Chinese brunch · Melbourne
Modern Chinese Brunch
in Melbourne
Chinese flavours, Melbourne brunch hours, one small room on Commercial Road, a 2-minute walk to Prahran Market.
What makes The Human Place different
Melbourne does brunch better than almost anywhere. Melbourne also has some of the best Chinese food in the world. For a long time those two things lived in different suburbs, on different menus, at different times of day. We opened The Human Place because we wanted them on the same plate.
We are not a yum cha house, and we are not a western café that added chilli oil to look interesting. We cook the flavours we grew up with, at brunch, with the care and the coffee standards Melbourne expects. Three friends, one small room, no pretending.
Forget the label.
Taste the journey.
The other half of the idea is the room itself. Phones down, real conversation, food that takes a while because it should. We are dine-in only, on purpose.
Our Chinese and Asian-inspired brunch style
Everything starts with a Chinese flavour memory, then gets rebuilt for a brunch table. Congee slow-cooked with pearl barley instead of plain rice. Noodles simmered in warm soy milk rather than stock. House-made XO chilli sauce you can add to almost anything. Yuzu where you would expect honey.
Some dishes are unmistakably Chinese. Some are Melbourne classics wearing a Chinese accent. Both belong here.
Breakfast and brunch dishes
We serve all-day breakfast and brunch from open to last orders, so there is no rush to get here before a cut-off time.
Fish Congee
Seasonal fish and pearl-barley congee with preserved vegetables, pea shoots, chilli oil, a crispy fried dough stick and pan-fried rice noodle rolls. The most comforting thing on the menu.
Silken Chicken Breast Soy Noodles
Noodles simmered in gently warmed soy milk with handmade cheese-filled chicken breast meatballs, crispy soybeans, cucumber and a jammy egg.
Golden Avocado Toast
The Melbourne staple, our way: sourdough, avocado, scrambled eggs, truffle oil, crispy ham, green apple, toasted pine nuts and yuzu.
Sichuan Pickled Fish
Daily fresh fish in a one-hour house-made broth with farm-grown radish, pickled mustard greens and silky wide glass noodles. Extra rice is there if you want to finish the broth properly.
The full list, with prices and dietary marks, lives on our menu page.
Specialty coffee and curious drinks
Specialty coffee is not a side note here. If all you want is a very good flat white before the rest of your Saturday, that is a perfectly good reason to sit down.
Then there are the curious ones. Drinks built the way we build the food: a familiar idea, turned slightly sideways, made in house. Ask whoever is on the bar what they are proud of this week. They will tell you honestly.
Where to find us in South Yarra
We are on Commercial Road, right next to Prahran Market, near the Commercial Road entrance. It is a short walk from South Yarra Station, and the Route 72 and 78 trams stop nearby. If you are driving, there are three car parks within a short walk.
The Human Place
135 Commercial Road
South Yarra VIC 3141
Melbourne, Australia
0421 096 977
Open Monday and Thursday to Sunday, 9:00am to 4:30pm. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Last orders 3:45pm. Dine-in only, no takeaway and no delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find Chinese brunch in Melbourne?
The Human Place serves modern Chinese and Asian-inspired brunch at 135 Commercial Road, South Yarra VIC 3141, in inner-city Melbourne. We are open Monday and Thursday to Sunday, 9:00am to 4:30pm, with last orders at 3:45pm.
Is The Human Place near Prahran Market?
Yes. We are on Commercial Road, a 2-minute walk to Prahran Market, and a short walk from South Yarra Station and the Route 72 and 78 trams.
Does The Human Place serve Asian-inspired brunch?
Yes. Our menu is Asian-inspired brunch built on Chinese flavours, including silken soy noodles, fish congee, Sichuan pickled fish and Charred Yuzu Char Siu, alongside Melbourne brunch staples such as avocado toast.
Does The Human Place serve specialty coffee?
Yes. We serve specialty coffee alongside curious signature drinks made in house, so you can order a flat white or something you have never tried before.
Where is The Human Place located?
The Human Place, 135 Commercial Road, South Yarra VIC 3141, Melbourne, Australia. We are dine-in only and open Monday and Thursday to Sunday, 9:00am to 4:30pm.