Victorian homicide squad detectives have charged one man with murder and questioned and released a second man following a bashing death outside a St Kilda Road McDonald's restaurant.

Police charged 27-year-old Kyle Zandipour from Melbourne over the death of Joshua Hardy, a 21-year-old university student who lived on campus at Trinity College in Parkville.

Detective Sergeant Sol Solomon speaks to the media after the fatal assault. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Detective Senior Sergeant Sol Solomon had earlier told reporters that the victim was thrown to the ground and kicked in the head in what appeared to have been an unprovoked attack near the corner of Toorak Road shortly after 1am on Saturday.

The attack left Mr Hardy unconscious. A number of McDonald's customers came to the aid of the victim and one man unsuccessfully chased after two men who ran from the scene.