Restaurant Scams in Melbourne, Australia
Inflated bills, hidden charges, tourist menus, and food service tricks. Below are the restaurant scams scams reported in Melbourne — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Nadi, Auckland, and Sydney.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
1
Restaurant Scams Scams
11
Total in Melbourne
How it works
Some restaurants on Little Bourke Street in Melbourne's Chinatown add unrequested items — side dishes, sauces, tea, or appetisers — to the table and then charge for them without disclosure on the menu. The bill may also include service charges not listed on printed menus, typically added in fine print or not at all. Tourists who cannot easily read Chinese-language menus or who are dining in large groups are most exposed, as errors are harder to spot across a multi-dish order.
See all scams in Melbourne
11 total warnings across all categories