Marko’s Schnitzel
2/159 Chesterville Rd
Moorabbin

Where’s the best tradie lunch spot in Melbourne? Because I think I’ve found it. And it ticks all the boxes: quick, delicious, filling, and with that proper “made with love” feel that makes you think someone in the back actually cares about your lunch.

I’m talking about Marko’s Schnitzel in Moorabbin, and it’s been there for about 17 years, which in hospitality years is basically a century. It’s one of those places that’s been on my radar for ages, but travelling out to Moorabbin for a schnitzel sandwich? Better be worth it. Spoiler: it absolutely is.

Husband and wife, Marko and Maya Abramov opened on an industrial strip of Chesterville Road in 2009 and there it still sits in that industrial pocket of Moorabbin where you expect steel shutters, warehouses, and a few blokes in hi-vis already halfway through lunch before you’ve even parked. Parking is a bit limited, which is pretty on-brand for the area, but we found an oval about two minutes away and drove there after to eat our schnitzels in the sunshine. But I did see some tradies not make it that far and hoofing away at their lunches in their car before being needed back on site.

And once you get inside, it’s like being transported back to 2000s lunch hour. You go through the long vinyl curtains and suddenly you’re in this fish and chip shop style time warp. It’s old school in the best possible way. Locals clearly know how it works, because the whole setup is deli-style and dead simple. Metal trays full of fresh ingredients, you pick your base, you pick your fillings, and off you go.

The ordering system is part of the fun. Step one, choose your base. You can go a 6 inch sub, a 12 inch sub, a pita plate, or extras like schnitzel, falafel, pita, or chips. Step two, choose your schnitzel or grill. There’s plain schnitzel, garlic and paprika schnitzel, herb schnitzel, onion schnitzel, or grilled options and a mixed grill-style option with chicken liver, chicken hearts, thigh fillet, and fried onion. There are vegetarian options too, including falafel pita and falafel plate. Step three, load up from the salad bar and choose your salads or dips.

And this is where Marko’s really gets it right. They deep fry the schnitzels, so they come out crispy but still juicy inside. That’s the sweet spot. Even when I was so full I genuinely could not have another bite of the sandwich, I was still pulling pieces of schnitzel out to eat on their own because there was no way I was wasting any of it. That’s always a good sign. 

We ordered the plain schnitzel with pita, the herbed schnitzel with sub, and the falafel with pita. And if you’re going to go, my advice is simple: get the salsa in it. It’s Mediterranean-style with olives, parsley, and a bunch of secret herbs and spices, and it makes the whole thing pop. Add the chilli too, because that Mediterranean flavour profile really carries through the whole menu. And naturally, with that flavour base comes the full supporting cast: pickled veg, slaw, Greek salad, hummus, garlic sauce, the lot. I had the lot, and honestly, that’s the way to do it.

People say Marko’s gets super busy, but when I went around 12pm-ish on a Wednesday, I waited less than 10 minutes for my order. So my tip is don’t wait for the rush. Get in early, get your order in, and beat the lunchtime crowd. 

And speaking of the price, it’s $19 for a pita, and the same price for the 12 inch sub. Now, drive-by hospo prices aren’t what they used to be, but this is pretty much the accepted price point across if you want to cover overheads and keep a business running. The important bit is that you get value, and Marko’s absolutely loads them up. You get your full $19 worth, no question. It’s generous without being sloppy, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.

What I like most about Marko’s is that it feels like a real lunch spot, not a concept. It’s got personality, locals won’t be discovering this for the first time but maybe if you’re out that way you’ll get the chance to discover it. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need a marketing campaign to build loyalty because the food does it for them.

So if you’re asking where the best tradie lunch spot is, I reckon Marko’s Schnitzel has a serious claim on the title. It’s been doing the job for about 17 years, it’s quick, it’s filling, it’s got that made-with-love quality, and it absolutely delivers the goods. And if you’re heading out there, go hungry.     

Images: Supplied