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Restaurant

Sam's Cali Cantina

760 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Recommended by 63 people

Updated

Find Sam's Cali Cantina

760 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9973 9551
HoursMonday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Sam's Cali Cantina

Sam’s Cali Cantina brings sunny West Coast comfort to Chapel Street, pairing slow-braised quesabirria with classic American diner burgers. Patrons drop by without a booking for crisp fish tacos folded into locally made corn tortillas, hot honey chicken burgers, and a quick pineapple jalapeño margarita at the bar. Rich birria consommé arrives piping hot alongside loaded nachos and crispy prawns tossed in chipotle crema.

  • Cali-Mex & Burger Hybrid: Diners pair slow-braised beef quesabirria tacos and crispy fish on corn tortillas with hot honey fried chicken and Angus beef burgers.
  • Taco Tuesdays & Bottomless Weekends: Midweek visitors share a $35 taco board on Tuesday, while weekends bring a $65 bottomless lunch sitting.
  • Effortless Walk-Ins: Tables welcome spontaneous walk-ins for quick weeknight dinners and drinks without requiring a reservation.
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What's On at Sam's Cali Cantina

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

The Cantina Advantage

Why diners choose Sam's Cali Cantina on Chapel Street

  • Californian Street Food Meets Classic Burgers

    Blends authentic Californian-Mexican street tacos and nachos with classic American burgers and diner-style shakes in an upbeat cantina setting.

    truly a Californian dream here in Melbourne.

    Kaya Eats

  • Vibrant Cali-Mex Flavors on Chapel Street

    Delivers vibrant Mexican street specialties like Baja fish tacos and slow-braised beef quesabirria alongside premium burgers and cocktails.

    Look no further for great Californian Mexican because these guys have you covered!

    Regaleatsmelb

  • Effortless Walk-Ins for Weeknight Bites

    Accommodates spontaneous casual diners and date nights without the stress of advance bookings, paired with high-value weekly specials.

    popped in for a quick bite to eat for dinner with no reservation (before 6pm) no problem with locating a table.

    Olivia Haley

  • Hassle-Free Table Availability on Busy Nights

    Welcomes walk-in guests with swift, friendly floor service and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere on busy Chapel Street evenings.

    My wife and I popped into Sam’s tonight without a reservation and the crew was super friendly — they got us a table no problem.

    Corey Werner

  • Dedicated Gluten-Free Catering

    Offers dedicated gluten-free options across tacos and burgers so diners with dietary needs enjoy the full menu experience.

    Tacos were gluten free catered

    Ali Obeido

  • Full-Flavored Vegetarian Burgers

    Features crafted meat-free and vegetarian burgers that deliver the same indulgent flavor profile and texture as meat options.

    I had a vegetarian burger called the Hot One, it was like a great cheese burger with Jalapeños.

    Kimberly Maxwell

Signature Cali-Mex street food and craft burgers

  • Beef Quesabirria Tacos

    The birria tacos were honestly the best I’ve ever had, fantastic service and a vibey atmosphere - everything was simply 10/10.

    Paris Hay

  • Fish Tacos

    10/10 fish tacos!! Just do yourself a favour and get 4 of them

    Kai Xiang Kuah

  • Crispy Prawn Tacos

    Tacos were gluten free catered My favourite was the crispy prawn

    Ali Obeido

  • Hot Honey Chicken Burger

    The food here was amazing, I highly recommend the hot honey chicken burger, and the taco platter on taco tuesday is great value and delicious.

    Declan Falls

Other favorites

Appetizers, sides, and signature drinks

  • Corn Ribs

    The prawns and and corn ribs perfect. Prawns great size and amount for a starter. Same for corn.

    Sylvia Taun

  • Popcorn Chicken Bites

    also got Birria Nachos and Popcorn Chicken Bites to share.

    Kaya Eats

  • Birria Nachos

    The nachos were a great appetizer, they were very generous with the beef! Every bite has a good amount of beef to it.

    Farrel Arkananta

  • Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita

    Don’t miss the pineapple jalapeño margarita—it's simply amazing.

    Michelle Wetherall

Beyond the menu

Attentive service gestures and thoughtful comforts that elevate casual Chapel Street dining.

  • Heated seating for chilly walk-ins

    Guests without a booking arriving on cold evenings are promptly seated directly alongside venue heaters to keep warm while ordering.

  • Thoughtful birthday hosting & GF care

    Diners visiting for birthdays receive attentive service and tailored gluten-free options across the cantina menu.

  • Hands-on owner & team hospitality

    Owner Ross personally checks in on tables, sharing the story of the cantina's evolution alongside attentive floor care.

  • Sound-conscious dining layout

    The dining space features acoustic dampening so guests can enjoy energetic background music while comfortably holding conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to book a table in advance?

Walk-ins are welcomed and frequently accommodated without hassle, especially earlier in the evening or off-peak, but reserving ahead is also an option if you want to be sure during busier rush times.

Are there gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options available?

Yes. The venue caters to gluten-free diners with options across both tacos and burgers, and offers vegetarian and vegan burger alternatives.

Do they offer weekly specials like Taco Tuesday or bottomless lunch?

On Taco Tuesday, Sam's offers a popular $35 sharing platter that lets you sample a variety of bites across the menu. On Saturdays and Sundays, they run a bottomless lunch option.

How generous are the portion sizes?

Portions can vary across the menu: burger and taco sizes lean smaller and more snack-sized for some diners, whereas dishes like loaded fries, birria beef tacos, and nachos are noted as hearty and filling.

What are the parking options nearby?

If you are driving, parking is available nearby under the Woolworths / Big W complex, which offers free parking with a store purchase, alongside area street parking.

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