Cult, family-run Melbourne restaurant D&K Live Seafood sent diners into a tizzy when -after 20 years as one of Melbourne’s premier fishmongers – they quietly opened their first restaurant Muli last year. Now the Tran family has done one better with the launch of their intimate oyster bar, Muli Express. 

With little more than standing room and a couple of stools, the oyster bar is all about the truly hedonistic consumption of oysters. Shucked, handed to you, slurped down, next. No need to sit, no crisp riesling to wash the bivalves down. What a way to kill some time.

Run by Van Tran, her husband David Tran Sr and son David Tran Jr, you’re just as likely to find the trio behind the bar shucking as many as 12 oyster varieties a day, as you are to find a queue of shellfish-crazy punters snaking down Little Bourke Street.

Technically, Muli Express is more takeaway shop than restaurant but the Tran’s welcome customers to park at the bar, learn about the oysters (while downing them) and make themselves at home. 

Related story: Shellabrate good times with these 30 oyster recipes

The space itself is a mere 18 square feet, and is adorned with lace curtains, taxidermied lobsters and fake plants, with just a couple of small round tables to perch at – also draped in lace. But most of the service and eating is done right at the bar. 

In addition to the many, many oysters on offer – all of which are given nicknames like Baby Pitt (from Pittwater) or So Extra (from Boomer Bay) – fresh lobster rolls, comforting seafood congee, oyster ice-cream and uni macarons are all on offer.

Opening hours are a bit fast and loose at the moment, with David Tran Jr burning the midnight oil to give guests their oyster fix, though officially, opening hours are Monday and Tuesday, midday – 9pm, and Wednesday to Sunday, midday – 4pm.

Muli Express is located at 163 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.
@muli_express

Related story: Wait, are oysters alive when you eat them?