The 13 Melbourne food queues that are worth the wait time

Melburnians certainly know how to ride the wave of a good food trend, but one phase that has stuck around is our collective love and appreciation for the humble sandwich. The love is so strong that many sandwich shops command queues every weekend, but none more so than Hector's Deli. Hector's Deli has developed a cult-like following since it opened its doors in Richmond a few years ago, and the crowds have continued to grow with each new outpost, the latest being in Fitzroy. Crowd favourites include the signature chicken schnitzel with tarragon butter and housemade pickle mayo on a steamed potato bun, the tuna melt with pickled green chilli and onion on light rye, and the brisket with mustard pickle spread and kraut on a toasted rye – just to name a few.  

You'll often notice a queue of people snaking down Hardware Lane for one very specific bowl of noodles: the Phở Nạm (brisket pho) from Phở Thìn Australia. The collective urge for the phở was so strong that the store moved into bigger premises across the laneway, but somehow the queues just got bigger. The aromatic broth draws crowds at all times of the day, and once you make it to the front of the line, don't forget to order a Vietnamese donut to eat with your phở. 

This standing-room-only coffee shop manages to be both laidback and constantly busy at the same time. At first glance, the queue can seem endless and intimidating, but rest assured, the speedy baristas churn out consistently high-quality coffees at an impressive rate, making waiting in this queue more of a Melbourne rite of passage than a burdensome drag. As you order, the staff give you tasting notes and a rapid rundown of the beans on offer, and they never pass judgment no matter how annoying your coffee order may be. The caffeine hit and the enjoyable conversation you will find here make this one of Melbourne's most delightful queue experiences.

Having trouble finding Soi 38? Just follow your nose, and you''ll eventually stumble across the inevitable queue. While the address is equal parts intriguing and perplexing, the heady scent of Thailand – its star anise, galangal, chilli, lime and herbs – will lure you inside the multi-level concrete car park, and it will encourage you to wait as long as necessary to get your hands on a coveted table. Landing a table isn't the hardest part, deciding what to order is. Will it be the pork skewers known as moo ping, the swatches of golden calamari with a pungent lime-forward dipping sauce or the moo kra tha – otherwise known as a hefty platter laden with raw beef, pork and seafood, served with a barbecue hotplate (and instructions, should you need them).

Lune Croissanterie has lines snaking out of the store at all times, and it's true that the pastries sell out within a few short hours most days. Created in a climate-controlled lab, Lune croissants are almost mathematically perfect: crisp and golden with visible layers of delicate pastry. Over the years the Lune team have continued experimenting with weird and wonderful flavour combinations, such as choc peppermint, cheese and pepper, peach and verbena, and coconut pandan, and judging by the queue times, it's clear the people just can't get enough. 

A café housed in a heritage-listed former powerhouse with exposed brick walls and enormous street-art murals around the corner, serving riffs on avo toast and other highly ‘grammable dishes with a focus on quality coffee so meticulous that it necessitates a separate coffee menu (including a barista’s breakfast tasting board): things don’t get much more Melbourne than everything about Higher Ground. This explains the constant, never-ending queues out the door. However, by virtue of an experienced team, consistently top-quality food and drink, excellent service, high energy and an unmatched atmosphere, Higher Ground continues to be one of the city's cafés actually worth lining up for. 

This particular incarnation of Shanghai Street isn’t located in Chinatown alongside other dumpling greats, but it still manages to pull a crowd. The reason? You won’t get a slap-dash serving of grease-filled dumplings with thick skins. Instead, the classic xiao long bao is expertly made with high-quality ingredients. The fluffy shen jian bao is a must-order, too – think of it like XLB’s hotter, crispier, more put-together cousin.

One nibble of American Doughnut Kitchen's hot jam bliss bombs shows you why generations have been happy to queue for them. This beloved family business has been operating since the ’50s, and on many market mornings there’s a line of donut devotees peering through the windows of the blue and white van. What makes these donuts elite is the heat factor – minimal fryer-to-mouth time keeps them hot and crisp on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside. Then there’s the shock of molten red jam that threatens to stain your workplace attire. The American Doughnut Kitchen and its products are authentic classics. May they remain at the Queen Victoria Market for decades to come.

You know the ice cream must be good when you see hoards of rugged-up, shivering Melburnians lining up for a cone or cup in the middle of winter. No matter the time of year, or time of day, you'll most likely find a queue outside many of the Pidapipo gelato stores that have continued to pop up across Melbourne. Just in time for that summer sun, the local gelato purveyor has opened Pidapipo Laboratorio, a fabulously fun and Willy Wonka-esque destination for dessert devotees, which we suspect will draw crowds craving those sweet licks all summer long.

No matter when you show up, Florian is likely to be packed to the rafters. Crowds spill out of its tiny entrance, where customers waiting for a table are indistinguishable from locals ordering takeaway coffee. You know things have gone a little mad when queues for a coffee start making news headlines, which is exactly what happened when nearby residents recently caused an uproar about the supposed impact said queues were having on their lives. Ironically, the attention likely only made the Rathdowne Street café even more popular. While people are keen to try the seasonally rotating specials, many regulars keep lining up for menu mainstays such as the gravlax served alongside perfectly cooked jammy eggs, whipped ricotta, sliced radish and fresh tarragon. 

Whatever the size of your night, you really can’t go wrong with a late-night oversized souva. And while there are many joints slinging quick HSPs and dodgy-looking lamb, none of them live up to the late-night institution that is Stalactites. Considering it is open 24 hours a day, it is bewildering that it still draws a queue, but the quality food, authentic service and overall experience keep dragging the crowds back for more. The fresh and tasty souvas, the crunchy fries and the entertaining people watching on the side make this a special place worth lining up for.

This ramen joint is one of the city’s most popular late-night venues, however, it draws crowds at all times of the day. Start with the signature gyoza and then take your pick from the tonkotsu ramen base with pork belly, the miso ramen with minced pork, or go for the soy-based vegetable ramen. 

Melbourne is littered with quality drinking holes and late-night venues, but not all are worth lining up for. However, it is clear that the word is out about the Music Room, the tiny, soundproof space hidden within the four-storey Her venue, which draws queues and crowds all weekend long. While there isn't anything that enjoyable about dodging laneway rats and braving the Melbourne climate while you wait for a coveted spot inside, once you get in and are spellbound by the DJs spinning sweet tunes, the alluring low lights and the trendy crowd, you'll soon forget the time you spent waiting and count yourself lucky for making it inside.