Classic smash burger, crinkle cut fries, onion rings and Queanbeyan Bitter beer in the sunshine at Burgermaker – does it get better than this? Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Mitchell. Fyshwick. Hume. These suburbs are more likely to conjure up images of wholesale warehouses, car yards and … ummm … specialty shops, rather than restaurants, cafes and bars. But these industrial districts are changing, and canny operators are opening up foodie businesses to capitalise on a new breed of gourmand tradies. In the process, they’re becoming destination experiences for people all over Canberra.
Here are a few of our favourite places to grab a bite after we’ve bought … never mind.
Musab Harara (L) and Abdullah Islam (R) are on a mission to make Bubba’s BBQ the next late-night sensation. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Bubba’s BBQ, Mitchell
Opened just a few months ago by two mates with a late-night craving for grilled meats, the youthful energy of Bubba’s BBQ is infectious. With a menu of Nashville chicken, smashed burgers and grilled kebabs, this food truck is big on flavour and big on ambition. The founders are planning to turn this humble truck into a nationally recognised brand – all from a carpark in Mitchell.
Tune into their Instagram antics for a laugh, and pop in next time you need a late-night feed.
Melted Toasted Sandwich Emporium Mee Goreng Toastie with Pork. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Melted Toasted Sandwich Emporium, Fyshwick
I love it when a venue chooses a simple premise and executes it to perfection. Toasted sandwiches are the name of the game at Melted, and oh boy, do they deliver. The crowds outside the door during the lunch hour are a testament to how brilliant these sandwiches are, whether you stick with a classic ham and cheese affair (at the budget price of $10) or get a bit gourmet with a Reuben, Cubano or 24-hour BBQ beef toastie. Despite my better judgment, I almost always order the Mie Goreng toastie (trust me on this one).
Burgermaker’s Classic Burger: smash patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles & burger sauce. Photo: Burgermaker.
Burgermaker, Hume
Burgermaker is part of the Rabble Group’s vision to reinvigorate historic Hill Station and the surrounding lands, which include a burger truck and beer garden. The family-friendly lawn games, thoroughly quaffable Queanbeyan Bitter beer on tap and delicious burgers are worth the drive out to Hume (which, let’s face it, is really not that far away). Crinkle-cut fries, crispy onion rings, and plenty of ways to personalise your burger make the drive that much more appealing.
During the week, the on-site coffee van Loading Zone is a hotspot for tradies, who may also enjoy a cheeky E&B roll from Burgermaker.
Salvatore Costanzo is the owner and pasta maker in chief of newly renamed Sal’s Pastificio and Alimentari in Mitchell. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Sal’s Pastificio & Alimentari, Mitchell
Calabrian-born Salvatore Constazo – known to his friends as Sal – opened his Mitchell storefront (originally trading as Nonna Maria’s Pasta) to increase production of his fresh pasta business in 2022. As well as selling a range of take-home pasta, sauces, sweets and ready-to-eat meals, he also loads the bain-maries with a few hot dishes from Tuesday to Friday.
Grab a bowl of cacio e pepe pasta, or cross your fingers and hope you’ve arrived on a day when they’re serving traditional lasagna. Sal and his son Dom also make fresh, crusty panini stuffed full of cured meats and salad.
If you miss the chance to get to their Mitchell shop, catch them at a farmers’ market on the weekend.
Vietnamese Bakery & Cafe Fyshwick banh mi. Photo: Vietnamese Bakery & Cafe Fyshwick.
Vietnamese Bakery and Cafe, Fyshwick
This unassuming bakery absolutely heaves at lunchtime with a queue out the door for banh mi, meat pies and Vietnamese summer rolls. Despite the number of hi-vis customers, orders are filled whip smart. Crispy pork bahn mi is the most popular order – although I’m particularly partial to lemongrass chicken – and you can also order other dishes like Bun Cha (Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad) from laminated specials posted around the counter. The bakery also does classic meat pies, custard tarts and loaves of bread, but the banh mi is what brings the hordes through the door.
Capital Brewing turned Dairy Road into a destination. Photo: Capital Brewing.
Dairy Road Precinct, Fyshwick
Whole articles could be written about this ever-growing precinct.
Dairy Road has (almost) single-handedly made Fyshwick cool, and the excellent food and drink options are a big part of the transformation. Canteen by Ramen Daddy serves up some of the best ramen in town, Contentious Character is rewriting the cellar door rules with their urban offering, and Ambrosia Distillery and Lounge offers some of the coolest cocktails in Canberra.
Dairy Road is where Jasper and Myrtle Chocolates turn beans into bars, where Big River Distilling makes their delicious gins, and both Lonsdale Street Roasters and Barrio roast their coffee beans and sling coffees. Under Bakery is the newest addition to the crew, but the biggest shout-out goes to Capital Brewing Co. and Brodburger, who turned a lot of old concrete into a food-and-beverage destination.
Did we miss any of your favourite places to eat and drink in Canberra’s industrial suburbs? Let us know in the comments!
