From Chin Chin to Charrd’s viral burger: The food to race to at the F1 Grand Prix

Summer may be officially over, but punters are primed for a final lap of warm weather this weekend when the F1 Australian Grand Prix revs up Albert Park. Whether you’re a diehard fan, casual Drive to Survive viewer, or just keen to catch Rita Ora’s performance, there’s something for everyone at one of the city’s biggest annual sporting events – particularly when it comes to food. These are our top dining picks for a pit stop among the action.

For smashing burgers

Melbourne’s hottest burger joint of 2025, Charrd, is heading trackside for its grand prix debut. Wrap your hands around one of its signature beef burgers as either a single (100g) or double (200g) patty – cooked over a gas flame in lieu of the usual charcoal treatment – stacked with caramelised onions, truffle aioli and chilli jam. Punters will also be treated to an exclusive Caesar-style fried chicken burger not available on the regular menu. Here’s hoping the queue is shorter than the one at its Brunswick East store.

Cost: $31 for a single pattie burger, fries and side of Charrd sauce.

Melbourne Junction (Oval 17), instagram.com/charrdbk

In a win for racing fans, another viral hit joins the circuit this year in Edita’s. The Carlton North fish and chip shop is frying up its cult-favourite fish burger – a potato roll stuffed with battered fish, cheese, and lashings of house-made tartare sauce. Better yet for your wallet, it comes with a side of hand-cut, triple-cooked chips. There’s also a standard flake and chips pack, plus potato cakes and Marathon dimmies.

Cost: $23 for a fish burger and chips; $21 for fish and chips; extra $10 for a serve of three dim sims or potato cakes.

Melbourne Junction (Oval 17), instagram.com/editasmelb

Also try: If queues prove too long at Melbourne Junction, old faithfuls 300 Grams and Royal Stacks are flipping burgers nearby at the Motorsport Straight precinct and Oval 20, respectively.

For chook wraps and Middle Eastern flavours

It’s about time the institution that is Lebanese bakery A1 had its moment in the trackside sun. Following the momentum of its 2025 Australian Open debut, the bakery is once again teasing sports fans with a line-up of its famous halloumi cheese pies and spinach and cheese triangles (both $12), plus marinated chicken and falafel wraps. Be sure to spare $8.50 for a custard baklava donut.

Cost: $29.50 for a chicken wrap with a side of chips and toum garlic sauce ($19 standalone).

Melbourne Junction (Oval 17), a1bakery.com.au

Lebanese charcoal chicken chain El Jannah is firing up the flame grill for the first time at the grand prix. Expect menu favourites, including grilled chicken burgers and spicy chicken wraps made with El Jannah’s signature smoky chilli sauce (if you know, you know). Fattoush salad and toum garlic sauce also join the line-up.

Cost: $33.50 for a wrap with a side of chips and toum sauce.

Motorsport Straight, eljannah.com.au

Also try: An honourable mention for Shane Delia’s Biggie Smalls, returning to Pit Stop Park this year with fried chicken kebabs, halloumi loaded fries and more.

For baked goods and sweet treats

We’re spoiled for choice in the sweet treat department this year with a host of newcomers joining the F1 food cast. Among them is Butter Days, Malvern’s Scandinavian-inspired bakery. The bakery’s chewy, brown butter bikkies ($6) are on the menu, alongside a decadent cinnamon scroll soaked in butterscotch and finished with bruleed cream cheese. You can also grab brekkie croissants and an F1-exclusive snack, chocolate covered strawberries.

Cost: $20.50 for a ham and cheese croissant and cinnamon scroll.

Motorsport Straight, butterdaysbakery.com.au

Power unit gelateria Messina is racing into Albert Park with an exclusive “fast and frozen” ice cream sandwich just for the F1. Vanilla sable, the French butter cookie, flanks layers of baked cheesecake gelato swirled with burnt honey caramel, all dipped in chocolate. Scoops in five signature flavours including pistachio praline, chocolate peanut fudge, and dulce de leche are also available.

Cost: $14 for the ice cream sandwich; $8 for a single scoop; $10 for two scoops, $12 for three.

Melbourne Junction (Oval 17), gelatomessina.com

Also try: Hailing from the small NSW village of Berry, the mobile Berry Donut Van is making Albert Park its next stop, serving its hot, fluffy cinnamon donuts to F1 fans alongside coffee, milkshakes and hot dogs. Lune is also returning to the track with croissants from kouign amann to ham and gruyere to twice-baked Tim Tam pain au chocolat.

For a touch of luxury

Chris Lucas has the monopoly on seated dining at this year’s grand prix. Chin Chin is popping up at the Melbourne Junction precinct with two $95 per person banquet-style feasts. Bookings are required for general admission guests, with priority given to American Express customers.

Melbourne Junction (Oval 17), chinchin.melbourne

For a truly premium experience, head to Grill Americano at the American Express lounge, where dining is included in your lounge ticket. It’s serving dishes like lobster tortellini and sliced tagliata di manzo steak, alongside Moet & Chandon and other drops by Penfolds.

American Express lounge, grillamericano.com

Also try: Over at the Mercedes-Benz Lounge, ticketholders will be treated to dishes like prawn toast, wagyu beef burgers and miso black cod. The adjacent Mercedes-AMG Grandstand is a separate group and family-friendly space with food available to purchase including 400 Gradi pizza, plus sushi, fish and chips and more.