What Are The Asian Food In Melbourne?

It’s no surprise to walk down the streets of Melbourne and find plenty of delicious Asian food. However, having tried so many cuisines the traditional way, it can get a little monotonous to have your Korean beef bulgogi or Thai curry cooked in the same way, served in different restaurants.

To step away from the cliches, we have decided to compile a list of Asian restaurants that have taken the bold approach to put a spin on traditional Asian cooking, serving our favourite Asian dishes with a contemporary twist. 

Asian Food In Melbourne

Well known and loved in Melbourne, Bing Boy is the new kid on the block here in Melbourne and has just opened up a new store in Melbourne Central on the lower level. 

Offering something different to the usual sushi, fast food and Mexican, a Bing is a traditional thin wheat omelette wrap with various fillings. Asian inspired with Australian influences and made right before your eyes, Bing Boy's food is fresh, healthy and delicious.

Miss Mi

From Bangkok to Borneo, Melbourne restaurant Miss Mi takes you on a culinary journey across Asia, exploring traditional ingredients, iconic flavours and enticing aromas. Located in the Mövenpick Hotel on the corner of Godfrey and Bourke Streets, enter an exotic interior of vibrant murals, warmly glowing lighting, an open bar and couches for chilling with a Vietnamese Espresso martini. Growing up on the Malaysian side of Borneo, Chef presents a menu reimagining Asian cuisine with dishes like hinava and a ceviche-like fish offering topped with sea grapes. 

Perhaps Khmer chicken salad in caramelised aromatics tempts, with celeriac, citrus, yam bean and shrimp floss; before a dessert of coconut and star anise jaggery, cashew nut crunch and rhubarb, cooked in hibiscus and sorrel.

Dragon Hot Pot Qv

Shape your culinary adventure based on century-old Chinese recipes at Dragon Hot Pot QV on Little Lonsdale Street in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. This restaurant lets you select the ingredients for a unique hot pot from a combination of meat, noodles, seafood, tofu and vegetables, then added to thick and fragrant broth made from marrow bones, cooked for more than 12 hours with traditional Chinese herbs. 

With more than 100 ingredients to choose from, along with spiciness your way, guests can create endless combinations of hot pots, like bone broth and pickled mustard seeds, fermented in a crock for six months to develop a rich, mild flavour. Perhaps Sichuan hot and sour broth tempts with beef, while the more adventurous opt for chicken feet or offal to add to silky collagen bone broth.

Kekou

What started as a boat trip through Asia to discover hidden food gems has culminated into a craft beer and foodie heaven known as Kekou on Bridge Road in Richmond's trendy dining strip. Rocking a light-filled, chic space inside a 120-year-old building fitted out to preserve its historic charm with polished concrete, rustic brick, splashes of greenery and furniture made from recycled railway sleepers, Kekou is the new place to see and be seen. 

Rotating craft beer and Eastern offerings are on a menu for sharing, from small bites of pork and prawn wontons, with water chestnut and Sichuan chilli oil to Hungry options of chilli glazed beef ribs, lemongrass sambal matah and toasted rice. White choco mousse with the burnt honey sponge and orange ginger snap will tempt sweet tooths.

Sake Restaurant & Bar

A two-level dining space located on the banks of the Yarra river, Sake Restaurant & Bar brings you a gastronomic dining experience with a contemporary Japanese menu of classic and modern dishes; not to mention their broad range of top quality sakes that can be recommended to you by their sake and shochu sommeliers. 

From booths to private dining rooms, bar stools and outdoor tables, diners have various choices to suit the occasion. Unlike other fusion restaurants, Sake’s menu still focuses on Japanese cuisine while allowing its executive chef, Shaun Presland, to put his unique touch to it. Reckon that most dishes are unforgettably good and should be picked according to your palate. 

However, if you want to try some of their popular dishes, remember to order their miso-cream scallops, pork belly with spicy sauce, wagyu teriyaki and fresh and beautifully plated sashimi platter. Other delicious dishes with a heavier fusion influence include tuna ceviche, popcorn shrimp, and sashimi tacos with kozaemon junmai sake shots. 

Hong Kong Dim Sum

Glen Waverley diners craving handmade dumplings head along Kingsway to find Hong Kong Dim Sum restaurant. Handily located near the train station and presenting a bright red facade, this casual eatery has been serving authentic dim sum to locals for more than 20 years, from casual surrounds of white-clothed tables, tiled floors, and freezers stacked full of dumplings to take home. 

From yum cha and bao to clay pot and Asian stir-fries, something on the menu to tempt all tastes; perhaps start with chicken curry puffs or delicious pan-fried prawn dumplings and dipping sauce. For the main affair, think plates like pork spare ribs in black bean sauce, with sides of seasonal vegetables and steamed rice; finish sweetly with custard and peanut coconut snowballs, or white sugar cake.

Dumpling Alley

Immerse yourself in Imperial culture and savour exquisite flavours at Dumpling Alley in Doncaster. This dim sum restaurant on Doncaster Road captivates the elegance of bygone eras with contemporary style surrounding cane pendants and blond wood stools parked at a central marble-topped communal counter; while the alfresco area buzzes with activity and neon signage as diners ponder which dumpling delight to order. 

Home of the legendary xiao long bao, expect to taste offerings like black truffle and pork; or perhaps start with steamed scallop dumplings and deep-fried spring rolls. For the main, pick up your chopsticks and chow down on stir-fried rice noodles with beef or Shanghainese braised pork meatballs and rice; before enticing desserts of pan-fried red bean pancake and milk pudding.

Top Tongue

Hailing from the Sichuan province in China, Top Tongue on Lonsdale Street in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD delivers authentic cuisine to discerning foodies. After travelling throughout Sichuan to source and import the best spices for their dishes, the owners present plates that bring amazing flavours to the table from original recipes using fresh local produce. 

On balmy days, dine alfresco and people-watch while sipping a cold beer or catching up with family and friends indoors where floor-to-ceiling windows provide an abundance of natural light and delve into starters such as sweet sweet-sour pork ribs. For the main affair, be tempted by Kung Pao chicken with peanuts, vegetables and steamed rice; or spicy beef skewers with Chinese cabbage, oyster mushrooms and special fried rice.

Chin Chin

Boasting long queues that snake past its neighbouring restaurants during its peak periods, Chin Chin is famous for its modern Thai food designed for sharing. This contemporary Thai restaurant is furnished with a rustic interior and customized prints that adorn its walls, inspired by the dining halls of Bangkok. 

Chin Chin is the perfect casual dining place for many friends to share a couple of dishes and cocktails. If dinner isn’t enough time, go downstairs to Go-Go Bar, which offers a menu divided into four seasons, each featuring several different cocktails, beers, and wines.

Those who share a love of Thai food and are adventurous with Thai street food with a modern twist, don’t forget to try their son-in-law eggs, kingfish sashimi, crispy barramundi and green apple salad, chilli-salt chicken wings and their pork roll-ups. 

Jardin Tan

 Located in a picturesque and relaxing location, Jardin Tan serves French-Vietnamese fusion cuisine, inspired by the food that came about after France colonised Vietnam. 

The front-of-house kiosk caters to those keen for a quick breakfast or a banh mi (Vietnamese bun) after their morning exercise. For those after a more substantial and sophisticated lunch, you can choose to sit at the wooden tables inside or at the back in the beer garden. Jardin Tan focuses on sustainability and uses only fresh local produce with much produce grown in the kitchen garden.

Chefs take on traditional Vietnamese dishes such as banh mi), pho (Vietnamese beef noodles), and beef ribs. Other popular dishes include the chilli lime squid with pickled papaya, flinders island lamb ribs and crispy pancake with pork and shrimp. 

Dim Sum Depot

Head to Dim Sum Depot on Bridge Road in Richmond for irresistible Chinese fare that will leave you craving more. Serving authentic dumplings and classic dishes, settle in to feast on all manner of delicacies in vibrant surrounds of a colourful cartoon-style mural, along with banquette and cosy table settings. 

Perhaps start with scallop or ginger pork dumplings, before hearty mains such as famous curry laksa, fried rice, sweet and sour pork, pork ribs and chicken feet; best enjoyed with steamed rice. 

Those who like a hint of heat may opt for chilli beef or chicken, with steamed greens in oyster sauce, while seafood lovers are enticed by steaming bowls of laksa, topped with prawns, squid, mussels, fish, broccoli and rice noodles. Finish sweetly with coconut and red bean pudding.

Rice Queen

Step into Asia without booking a flight – that’s how a dining experience at Rice Queen feels like. Rice Queen matches its ambience with an eclectic and quirky Asian-inspired décor with a menu offering equally amazing Asian fusion food and cocktails. 

Priding themselves as a diner serving a wide selection of different cuisines from countries across Asia, the restaurant indeed has dishes that are worth boasting about – their DIY slow-roasted Korean style pork tacos served with kimchi, lettuce and ssam sauce are great for sharing. 

Don’t forget to order the dishes that will have you coming back for more – the caramelized pork bites, salt and pepper squid on glass noodle salad and their popular KFC (Korean fried chicken). 

If you are looking for a little entertainment, book the Karaoke Room at the back of the diner, which can accommodate 4-16 pax with a choice of set menu packages. What better venue than to throw an intimate gathering with good food, good drinks and an ambience to match!

The George On Collins

The George on Collins is a re-imagined New York-style basement bar in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Nestled in one of the city’s most iconic buildings, this refurbished venue celebrates its history with a fresh, modern twist, with thoughtful interiors by award-winning architect Hecker Guthrie. 

The George offers cocktails and Modern Vietnamese share plates into the night – created by MasterChef contestant Khanh Ong and Head Chef Quim Hernandez - with offerings such as pork bao, pickled chilli, cucumber, hoisin, coriander and sriracha mayo. 

For more than a bite, opt for pork belly, apple slaw, shiso and red vinegar caramel, while curry lovers are satisfied with green chicken, eggplant, jackfruit, basil, renkon and chilli. Cool things down with ice cream sorbet, nut mix and puff rice.

Salted Egg

A destination for those who eat to the beat of their drum, Melbourne’s Salted Egg on Flinders Lane delivers a dining experience where knowledge and authenticity have a seat at the table. 

Born from the eclectic and vivid origins of Southeast Asian cuisine, this contemporary restaurant transports diners to another world, where curious appetites and a desire for culinary adventure come together in stylish surroundings. 

With a menu dominated by traditional Thai fare that stimulates the senses from breakfast until dinner, think plates like Mekong chicken ribs, garlic, chilli and fish sauce, roasted rice and lime to start. Larger plates include twice-cooked pork with plum and tamarillo sauce; before indulgent desserts of chilli and dark chocolate tart, coconut cream and candied cocoa nibs.

Supernormal

Supernormal is a sleek Japanese-fusion restaurant that features a sharing menu. Located in a glass-fronted large space, this restaurant features Japanese inspired décor and has unique Japanese snack vending machines that play up the restaurant’s novel design. 

The concept of an open kitchen and a long dining bar emphasizes the large space to accommodate the crowd accompanying the restaurant’s popularity. In addition, the contemporary Japanese restaurant features a menu that is fused with other cuisine influences, boasting delectable dishes such as its duck bao, dumplings, and Korean BBQ pork shoulder. 

If you haven’t been there yet, the Golden Field classics such as the lobster rolls and peanut butter parfait dessert are a definite must-try. A restaurant that is anything but normal. 

Chef David

Melburnians seeking hot pot fare in trendy surrounds of marble, metallics and neon blue head along Elizabeth Street to find Chef David. This cheeky baby sibling of David's Hot Pot restaurants already feeding late night foodies, rocks a futuristic, industrial-loft style ambience; patent leather seats, stainless-steel tiles, polished concrete and strobe lights set the scene for grazing on fusion plates, cooked at your table from more than 100 fresh ingredients. 

There's a handy how-to guide on the menu for dishes like David's dried fish maw and chicken soup or specialties of chilli marinated pork ribs and red wine beef fillet. Seafood lovers can delve into whole baby cuttlefish, while the more adventurous opt for authentic dishes like boneless duck feet and gizzards.

Niubi

Expect your favourite Asian dishes served with a cheeky Melbourne attitude at Niubi on Heffernan Lane in the heart of the city. This is no ordinary pan-Asian restaurant hiding in the tight-knit lanes and alleyways of Chinatown. Instead, a sleek and upmarket design of blond wood table settings, exposed brick, arched windows and suspended bulb lighting set the scene for memorable dining. 

With a slang name that shouldn’t be uttered at the table, take a seat and peruse a menu showcasing live seafood as seen in Singapore chilli lobster and mud crab, perhaps starting with an adventurous entrée of sweet and sour sesame jellyfish. 

For the main, try house signature garlic black roast pork, mixed vegetables and steamed rice, or kung fu roast duck; before a dessert of fried musang King durian and ice cream.

Kong

 A compact restaurant with a no-reservations policy assures you of a long queue outside the bustling restaurant that seats only 60 in its dining space. Before opening, the Kong team cooked to perfect their dishes for a year, and it shows. Opened by the head chef of Chin Chin, Benjamin Cooper, Kong is the younger sibling of the aforementioned successful restaurant.

Kong serves contemporary Korean dishes designed for sharing. Interesting dishes with a twist include rice crackles with edamame salsa and walnut jam, steamed buns with pork belly and soft shell crab and peanut butter tofu with fresh coriander. 

It is a perfect place for a gathering amongst friends to partake in honest and delicious food and knock back a couple of drinks. The menu highlights are their wood-roasted salmon with crispy skin and seaweed salad, their 16-hour smoked brisket, and some barbecued corn with chilli salt and miso butter. 

If you have space for more, try their barbecue corn with chilli salt and miso butter and pass your verdict against Mamasita’s famous Elotes Callejeros – their undoubtedly famous corn on the cob.

Bok Choy Brighton

For authentic Asian flavours, Brighton locals and tourists head to Bok Choy on New Street, where elegant surrounds of white starched tablecloths and wooden décor await. Shuttered windows, subtle lighting and Mandarin vases set the mood for a taste journey through a menu packed with seasonal produce and family secret recipes. 

Spoiled for choice, the Chef’s suggestions offer a great starting point, such as seafood bird’s nest, with King prawns, scallops and fish fillets, wok-tossed with vegetables, served in a potato basket. 

Main dishes include lightly pan-fried lamb cutlets flamed with Cointreau liqueur; or delve into slow-cooked honey braised pork ribs with seasonal green vegetables. Guests may also be tempted by six-course banquet options, including Bok Choy’s famous Peking duck.

Dragon Hot Pot Glen Waverley

Shape your culinary adventure based on century-old Chinese recipes at Dragon Hot Pot on Kingsway in Glen Waverley. This restaurant lets you select the ingredients for a unique hot pot from a combination of meat, noodles, seafood, tofu and vegetables, then added to thick and fragrant broth made from marrow bones, cooked for more than 12 hours with traditional Chinese herbs. 

With more than 100 ingredients to choose from, along with spiciness your way, guests can create endless combinations of hot pots, like bone broth combined with pickled mustard seeds and fermented in a crock for six months to develop a rich, mild flavour. Perhaps Sichuan hot and sour broth tempts with beef, pork or tofu, while the more adventurous may opt for chicken feet or offal to add to silky collagen bone broth.

Tan Hot Pot

Melburnians seeking the indulgence of Sichuan hot pot cooking head to Tan Hotspot on Bourke Street in the city's heart. Experience Melbourne’s only duck blood tofu hot pot restaurant, where softly glowing red and yellow lanterns set a moody vibe as you settle in to choose your soup base, ingredients and flavours to appease any appetite. Among the different kinds of blood tofu, duck is regarded as the cleanest and most nutritious, with no strong taste or smell; its silky texture allows it to absorb other flavours well, making it ideal to use in a spicy hot pot. 

Watch as robot waiters bring your ingredients to the table from Wagyu to fish, seafood, fresh vegetables and noodles; ready for poaching in the aromatic broth; if you are unsure of cooking times, check the menu for guidance.

Saigon Sally

This modern Vietnamese restaurant boasts rustic yet contemporary décor, featuring graphics of beautiful Asian women on their walls and soft linen hangings that adorn the place. Saigon Sally is a popular restaurant that offers a fine selection of Vietnamese favourites at affordable prices. 

Designed for sharing, the menu offers interesting choices such as Banh Xeo (a DIY taco version of the Vietnamese pancake), Bun Rieu, a tomato and spanner crab broth with enoki and rice noodles, a grilled quail stuffed with sticky rice and Chinese sausage. 

Saigon Sally’s head chef has also put a twist to the modern day to day's tiramisu and serves a dessert called the tira-misally, a Vietnamese coffee ice cream in a coconut macaroon sandwich that leaves you wanting more. Another popular dessert is the Banh Bo, the restaurant’s traditional Vietnamese sweet and chewy sponge cake. 

If the night is still young, you can head over to the bar to enjoy a selection of Asian-inspired cocktails and fifty varieties of wine. 

Dragon Hot Pot Swanston

Shape your culinary adventure based on century-old Chinese recipes at Dragon Hot Pot Swanston on Swanston Street. This restaurant lets you select the ingredients for a unique hot pot from a combination of meat, noodles, seafood, tofu and vegetables, then added to thick and fragrant broth made from marrow bones, cooked for more than 12 hours with traditional Chinese herbs. 

With more than 100 ingredients to choose from, along with spiciness your way, guests can create endless combinations of hot pots, like bone broth combined with pickled mustard seeds and fermented in a crock for six months to develop a rich, mild flavour. Perhaps Sichuan hot and sour broth tempts with beef, pork or tofu, while the more adventurous may opt for chicken feet or offal to add to silky collagen bone broth.

Thaiger

Firstly, to clarify, Thaiger is not a restaurant. It is a humble Thai eatery that gives a unique spin to your everyday burgers. While not a restaurant per se, the popularity of their Soft Shell Crab Black Burger earns this place a spot on the list. 

This simple eater seats three people at most; hence it is more practical to order a take-away. Their famous Soft Shell Crab Black Burger uses a bamboo charcoal bun with a slice of Granny Smith apple, Asian slaw and a tangy dressing.

 Another hit would be their Crying Thaiger – a burger with a piece of grilled, medium-rare steak with mixed leaves and a Thai dressing. This place is perfect for your lunch take-away (if you work in Melbourne CBD) or for a snack in the afternoon.

Kitchen Republik

Box Hill foodies head to Kitchen Republik on Main Street to satisfy dumplings and Asian fare with flair cravings. Nestled in Box Hill Central shopping centre, take a break from retail therapy at this vibrant eatery where tantalising aromas waft in the air from an Asian fusion menu sure to tempt all taste buds. 

Perhaps start your culinary journey with steamed juicy pork dumplings and Taiwanese-style popcorn chicken; grab a sweet chilli crumbed fish fillet bento rice box or stir-fried chicken with Sichuan pepper to stave off lunchtime hunger. Next, wrap your hands around a wrap with soy-marinated beef slices, spring onion and plum sauce, or a pork belly burger, pickled bok choy, crushed peanuts and coriander in a steamed bun.

Gingerboy

Serving Southeast-Asian street food with a modern Australian twist since its opening in 2006, Gingerboy has since established itself as the place to go for fusion Asian food. Their menu features dishes packed with spices and flavours and come in smaller portions and larger sharing dishes. 

Their famous son-in-law eggs is a must-try, as are other popular items such as their smashed green papaya salad, crispy chilli salt cuttlefish, red duck curry and a char-grilled lemongrass chicken with a peanut and tamarind caramel. Larger shared dishes worth ordering include grain-fed wagyu and fried baby snapper with fresh mango and lychee salad.