Dust busters

We’ve selected the best food in town for curing a hangover

Phở Nom Order: Saigon Breakfast, $11

Banh mi are fantastic hangover cures, especially when you’re ready to chew your own arm off. Head to Pho Nom for the Saigon Breakfast, a banh mi stuffed with pickled carrots, cucumber, coriander, spring onion, sliced steak and two runny deep-fried eggs. Supplement it with a caffeine and sugar kick in the form of a Vietnamese iced coffee and prepare to take on the world.

àlower Ground Emporium Melbourne, 287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9620 7110. phonom.com.au. Sat-wed 10am-7pm; Thu, Fri 10am-9pm.

Maker and Monger Order: Fondue Special, $15

For the cheesiest hangover fix, order the fondue special, which is a bit like a fondue pot between bread: a toastie packed with a mix of melted gruyère and comte punched up with shallots, garlic and wine. To embrace Melbourne’s cultural melting pot in a Swiss-inspired toastie, throw on some Lao Man Ga chilli oil from the condiments station for a spicy MSG hit. àstall 98, Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra 3141. 03 9558 4830. makerandmonger.com. au. Tue-sat 7.30am-4.30pm; Sun 9am-3pm.

Secret Kitchen Chinatown Order: Everything

Secret Kitchen does the best yum cha in the CBD, and you can get all your favourites, from har gow, siu mai, ham sui gok (those sweet-savoury footballshaped fried dumplings filled with ground pork) to crisp roast pork. If you’re brave enough, you can dip into the surprisingly strong drinks list, or walk the virtuous line and drink endless cups of antioxidant-filled tea

à222 Exhibition St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9988 7778. secret-kitchen.com.au. Daily 11am-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm.

A1 Lebanese Bakery: Brunswick Order: Foul moudammas, $9

Sure, you can pretty much buy every single pie and pastry for $10, but for $9, you can have the rib-sticking, fava bean-based stew topped with chickpeas, served with their housemade pita, pickles and fresh vegetables. Plus, the pickles and vegetables will give you the vitamins and minerals you are so clearly lacking. Win-win.

à643- 645 Sydney Rd, Brunswick 3056. 03 9386 0440. a1lebanesebakery.com.au. Mon-wed, Sun 7am-7pm; Thu-sat 7am-9pm.

Capitano Order: Grandma’s square pie, $24

We all know that insatiable hunger that finally arrives just as you’re about to come good from a hangover. Plug that hole with Capitano’s square pie, built off a thick, doughy, Sicilian-style sourdough base that is topped with housemade tomato sauce, mozzarella, pecorino and stracciatella. You could share, but we’d advise against it under these circumstances. à421 Rathdowne St, Carlton 2053. 03 9134 8555. capitano.com. au. Mon-fri 5.30-11.30pm; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun noon-11pm.

Dong Ba Order: Bun bo Hue, large, $13.50

Pho is gentle and settles your stomach, whereas bun bo Hue is packed full of flavour, spice and textures. Dong Ba serves up one of the best examples of this noodle soup in Melbourne. This lemongrass and chilli-based beef broth is particularly lemongrassy, balanced with a light, chilli hum and supported by rare or welldone slices of beef, blood jelly, pork loaf and refreshing slices of raw onion over thick rice noodles. If this doesn’t make you feel better, we suggest you order a second bowl. à133 Hopkins St,

Footscray 3011. 03 9689 0608. Mon-thu 9am-8.30pm; Fri-sun 9am-9pm.

Belles Hot Chicken Order: Chicken tenders with fries, as hot as you can handle, $12

We wouldn’t usually recommend you eat the spiciest level you could handle, but when you’re hungover, your senses are muted and you also need to sweat a bit to get the booze out. There is no better time. Go for the tenders so you’re not gnawing and fighting against bones (it’s just an obstacle when you’re hungover) and pair it with fries, because your body’s probably lacking some serious carbohydrates. àmultiple locations. belleshotchicken.com.

Andrew’s Burgers Order: Hawaiian burger, $13

Sometimes only the dirtiest food will do. Andrew’s Burgers are famously and unashamedly Australian, with their soft burger buns crammed with beef patties, double cheese, pineapple, onion, beetroot, lettuce and an obligatory squeeze of tomato sauce. à144 Bridport St, Albert Park 3206. 03 9690 2126. andrewshamburgers.com.au. Mon-sat 11am-9pm.

Pope Joan Order: The Pope Joan, $14

The crew behind this namesake sandwich swear by its ability to cure your hangover. A warm white roll is filled with thick slices of free-range bacon, fried eggs and a housemade brown sauce. If you’re really suffering, pair it with a Bloody Mary, which you can order as spicy as you like. Flex at your own risk. ■ à45

Collins St, Melbourne 3000. 03 9654 8545. popejoancity.com. Mon-fri 7am-late.