Eat, shop and explore Sunshine's main street from end to end
Hampshire Road is the spine of Sunshine. It runs roughly north-south from the Sunshine station area towards Sunshine North, lined with Vietnamese bakeries, Afghan kebab houses, an Ethiopian restaurant, independent shops, barbers, dental clinics, and a retro cinema. If you want to understand what makes Sunshine tick, walk this street.
Time Out Melbourne published a local's guide to Sunshine back in 2021. It mentioned Hampshire Road as the food destination. Five years later, the strip has only gotten better. New cafes have opened, the existing restaurants have matured, and the foot traffic keeps growing.
This guide walks you through Hampshire Road from south to north. Start near the station, eat your way along, and finish with a coffee at the top end.
284 Hampshire Rd | Vietnamese | $14-$20
Pho Hien Saigon is where most people start a Hampshire Road food crawl. The pho is textbook. Clean, aromatic beef broth, thin rice noodles, rare beef slices, and a plate of fresh herbs and bean sprouts on the side. 754 Google reviews at 4.4 stars. Yelp reviewers from overseas have called it one of the best pho experiences they have had outside of Vietnam.
253 Hampshire Rd | Vietnamese | $12-$22
A few doors down, Thuan An has been feeding Sunshine for years. 1,339 Google reviews. The crispy fried rice is the signature dish. Charcoal grilled meats are another strong option. Reddit users call it a "definite must try." Service is fast. Turnover is high. This is a restaurant that runs like a well-oiled machine.
231 Hampshire Rd | Afghan | $15-$28
Afghan Shaheen breaks the Vietnamese run with something completely different. Lamb kebabs grilled over charcoal. Handmade mantu dumplings with yoghurt. Kabuli pulao, the fragrant Afghan rice dish with carrots and raisins. 614 reviews at 4.2 stars. Hampshire Road's multicultural range starts to show here.
207 Hampshire Rd | Vietnamese | $14-$22
Co Do is the bun bo hue specialist. This spicy beef noodle soup from central Vietnam has a deeper, more complex flavour than pho. Lemongrass, chilli, thick round noodles, and generous portions of beef shank. 1,380 Google reviews. TikTok food reviewers have featured it. If you only try one dish on Hampshire Road, make it the bun bo hue here.
301 Hampshire Rd | Cafe | $5-$20
Brimby's is the cafe stop on Hampshire Road. 4.9 stars on Google across 89 reviews. It sits near the Sunshine Library, which makes it a natural pause point. Good coffee, well-made brunch plates, and the kind of friendly service where the staff remember your name after a few visits. TripAdvisor rates it 5 out of 5.
Shop 4/5-9 Clarke St (one block off Hampshire Rd) | Juice | $6-$14
A short walk off Hampshire Road, Agha Juice Centre serves fresh Persian-inspired juices, smoothies, and faloodeh. Over 1,000 Google reviews at 4.6 stars. It is the most reviewed juice bar in the area by a wide margin. Carrot, pomegranate, and mango blends made fresh to order.
12a/254 Hampshire Rd | Barber
Barber Plus is the most reviewed barber in Sunshine. 507 Google reviews at 4.7 stars. Walk-ins are welcome. Qualified master barbers. Cuts, fades, beard trims, and hot towel shaves. If you need a trim while walking the strip, this is the spot.
232A Hampshire Rd | Dentist
Right on Hampshire Road, Sunshine Family Dental has 299 reviews at 4.9 stars. It is the highest-rated dentist in Sunshine. Family-friendly, with patients praising clear explanations and gentle treatment. Handy to know about even if you are not visiting Hampshire Road for the food.
At the southern end of Hampshire Road, near the station, Village Cinemas has been showing films in Sunshine for decades. It has a retro 1980s feel that Time Out Melbourne specifically highlighted. Cheap Tuesday tickets make it one of the best-value cinema experiences in Melbourne.
The Brimbank Libraries branch on Hampshire Road sits near Brimby's Cafe. It is a modern, well-stocked library with free wifi, study spaces, and community events. A good place to spend an hour before or after eating your way down the street.
A short walk from Hampshire Road, the McKay Gardens are heritage-listed and recognised as one of the earliest industrial gardens in Victoria. They were built for the workers at the Sunshine Harvester factory. Quiet, shaded, and a nice contrast to the busy food strip.
| Spot | Type | Address | Google Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pho Hien Saigon | Vietnamese | 284 Hampshire Rd | 4.4 (754) |
| Thuan An | Vietnamese | 253 Hampshire Rd | 4.3 (1,339) |
| Afghan Shaheen | Afghan | 231 Hampshire Rd | 4.2 (614) |
| Co Do | Vietnamese | 207 Hampshire Rd | 4.1 (1,380) |
| Brimby's Cafe | Cafe | 301 Hampshire Rd | 4.9 (89) |
| Agha Juice | Juice | Clarke St | 4.6 (1,035) |
| Barber Plus | Barber | 254 Hampshire Rd | 4.7 (507) |
Local tip: Hampshire Road tells the story of Sunshine's migration history in shopfronts. Italian and Maltese families arrived in the 1950s. Vietnamese and Chinese communities followed in the 1980s. Afghan and Ethiopian businesses have opened in the last 10 to 15 years. Each wave added new food, new shops, and new energy to the street. Walking Hampshire Road is walking through 70 years of Australian multiculturalism.
Hampshire Road does not try to be trendy. It is a working main street where people shop, eat, and get things done. That is exactly what makes it worth visiting. For the full list of Hampshire Road businesses, explore businesses in Sunshine.
Top-rated pho restaurant on Hampshire Road. 754 Google reviews at 4.4 stars. The pho is clean, fragrant, and comes with a generous plate of herbs.
3/284 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
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Vietnamese institution with 1,339 reviews. Crispy fried rice, charcoal meats, and fast service. A must-stop on any Hampshire Road food walk.
253 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsAfghan kebabs, mantu dumplings, and kabuli pulao. 614 reviews at 4.2 stars. One of the few Afghan restaurants in Melbourne's west.
231 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsHighest-rated dentist on Hampshire Road. 299 reviews at 4.9 stars. Right on the main strip.
232A Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsFamous for bun bo hue. 1,380 Google reviews. A Hampshire Road landmark for Vietnamese food.
207 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsNeighbourhood cafe with 89 reviews at 4.9 stars. Good coffee, friendly staff, and a relaxed atmosphere next to the library.
301 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
Open in Google MapsMost reviewed barber in Sunshine. 507 Google reviews at 4.7 stars. Walk-ins welcome.
12a/254 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020
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