Bang Bang Hampton
This outpost is cooking up a fusion of Southeast Asian, Japanese, Korean and Indian eats.
Overview
Melbourne's seaside suburbs had a bit of a foodie glow-up in 2024. Sushi Baby got a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Brighton, D.O.C landed in St Kilda, Southall moved to a bigger and better site in Hampton, and Moon Dog has announced it will open up a new brewery bar in Frankston.
Bayside locals have cried out for more great places to eat and drink. And their calls are slowly being answered — with Hampton's Bang Bang being the latest to do so.
The Bang Bang crew already has a site in Mordialloc, but they saw demand for a new location further out in Hampton. Here, fans of the original outpost can find most of the same dishes that span cuisines all over Asia — focusing on Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and India.
The kitchen is plating up prawn toast with tonkatsu and bonito; bao buns stuffed with 12-hour short ribs; a Balmain bug and pork larb; snapper ceviche; chicken satay served with roti; a beef cheek massaman curry; and a spicy fried Sichuan eggplant.
Like most new restaurants in Melbourne, the menu is made for sharing, and the team offers up a chef's selection of dishes ($57.50 and $89) for those overcome by choice paralysis.
Drinks include a stack of Asian-inspired cocktails, Victorian beers and cider, a tight selection of wines and sake, and a smattering of mocktails.
The team even has a fab happy hour to entice folks over to Bang Bang Hampton. Every weeknight from 5–6pm, diners can tuck into $2 fresh oysters, a $35 raw tasting plate and a heap of $15 cocktail specials.
Nabbing one of these deals ain't a bad way to give Bang Bang a go. Stop by for some cheap seafood and cocktails and see if you want to stick around for a flavour-packed pan-Asian feast.
Images: Jessie B Evans