Nelayan Restaurant (Swanston)

Not accepting orders on this platform Business is Open Now

Restaurant - Traditional, Indonesian food, Nusantara, Original

Updated On: Fri September 26, 2025 at 11PM

Located in Melbourne's Museum neighbourhood, Nelayan Indonesian - CBD serves authentic Indonesian cuisine, popular for its spicy and flavourful dishes. The restaurant is particularly renowned for its Sambal Geprek, noted for its super-hot chilli kick, and the rich and tender Beef Rendang. Other highlights from the menu include an array of sambal options, such as the traditional Sambal Terasi, and a variety of rice and noodle dishes that showcase the depth of Indonesian culinary traditions. With a customer rating rounding to 4.3, Nelayan Indonesian - CBD is a favourite among locals, especially during the evening hours.

Address

265 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Nelayan Restaurant (Swanston)

Restaurant Overview

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 9pm
Tuesday 10am - 9pm
Wednesday 10am - 9pm
Thursday 10am - 9pm
Friday 10am - 9pm
Saturday 10am - 9pm
Sunday 10am - 9pm

Media Social

Services

Dine In, Delivery, Pickup, Takeaway

Nelayan Restaurant (Swanston)

Delivery & Reservation

on Other Platforms

Order from Other Platforms

UberEAST
UberEAST
Order Now
OR

Reserve via Third-Party Apps

Online reservations not available

Nelayan Restaurant (Swanston)

Testimonials

Ifg Welf

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

The waitress and cashier were extremely friendly. The Mie Ayem Geprek was just what I needed during a brisk afternoon. The clear soup was amaaazing. Perfect combination of savoury and tangy flavour. I didn’t even need a spoon I just drank it down. Worth multiple revisits. Can’t recommend enough. Overall had a home made vibe to the meal. Felt like I was part of the family. This was my first time trying Indonesian cuisine and I was blown away.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Phuong Nguyen

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

5/5 Stars! 🌟 Hands down the best Indonesian food I've had in Melbourne! The flavors are so rich and authentic, I was in culinary heaven. I got so caught up enjoying my meal that I forgot to take photos! 😂 The service was also top-notch, friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes. Highly recommend! 👍

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Phoebe Dhi

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

As an Indonesian, I really appreciate how authentic the food is at Nelayan. The flavors are rich and just like home. You can tell they use good ingredients, and everything is nicely presented. I love that they serve krupuk and emping melinjo — those little details make it feel extra special. They also have some traditional Indonesian cakes, which is a nice bonus! If you're craving proper Indo food in Melbourne, Nelayan is definitely a great spot to check out.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Cindy Jöviānd

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

📍 𝗡𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 ⭑.ᐟ ❤︎ 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱: craving comfort food that reminds me of home ❤︎ 𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗵: nasi tempong lele ❤︎ 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿: Indonesians in Ausie who miss authentic sambal ❤︎ 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲: casual, clean, and great for group dining ꫂ ၴႅၴ I came here with one mission: to satisfy my craving for lele. Being in Australia, it’s not easy to find catfish done the Indo way—crispy, flavorful, and paired with a proper sambal. But Nelayan delivered. Their nasi tempong lele brought me back to the kind of warung food you find in Indonesia: white rice, crunchy tempe, golden tofu, and lele goreng that’s deeply seasoned. The sambal tempong was the real star—fiery and fresh, it hit all the right notes. That first bite reminded me of home, of meals eaten with bare hands and iced tea in tall glasses. For a moment, it felt like I was back there. And for anyone far from home, that feeling is everything. ⴵ 𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲: quick service (around 10 mins) 𐀪 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱: medium crowd, mostly fellow Indonesians ☼ 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱: Thursday dinner ‎𐂐 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿: nasi tempong lele (with tofu, tempe, greens, sambal) 𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻? Yessssssss for sure 🥺🇮🇩

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Alex Lapina

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

The Char Kway Teow arrived with that irresistible smoky wok hei aroma, promising bold flavours from the first bite. The noodles were perfectly chewy, coated in a rich, spicy sauce that had just the right kick. The sambal stole the show – fiery, fragrant, and deeply satisfying, leaving a heat that lingered beautifully. I could 100% eat that and freshly steamed rice by itself. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely delightful, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to an already fantastic meal.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Jeanelle Sequeira

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

Chill atmosphere, lots of seating, fast service, tasty food! Love that you can add the spicy sambal to whatever you want for a nice kick. Haven’t had Indonesian food before so I’m uncertain how authentic but the reviews and folks dining in gave me the indication it was authentic. Tasty and fresh :)

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Edwald Edwald

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

Great Indonesian restaurant that has serviced Melbourne CBD community for years. Great selection of mixed rice and a special yellow rice on the weekend. The cook to order selections is wide with soups, grill options, fried rice and many others. Fried rice is perfectly cooked with some wok char flavour and aroma. Good Indonesian option while roaming in Melbourne CBD

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Steve Roy

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

My eyes scanned the menu, a delicious litany of Indonesian delights, but my heart was set. There it was, nestled amongst the familiar favourites: Nasi Goreng Kampung. The "village style" fried rice. This wasn't just any nasi goreng; this was the real deal, the kind you’d find in a bustling Jakarta warung or a tranquil Balinese village.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Yan Lai

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

OMG! This is the best Indonesian food I ever tasted! And I wasn’t expect it at all! The staff she was so nice! Even though she is by herself serving customers, super busy! She still remember go back to drop off some water and cutlery. Food is amazing! I had honey grill ribs, good amount of portions, rips is so tender and soft. Come with rice and all the sides! Only thing I could pick on is the drink is too small, drink is full of shaved ice, it will be nice if they can actually put more coconut milk!

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Đăng Nguyễn

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

The best Indonesian food so far that I ever tried in Melbourne . Along with the carefulness and the dedication of staff. highly recommended!

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Ha Nguyen

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

The food was fresh and full of flavour, and it came so quick. Really happy with both the taste and the service.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Khalid Amin

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

Very clean restaurant and staff is amazing. Their prices are very reasonable and food was very delicious. We tried their grilled Red Snapper and Tilapia and both were very delicious. Highly recommended, and we will definitely go there whenever we crave for a nice grilled fish.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Clara Cynthia

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

The Soto Betawi is very delicious, the taste is authentic. Good place to start if you want to try authentic Indonesian food.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Chanjief Chandrakumar

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

We have been to this place twice and their food is absolutely delicious. The service is good but the place is generally very busy so you might need to wait a bit. Highly recommend this place if you want to try out some authentic Indonesian cuisine.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Fitri Icha Masdita

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

I ordered Mie ayam, 12$ and surprisingly the portion was big and taste yummy! Worth it to try and enjoy!

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Balicooks

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently had the pleasure of dining at Nelayan Indonesian Restaurant in Melbourne, and I must say, it was an incredible experience! The food is absolutely the best! As an Indonesian, the flavors and authenticity of the dishes made me feel like I was enjoying a home-cooked meal straight from Indonesia. The spices used in every dish are so rich and vibrant, reminding me of the traditional recipes I’ve grown up with. Each bite was a delightful journey through Indonesian cuisine. I highly recommend this restaurant not just to Indonesians, but to everyone who wants to explore and experience the unique flavors of Indonesia while in Melbourne. If you’re looking for a fantastic dining destination that offers genuine Indonesian food, Nelayan Indonesian Restaurant is the place to go. Don’t miss out on this culinary gem! You won’t regret it!

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

NANO LINGO

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

26/6/25 We were impressed by the great food tonight!

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Nayra Aisyara Lakcana

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

nelayan's food be hittin, it reminds me indonesia.. really it takes me back.. love thiss!! Pure taste and genious way of cooking.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

S T

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

New decor, new staff, new menu… Bright venu, great location opposite QV. Friendly staff and I hope it’ll stay that way. Be aware it can become very noisy and cold specially their door never close properly. The beef randang taste good but sometimes you get only the spices and no meat. The spicy chicken we had was delicious. I miss their sambal eggplants but they are not in the bain-marie anymore I think. I believe they changed the chef too because it’s become more spicy and I almost reach my limit.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

me2y chan

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

Delicious authentic Indonesian food in the middle CBD, the food here made me feel like I was back home.the staff very friendly and nice. The taste is good and not too pricey. Worth to try

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Yasiru Mahapatuna

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

If you want a hearty feed in the heart of Melbourne. Look no further than Nelayan Restaurant. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to get around the menu, their staff will guide you every step of the way. We had a party of 9 and they were more than happy to accommodate us even without a reservation. Some of our family members have never been to Nelayan and staff helped guide them through their order. Food was fresh and delicious. Prices are not too high but not too cheap either.

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

thecookingecon

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

This one is nostalgic! i’ve been here since I was a kid and now with many memories, all I can say is that they’re my go-to Indonesian restaurant in Melbourne and always will be. Portion size is also generous and staffs are great. Bakso Kuah $17 - 🌟 9.5/10 it satiated my cravings and taste really good! Broth are flavorful (as they should be) to note: noodle (additional $2 per portion) Bakmi Ayam $17 - 🌟 9/10 I’ve been craving mie ayam for A WHILE and the ones in adelaide were great too but just not up to my alley. This was great, the most similar one i’ve tasted to the ones back home. The minced topping was flavourful and the portion is really generous (if you’re not crazy hungry, I suggest splitting this with someone!) ig: @eatinadl

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Aman Mattoo

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

For the love of indonesian food we went and tried this amazing place and got our perfect share of spice. We tried the tahu isi which in my opinion was one of the best i have ever tried in any part of the world including bali. Apart from that we ordered bakar ayam and mie goreng. Love the fact they sell sambal which is just absolutely divine but unfortunately forgot to take pics coz we were famished and dived straight into business. But definitely a good find and will go back when we go back to melbourne

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Vyen Shin

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

First time trying Batagor (it’s like a fried fish cake dim sim served with peanut sauce) and I loved it!!!! Would also recommend trying their rendang (full of coconut aroma) and Klepon (something like a Pandan coconut mochi balls)!!! 😍😍😍😍

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Zakaria M

Nov 01, 2025 6:26 PM

One of the best Indonesian restaurant in Melbourne town. The price to food tastiness is so so good. When u enter u will feel the vibes like being at home. The workers also can understand bahasa. To my south East Asian peeps, craving for some nasi in this winter chilly season. Head down to nelayan. lunch and dinner time is peak with customers. u know we SEA need our rice and proteins. one bite and you’ll feel like home. Thousand of past positive reviews is surely not an easy task. To the management give ur workers some bonus cause I came for the first time and they took their time to explain to me what’s best and what’s he best combo for nasi campur. Services 9.5/10 Good job team

👍 Login untuk memberi Like

0 orang merasa terbantu

Login to Add Testimonial