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Mabu Mabu - Big Esso, Melbourne, AU-VIC

Mabu Mabu - Big Esso

4.5
4.5
374 Reviews
$A41 to $A100
Australian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 21 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for groups
  • Innovative
  • Great for creative cocktails
Big Esso is an all-day bar and kitchen located on the land of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples. We are beyond proud to be bringing Indigenous food and culture back to the banks of Birrarung (Yarra). This River was once an eel breeding ground; where shark, dolphin and stingrays could be found. ​ This place was a main source of food, hunting, cooking, and ceremony. By sharing food in this place, we hope to bring these stories back to life. ​ 'Big Esso' is an expression in the Torres Strait. It’s a slang term that means ‘the biggest thank you.’ This is what you say when you really want to express your gratitude. When combined, ‘Mabu Mabu & Big Esso’ is what you would say before kicking-off a celebration like no other. ​

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $A41 to $A100
  • Cuisines
    Australian, Indigenous, Modern Australian
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Fed Square Parking is available via the Russell St extension.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Nornie Bero

Experiences

  • Feed Menu

    A$75.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Feed Menu
    Feed Menu photo

What 374 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Melbourne

    Innovative

  • Inner City

    Innovative

  • Inner City

    Gluten-free-friendly

  • Inner City

    Great for creative cocktails

  • Inner City

    Healthy

  • Inner City

    Vegetarian-friendly

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Mabu Mabu - Big Esso offers a unique dining experience with "amazingly delicious" indigenous-inspired dishes. The "friendly and helpful" staff enhance the experience, guiding guests through a menu featuring standout ingredients like emu and crocodile. While some dishes may not always impress, the vibrant atmosphere and adventurous flavors make it a must-visit in Melbourne.

374 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Victoria2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    The good was outstanding and a great experience. However the service was average .

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  2. Dean

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    6 of us has a good variety, some were vegetarian, and menu made it easy to accomodate requirements.

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  3. Fiona

    Melbourne11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We chose the Feed Me menu, which was great value and encouraged us to try some of the more exotic dishes on the menu, for example Crocodile tongues on skewers! We received a large range of dishes and each one was delicious and beautifully presented. The flavours Nornie puts into her meals are fantastic. Very enjoyable and original menu.

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  4. melissa

    Melbourne4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    we had cocktails and and early dinner with shared plates for three. the plant based / vegan options for primo and super satisfying and flavoursome. from the damper to the yam, salads and just a great combination. it was a perfect evening into night and the atmos was crystal.

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  5. Yoshi

    Melbourne1 review

    4.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    First time dining, great range of food. The purple yam was a hit ! Highly recommend.

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  6. Lillian

    Melbourne5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Quite an experience! The fresh, new menu challenges and tantalises taste buds. Even my interstate guest, who isn't very adventurous, enjoyed it - especially the emu steak.

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  7. Karina

    Sydney3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    I had never tried traditional Aboriginal food before, so when I saw a post about this restaurant on a friend's Facebook, I decided to give it a try. A friend from Sydney was visiting, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to try something different. We ordered the fried crocodile. I'm not sure if it’s meant to be served hot or cold, but it seemed like it was pre-prepared and served cold. It was drizzled with either mayo or yogurt (I’m not entirely sure which), and while it tasted okay, I was a bit disappointed. It didn’t have the “wow” factor I was expecting and instead reminded me of deep-fried calamari that was overly cooked. Along with the crocodile, we had a cucumber salad, which was refreshing. We also tried the fish, which I think was mackerel. It was flavorful, but again, didn’t leave a lasting impression. While the experience was what I was looking for, it didn't quite meet my expectations.

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  8. Teri

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing staff. Food was incredible. Cocktails were great. 10/10.

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  9. Luba VIP

    Portland45 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We were interested in trying aboriginal food and Mabu Mabu was profiled in one of the articles we read. The service was very friendly and readily addressed all questions. The menu is short. Even with a short list, one of the items we wanted to try — alligator tongue dish — was sold out. Three dishes we ordered had interesting ingredients, like emu meat. Though, it was not warm enough temperature for the main course. Drinks were average. Later, a Melbourne friend told us that the place is mostly visited by tourists, but if you want to try unusual ingredients, like G&T with green ants, this place is for you.

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  10. Simone

    Melbourne1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing dining experience. Everyone needs to eat here honestly it was so delicious, expertly crafted and perfectly prepared.

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FAQs

Mabu Mabu - Big Esso is rated 4.5 stars by 374 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 21 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Mabu Mabu - Big Esso

Federation Square, Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne, AU-VIC 3000

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $A41 to $A100
  • Cuisines
    Australian, Indigenous, Modern Australian
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Thu 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Fed Square Parking is available via the Russell St extension.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Nornie Bero
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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