THE BEST places to eat with kids IN FOOTSCRAY!
/ Siobhan RelfVietnamese, French, Thai, Italian, Ethiopian, Korean, American - Footscray quite literally has a world of choice when it comes to places to eat! There are fantastic kid-friendly options from sandwich joints like Ollie’s Deli to restaurants like Konjo and Sapa Hills; or institutions like T. Cavallaro & Sons and Nhu Lan Bakery.
Whatever you choose from Mamma’s list below, you are sure to enjoy fantastic flavours.
BUT, if you think anything essential is missing from our list, DM us!
You know as soon as you enter Gordon St Bakery that this is an authentic, and very French, bakery. The welcoming and comforting aroma of browned butter and pastry greets you at the door - and it’s the scent that you can only get when all the products are made in house, and actually, right in front of you.
Mamma was so impressed by the quality of the food at this new Braybrook cafe. Incredibly simple yet oh-so-delicious toasties and pastries are on offer, as well as great coffee and other beverages.
Ask any Vietnamese person in Melbourne, and they probably know about Tan Thanh Loi - although they might not know it by it’s name, but by its dish: com tam/broken rice. These are the best pork chops you’ll ever have!
The Station Hotel in Footscray is such an incredible family friendly pub in Melbourne's West. Not only is the food EXCELLENT, the space is too - warm and comforting inside with dining area and bar area, but outside is a huge space complete with a NEW playground! PLUS kids eat free on Tuesday and Wednesdays, and they have a petting zoo each Sunday, with the option of a Sunday Roast - amazing!
Roti Road is back after several months with a FRESH new reno!
The space is fresh, open and bright - but don’t worry there is still the viewing window where you can watch the busy kitchen and roti making!
Ebi Fine Foods now has new owners and is a limited seating Japanese fusion restaurant. The kids will get a kick out of sitting at the bar and watching their orders be prepared then slide on over from the kitchen!
Footscray’s now-iconic gelato joint. Delectable, decadent and velvety ice cream with wild Filipino flavours like coconut and pandan, purple yam, salted (fish sauce) caramel and toasted puffed rice and more, with specials every day too - like silken tofu soft serve. A must-try.
An urban garden cafe oasis that has become a Footscray institution - I mean it’s no wonder Mamma and other Westie locals love to visit Rudimentary time and time again. You can easily come several times a year to enjoy the seasonal changes - both on the menu and in the garden. There is plenty of room to move, indoor an outdoor seating, and a bike rack - oh, and it’s dog friendly AND has a kids menu.
Ollie’s Deli is filling a gap in the cafe market in Footscray, and a hole in your tummy! Ollie’s serves up GIANT sandwich melts jam packed with flavoursome fillings.
Rich, full and fresh flavours. This is modern Vietnamese food at its best and Mamma needs you all to know that the taste of Sapa Hills will stick with you long after you leave.
What makes a good Banh Mi? It all starts with a crusty bread roll that’s soft as clouds on the inside and super crunchy on the outside . If you’re not covered in bread crust shrapnels all over your lap, then you’ve simply had a sandwich…
With a great menu selection and laid-back atmosphere, this is an ideal spot for a casual lunch or dinner with the fam bam. There’s also a great selection of vegetarian options as well as a wide array of seafood, rice and noodle dishes.
Decked out in our beloved Bulldogs colours - Slice Shop Pizza delivers exactly what it says - huge, thin, and tasty, slices of delicious pizza by the slice. And when we say slice - Mamma means SLICE! There are a few bar stools you can pull up and plonk on to eat your pepperoni and watch the people of Footscray go by - or you could just take a whole pizza!
Dear Footscray Milking Station, hats off to you! You are so cute, your food is absolutely delicious and makes us feel good, you have two outdoors bits and a couple of separate cosy indoor spaces plus great friendly staff.
This popular restaurant in Footscray is serving some amazing food and every Friday and Saturday - you can enjoy a mixed all you can eat buffet for $18 - it's a great way to try a little of everything and see what your fave dish is.
Mamma says you haven't 'officially' become a westie until you have tasted a famous connoli from T Cavallaro and Sons. This Footscray institution was opened in 1956 by Tammaso Cavallaro and is now run by his sons Carmelo, Tony and their wives. All the delicious cookies, pastries and cannoli are made on site (of course) from late 19th century old Sicilian recipes handed down from generation to generation.

Fairly new to the Footscray food precinct is a lovely homely Latin American eatery - Papelon. Think of a colourful, cosy, cheerful restaurant full of happy, relaxed diners tucking into large plates of wholesome South American foods.