Balaclava’s Asian soup scene is small but functional — a handful of Vietnamese, Japanese and pan-Asian kitchens scattered across Carlisle Street and the immediate cross streets. For a serious ramen destination day, the trip into the CBD or out to Box Hill is required; for a casual cold-day soup lunch, what’s available locally plus a short walk into St Kilda is enough.
Carlisle Street — The Local Options
Carlisle Street has several Asian restaurants running pho, ramen and broader noodle soups. The dining is mostly local-trade rather than destination — the kind of place where regulars know the staff and the lunchtime turnover is consistent rather than overwhelming.
Standard pho prices around $14–$18 for a large bowl. Ramen at the few places that run it $19–$25. Most are open through lunch and dinner with a short break mid-afternoon.
Acland Street and Fitzroy Street — Walking Into St Kilda
A 10-minute walk from Balaclava station takes you into St Kilda’s Acland Street and Fitzroy Street precinct, which has a much wider Asian dining selection. For a winter destination soup lunch, this is the move:
- More Japanese restaurants with quality ramen
- The St Kilda Vietnamese pho options
- A few Korean restaurants running stews
- Pan-Asian and noodle bars
The walk itself takes you down Carlisle Street through the heart of Balaclava and into St Kilda — a complete activity rather than just transport. On a wet day, drive instead (5 minutes including parking).
Elwood’s Ormond Road
Elwood’s village strip on Ormond Road is 10 minutes by car or 20 minutes by walk from Balaclava. Smaller selection but a couple of Asian kitchens worth knowing about.
What to Order on Cold Days
For maximum warming on a 9°C day:
- Tonkotsu ramen — pork-bone broth, the heaviest single bowl, available at the better local Japanese kitchens
- Bun bo Hue — Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup, the warming upgrade over standard pho
- Korean sundubu jjigae — soft tofu stew, bubbling-hot when served
- Hot Vietnamese coffee — pair with any soup for extended warming
Standard pho is fine but the spicier and richer options are more effective on the coldest days.
Combining With Other Winter Activities
The Balaclava soup lunch combines well with:
- A Carlisle Street browse — village shops, bookstore
- A Jewish bakery stop for warm sweet pastries afterwards
- A walk into St Kilda for the Acland Street European cake shops
- A pub dinner at one of the winter pubs in Balaclava
For takeaway, most local kitchens close by 9pm.
What This Means for You
For a casual Balaclava soup lunch, walk Carlisle Street and pick the busiest Asian kitchen. For a destination soup experience with more variety, walk or drive 10 minutes into St Kilda’s Acland Street and Fitzroy Street precincts. For the most warming options on coldest days, look beyond standard pho — Korean stews and Vietnamese bun bo Hue are the upgrade.
For more, see winter pubs in Balaclava and indoor things to do in Balaclava this winter.
Jack Carver writes about Melbourne’s inner south for MELBZ.
