Where to Enjoy the Best Mac and Cheese in Adelaide – The Ultimate American Comfort Food!
When I was studying in New York, some of my best nights weren’t out on the town. They were the ones where my roommates and I would make mac and cheese at midnight and play Call of Duty until we were too tired to keep going.
It was nothing fancy, just boxed pasta and way too much cheese, but at that moment, it tasted like the best thing in the world.
Now that I’m back in Adelaide, I still think about those nights. I don’t really have time to make it myself anymore, so I’ve been checking out places around the city instead. Here are the ones I keep coming back to, plus a couple I’ve heard are worth a try.
Bread & Bone
Photo credit: breadandbone
Website: https://www.breadandbone.com.au/
Address: 15 Peel St
Contact details: +61 8 8231 8535
Operating hours:
11:30 AM – 10:00 PM (TUES-FRI)
11:30 AM – 11:00 PM (SAT-MON)
Bread & Bone is one of those spots I keep coming back to whenever the mac and cheese craving hits. The place has a laid-back vibe that makes it easy to unwind, especially after a long day at work.
One thing I really like is the wood grill they use every day. It gives their meals a bit of extra flavour that’s easily noticeable. They also stay open late, which reminds me of those midnight meals back in NYC when mac and cheese was pretty much a ritual.
The mac and cheese here isn’t the main event, but it holds its own. It usually comes as a side with heavier dishes like beef brisket or barbecue. It’s creamy, cheesy, and works well with the smoky flavours on the plate.
| Pro tip: Bread & Bone offers gift cards, which are handy if you want to treat someone without guessing what they’ll order. You can grab one online and send it straight to their inbox with a message. |
Couch Potato
Photo credit: couchpotatoco
Website: https://couch-potato.com.au/
Address: 199 Port Rd, Hindmarsh
Contact details: +61 8 7222 8127
Operating hours: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM (TUES-SUN)
Couch Potato in Hindmarsh is a place I stumbled across recently while chasing a proper mac and cheese fix. Their menu is a wild mix of American, Mexican, and Korean flavours, which sounds chaotic at first but somehow works.
When I first heard about them, everyone kept talking about the loaded fries and tacos. They’re good, but for me, the mac and cheese is the real winner. It’s creamy and cheesy without going overboard, so you never feel like you have had too much.
I’m also a fan of their mac and cheese croquettes. They’re crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle, exactly how I want them. I brought a couple of coworkers here for an after-work dinner, and even they said they would come back for those!
| Pro tip: If you’re planning a birthday, work dinner, or any casual get-together, Couch Potato offers private function bookings with flexible seating inside or out. Just email them at [email protected] with your event details, guest numbers, and preferred date. |
The Meat & Wine Co
Photo credit: themeatandwineco
Website: https://themeatandwineco.com/adelaide-restaurants/adelaide-cbd/
Address: 39 Currie St
Contact details: +61 8 8127 0888
Operating hours:
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM (SUN-THURS)
12:00 PM – 10:30 PM (FRI and SAT)
Who says you can’t enjoy mac and cheese in a fine dining setting? When I feel like treating myself once in a while, The Meat & Wine Co in the Adelaide CBD is one of the places I keep coming back to.
The space blends modern design with African-inspired touches, which gives it a distinct feel compared to other steak restaurants in town. They offer African flavours with American and Australian classics, so their menu is definitely varied.
For me, the standout is their Truffle Mac and Cheese. It’s made with a truffle bechamel sauce, cheddar, mozzarella, and a sprinkle of chives. The truffle adds a gentle earthiness that lifts the whole dish.
| Pro tip: You can enjoy a more private dining experience, away from the crowd, in one of The Meat & Wine Co’s private dining rooms. Some rooms come with audio-visual gear for presentations, while others feature long tables for group chats or more intimate dining experiences. Visit this website for more information. |
Low & Slow American BBQ
Photo credit: lowandslowamericanbbq
Website: https://www.lowandslowamericanbbq.com/
Address: 17 Commercial Rd, Port Adelaide
Contact details: +61 402 589 722
Operating hours:
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM (MON-THURS)
5:00 PM – 9:30 PM (FRI)
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM (SAT)
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (SUN)
Low & Slow American BBQ is a solid choice if you’re into classic American-style comfort food. The team started out doing pop-ups and events before opening their own spot, and you can still feel that laid-back energy in the way they run things.
As the name suggests, everything is cooked low and slow, including their mac and cheese. It might be listed as a side, but it never feels like an afterthought. Theirs is creamy, rich, and has the right amount of bite to balance out the smoky meats.
After a few visits, I can say the mac and cheese pairs best with their beef brisket or pulled pork. If you’re chasing something even cheesier, get the cheese kransky alongside their mac and cheese!
| Pro tip: If you want to try a bit of everything without overthinking your order, go for Low & Slow American BBQ’s “Let Us Feed You” option. For $64 per person, their team picks the best smoked meats of the day, and you get to choose four sides to go with it. It’s a good way to sample their brisket, ribs, and mac and cheese all in one go. |
Two-Bit Villains
Photo credit: twobitvillains
Website: https://www.twobitvillains.com.au/
Address: Adelaide Arcade, Shop 150, Level One, 111/117 Rundle Mall
Contact details: +61 8 8232 1302
Operating hours:
11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (WED and THURS)
11:30 AM – 9:00 PM (FRI)
11:30 AM – 8:30 PM (SAT)
11:30 AM – 3:00 PM (SUN)
Vegetarians often have a hard time fitting classic mac and cheese into their diets, but Two-Bit Villains offers a solid alternative. They’ve been around since 2011 and focus on Americana-style comfort food with a twist.
Everything on their menu is vegetarian or vegan, including the burgers, fries, and mac and cheese. They even make their own sodas!
Their mac and cheese is nothing like the usual heavy, dairy-loaded versions. It’s made with a plant-based cheese sauce that’s creamy without being too rich, and the texture is smooth and light. It’s easy to finish, which I think light eaters will appreciate.
| Pro tip: Two-Bit Villains hosts private functions in their upstairs space at Adelaide Arcade, and it’s a good pick if you want something a little different. The venue sits inside the old Grand Ballroom and even has balcony seating that looks out over Rundle Mall. Just reach out with your event details, and they’ll help sort the setup. |
Benny’s American Burger
Photo credit: bennysamericanburger
Website: https://bennysburger.com.au/
Address: 73A Hindley St
Contact details: +61 8 8325 0985
Operating hours:
11:00 AM – 12:00 AM (SUN-THURS)
11:00 AM – 2:00 AM (FRI and SAT)
Whenever a couple of my friends from college visit, we always set aside a night to hang out at Benny’s American Burger. The place usually serves huge portions that could easily compete with what you would find in the States.
Their menu is pretty close to what you would expect from a classic American diner. So far, we’ve tried their double beef burgers, cheese kransky, festival dogs, and of course, their classic mac and cheese.
They serve the mac and cheese as a side, which works well because it doesn’t fill you up too much before you get to the burgers. I find it quite decent. It has that unmistakable creamy taste that hits best in between bites of something grilled.
| Pro tip: Benny’s American Burger lets you book tables online through their website, which is handy if you’re heading there with a group. Just make sure to select the right location when you book, since they’ve got multiple stores across Adelaide. |
The Kitchen
Photo credit: thekitchenadl
Website: https://skycityadelaide.com.au/eat-and-drink/the-kitchen/
Address: SkyCity Adelaide, 125 North Terrace
Contact details: +61 8 8218 4244
Operating hours:
5:00 PM – 9:30 PM (TUES and WED)
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM (THURS)
12:00 PM – 10:00 PM (FRI)
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM (SAT)
If you’re looking to experience mac and cheese in a more refined way, The Kitchen is another high-end restaurant worth visiting. Located in the heart of Adelaide, it draws inspiration from the New York-style grill concept often seen around Manhattan.
The menu changes with the seasons, but mac and cheese regularly appears as one of their standout sides. Their version is noticeably more elegant, made with a smooth bechamel base and layered with aged cheddar.
The result is a velvety sauce that coats the pasta evenly, giving each bit a balanced mix of sharpness and creaminess. I recommend pairing it with their wagyu striploin, offering a delicate contrast between smoky meat and rich, cheesy comfort.
| Pro tip: There’s a monthly event at The Kitchen called All You Can Meat, and it’s not your typical buffet. For $99 per person, you can get a curated spread of firepit meats, along with sides like blistered vegetables, housemade sourdough, and their creamy mac and cheese. Check this website to find out when the next one is happening and book your spot early. |
Yankee’s Burger Bar
Photo credit: yankeesburgerbar
Website: https://yankeesburgerbar.com.au/
Address: 225 Rundle St
Contact details: +61 8 7111 9879
Operating hours:
11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (SUN-THURS)
11:00 AM – 3:00 AM (FRI and SAT)
Yankee’s Burger Bar is one of those places I recommend if you want something loud, cheesy, and unapologetically American. Their focus is on bringing New York-style street food to Adelaide, and their menu reflects that from top to bottom.
Their burgers are stacked, saucy, and packed with flavour. Like most American-style meals, they come with generous sides, and one of the regular favourites is their mac and cheese.
Their version follows a familiar recipe, using American-style cheese melted into a generous serving of elbow macaroni. From what I’ve heard, they don’t hold back on the cheese, so you can expect it to be gooey, creamy, and satisfying.
| Pro tip: You can call Yankee’s Burger Bar to place your order ahead, which is handy if you’re picking up food or planning a group meal. It especially saves time during busy hours and lets you ask about specials or add extras that might not be listed online. |
NOLA Adelaide
Photo credit: nolaadelaide
Website: http://www.nolaadelaide.com/
Address: 28 Vardon Ave
Operating hours:
4:00 PM – 12:00 AM (TUES-THURS)
12:00 PM – 2:00 AM (FRI and SAT)
12:00 PM – 12:00 AM (SUN)
NOLA Adelaide is well worth a visit, especially if you enjoy Louisiana-style cuisine. The space has a warm and rustic atmosphere, with exposed brick and live music that brings to mind the jazz bars you might find in New Orleans.
As someone who loves mac and cheese, I was immediately drawn to their Tasso Ham Mac and Cheese. It’s not treated as a simple side. It’s a full plate featuring house-cured and smoked ham folded into a rich three-cheese sauce.
The pasta is coated in a velvety blend that brings out the creaminess of the dish. A layer of corn chip crumb on top adds a gentle crunch, giving each bite a more varied texture and making the whole dish feel a little more special. Definitely worth a try!
| Pro tip: On Wednesday and Thursday nights, NOLA has live music upstairs from 8 pm to 11 pm. It’s a good time to grab their Tasso Ham Mac and Cheese, settle in with a drink, and enjoy the tunes. You don’t need a booking, but getting there early helps if you want a good seat. |
