best versions around.

  • Besha Rodell
Alejandro Saravia at Casa Iberica in Fitzroy,checking out the Peruvian ingredients.

The Latin American pantry items chef Alejandro Saravia swears by – and where he buys them from

The Peru-born chef behind Morena in Sydney and Melbourne shares the Latin American ingredients he always has on hand and how he likes to cook with them.

  • Nina Rousseau
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Go-to dish:Tempura hot rolls filled with avocado and topped with a slice of strawberry.
14/20

Bet you’ve never had a hot sushi roll like this before,Melbourne

Over the past five years,we’ve welcomed about a dozen high-end omakase restaurants,but Oshan’s South American angle is interesting.

  • Dani Valent
Alejandro Saravia is opening two branches of Morena in Melbourne’s CBD this year.

Forget ‘the Paris end’,the top of Collins Street is becoming a high-end Latin American hotspot

Peru-born chef Alejandro Saravia recently opened Latin American restaurant Morena in Sydney. Now,he’s bringing the brand home to Melbourne – with some twists.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Patacon,a shareable platter of crisp-fried plantain slices layered with skirt steak,salad,cheese and salsas.

This humble Footscray market eatery serves the South American version of a halal snack pack

I was full about five seconds after starting but kept diving back in,writes Dani Valent.

  • Dani Valent
Half free-range chicken with white corn puree and ox tongue anticuchos (top right).
Good Food hat15/20

This luxed-up Latin American diner in Martin Place has bags of personality – and a hat

A personality-filled menu from Peruvian chef Alejandro Saravia brings new life to a treasure of a building.

  • Terry Durack
The chefs’ culinary backgrounds merge in the lamb forequarter chops with chimichurri.

High-profile brewer opens first Melbourne venue and there’s chops by the kilo and spanakopita lasagne

Two chefs with a love of fire are having fun with their first beer hall menu at South Melbourne’s new Pirate Life brewpub.

  • Emma Breheny