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Restaurant

Hopper Joint

157 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Recommended by 20 people

Updated

Find Hopper Joint

157 Greville St, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9989 3159
HoursMonday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 5:00 – 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 Hopper Joint

Prahran’s essential Sri Lankan ticket pairs rich, slow-simmered curries with unlimited crispy hoppers straight off the stove. Diners who track Melbourne’s spice trail swear by this moody Greville Street dining room. Settle in and the table gets marked by the lady of the house placing a welcoming bindi on your forehead before dinner starts. The routine centers on the $50 feast—a bowl-shaped egg hopper, coconut sambols, and choices like tender goat or blackened pineapple. Need more starch? Ding the small brass bell at your table and fresh, pillowy plain hoppers keep coming directly from the open kitchen line. Wash down the heat with cucumber raita, beef pan rolls, and stiff cocktails, pausing between courses at the copper handwashing basin in the center of the room.

  • Limitless Hoppers: Tap the brass table bell for endless warm, bowl-shaped fermented rice hoppers alongside the $50 set menu.
  • Soulful Curries: Signature bowls include tender goat, soft-shell crab, and the sweet-heat blackened pineapple curry.
  • Immersive Atmosphere: Low amber lighting, South Asian wall art, an open hopper cooking station, and a communal handwashing basin.
  • Cultural Welcome: A personal greeting from the owner's mother with a traditional bindi marking sets the tone upon arrival.
RestaurantSri LankanRestaurant

What's On at Hopper Joint

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Hopper Joint

Interactive Sri Lankan dining, heritage flavours, and spirited atmosphere

  • Limitless Hoppers at the Ring of a Bell

    Diners enjoy hot, freshly cooked plain hoppers delivered continuously throughout the meal simply by sounding their table bell.

    limitless hoppers at the sound of a bell kept at your table

    Delna Doomasia

  • Theatrical Open-Kitchen Hopper Craft

    Guests can watch the chef expertly manage rows of traditional hopper pans, swirling and releasing each hopper in plain sight.

    being able to spectate the chef managing a row of hoppers pans was truly delightful

    Wickd Chin

  • Homeland Ambiance and Cultural Nostalgia

    Authentic interior styling and thoughtful personal hospitality transport diners directly back to Sri Lankan heritage.

    Authentic Sri Lankan ambiance that just takes you back to your homeland

    Andreya

  • Faithful Heritage Culinary Execution

    Faithful renditions of iconic dishes like hot buttered cuttlefish evoke genuine emotional connection for guests seeking authentic culinary roots.

    Through my 14 years of being in Australia I never could quite find a restaurant that nailed a proper Hot Buttered Cuttlefish until now!!

    Dineth Wijendra

  • Vibrant and Engaging Date Destination

    The energetic dining room and interactive format offer a memorable backdrop for lively dates and social get-togethers.

    Genuinely an amazing date spot for a bit of fun if you want something different

    tim mountford

  • Moody South Asian Atmosphere and Decor

    Rich South Asian styling combined with intimate, moody lighting creates an inviting environment for memorable nights out.

    The moody lighting, decorations and atmosphere was sooo beautiful I am so in love with South Asian decorum.

    Rosie Ha

Signature hopper sets and flavourful curries central to the dining experience

  • Hopper Set

    unlimited hoppers paired with two curries of your choice

    Meril Ayoub

  • Blackened Pineapple Curry

    The curries were incredible, particularly the goat and the blackened pineapple!

    anonymous tabby

  • Egg Hopper

    The hoppers themselves were so tasty, especially the egg one.

    anonymous tabby

  • Goat Curry

    Would highly recommend the goat and chicken curries!!

    ltd

Other favorites

Traditional short eats, refreshing sides, and authentic Sri Lankan sweets

  • Pan Rolls

    the beef pan rolls and cuttlefish are a must

    Sorelle Jansz

  • Hot Buttered Cuttlefish

    Through my 14 years of being in Australia I never could quite find a restaurant that nailed a proper Hot Buttered Cuttlefish until now!!

    Dineth Wijendra

  • Cucumber Raita

    Would really recommend the cucumber side as a refreshing palette cleanse.

    Rosie Ha

  • Watalappam Brulee

    We thoroughly enjoyed their Golden Syrup Dumplings and Watalappam Brulee!

    Wickd Chin

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful cultural rituals and interactive table touches that elevate the hopper dining experience

  • Matriarch Pottuwa Greeting

    Guests are warmly welcomed by the owner's mother, who stops by tables to greet diners and apply a traditional bindi or pottuwa to their foreheads.

  • Tabletop Hopper Summoning Bell

    Each table features a dedicated service bell that diners can ring to have hot, unlimited fresh hoppers delivered straight to their table.

  • Open Hopper Station Theatre

    An open kitchen layout allows guests to watch the hopper chef skillfully manage a row of traditional pans and clink each pan before dishing up hoppers.

  • Dining Room Hand Wash Station

    A dedicated hand wash basin situated directly in the dining room pairs with illustrated wall guides explaining how to traditional enjoy hoppers by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the hopper dining experience work?

Hopper Joint serves a set menu where diners choose two curries accompanied by an egg hopper, sambols, and unlimited plain hoppers that come hot to your table when requested by ringing a bell.

Do I need to make a reservation in advance?

Yes, reservations are accepted and strongly recommended because the dining room gets consistently packed and busy. If arriving without a booking, walk-ins may experience a wait at the bar for an open table.

Are vegetarian options available on the menu?

Yes, the restaurant serves a selection of vegetarian curries, including dishes such as okra and blackened pineapple, alongside meat and seafood choices.

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