Bussaracum Thai — Restaurant in Melbourne

We parked the car just down the street—one of those questionable spots where you're half-watching your meal and half-watching for parking inspectors. Luckily, we got the best seats in the house: right by the window, full view of the car. That gave me just enough peace of mind to relax and take in the vibe.

The place had a laid-back energy. No Sprite or lemonade, which was a bit of a letdown—I had my mind set on something citrusy—but they did offer traditional Thai beer, and that hit the spot. Crisp, slightly bitter, and perfect with spicy food.

I ordered the Penang chicken and honestly, it was a standout. Creamy, rich, with just the right amount of heat. It sat nicely on the tongue without blowing out the taste buds. But—and it’s a big but—they completely forgot to bring us water. We didn’t even realise until we were basically done eating. They came over, apologised and brought a bottle then, but by that point it was like… what’s the point? Water with a spicy meal shouldn’t be an afterthought. That was disappointing.

Still, the meal had me in a good enough mood to drift off into one of my usual daydreams—The Velvet Fedora. That’s the name of the bar I want to open one day. Somewhere in Fitzroy or Brunswick, where the air smells like coffee and the nights hum with jazz. Picture moody lighting, old timber, the clink of glasses, and a cocktail menu led by The Fedora—maybe bourbon, a touch of vermouth, and something smoky or floral to set it apart.

The night wasn’t perfect, but it had its charm. Like most good stories—it came with a bit of spice, a bit of frustration, and a view of something...

Can’t fault it. This is a superb Thai experience. The food was utterly delicious and the service was delightful. All that with a lofty second storey view with city glimpses.

I’m not sure you can do local Thai better than this. We adored every one of our dishes. The grilled prawns, the garlic chive pancakes and the chicken satay. All were skillfully made and presented with the best quality produce. And, I was completely knocked by the sauces which emphasized flavour with the sugar levels refreshingly dialed down. The flavors were utterly thrilling and not overly sweet. I’m not sure you can do them better.

The mains were similarly superb. The Pad Prik Talay had superb flavour with a very generous smattering of seafood. I have never tasted more tender calamari in a Thai meal than was presented in this dish. It was excellent. The beef salad was similarly thrilling. The beef was tender and plentiful. The serve was large and full of flavour. The rice and roti complemented them superbly.

The service was lovely throughout. The servers were pleasant, chatty and very attentive.

We could not fault this night out. Bottom line: this is a wonderful Thai experience. You must...

Went there last night, totally disscusted by the place. Asking the waiter before our order was placed if use MSG in the food. As i am highly allergic to this. Reply NO! Ok ... ordered spring rolls ( not made on sight), fish-cakes that looked like dark to burnt bloobs , no flavour but of oil. Small serve of rice ..( over cooked ) Crunchy pork and vegetables! Could not identify what meat it was, if was pork at all..?? Dry, over done, totally disscusted. Worse of all .. MSG was in the food. After spending the night with a racing heart.. drinking gallons of water ..trying to flush it out.. sick as a dog. ! Have a heart condition. Will definitely not recommend or visit again. Very expensive for what you get ..! The Travelling Chef.....