The quantity of delectable Asian cuisine seen on Melbourne's streets should not come as a surprise. The same way your Thai curry or Korean beef bulgogi is prepared and served at different restaurants can get a little boring after sampling such a wide array of traditional foods.
Given its association with Italian and French cuisine, Melbourne features a surprisingly high number of cafés and restaurants serving Asian cuisine. You can choose a dish that will satiate your craving for Chinese, Vietnamese, or Thai cuisine based on your preferences.
Considering that Asians make up only 33 percent of the city's population. There is a vast range of cuisine available, and you will not go hungry whether you favour Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, or Japanese cuisine. Three of the eateries with the greatest ratings include Chin Chin, Red Lantern, and Kisso. As a result, if you're feeling adventurous and want to sample authentic cuisine from around the world, Melbourne is the place to go!
Some of Melbourne's Finest Asian Dishes
Our unwavering preference for mid-morning meals has persuaded a few authentic Asian eateries and cafés to start serving us brekkie, a meal normally consumed in the United States during the brunch period. Remove the avocado and discard the sourdough bread. The following are some of the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne.
Chin Chin
Chin Chin's contemporary Thai cuisine, which is meant to be shared, draws long lines outside the restaurant during peak hours. Handmade prints on the walls and a rustic ambience reminiscent of Bangkok's dining halls adorn this contemporary Thai restaurant.
A few drinks and some small bites can be enjoyed with friends at Chin Chin. There's always the Go-Go Bar down the hall with a four-season menu of mixed wines, cocktails, and beers if dinner isn't sufficient for you.
If you enjoy the food in Thailand and are willing to experiment with new flavours, it is recommended that you order the chilli-salt chicken wings, son-in-law eggs and the kingfish sashimi at the restaurant in addition to the crispy barramundi and green apple salad and pork roll-ups.
- Melbourne, VIC 3000, 125 Flinders Lane
- Visit the website at www.chinchinrestaurant.com.au.
- Open daily from 11 a.m. until late
Supernormal
At the Supernormal restaurant, which serves modern Japanese fusion cuisine, the meals are meant to be shared. This restaurant has a unique atmosphere, characterised by its glass-fronted chamber and Japanese food vending machines.
The restaurant's success necessitates a large dining area, which is highlighted by features like the long bar and open kitchen. The cuisine at the modern Japanese restaurant includes delectable specialities including Korean barbeque pork shoulder, duck bao, and dumplings. The restaurant delivers Japanese food that has been influenced by other cuisines from around the world.
If you haven't been to Golden Field yet, you absolutely need to sample some of their signature dishes, for example, the peanut butter parfait dessert and lobster rolls. This is not your normal place to eat.
- 180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC 3000
- Website: http://www.supernormal.net.au
- The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. till late Friday and Saturday
Sake Restaurant & Bar
Sake Restaurant & Bar is one of Melbourne's newest dining attractions, with contemporary Japanese cuisine and a comprehensive selection of sakes and shochus.
Outdoor tables and chairs, private dining rooms, booths, and bar stools are available. Sake's menu combines Japanese and American food, but Shaun Presland, the chef, adds his own flair. A person's taste preferences should guide their selection of food.
Order the wagyu teriyaki, the spicy pork belly, the miso-cream scallops, and the artfully presented fresh sashimi platter if you want to sample some of their most well-liked dishes. Sashimi tacos with kozaemon junmai sake shots, tuna ceviche, and popcorn shrimp are just a few of the mouthwatering fusion dishes on the menu.
- The address is 1100 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004 Australia.
- Website: http://www.sakerestaurant.com.au/melbourne
- Lunch is served weekdays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner is served from 5.30 p.m. till late. On weekends, lunch is served from 12 p.m. until late.
Kong
Even though there are just 60 seats available, the busy eatery always has a huge line outside. The team behind Kong invested a whole year into honing their recipes before opening their restaurant. Benjamin Cooper, Chin Chin’s chef-owner, created a second restaurant, Kong, as a follow-up to the first.
The contemporary Korean food served at Kong is meant to be shared. Rice crackles with edamame salsa and walnut jam, peanut butter tofu with fresh coriander, soft shell crab, and steamed buns with pork belly are some examples of interesting meals with a unique twist.
It is the ideal location for a group of friends to get together and enjoy some beverages and well-prepared meals. Highlights of the cuisine include 16-hour smoked beef, grilled corn with chilli salt and miso butter, and roasted fish served with seaweed salad and crispy skin.
For comparison, try Mamasita Elotes Callejeros, a unique type of corn on the cob served by Mamasita. If you have the ability to consume more, you can do this comparison.
- 599 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121
- http://www.kongbbq.com.au (Australian Website)
- Hours of operation: daily 11 a.m. to late
Saigon Sally
Photos of enticing Asian women decorate the establishment's walls, and the addition of soft linen hangings further enhances the environment. This fashionable Vietnamese restaurant exudes an ambience that is both traditional and modern thanks to the combination of these two design elements. Both locals and tourists go to Saigon Sally for the restaurant's authentic Vietnamese fare and low costs.
The menu is meant to be shared and has meals like grilled chicken stuffed with sticky rice and Chinese sausage, Bun Rieu, a spanner crab soup with enoki and rice noodles and tomato, and Banh Xeo, a DIY taco version of the Vietnamese pancake.
Adrian Li, the head chef at Saigon Sally, is responsible for the creation of a number of the restaurant's mouthwatering specialities, including the tira-misally, which consists of a coffee ice cream from Vietnam sandwiched between a coconut macaroon sandwich. Another customer favourite is the restaurant's rendition of the traditional chewy and sweet Vietnamese sponge cake known as banh bo.
If the night isn't over, you should head towards the bar, where they have a wide range of Asian-inspired beverages, including 50 sorts of wine.
- 2 Duke Street, Windsor, 3181 VIC
- Website: http://www.saigonsally.com.au
- The establishment is open every day beginning at 6 p.m. and staying open till late.
Thaiger
To begin, Thaiger isn’t a traditional dining establishment. It's a straightforward Thai restaurant with a modern take on classic American fare like burgers. Even though this facility isn't actually a restaurant, its Soft Shell Crab Black Burger has earned it a spot on the list.
Due to the limited seating capacity of this cafe, customers are encouraged to place takeout orders instead. Their well-known Soft Shell Crab Black Burger comes on a bun made of bamboo charcoal and is topped with Asian slaw, a tangy sauce, and a Granny Smith apple wedge. Lettuce is laid down on top of the dish.
Another customer favourite is the Crying Thaiger, which is a burger consisting of grilled sirloin cooked to a medium-rare temperature, mixed greens, and Thai sauce. If you have a job in Melbourne's Central Business District, this is a great place to get a quick lunch or snack.
- Shop 16, The Walk Arcade, 8 Causeway Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
- Website: http://www.thaiger.com.au
- We're open 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily.
Gingerboy
Gingerboy has been the go-to destination for Southeast Asian street food with an Australian twist since 2006. There are meals with a lot of flavour and a lot of heat in both the smaller servings and the bigger shared dishes on their menu.
In addition to the red duck curry, smashed green papaya salad, chargrilled lemongrass chicken with peanut and tamarind caramel, and crispy salt cuttlefish, all of their dishes are must-orders.
Two larger shared meals worth ordering are the grain-fed wagyu and the fried whole baby fish with fresh mango and lychee salad.
A sweet and salty dessert sharing plate is the perfect way to round off a fantastic meal.
- 27 Crossley Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
- Website: http://www.gingerboy.com.au/
- The business is open daily from 6 p.m. till midnight.
Jardin Tan
The food of Jardin Tan is a fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine that was formed during France's colonial reign of Vietnam. This fusion cuisine was developed during the time that France ruled over Vietnam. After a morning workout, it is easy to get banh mi or a speedy breakfast from the front-of-house kiosk. This location is really convenient.
We recommend the beer garden in the back or hardwood tables inside if you're looking for a more substantial meal. An emphasis on locally sourced, sustainably produced foods is a hallmark of Jardin Tan's menu.
It's common for chefs to produce Vietnamese dishes like beef noodles, known as pho, beef ribs, and banh mi. Some of the most well-liked dishes include flinders island lamb ribs, crispy pancake combined with pork along with shrimp, and chilli lime squid served with pickled papaya.
- Royal Botanic Gardens are located at Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Victoria 3141
- Website: http:///www.jardintan.com.au
- Open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Rice Queen
Rice Queen provides an eating experience similar of travelling to Asia without the hassle of planning a trip. The restaurant's menu, which offers equally delicious Asian fusion meals and beverages, is reflected in Rice Queen's colourful and eccentric Asian-inspired decor.
The restaurant takes pride in offering a wide range of Asian cuisines, but some of their offerings are particularly noteworthy, like their slow-roasted Korean style pork tacos, which can be made to order and are intended to be shared by several people. They also have a number of other noteworthy meals as well.
Make sure to order delicacies like their renowned KFC, pepper and salt squid over glass noodles, and caramelised pork bits to keep you going back for more (Korean fried chicken).
If you're looking for some light entertainment, consider booking the Karaoke Room, which accommodates four to sixteen people and offers a selection of set dishes. Where else could you have a gathering with just a few close friends where the food was delicious, the beverages were refreshing, and the ambience was just right?
- The address is 389 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, VIC 3065.
- Visit ricequeen.com.au for more information
- Weekly from 4 pm to late, and weekends from 12 p.m. to late
Cookie
Its vibrant location in the heart of the city makes it one of Melbourne's most well-liked bars. Cookie offers three different dining alternatives in one place rather than just one: modern Thai food, a beer garden, and a cocktail bar.
The primary beer hall, which serves Friday night drinkers, and the balconettes inspired with opera are popular with couples out on dates. If you want a delicious meal for supper, you should call the restaurant ahead of time and make a reservation because they will be fully booked during peaked periods.
As a result, you won't be able to settle on a favourite dish. There's fried fish salad accompanied by papaya and pickled crab and red curry together in addition to pork belly, both of which are excellent choices to make here.
- The address for Curtin House is the first floor of 252 Swanston Street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- The website for Curtin House may be found at http://cookie.net.au.
- During the hours of 12 p.m. - 1 a.m., the store is open for business every day.
Restaurants in Southeast Asia to Satisfy Your Wanderlust
Unfortunately, we cannot change the weather in Hidden City Secrets. This is one of our few constraints. In the meantime, you can satiate your cravings for Filipino and Vietnamese cuisine by visiting one of the restaurants on our list of restaurants in Southeast Asia.
Colonel Tan’s
229 Chapel St, Prahran
In the first place, we'll show you a space developed by Cookie, Toff in Town, and Magic Mountain's head chef - Karen Baston.
In the midst of the 'infamous' Revolver Upstairs nightclub, Colonel Tan's isn't your average Thai restaurant. At a fair price, diners may enjoy authentic Thai food with a touch of Americana. The Bangkok Bolognaise, which features basil, chilli, pig mince, and tomato, is one of the restaurant's most popular dishes. The gluten-free option is now available across the board on the standard menu.
Even though Colonel Tan's is located in a large, airy space, it is dimly lighted and seems secluded. Customers will be reminded of Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye 007 by the brilliantly coloured furniture, vintage ambience, including a Nintendo 64.
Many restaurants today are experimenting with and experimenting with new versions on traditional recipes in Southeast Asia in order to expand their menus. A must-stop for individuals who don't want to stick to the tried-and-true is Colonel Tan's Thai restaurant.
Makan
360 Collins St, Melbourne CBD
Opened by the victors of 2016's My Kitchen Rules, Tasia and Gracia Seger's Indonesian eatery. The best Indonesian and Balinese food in Melbourne can be found here.
For an Indonesian restaurant, the venue's design is out of the ordinary. The entire space is bathed in purple neon light. The black steel frames, ribbed hardwood, and light grey-colored concrete are complemented by colourful placemats. It's a nice break from the commotion of the city's bustling CBD.
In addition to one large meal and one tiny meal, they provide a set menu for two people that costs $49 and includes jasmine rice and a side dish that may be shared. On the menu of small dishes, you can get fried chicken ribs with a chilli and sweet soy glaze along with chicken satay with peanut sauce and a soy lime marinade.
They provide larger dinners such beef brisket rendang and killer potatoes, lamb shank cooked slowly with braised cabbage, and Malaysian roasted vine tomatoes. An Asian vegetables and chicken dish known as Mie Goreng is available on the la carte menu at this restaurant.
Hanoi Rose
161 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
On Sydney Road, in the centre of the city's dining district, is where you can find this Vietnamese restaurant. Vietnamese murals, bare brick walls, and a hanging lighting decorate this hip Vietnamese eatery. This beautiful setting is ideal for a tranquil weekend getaway with the kids or a passionate evening out with your significant other.
The cuisine of northern Vietnam, which is characterised by a lower prevalence of sweet flavours, has had a more significant impact on the development of southern Vietnamese cuisine. The popular bun cha dish is available. With rice vermicelli, a flavorful fish sauce, and pork and meatballs dish grilled with charcoal, this dish is presented.
There are options for people who follow diets, for instance, vegetarianism, veganism, and halal, along with gluten-free then gluten-free-friendly diets. MSG is also absent from these dishes. They exclusively use the highest quality ingredients so that the food they serve has a lot of taste.
Mamak
366 Lonsdale St, Melbourne CBD
It is untrue that all of the top restaurants on earth are owned by My Kitchen Rules rivals and other chefs with restaurants around the globe. In this instance, three friends named Julian, Alan, and Clement began missing the Malaysian meals they had as children, including freshly prepared Roti Canai, Teh Tarik, and Satay Skewers.
They started to feel the urge to build their own eatery, one that served food they had loved as kids.
They first established their Sydney restaurant in 2007 and then, happily for the rest of us, they brought their talents to Melbourne in 2012.
A restaurant that has won multiple accolades and is renowned for serving authentic Malaysian cuisine took its name from the vendors that sell food on the streets of Malaysia. Authentic Malaysian-style beef and chicken satay is available at this restaurant.
Peanut sauce is offered on the side, which is both hot and sweet. They also have a variety of roti and two kinds of curry dip, including a spicy sauce of sambal.
Pictures of the cooking process adorn the walls of the venue. During peak hours, it mimics Mamak markets and other open-air food marketplaces in Southeast Asia.
Rice Paper Sister
Melbourne CBD, 15 Hardware Ln
The next location isn't going to have a conventional Filipino restaurant. A Filipino venue's attractiveness is enhanced by vibrant red chequered tablecloths and sideboards. Rice Paper Sister, on the other hand, welcomes you with more muted tones and a more modern aesthetic than that of its predecessor.
They also serve food that isn't typical for the area. Using flavours from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, chef Ross Magnaye creates delectable dishes. Japanese and Thai flavours are also common in his dishes.
In addition to the popular adobo sauce and the "Pinoy" pig belly and scallop "sisig," some of the restaurant's other standout dishes include the native mushroom "paella," which is served with fresh herbs and a slow-cooked egg. A Filipino variation on tiramisu, the 'Filo-issue,' is a must-try for dessert.
Conclusion
Melbourne has a surprisingly high number of Asian eateries and cafés. Three of the eateries with the greatest ratings are Chin Chin, Red Lantern, and Kisso. Try the chilli-salt chicken wings, son-in-law eggs and kingfish sashimi at Chin Chin. Sake Restaurant & Bar is one of Melbourne's newest dining attractions, with contemporary Japanese cuisine and a comprehensive selection of sakes and shochus. The restaurant's success necessitates a large dining area, highlighted by features like the long bar and open kitchen.
Saigon Sally serves authentic Vietnamese fare that is meant to be shared. The restaurant's rendition of the traditional chewy and sweet Vietnamese sponge cake is known as banh bo. The Crying Thaiger is a burger consisting of grilled sirloin cooked to a medium-rare temperature, mixed greens, and Thai sauce. An emphasis on locally sourced, sustainably produced foods is a hallmark of Jardin Tan's menu. Ricequeen is one of Melbourne's most popular Asian eateries.
Their dishes include slow-roasted Korean pork tacos and fried fish salad with papaya and pickled crab. Curtin House has a beer garden, cocktail bar and modern Thai food options. Colonel Tan's is located in the midst of the 'infamous' Revolver Upstairs nightclub. The Bangkok Bolognaise, which features basil, chilli, pig mince, and tomato, is one of the restaurant's most popular dishes. They provide larger dinners such beef brisket rendang and killer potatoes.
On Sydney Road, in the centre of the city's dining district, is where you can find Mamak. Vietnamese murals, bare brick walls, and a hanging lighting decorate this hip Vietnamese eatery. There are options for people who follow diets, for instance, vegetarianism, veganism, and halal. Rice Paper Sister is renowned for serving authentic Malaysian cuisine. Chef Ross Magnaye uses flavours from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries to create delectable dishes. The 'Filo-issue,' a Filipino variation on tiramisu, is a must-try for dessert.
Content Summary
- Both locals and tourists go to Saigon Sally for the restaurant's authentic Vietnamese fare and low costs.
- The food of Jardin Tan is a fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine that was formed during France's colonial reign of Vietnam.
- Using flavours from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, chef Ross Magnaye creates delectable dishes.
FAQs About Melbourne Restaurants & Cafes
Given Australia's long multicultural history, the country boasts some of the most unique and inventive modern takes on Asian cuisines anywhere in the world (outside of Asia itself, that is). However you see it, it's hard to deny Melbourne has some of the best Asian-fusion restaurants in the country.
The Australian public started eating at Chinese restaurants from the 1930s or brought saucepans from home for takeaway meals. Chicken chow mein, chop suey and sweet and sour pork were the mainstays.
There's a love affair with Japanese food going on in Australia that is driven by the cuisine's seasonality, simplicity and abundance of flavours. Australians are also thinking more about sustainability and the ethical sourcing of ingredients, further driving interest in the cuisine.
Australia's Most Popular Chinese Dishes
- Sweet Pork Bun. Char siu bao, as it's known in the Eastern part of the world, is a true Chinese classic.
- Peking Duck.
- Dumplings.
- Sweet and Sour Pork.
- Hot Pot.
- Pipis with Pork and Shaoxing Wine.
A survey of the country's eating habits has found Thai food is the most popular cuisine in Australia, out-ranking Chinese, Italian and Japanese.