Dining Out Alone In Melbourne
In a world where people are constantly connected, it can seem scary to do things on your own. Especially eating out alone can be a challenge. And from my experience, eating dinner is the most difficult thing to do alone. I often feel silly or awkward asking for a ‘table for one’. But in reality, this is not awkward or weird at all (even though it sometimes feels like people at other tables are looking at me, thinking ‘does she not have any friends?’).
I like spending time on my own, and that includes taking myself out for food once in a while. Since moving to Melbourne, I have started going on solo dinner dates a lot more often than I ever did before. And from one shy girl to another, the one thing that makes this more comfortable is choosing the right location to go to (also starting to not give a f*ck helps a lot too). Here are my favourite dinner spots in Melbourne for a solo dinner (especially when you’re a little shy).
| Restaurant | Best For |
|---|---|
| Uncle Yoon | Comfortable atmosphere for first-time solo diners |
| Oppa Kitchen | Traditional Korean comfort food |
| Bowltiful | Dedicated solo dining seats |
| Incredibowl | Wall-facing seating |
| Biang Biang Noodles | Affordable hand-pulled noodles |
| Master Lanzhou | Comforting noodle soups |
1. Uncle Yoon
For some reason, I find it easier to eat alone at Asian restaurants (perhaps that reminds me of my time in Korea, or it just feels culturally a little more accepted). One of my favourite cuisines is Korean. And Melbourne has a few great Korean spots (that are not just Korean BBQ).
Uncle Yoon is one of my favourite spots. It was my first time ever trying deep-fried Ttoekkboekki, and I was not disappointed. The staff at the restaurant was really friendly but also not too pushy. When dining out alone, I find the interaction with the staff even more important than when dining out with others. If they make me feel unwelcome or seem annoyed that I’m taking up a table (and they end up making less money than if two people ate there), I don’t really enjoy the experience. I also like when you can order via QR code (the best invention for shy people).
The food is great, the location is central in the CBD, and the prices are affordable. Overall, a wonderful spot to have dinner on your own.
2. Oppa Kitchen
This is another Korean spot that I adore. They do a lot of traditional korean dishes and also sell some convenience food. When I visited the staff was friendly and the food arrived quick. I love their kimchi stew (which is probably one of the best ones I have tried so far). The restaurant has many tables with 2 seats, which are great when eating alone. Just overall a great stop for a little solo dinner date.
3. Bowltiful
This one is probably one of my favourite solo dining spots of all. They have designated tables for solo dinners that face the wall. You don’t have to worry about other people looking at you, you can just enjoy your meal in peace or watch something on your phone if you like (or bring a book if you’re not an iPad kid like me). If you’re a bit shy this is definitely a place to try as it’s the most comfortable I have felt while having dinner alone. Besides their setup, the food is also delicious and they let you customise your noodles/bowls in whatever way you like.
4. Incredibowl
This place is literally next to bowltiful and they share a similar concept with their wall facing seats. For some reason that makes eating dinner alone just so much more comfortable. You’re not taking up too much space and no one is looking at you weird. Their food is also really great, with loads of options on wontons, soups and noodles.
5. Biang Biang Noodles
I loove Biang Biang Noodles so much that I even stop by on my own once in a while. Their hand pulled noodles are delicious and affordable. This place can get quite busy, which when solo dining I find a little stressful. But if you don’t mind that (or if you do just go a bit later or earlier than peak times) this is not only a great solo dining spot but also a must try food place.
6. Master Lanzouh
Last but not least Master Lanzouh – yes I know another noodle place. But this one was actually the first spot in Melbourne I went to for dinner and I was a little nervous. It was a Friday evening and it was busy, but the staff was really friendly and just made me feel so relaxed. I’m still dreaming of those noodles, the meat was so tender it fell right of the bone.
