Emilia reviews a much-loved Asian fusion bayside eatery
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If you lived or even visited Bayside Melbourne in the last 7 years you’ll likely recognise the name Bang Bang, their Mordialloc location has been pumping guests through from all around Melbourne for years. It was time for a second location, Hampton felt natural for them given their priority for local community. They opened three weeks ago and locals have been coming down every night since to check it out.
I, however, travelled a little further than most of the locals, by train; which was really the quickest way for me to get there because it’s about 300m from the train door to Bang Bang’s front door. The warm lights beckoning round the corner from the Hampton train station, dragging you out onto Hampton (main) Street with al fresco seating and plenty of inside seating. I noticed this as a trend as their Mordialloc location is straight across from the train too.
Bang Bang got its name from its first iteration’s location, once a functional rifle range before they transformed it.
They put the fusion in Asian fusion ranging from Malaysian, India, Thai, Korean, Japanese and all through the pacific. In that, their menu is extremely ‘order-able’, there’s an obvious favourite dish for everyone.
I started with the Chilli Chilli Bang Bang which is one of their signature cocktails, their spicy marg with a Bang Bang twist.
I wanted to get the full range of asian selections on the menu, starting with the Pani Puri, deconstructed with a zesty, mint sauce on the side of the “deep-fried breaded hollow spherical shell” filled with masala potatoes. I tried their prawn toast, 12 hour short rib and fried chicken bao, kaarage squid, JFC; which all did exactly what they should – delicious, easy orders, bursting flavours. They were all above average and made for the perfect sharing dishes. 
Our surprising favourites came in the form of modern Vietnamese and Thai dishes; the cheung fun rolled noodles, which are thick rice noodles rolled up with peanutty and hoisin sauce topped with crispy chilli, and wonton Tom Kha soup, with a spicy and sour coconut base.
From their mains we tried their famous Twice Cooked Pork Belly with chilli caramel, wombok & apple slaw. It was almost candied on the outside and fell apart in your mouth, the salad was needed to balance out the sweetness and the apple slices provided the right amount of freshness and crunch
We also tried the beef massaman curry, bursting with creamy flavour and tender beef.
To get the most bang bang for your buck (low hanging fruit) I would load up on starters which are mostly under $20 and pack a punch. The mains jump up, sitting around $30-$35 but you could honestly share one main and be satisfied.
Hot tip is to get in for an early dinner for their Bang Bang Hour with $2 oysters, $15 cocktails and $35 Raw tasting plates.
They can accommodate groups of up to 20 and will be open for dinner every night of the week plus lunches on Fri, Sat and Sundays.
Bang Bang
315 Hampton Street, Hampton