Review Choi's - Hawthorn

If someone hadn't reminded me about this restaurant, I would have completely forgotten about it. And even if I drove by a few times, I don't think I would have noticed it, because it's in a very unassuming location with a very low key facade, but let me tell you that the interior is beautiful and very, very spacious. They were exceptionally accommodating tonight, as they were solidly booked (which tells you how good they are) yet they found a way to squeeze us in if we went a little early, which was no problem at all. The food is as beautiful as the decor and the service was top notch. I had the Pan Fried Curried Beef Dumplings and the Sweet and Sour Chicken in Batter which were both SO incredibly delicious. Everyone else at the table loved their meal too and we will definitely come back. It can get a little loud, but again, good service, good food and it was a really nice dining experience. I highly recommend it.

Very good service, every dish was fresh and tasty with delicate flavours and sauces. The decor was elegant and sophisticated. My favourite dishes were the lobster, peking duck and calamari.

Enjoyable dinner with experienced and attentive staff. Food was served quickly for our family dinner which was appreciated. The most unique fried ice cream I've had (enjoyable too) and I look forward to going back to sample the banquet.

Best modern Chinese I have tasted, ready to go there any day of the week! David has really created something special and with staff like Justin who could almost have a fan club of his own, it is a delightful place to take people out for a special dinner with friends or a romantic dinner with your partner. After over ten years coming I'm yet to have a bad meal. I'm addicted to the Kung Bao Chicken, easily my favourite chicken dish anywhere, although almost all the chef recommendations are worth a mention on their own as they are all standout dishes with remarkably consistent quality. I also recommend the Chinese pancake or the crunchy nut deep fried ice-cream for dessert... or both.

So disappointed with our experience tonight. Chois has been a place where we have had many happy family meals together, with excellent wait staff, service and food. Unfortunately, tonight staff were rude and service was poor. Our meal was good, except the Peking duck which was lacking sauce and was dry.. It will be a very long time before we return

Used to be one of our favourites but last Saturday night dinner was a real disappointment. Service was slow and one main dish had to be re-ordered as it was missed. The Peking Duck was very dry and extremely bland and missing some ingredients. Special Fried rice did not arrive with mains and was also tasteless. For a group of five, food servings were also small in portion sizes and certainly not enough to feed our group. We were also charged $30.00 Corkage for 2 bottles of wine which seemed over-the-top. We all left very disappointed and unlikely to return any time soon.

Take away. Beef Black Bean, Honey chicken, SFR. With the exception of the honey sauce for the chicken all the food was very bland, in fact literally flavourless. Almost strangely so. How is it possible for food to be this bland ? Extremely disappointed. Have dined and take-away over the years, but not recently. A bad night in the kitchen maybe? I wont be coming back - too pricey to chance getting another meal as weak as this was. Shame, when it was good it was very good.

Top notch service & best Chinese food I've ever had in decades by far. Not the oily Chinese which seems to predominate most restaurants. The batter on the Garfish Royale was very light. Perfectly done broccoli in the Kang Bao Chicken dish with great presentation. This is a place to recommend.

Totally recommend the incredible food . Friendly service great wines .

We went for a special celebration tonight , it had been many years since I last visited Choi's but I had very fond memory's of the service, food and atmosphere and I was Not disappointed . Choi's is an institution and is highly recommended we had a fabulous night.

招待周到 味美可口 嘴角上揚 �

Typical Aussie Chinese. Sat down for an hour with two hungry kids, and got served 1 entre after 1 hour, unfuckin believable. Table next to us walk in same time and got served main course LMAO. What a SERVICE

Had a beautiful "last meal out" with Lisa ,Josh ,Ellie and Pip tonight Gorgeous food and wonderful flavours. Wish we'd known about this gem earlier. Exactly what doctor ordered. Homeward bound soon to sunny Scotland......mixed emotions

Last night's Chinese New Year dinner simply raised the bar to another level and was simply divine. Amazing. 10/10

Love this place! Yum!! great food fantastic service. Will definitely be back

My favourite restaurant in Melbourne

It’s become a lockdown favourite!

So, when I look at the reviews of this restaurant and see people who have left poor comments I think two things...1) they are just bad human beings with an axe to grind or 2) they are competitors. There is absolutely no reason why this fine Chinese restaurant should not be rated at least 4 stars. The food, service and atmosphere are all truly superb. Choi’s is a wonderful dining experience and we cannot wait to go back.

One of the better Chinese restaurants in Melbourne with great food and exemplary service. They handle BYO wine service as well as anyone, ensuring everyone gets an even share! Also catered for my coeliac wife very well which is rare in Chinese restaurants.

I didn’t take any of the pictures just because the food was not that nice. The ambience was great. Some of the food that we ordered, fish steam was not fresh and it tasted bad that we couldn’t finish it to avoid food poisoning. The roast duck was good.

First time dining at Choi’s and absolutely loved it. Our friends recommended dishes that apparently aren’t on the menu and we had to call up to preorder, but was so worth it. Definitely on the pricier end as dinner was over $800, but their lobster was to die for, fresh and delicious. We even ordered a fresh durian at the end. Who serves durian ever? It was one of the best durians I’ve ever had. But make sure to bring cash on you as durians are cash only! ($75)

Came here during my company Chinese New Year dinner.. it was a 8 courses meal to share.. we had the lou sang which was very delicious.. the combination platter was amazing especially the bbq pork which was sweet & juicy.. we also had the crab on glutinous rice which was something new for me & it tastes full of flavor.. the wagyu beef cube that was topped with fried garlic & black pepper are to die for.. also the pork knuckle & the roasted chicken was pretty yummy too.. dessert we had sweet potato pancake & durian pancake.. the durian taste strong but I think the pastry was a bit oily, it’s still good though.. the fruit platter was too pretty to eat.. overall great presentation & very fresh ingredients.. definitely worth the visit..

Every time I come here I am blown away by the dishes. We ordered the mushrooms which were cooked in a truffle sauce and this was honestly one of the best dishes I've ever had. The sauce was so perfect and everything melted in my mouth.<br/>We also had the lobster which was cooked so nicely as well as presented beautifully.<br/>Also nothing can beat their fruit platters. THere are just sooo many different seasonal fruits which I love!

We went for a birthday party for a table of 12. The food was very mediocre with a high price tag. <br/>Staff were not accommodating at all. Upon asking for menu they said menu Is to be given when all 12 people are seating. We had to beg for menu as the kids were hungry. <br/>Asked for rice during entree and got told that rice is to be provided at main! So pretentious. Again I had to beg for rice because the entree was so little and main is so slow. Kids were still hungry and were eating white rice on its own. <br/>I asked for en extra chair and they said since we only booked for 12 so they could not provide an extra seat. So inflexible! Aren’t you a restaurant not a parliament, why it’s so difficult to get a extra seat!!!! <br/>Oh dear! We will not return for sure. I personally prefer secret kitchen in Westfield for some authentic Cantonese food. This joint Is too pretentious and unaccommodating. Overall food 3.5. Service 2

Been going to Chois for many many years. Pleasant friendly and food to keep coming back for. Even though it’s no longer my local it is well worth each revisit. A definite plus is their byo policy, a must for any good restaurant. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This gem of a restaurant is a go to for special occasions or mid week catch ups with friends. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The food is consistently delicious and so full of flavour. I highly recommend Choi’s and look forward to my next visit.

I love this place! It is ambient, lovely and the service is amazing. The food omg its the best. It may be costly but it is WORTH EVERY CENT. try this, you will not regret it.

It’s almost a challenge to dine at a Chinese restaurant and not over order. Never the less, Choi’s didn’t cease to have us licking our lips. The food was made with effort and love. The lobster was absolutely divine and portions were very generous. Their wine list is so extensive and features so many of Victoria’s best - the problem is choosing one! ... and just to top off the delicious food is the almond biscuits they give you before leaving. Overall, amazing.

On our last visit they had amazing boneless duck with apple. Staff are friendly most of the time, usually if you dress up a little. On the pricier side for what they serve.

Exclusive fine dinning restraint, Chinese fine cuisine, price also on the high side, but you can tell the food have been made with a lot of effort...had dinner with an other 6 friends @ $120 per head was so much fun...good for exclusive dating or special occasions...love this place will come back :)

We had dinner there with our friends , this suppose to be a fine dining restaurant, but ..I think come to the service , there still have a room to improve ... food is good , quite tasty , nothing is really upset me . The highlight is their deep fried ice cream , the ice cream coated with peanuts which is quite unusual & tasty .

Visited here a few weeks back with a friend. We had three courses each. He enjoyed the prawns and prawn crackers and also the duck. I had some lovely vegetarian dumplings which were freshly made and tasty. I also had vegetarian san Choi now and this was also fresh and tasty. I finished off with the steamed baby Baramundi and this was soft and melted in my mouth. The meal was enjoyable, good staff and polite waiters. Will go again. The food was a little on the expensive side.

We were there last night and this is our review, the worst restaurant we have been for a long time:<br/><br/>- terrible service, very slow and unprofessional even from the maître (we have eaten with the wet used hot towels they give you to wash your hands before to dine on the table for the all night till we asked them to take them away) <br/>- noise atmosphere <br/>- food was average <br/>- prices to high compared to the quality of food .<br/><br/>The amazing thing is that when we complaint there response was “ I know and we are sorry “<br/><br/>Ps, we purchased a mineral water and the Maître then poured normal tap water into our glasses<br/>

DEAR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS !!<br/><br/>Visited Choi's on a Wednesday night expecting quality and fresh food from the reviews I have read. However, later that night I was experiencing discomfort and stomach cramps which disturbed my sleep and soon after, non-stop toilet trips due to FOOD POISONING. For the price of their items, you would not expect this kind of treatment and service that was appalling, requiring me to ask twice for drinks (not to mention overpriced). I knew this had come from Choi's as my fellow colleague experienced FOOD POISONING too, leading to both of us having to call in sick from work.<br/><br/>Just outrageous and left me in discomfort and pain.

Surprisingly well cooked and well presented Chinese dishes. <br/><br/>The eggplant dishes was quite nice though it was a bit spicy and we have told the manager some of us can't take spicy food. He still recommended the eggplant dish. It is ashamed that in the end half of it had to go to waste. The deep fried flounder fillet was crispy on the outside and juicy flesh inside. Choi's really took a rough and ordinary deep fried flounder dish and turned it into a fine and divine dish. The pork ribs with sesame sauce was tenderly cooked and flavoursome as well. <br/><br/>Overall the experience was pretty pleasant. The only downside is the price tag!!! It is a bit hard to justify even factor in the taste and presentation. Please mind the menu photos are very outdated and no where near the price on the current menu (some have doubled the price! E.g.)

Ordered Chinese broccoli and mushroom with garlic thinking I would get fresh veg with real garlic as you do in other restaurants, but instead it came drowned in a pool of Oyster sauce, ruining a perfectly good dish--also the broccoli was on the hard, under-cooked side and my wife could hear the crunching sounds.  With this I ordered the roast duck, which again, was drowned, this time in an orange-colored sugary plum sauce, something to raise the heart beat and spike the blood sugar.  65 dollars for this modest order, which was half food, half sauce.  I suppose at a restaurant that markets itself as 'fine dining' with fancy decor and charges 2 dumplings for 24 dollars (do not go by the menu on this website, as it is incorrect), I expect a chef who resists the urge to dump a whole bunch of salty sugary sauce for taste in the same way you would at a Pub.  I suppose some restaurants are cynical enough to think they can get away with it and imagine Westerners to be quite ignorant of genuinely good Asian cuisine and think they can pull the wool over their customers' eyes.  I'm not one of them.

Damn that's some fancy interiors for a Chinese restaurant no wonder it's $6 PER spring roll. Look this place didn't blow my mind I went with regulars who rave about it and as such I let them take over the ordering. Potentially this hampered my enjoyment as I probably would have chosen differently myself but nothing was particularly bad I just don't think it was adequate considering the serving size and pricing. The service is exceptional and the surroundings are elegant and refined but at the end of the day it's all about the food and it was a bit lacking for me. Truly stunning decor with beautiful orchards and lighting creating a lovely atmosphere so good for a special occasion with someone who loves Chinese cuisine

Haven't been here for ages but the service & food are still outstanding. There are lots of vegan options.<br/>Favorite is the spinach pastry. <br/>All the other vegan dishes are also very tasty.<br/>Some of the mushrooms are a bit hard and under cooked.<br/>Both the noodles and fried rice are generous serving, enough for 4.<br/>Highly recommend this place for special occasions.<br/>Expect to pay $65-85pp for 4-5 course!!

We had Choi's Banquet at $79 per head (not cheap). The food was mostly of a high standard though, and was pretty much a modern-ish take on Cantonese fare. The fish course was beautifully cooked, however the serves were quite small, as were the serves of accompanying greens. Stir-fried wagyu beef chunks with snow peas were also served up. Again, very tasty, but quite a small portion of both. The entree dishes were probably the standouts, especially the Peking Duck (2 items per person). Generally, the service was quite good.<br/><br/>My main criticism was the desserts, which were included in the banquet. Honestly, for a restaurant that offers a very good standard of food,  if you're going to include desserts on the menu then you at least need to make an effort to serve up something that's of a similar quality to the rest of the menu. There is a choice between fried ice cream and good old (?) banana fritter with ice cream. Both were very ordinary and not worthy of this establishment. I know that Cantonese cuisine is not famous for its desserts, but a bit more imagination and effort would surely produce something more palatable. Otherwise, take desserts off the menu and just stick with fruit platters.<br/><br/>If we go again we will order from the menu rather than choose a banquet.

I am so disappointed. I'm a regular at Choi's but my last few take-away orders have been swimming in oil! There is a pool of oil at the bottom of the container. Not happy Jan!

Fancy banquet style Chinese food with exceptional service. Waiters clear your plates, serve up the larger plates, debone the fish, even replace tea cups (to clear the tea leaves sitting at the bottom of your cup). Fruit platter was gorgeously crafted, as where the egg custard pastries. Food can be just as good at less expensive Cantonese restaurants but what you're paying for here is service and attention to detail.

Went for an early dinner and were greeted by very pleasant staff. The food came out quickly and was very high quality, some delicious dumplings and some of the lightest, tastiest batter on the lemon chicken I've had. All the dishes were great, if not a little pricey but happy to pay that for the quality and service we got. Also do take away - for next time!

Overall, it is a nice place to have a family get-together or celebration for birthday since the decoration is nice and atmosphere is great. The taste of food is up to standard. The chef is quite good at seasoning things. It is more like a modern western Cantonese food instead of authentic one. The best part of night was the almond biscuits that they have to customers as a snack. That was amazing. The service of old man is really good not the young ones. The young boy who was serving us was rude actually. Since the price is not cheap, we actually were expecting more. I probably won't going back unless got invited.

This is a restaurant if you want rip-off service and sub standard food. Mainly for white people who don't know Cantonese food any better. This was unfortunately a meal with cost $1200 for 12 people. Over $90 a pound for crab. And I wasn't even full by the end of it. The food was edible I'll give it that but there are many many alternatives. Hoi's Kitchen, Old Kingdom, Gold Leaf, Pacific Seafood. These all do better Cantonese food for not even $200 for the whole night. The waiters were overly gracious and service was over the top well no shit considering we paid that much. Didn't even greet us or say thank you for coming to the restaurant treating us just another bunch of people that they tricked and ripped off. EXPECT TO PAY AROUND $40 A DISH or for the SPECIALS: $100 A DISH. Serving portions are very miniscule<br/><br/>I urge everyone to read this and never come here in the future. I hope staff from Chois read this and give me a refund because that was horrendous what we paid and what sub standard food and service we received.<br/><br/>I am overly surprised that this place was even rated above a 2/5 on Zomato. These people were obviously paid to write these reviews or they are white people that don't know any better sorry. Just ridiculous. And I know my food trust me!

Choi's has been my local Chinese for years. It's always come through with the goods for a hungry family. The flavours are good, the meat is tender and the serves are a good size. We've had take away and dined in on numerous occasions and the service is always fabulous. It's kind of old fashioned these days, but the original Cantonese style restaurant of the 70's and 80's still has its place in Melbourne dining. <br/>We tend to stick to the favourites like Beef and Black Bean Sauce, Chicken and Cashews and my favourite Tofu and Vegetables. We've also tried the shiitake and Vegetables, Special Fried Rice and steamed dim sums. Though there's nothing extraordinary about these dishes, they're all well executed and they give you a bag of prawn crackers with your take away. <br/>The prices for the basic dishes are pretty standard, it's only when you start ordering off the chefs special menu that the dishes get expensive. I quite like the chicken and basil. <br/>Food 4/5<br/>Service 5/5

Enjoyable menu. Been back several times. Favourite dish by far is the peaking duck pancakes. Fresh and delicious. Have sometimes been persuaded to order from the specials menu by staff. Never as enjoyable - so when I return I'll stick to my regular orders. Good value for money. Nice setting & clean.

Can I say that I have just experienced the biggest ripoff of Chinese food ever<br/>Suburban Chinese restaurant<br/>Have you ever paid $488 for crab for 12 people<br/>Serves small<br/>No one ordered drinks<br/>A dinner that cost over $1,100<br/>Yes you read right<br/>If I ordered that meal at Pacific Seafood in Sth Yarra it would have cost me $300. And I didn't get to try 1 dish bc it ran out... Do yourself a favor, don't go here, biggest rip off ever, I have to eat rice and water for the next 12 mths to claw back the cost... Mentally scarred for life at this rip offI will never recommend this restaurant to anyone who knows what chinese food value is.. this was not value , this was a blatant attempt to rip off customers... I felt sick in the stomach when I got home and next morning  was terrible... Choi's should be banned by people who want great food and great value!!!

If you're paying more than $25 for a simple chilli stir fry you expect the serving to substantial or the cooking to be amazing. Unfortunately it was neither. I would have liked some Chinese broccoli, but balked at paying more than $20 for a serving.

Last nights dinner can only be described as a disaster. Service was appalling, food was below average, they ran out of European brand beers - I will never eat at this restaurant again!

We had been coming here for years and never had an issue until now. This evening however after having poor service all night (due to being slightly busy), Below average food in terms of taste and warmth (as in it was just plain cold) we finally had the final straw when our wine was tipped all over my wife by accident and then had the waiter deny it was their fault. A rubbish evening in all counts and we thank the manager ANDY for he's less than helpful response and denial of the poor service. At $100 a head there are many better options out there.<br/>Pathetic effort on all counts and we will never go back!

We had a nice exclusive table for 8 people. The venue was well presented, service was attentive throughout the night although our food courses came out a little slow. Our rice dishes were accompanied by fresh seafood and veggies.

We arrived quite late, the courteous staff tried everything to accomodate us. Everything was just delicious: fish, eggplants (just divine), bean curd, steak, vegetables. Great value!

Very nice place, food super excellent, funny night. Bryce looks a bit dodgy tho ... The Peking Duck good, could have had more of that, same goes for the gong bow (?) chicken, super hot just the way we liked it. Will defs be heading back to this place

Arrived at 8.10 pm for an 8pm second sitting. Seated within 10 minutes. Waited about 20 minutes for a wine list and drinks order.Menus came a little later, sadly we chose to leave it to the waiter. Food was just acceptable but not at $125 a head including drinks, 1 bottle wine and two glasses of wine between 4. Overpriced and sub standardWaited 15 minutes for the waiter to forget to bring one cup for the Chinese tea which was already on the table, had to ask again.I can go to our local for better food at $35-40 per head, no I won't be back.

With chefs from the flower drum this place is a hidden gem in hawthorn. Behind subtle exteriors reveals luxuriously decorated interiors. Food is delicate and perfectly presented

This place ticked all the boxes for me. Great food, great service, great settings and fair prices for the quality of food and experience.<br/><br/>We had a table of 4 , 2 having 2 courses and 2 having 3 courses. Total cost being $243.<br/><br/>Course 1 - 2 serves of Peking Duck. Loved it!!! Crispy skin, cooked to perfection, cucumber was refreshing and the pancake was a perfect thickness. Left me wanting more! Sadly my husband had a bone in his.<br/><br/>Course 2 - Flounder, Spicy Calamari, Mongolian Lamb, white rice and Chinese greens. The flounder was lovely and I'd order it again. The other meals were also nice.<br/><br/>Deserts - banana fritter with vanilla ice cream. Both loved them but I didn't get to try then sadly. Too full! <br/><br/>BYO $20 for corkage was steep.<br/><br/>Would I go there again? Yes, in special occasions.

A local favourite. Excellent cantonese cooking and classy decors. Service can be a little perfunctory at times but all is forgiven when food arrives. On a side note the wine list is excellent with minimal markups

Have to agree wholeheartedly with previous reviewer, Geraldine. We went to Chois for a retirement lunch a few months ago and were appalled with the service. In fact, it was the head waiter /maitre de who had the cheek to ask why I didn't leave a tip. When I explained that I did not receive the correct food order, he promptly blamed a junior staff member, when it was he who took the original food order. <br/><br/>There are many other places to dine in Melbourne. Forget Chois.

Birthday dinner gone incredibly wrong!! No greeting upon arrival and sullenly taken to our table.  Waited 15 mins before being given menus. Had to ask 4 times for a lemonade. Ordered bottle of wine and when they opened the wrong one we were told we would have to pay the $200 for it, instead of the $80 that we had ordered!! No interaction from staff until we all jumped up from our table when a cockroach wandered across the table.  Yes a cockroach!! No apology for that until after we had eaten our meal which was minus one dish we had ordered and included another that we didn't.  Will NEVER go back to Chois. This Hawthorn institution now needs to be institutionalised! Chois is arrogant and clearly the staff feel they are superior to the patrons. You have lost us Chois

Always a winner coming to chois for dinner, the friendly staff and authentic cuisine makes it a great local family night. We come back all the time.

This was the place I took my Missus to for our first date and as always we had a wonderful time. The Peking duck was amazing. Highly recommend the crab meet dumplings and San choi bao you can never go wrong. <br/>Chois has an incredible wine selection which always pairs perfectly with the food. If you order too much don't worry you can get a doggy bag to take home. <br/>We also had the scallops which were a bit average as they needed more dressing and kick but they were well cooked. The oysters were huge and beautiful but ruined with the way cooked would be so much better fresh. Having said that we always have a wonderful time here and would highly recommend to try. The staff are friendly and the manager always goes out of his way to make you feel special.

Haven't been here for a few years but recently revisited. Happy to see that the food and service was still still the same high quality but this is probably the only problem I see with the restaurant, the restaurant was the same as it was many years ago and I feel it has been a bit dated in decor and menu

Found the meal to be a bit oily which was a shame.  The staff were nice, might have to try it again at some stage. It's OK but for the price of the meal you think it would be better.

Great food and excellent service. The staff were so friendly and helpful. They came over and recommended us dishes when they noticed we were taking a while to order. The interior and ambience is also great. Would come back again!

Very good in all the important departments<br/><br/>great hosts, friendly staff<br/><br/>The set up is plush and most of the food is well above average (for the price it would want to be)<br/><br/>The Ha Gow is the best in Melbourne and it has a great wine list

I've been going to Choi's for years and it NEVER disappoints. Superb food with good service. It's also BYO which is a huge bonus. Choi's is one of the few restaurants i never tire of dining at.

We had a lovely family dinner here for my fathers 70th. Food lovely and fresh and service was helpful and attentive.

Georgie. I was extremely disappointed with both our meal and service at Choi's on Saturday night. We were booked between 6.30 and 8pm. Our meals service was slow and our meals were cold. In fact we literally took our last mouthful of our meal and were asked to vacate our seat. A disappointing night which was expensive.

Overpriced. Good points, flavours were sensational for each dish. Negatives, 4 people - 6 prawns, minimal vegetables, this wouldn't have made a full plate, $38.00. Beef dish $30-there must have been a cotton thread of meat done in a crispy batter, $30 for crispy batter????? . Fried rice large $20. Each person was issued an extremely small individual bowl and that was it. Peking duck was worth it, and last chicken dish was tasty. Came home hungry after 5 dishes, way over priced , going to go to Peds Kitchen next time for sensational and inexpensive food.

Can it get worse?. This restaurant used to be good...i repeat used to be! I would come here every now and then with my wife but won't be back anymore! Food was mediocre and service was pretty average for such a fancy restaurant! Maybe it was all in the past! Would I coke back? Yeh...Maybe next year or perhaps the year after as it was not an enjoyable experience!

Luxurious leather booths overlook the main dining area, which is lit atmospherically with low-hanging fittings. Table service is at its finest – even after the beautifully presented meal is positioned on your table, Choi’s fantastic staff will dish it out in front of you. This is the perfect place for business affairs or tremendous family dining with all the trimmings.<br/>

Refined food, presentation & surrounds. Not hard to understand why this Hawthorn restaurant has become a local legend!

Choi’s is a step up from the mid range Chinese options about town. Here they offer superb service, premium Chinese fare in a more elegant atmosphere. You can expect to pay slightly more for these aspects, but to celebrate a birthday or just to have an enjoyable night out it is easy to justify the coin.

Enter via the huge heavy sliding door like an entry to an arctic tomb from Indiana Jones and you land in the most amazing gorgeous space! Lots of lovely, beautifully decorated space, including some rather fabulous lighting! The menu is extensive with plenty of fabulous seafood, duck, pork and chicken, though limited choice for vegetarians there is definitely something for everyone and we have a few different tastes on our table so the gauntlet is thrown down for me to order for everyone! A few entrees to start with….. hello Peking Duck!! So pretty! With a serve of 6 pieces for $30 we each enjoy a little delicate pocket of sheer ducky heaven….. take a moment!! We also enjoy a few baskets of mixed dim sims, steaming parcels of pork, chicken, prawn and vegetarian - something for everyone!! We also order the vegetarian rice parcels and I hear they are yum-tastic! The Mongolian sizzling lamb is exceptional, tender pieces of lamb in a tasty light dressing and veggies, it is a damn good d

Don't go! A table of 8. This is our friends local take away every Sunday night. Not after our dinner here last night. They were so embarrassed that they had convinced us all to come. There was plenty of staff but the service was so slow and sloppy. A pot of tea but no cups were brought. Our booking was at 7.30 and we still had not received our mains by 9.30. My friend had called the main gentleman over and he answered her disappointment by saying they were short staffed and we were a large table. A disappointing response. We complained again when some of the food came out. They did not bring the rice with the dishes. They forgot to serve one of the fried rice dishes as well. They were not concerned about our complaints. Just a polite "I'm sorry". My friend asked for a compensation of a couple of desserts that they obliged and then the bill. It was ridiculously Overpriced for what was ordinary food with thoroughly disappointing service<br/>We paid $160 a couple!!!! I think we had two bottles of wine. A few nights earlier we had been to a top restaurant in the city and paid twenty dollars more with outstanding food and service. Not only will we never return they have lost their regular take away goer.<br/>Side note: ladies be careful before you sit down in the bathroom.. There was no toilet paper in one of the cubicles!!

Bad choice. Disgraceful and pretentious<br/><br/>Appalling service<br/>Expensive<br/>Slow<br/>So so food<br/>Better most elsewhere

Unreliable, overpriced, better off elsewhere. My girlfriend lives opposite Chois, so has been convenient in the past, but I have never been blown away. Mistakes have been made with take away which is annoying. Last night I was told my take away would be ready in twenty minutes, got there in twenty minutes and had to wait another twenty five before it was ready. Very surprised the bill was $78 for not a lot, asked for an itemised bill and told I could not be given one. Had a bad stomach all day today. I noticed the awards on the walls were all from around ten years ago - so assuming this place was once good and has relaxed on their effort - I definitely won't ever be going back to Chois. - DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY !

Terrible Food, Bad service and Severely Over-priced ---> Chinese food for inexperienced White People. I am normally very generous with praise and always give a benefit of doubt, but this surely is, by far, the worst restaurant experience I had in Melbourne, ever. This place has fulfilled the three criteria of a nightmare restaurant experience: Bad food, Bad Service, Unreasonable Prices.<br/>(i) Peking duck, which is their signature dish, was terrible. The meat was tough and dry and the skin was not crispy. Some pieces were drowned with sauce, others had none at all. They were so pretentious with the wrapping that it thoroughly destroyed a simple dish. <br/>(ii) Other dishes were just as bad. It's Chinese food for inexperienced white people (or people that have little exposure to good Chinese food). Anyone that has any self respect or knows anything about Chinese food should NOT come here. Even a simple red bean pancake was made complicated, drizzled with overly sweet syrup, and a greater overdose of cinnamon... why do you even put cinnamon on red bean pancakes?!<br/>The humble spring onion pancakes was made into this diabolical donut-shaped thing, that was mushy on the inside and had a unpleasant after-taste. The Sizzling Beef and Three Cup Chicken tasted suspiciously similar, with the latter totally void of the complexity and subtlety it demands demands. <br/>(iii) Dish portions were tiny REGARDLESS of the price. I really don't mind paying for food, and have eaten at some of the most expensive places in Melbourne. However, I do have an issue with paying for bad food with poor service. <br/>(iv) Service was terrible. Our waiter did not even know the menu. We had to point it out to him a few times before he understood what we meant. Don't bother asking for suggestions because he does not even know the most basic of dishes. There is a difference between bad service due to incompetence and negligence. I would say it's the former. The waiters lack training; i.e. its the management's fault. Also, I think they were understaffed, because he seemed so flustered. <br/>+ I've seen other reviews say that this restaurant only treats Caucasians well. This is quite true. The whole night, I notice that the maître d' almost exclusively serving Caucasians. <br/>(v) They ran out of tofu... you kidding me?! <br/>All in all, it was a terrible dining experience. What made it worst was that some relatives were leaving Melbourne that night, and it turned out that their last meal here was their worst. It was a very stressful experience, and stressful seems to be the only right word to use. We left the restaurant hungry because we were so afraid to order anything more. We do not want to be even more disappointed. <br/>The best part of the dinner was the last dish -- the peanut biscuits, which were complimentary. They were passable. <br/>Go to Tea House at Chinatown. Its at another playing field compared to Choi's.

Disappointing. I came in 2010 and back then, i was satisfied with the service and food portions. However, it's obvious now that they have compromised on everything. From the waiter that did not know the menu to the small portions and overcharging of food. The peking duck wraps came with no sauce or too much sauce. The crab meat was not fresh. These are just a few complaints among many. Be prepared to be disappointed

Anne t. We ate here tonight and enjoyed a beautiful meal dished up by amazing efficient and friendly staff. Dumplings delicious then Peking duck wraps....yummy! My favourite for mains was the chilly prawns stir fry. We also loved the scallops with snow peas......and the peppercorn fillet steak. Thanks for a great dining experience Choi's.

Has Gone Bad. Chois used to be one of the best Chinese restaurant in Melbourne. However, on a recent visit it was clearly noticeable that the quality, standards, service standards of this restaurant have deteriorated fast.<br/>The portions were very small and severely overpriced, food lukewarm, and the normally excellent Peking duck pancakes were tasteless with low quality duck. The fried rice was nothing short of a disgrace, as was the chilli beef which was lacking in any taste or chilli. The service was hopeless, slow, and unacceptable.<br/>Will not risk this again.

Best Chinese !. My friend Jamie & I went here last Friday for lunch he told how great it was we had nearly everything from the menu 10/10 the owner Andrew lovely man. I can t say much more just get ther I have been to Silks David's Flower Drum this is heaps cheaper & as good if not better.

Isn't fried rice meant to have more than just rice??!!?!?!?!?!. What was once a great restaurant has turned into a place that is over prices and bad food. my fried rice was practically rice with not much else. bring back the old Choi's

Disappointing. Went to Chois on Saturday night. I used to be a regular, but my visits have become less frequent as satisfaction has dropped. Food quality is still reasonable, but serving sizes are now so small that you have to be a midget to enjoy their meals. Prices are exorbitant, especially with the serving sizes so small. Although they have lots of people, service is also poor and unresponsive. It will be a very long time before I go again. They have lost me.

Superb food and service. Highly recommended restaurant for elegant Chinese food. Our party of two enjoyed a banquet which included succulent peking duck, handmade dumplings, perfectly cooked fish, wagu beef, crab rice and a divine tasting non traditional fried ice-cream (which was rolled in nuts and sweet honey).<br/>Prompt non intrusive service, sophisticated modern atmosphere, combined with BYO topped off the most perfect night out.<br/>I am now a Chois convert and will be back soon to try more from the menu.

Life's not so tough for a Tuesday lunch!. It's not a tough life when you're able to peel off an enjoyable Tuesday lunch at Choi's.<br/><br/>Three of us cruised down Riversdale Rd, parked at Choi's rear car park, walked round through their thick glass & metal sliding door into spacious and welcoming décor of subdued dark browns & accented whites. <br/><br/>An early-ish lunch meant we had our choice of tables. A smattering of business types over in one corner, a few mother-and-daughter lunchers and a family group seated at a large table near the door. <br/><br/>Our polite and personable waiter, Justin, gave us plenty of time to browse though the menu, which is very extensive. Quite a few dishes beckoned, listed as specials, appetisers, entrees, seafoods, mains, narrowing them down is quite a task.<br/><br/>After some lengthy discussion, we settled upon sharing an "entrée" of special crabmeat San Choi Bao and dumplings, followed by a "second entrée" 6-piece serving of Peking duck, then two "mains" of Scallops with ginger and snow peas, Szechuan eggplant with minced chicken on rice.<br/><br/>The San Choi Bao was light and flavoursome.<br/>Peking duck is a classic Chinese mainstay, and very well presented here.<br/>The scallops were delicious, the sauce smooth and understated, a nice bite of ginger and a crunch of snow pea. An excellent dish. <br/>The Szechuan eggplant was adequate in texture, though a little disappointing in flavour, maybe a touch overcooked, the eggplant being a bit flabby, and the dish lacked a fresh chilli zing.<br/><br/>When washed down with two generous chardonnays and a crisp cold Crownie, you'd fully expect the bill to nudge $50/head. And, so it was, notching a $152 tally for three solidly-replete lunchers. <br/><br/>All up, yes, well worth a repeat visit.

Downhill Fast. I have been a big fan of Chois for over 20 years. But I really think their food has gone downhill. The San choi was full of onion. The Peking Duck was cold and the beef and chicken dishes lacked flavor and they did not have much meat. C'mon guys please lift your game.

Wonderful!. Partner and I came here for a mid-week dinner. We had the best time! I was surprised how extensive their wine list was but still had reasonably priced choices. We really enjoyed the food, amazing quality and delicious. We had a sliced beef fillet that was incredible. Nothing too crazy on the menu, but surprisingly not many pork dishes. Most of the dishes were in the $20-30 range. The staff were lovely and we left very full. There is a reason that this restaurant has been around for so many years! Lovely place!

Family Favourite. Been coming here for years with my family for whatever special occasion warrants it, and never have I EVER had a bad experience. Even when they're really busy, they still deliver consistently good food and wine, and service. I love the little biscuits they give you when your bill comes too! Such a simple, but nice little touch.<br/>Definitely give this one a go - Peking duck to the table, followed by san choi bau, and then whatever deliciousness takes your fancy!<br/>I'll keep coming back - I love it.

Went there after a year & food was bland and pathetic. A dish cost $30 and is not even enough to qualify as an entree. So little quantity and chilli prawns were not chilli, vegetables were dry - avoid!!! Only positive was prawns were good but only 3 in number. They are clearly reducing the quantity & increasing prices.

Absolutely love this place, we had duck sweet & sour & the chef suggestion Thai fish, one of the best Chinese restaurant we been to date. The services was top notch the gave you a hot towel before dinner and the wine choices are extensive. Yes it's a lillte more expensive than the average restaurant but at least you dine in and walk out with a sense of money well spend.

Happily surprised. We had not been to Choi's for quite some time after a bad experience. We went there last night with 3 others and had a truly delicious meal. We all had a soup, mostly hot and sour, then we all had a spicy quail. We then shared 4 courses and some rice. We had a steamed fish fillet with ginger and chives, a duck dish, an eggplant dish and Chinese mushrooms, snow peas and bok choi dish. Plenty of refills of the teapot and excellent service from a VERY chatty waiter. The bill of $45 per head was a pleasant surprise as we have been told that here is very expensive. ( we didn't have wine, lobster, crab, peaking duck-that ARE expensive here). The servings were a bit small especially when sharing with 5 people but we had enough overall. i am glad we came and we will probably return.

Birthday Celebrations. I never write reviews! Until now. We chose the $75.00 a head banquet as a birthday celebration. (Host paying and controlling the menu and wine list - made it easier. for the mngment I am sure). The food was outstanding. All people attending agreed that it was absolutely outstanding - better than my two favourite inner city China town restaurants.The wine list was comprehensive and competitively priced. The customer service was excellent. Host asked for a start and finish time which was adhered to. Easy parking. Pram friendly! Thankyou Chois! Arguments are still ongoing about which meal was the best...

Attitude and price vs good food. Firstly, let me say the food has always been good (not great) and I have eaten in and taken out for many years. I think that their Peking Duck is their best dish.<br/><br/>There have been times in the past when I have promised myself not to go back again, based mainly on the sour and unfriendly attitude of the maitre'd, over-staffed to the point of non-communicative waiters tripping over themselves to serve up, which could well be a contributor to the highly inflated prices. <br/><br/>Don't get me wrong, I'm no Scrooge when it comes to forking out for a great meal, I am a self-diagnosed 'big tipper' when it comes to friendly service and a restaurant that really delivers on target. Unfortunately, Choi's makes me want to; 1. Ask the maitre'd who he thinks he is, 2. ask for more food as oft times the serves are stingy, and 3. never, ever leave a tip. These three points have made me re-evaluate. After all, life is too short to pay high prices for 'average' <br/><br/>I dined here last night again, I thought I'd give it another go, make sure I wasn't mistaken. Alas, all of the reasons I don't like Choi's are still there, loud and proud, and that my friends will be my last visit. <br/><br/>$79 of my hard-earned for two veg spring roll, two crab meat dumpling, one Schezuan beef, one small rice (which we had to take away because it came after the main), one lemon, lime, bitters, one tea. <br/><br/>I also remember paying $19 for takeaway Chinese greens - highway robbery! <br/><br/>There are much better Chinese restaurants around.<br/><br/><br/>PS. The Schezuan beef was a very small serve and it wasn't fillet. Tea House on Burke kills it.

Mr Pucci takes the family on a feast. This place is consistently good. Our family adores this place and we always feel satisfied.

Family Dinner. Dinned at Chois to celebrate a family event. 4.5 half hours after entering we left both hungry and disappointed. Dinning with a group of 18 is bound to be slow, but 4.5 hours hours is utterly ridicules. From when we were seated it took an entire hour for our first dish to come. The shear waiting around was almost unbearable on our hungry stomachs, with the thought of going into the service station opposite to grab a bite becoming hard to suppress. <br/><br/> In terms of the food, considering the price, was relatively poor. Their attempt to modernise Chinese cuisine really missed the mark. The combination of flavours was all too simple, with each dish being little more than a piece of meat with a basic sauce. However the scallops were definitely a hit, along with the acuteness of the service. We dinned with a vegetarian and the standard of food that he received was deplorable. Whilst we were eating fillet steak, he was given a plate of 3 pieces of bok choy, 2 snow peas and 2 rehydrated mushrooms, that's it! <br/><br/>Bad food and service I can deal, but when it impacts on your family having a good night together at great expense to your grandparents I cant deal with that. Thanks Chois...

Some of the best peking duck melbourne has on offer!! and the pepper beef is delectable!

Crouching Tiger Hidden Waiter. I had enjoyed Choi's take away before and decided to dine in, despite being dressed like a bum having just been for a walk. I shared a series of appetisers and entrees including dumplings, char siew, fried rice and san choi bao. The food was excellent and arrived quickly, despite the restaurant being quite full. The service was a bit hit and miss, orders going unfulfilled and having to repeatedly ask for drinks, but then I can't complain as I probably didn't deserve to be let in wearing smelly runners and shorts. Choi's is probably not the best place for a quick midweek bite as it is on the expensive side, but the food was spot on and I look forward to trying it again, perhaps on a Saturday night, in the near future.

Fantabulous. I discovered Choi's only two years ago and I have not been let down ever!<br/><br/>Choi's is now our family's favourite restaurant for all occasions! Their decor is classy, services is friendly and food is delicious.<br/><br/>Recommended dishes:<br/>Scallop 3 ways<br/>Black Cod <br/>Lobster<br/>Mushrooms<br/><br/>Highly recommended!

Duck. yummmeee. Typical Chinese service and attitude. but great food. isn't that what you wish for when you go to a Chinese restaurant??? duck pancakes and sang choi bow were perfect and will be back again for shnitzzzzle! (for sure that is ;-))<br/>I am a fussy customer but this place ticks all the boxes (other than price) for a Chinese rest, rude service, GREAT food and good wine. ill be back

Consistently Very Good. Choi's is a fantastic 'old style' quality Chinese restaurant .... impressive fit out and surroundings, polished & professional service, packed dining areas with lots of noise and consistently good dining. The menu has not deviated a lot over the years and provides many comfortable and safe choices to be enjoyed, plus some new and interesting options. The quality of produce and ingredients are very good / fresh, as is the presentation and servings on the table. Regulars and new diners are warmly welcomed. BYO is never a problem and great value. Enjoy.

Great night. After many years of living near Choi's we finally went there for a meal tonight. Contrary to many of the previous reviews, we found the service to be friendly and efficient and the food thoroughty delicious. We ordered a range of meals and they were all divided between the four of us (without any gender biases) consecutively instead of all being dumped on the table at the same time. We all loved the crab spring rolls and the scallops a nd ginger.

3rd time unlucky. Really disappointed with service. After a first impression that was great, we brought some friends for a meal. <br/>I would be ok with 1 or 2 indiscretions, though this night was a litany of errors. Forgotten beverages on 2 occasions. Peking duck was cold. All other food was really nice. <br/>If you forget to deliver coffee to the table, it should be deducted from the account. <br/>Sorry. We will not be back.

Not What We expected. The simplest and easiest way to describe our experience at Choi's would be to say the whole evening was a disaster. We placed our order, and either by assumption or lack of understanding by the waiter, we were not served what we ordered. The Peking Duck was dry and lacked a crispy skin, the scallops were gritty and still had the rubbery membrane attached. At this point we queried the rest of our order, there was no apology for the fact we were made to feel uncomfortable and embarrassed when we questioned the situation. My daughter was in tears, I was confused and angry. Not the most pleasant way to celebrate a Birthday. We will never return.

Terrific Meal: 24th June 2012. Being new to Melbourne this restaurant was recommended to me by a local,I can honestly say me and my husband were not dissappointed. We arrived at the restaurant on Sunday eve 24/6/11 around 8.30pm having made no reservation and was seated promptly. As we were seated we were asked what we would like to drink & the order taken courtesly. When our drinks arrived a menu was given with the drinks. We selected as a entree chicken & sweetcorn soup and a main of scallops with ginger-beef with black bean sauce and boiled rice to share. The food was fabulous - colourful and the taste was the best I have had recently! The quantity was just right too (not too much - nor too little) Service was very good even when we commented that my husbands Pinot Noir had some kind of sediment in it, they changed it bringing a clean new glass to the table and opened a new bottle in front of us. All round very excellent meal & service. Will be back defo....

GREAT NIGHT. We returned to Choi's this week for another meal of fine Burgundy (BYO) to be accompanied by Choi's always wonderful food. <br/><br/>Choi's did not disappoint. <br/><br/>The wines (two superb high-end Burgs) were well matched with quail, spatchcock, the "Perfect Beef" and, of course, the duck. The service, attitude, stemware and overall atmosphere were all equally of a high standard. We will return again for another night of Burg, duck and.... whatever. <br/><br/>To the few haters reviewing this fine restaurant... get a life.

Terrible service, so careless. Who would think we want a menu? Great fish, other dishes ok.

Like but expensive. We like the food but do find it expensive for the value and what you get. Not sure if we will be back.

Bad and rude service. I have finally made the decision never to go to this establishment again.<br/>They are rude and only worry about how quickly they can get the money into the cash register.<br/>As this 'was' my local Chinese Restaurant for many years for a quick meal with family and friends I have put up with overcharging ,slow and rude service with the promise of an improvement.<br/>This evening I ordered take away, to arrive home with missing items [the second time in the last two visits].<br/>The attitude is take it off the next purchase ,never an apology.<br/>Choi's have lost a customer for ever.

Mothers day Fiasco!. Booked a Mothers Day Lunch for my wife our four children, my mother in law, my father and I. I was told that we could only have a 11am start. That was ok as we have young children. All was going fine till 12.50pm and we were just finishing our main courses. We go to order desert and were told we have to leave as the next booking has arrived!! No more ordering will be accepted from us!! At no time were we told when I made the booking or when we arrived that we would have to be gone at 1pm! I have travelled the world and Australia and I have NEVER had that happen to me!! I spoke to the manager/owner and she didn't really care and was more interested in handling the cash register!! Get the picture! The food was average at best and considering all the awards nailed to the wall the better days of service and food have maybe pasted Choi's by!

Food is great! I love coming here with family. however expensive for some things, but you get what you pay.

Approximately 4 weeks ago my father in-law phoned Chois & booked for 8 people for 10th March to celebrate a birthday of one of their daughters & their 40th wedding anniversary. He was told at the time we could have either 6pm or 8pm so he choose the 8pm time , gave them his mobile number & assumed he had a booking. To our great surprise when our group arrived last night at 8pm we were informed that the restaurant was fully booked for a Chinese wedding & we had no booking & they basically told us to go away. By now it was after 8pm & we had to find another venue which was very difficult at that time of night. At the same time another group of 4 were being turned away from a booking they made 2 months earlier to entertain visitors from England. We have previously been to Chois on a number of occasions & have never had a problem either with the booking or the food but last night left us very disappointed and distressed. It is difficult to comprehend that if Chois got a better offer eg the wedding, why they would not have had the courtesy to call my father inlaw & explain in plenty of time so that we could have made alternative arrangements. Obviously something went wrong at the time of booking & we were very inconvenienced without a word of apology or explanation. My wife also called to complain on the night, only to be fobbed off. Very unprofessional outfit.

My favourite Chinese restaurant! The Peking duck is awesome, the Wasabi prawns never fail to please, the special fried rice is the best I've ever had and the Kang Bao Chicken is out of this world - try & eat the whole chillies!!

Below average, cost is high, not recommended. Don't know how this restaurant get so many good reviews.<br/><br/>My friends and i have dinner there, sometime during Dec 2011.<br/><br/><br/>My review:<br/>The price is high, higher than most other same class restaurants.<br/><br/>The size of the food (main dish) is small, smallest for all the chinese restaurants i have visited.<br/><br/>May be we are chinese and no very well dressed, so the service is poor. the manager and waitress all have a bit of mean attitude, not friendly at all. But, the service on other table (European people), form what we see is good and pro, much better that my table.<br/><br/>For the taste, the duck dish of that night is nice, all the other dishes that we tried are just average, one or two even below average. Presentation of the food is above average but size is small.<br/><br/>I have visited many Chinese restaurants in Melbourne, that have better service, taste and will only cost me half of the total bill.<br/><br/>overall, bad experience, My friends and I will not visit again.