A genuine contender for best meal I have ever eaten. Cannot fault the menu - we had the 'feed me' option and made it to eight courses before tapping out. Definitely recommend that menu if it's your first time at the restaurant. We had a super lovely lady looking after us at the bar who talked us through the dishes as they arrived. Great atmosphere and a beautiful night out. Only downside is they don't take reservations unless you're a big group, so be prepared to line up outside. Bring line snacks If you get hangry - you want to stick this one out! The line moved reasonably quickly and we got lucky with seats at the bar, but there were other groups waiting around an hour. I'm the first to bail if I have to wait a long time for food but it really is worth it!
Was recommended and was told best fusion Thai we would enjoy and it didn’t disappoint. Loved everything about this place from entering the venue to waiting at the bar and barman recommending very special mix to waiters and waitresses, food taste and fusion flavours. Recommend highly worth the money.
Got there about 6 and already 30+ min wait for table. Got immediate seats at bar and the entertainment began. Bar staff friendly and knowledgeable guided us through menu and we settled for the feed me where they listen to your likes allergies etc and bring 3 entree to share then a couple more and a couple more then dessert. They didn’t rush us and the food was fantastic. Not hawkers corner prices but the food was quality and ample. The staff quick and pleasant. We rate this place �
Deborah L Mahoney-Dobbs
+5
A bit different. No bookings for groups with numbers under 8. just turn up and wait. It’s loud and busy with great food. You have to be in the mood for it if you go. It’s not candles and table clothes, it’s industrial with loud music and fast chaos happening around you. If you go in with that expectation, you wont be disappointed.
Absolution amazing Thai with a difference highly recommend this place for its unique Thai flavored menu and drinks selection, waitressing is exceptional also !
The “feed me” dishes served up were Michelin star quality! The 50min wait was worth it! While waiting, we had a table down stairs, drinks were flowing and the waiter was a total babe. All of the staff were super friendly! Chin Chin is a Melbourne must!
Our party of 4 enjoyed a selection of vegetarian & non vegetarian courses all were delicious, we have been to Chin Chin several times & doesn’t disappoint, highly recommend
Best meal we have ever had. Blown away, every dish was something special and great service to top it off.
1st time at Chin Chins and was expecting a huge wait. We were seated in 5 min and the service was phenomenal. Our food was served within 10 min of ordering and was the best meal I’ve ever had. Definitely coming back next time we’re down in Melbourne. Thanks
Get there early. Be prepared for a wait in the go go bar down stairs , but so worth it ,awesome food experience. We had the “ just feed me “ for $88 a head . 10 courses ! So good and great service. Never once felt rushed or pushed to hurry up we need the table.! Ps should of just went the $65 p head feed me. Soooo full after. Will be back in line next time I’m in Melbourne .
Been to Chin Chin 3 times and have done the banquet every time. Last time I went was 17th of June. Overall the atmosphere is great but this time my meat was a bit overcooked such as the duck.
The chicken and chilli jam was amazing 👌🏻
One of my favourite go to restaurant for asian food, especially when catching up with friends. I’ve actually lost count on how many times I’ve been. Pad See Ew is my favourite and the best I’ve ever had - the rolled rice noodles used are super unique. Kingfish ceviche is also fresh and has a nice kick from the chilli.
Some of the most delicious Asian fusion food I’ve had. Everything was clean, crisp and tasty. Highly recommend the pork roll ups and beef brisket. The pork belly was average. When entering the restraint, the maître d’ refused to acknowledge our presence for a few minutes. This was an off putting start to the experience. Our waitress was very friendly afterwards which made up for the cold beginning.
OMG this place is amazing - if you want to try this out please do! I went to Chin Chin to celebrate my bfs birthday and I ordered the banquet. There were so many plates and all delicious! It can be a bit pricy however it can be justified by the amazing service by staff and the amazing taste of the food 🤩. Highly recommend and will come back here!!!
GREAT food, drinks and super friendly staff!!! You'll want to go early to avoid a line, took us about 2.5 hours to get a table and we arrived at 6pm!
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Honestly, what is there to say about Chin Chin that hasn't been said before. Rated as one of Melbourne's best restaurants, with queues that can last for hours, this amazing venue lives up to it's fabulous reputation and beyond. I have been here several times, and it's definitely a place that I enjoy going with friends and family.
I last went before lockdown, so we didn't have the opportunity to book. However it was a midweek lunch session, so our wait was considerably shorter than dinner and weekends. Our table was in a great spot, and although you are close to other guests, it really adds to the amazing and fun vibe... even in the middle of the day. Our server was super attentive, and just the sweetest guy. I've always found everyone here so friendly and helpful, making it a joy to return for the fabulous service.
Starting with a jug of spritz cocktails we were off to a great start, and they had a refreshing flavour with a good kick. We knew we had to start with the spring rolls as they are so fresh and flavoursome, and we love the lettuce cups that you wrap them in. The dipping sauce is sensational.
For mains we had our favourite goat curry, barramundi, green mango salad and a side of roti. I don't often have goat, preferring to leave it to the experts; and the chefs at Chin Chin always come through with the goods. The meat is incredibly tender, and the kick of spice and chilli really is phenomenal. Definitely one to get the lips tingling.
The barramundi dish was so fresh and light, and with the green mango salad; just a perfect pick for lunch. The dressing on the salad really is amazing. So fresh and zingy, and the crushed nuts add to the fantastic texture of this side.
We were too full for dessert unfortunately, but we still left incredibly satisfied. An amazing atmosphere, with the hum of a happy crowd in the air is such a great drawcard to visit Chin Chin; and with it's incredible menu and attentive service, there is no doubt why Chin Chin is as popular as it is. You can't really call yourself a Melburnian if you haven't been here at least once, and it's always on the itinerary when I have friends and family visiting town. An all time fave, so much so that I'm already planning another trip post lockdown.
Been meaning to write a review for a while now, shared the chefs banquet. The food was amazing!! Im forever trying new places and I'm always comparing it to Chin Chin! Nowhere can beat it! Kingfish sashimi was unreal! Food, service & atmosphere 10 out of 10!
Joanne | Melbournecitay
+5
✅What you should order: kingfish sashimi, chicken wings, panna cotta
🌡Dine in process: You need to make a booking beforehand and there is a minimum spend of $45pp. Registering at the restaurant is a seamless QR code-based process and we were seated within 2 minutes. There was a considerable distance between us and other patrons and the restaurant ambience was fantastic.
🍸Drinks: The coconut crush cocktail ($18) with vodka had a good alcohol:coconut ratio - it was not too diluted. Great and refreshing coconut flavour throughout my drink.
🍗Food review: The kingfish sashimi reminded me about why asian fusion restaurants have a place in the melbourne food scene. The combination of coconut cream, lime and fresh kingfish sashimi is unique and a great palate cleanser!
Credit must be given to the amazing chicken wings - they were so good that we ordered another portion. The skin was so thin, crispy and well seasoned. The accompanying sauce was also delicious - now I want to eat all of my fried chicken with this lime sauce!
Other dishes finished in a flash, including the crispy barramundi and green apple salad and crab and pineapple fried rice. The fried rice had generous portions of pineapple, but I honestly couldn’t taste the crab portions (it was potentially overpowered by curry leaves). The rotisserie pork belly was a bit of a letdown sadly - it was either a lack of seasoning or the absence of crispy skin which we were looking forward to.
moving on to desserts, the Vietnamese iced coffee caught our eye on the restaurant’s social media and it tasted just as good as it looked. The honeycomb coffee combo reminded me of the perfect cinema caramel popcorn. We were less impressed with the banana parfait - I think it wasn’t crispy enough and seemed too gooey. They understandably added raspberry sorbet to add some acidity and balance the dessert... but it didn’t quite work for me sadly.
All in all, we paid $68 pp for an enjoyable meal. some of the dishes were outstanding and warrants a second visit. I’ll be back!
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We ordered takeaway twice in the last month. The first time, the food was hot, fresh and delicious! Also a larger quantity than expected. The pad thai was one of the best I've had recently, the marinade was excellent. The pad seuw was ok, the rice noodles were stuck together and I suspect it would have been better in-store. We ordered the butter chicken (one of the better ones I've had in Melbourne, super-tasty), massaman curry (really good), rendang curry (not bad). The bbq cauliflower and tofu were very nice. The roti was great. Overall an excellent dining experience (at home).
The second time round, the food was considerably cooler when we arrived home, so it wasn't quite as good. However, can't wait for restrictions to lift so we can try dine-in. (Although not having to wait in a queue has been much appreciated in this era of takeaway...)
Always a long wait to get in, but the food is good and the atmosphere great. We shared a few plates when I was there and it was plenty of food at a reasonable cost. Would def go back
I'm not the type of person who can be bothered waiting a crazy amount of time for a meal anymore. Chin Chin still is crazy busy after all that years. In this lockdown though, it's given the opportunity to revisit though takeaway. And wow is it good. Food that's just so in your face with flavor, yet luxe in a way that clearly separates it from the run of the mill suburban Asian you might get. Really uplifting in times like this. Massaman is really good, the chilli is dialled down so you can enjoy the curry flavour that smooth and rich, while the green curry for it's heat kept me going back for more. I might have to make an exception for Chin Chin when it reopens its doors.
Great variety of options for a larger group! Everything we ordered was pretty good and has packed full of flavour. Desserts were just ok for me.
N.B. There's no booking and you have to line up for at least 30mins during peak hours.
Mamacita Foodie And Hola Con Lola
+5
Obsessed with this place!
Love the vibe always full
Amazing food
And great cocktails at Gogo bar
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Thursday early evening (5:30PM) for a dinner for two. The queue had less than 6 people. We were seated straight away and got our food before 5:45. The atmosphere is casual, lighting wasn’t very bright but since it was summer, natural lighting sufficed. The crowds are not too loud at this time either.
FOOD 5/5 - We ordered the Feed Me #1. For $69.5pp, it is well worth the value. Highlights for me were the sweetness of both the tamarind duck and massaman curry dishes. The roti was also exceptionally warm and had a nice chewy dough. Special mention to the sashimi too - a really light lime flavour and cream balanced for a more sour dish against the sweetness of other options, lots of which had chilli jam and/or coconut flavourings. Only non-highlight would be the average chicken salad and the coconut condensed milk dessert being quite sweet without enough of a more fresh taste (but the crunch from little toffee pieces definitely won me over overall).
SERVICE 5/5 - Nick was our waiter. He was incredibly nice, asked us promptly about food preferences (changes to menu if desired) and dietary requirements. Water is refilled constantly, everyone has a smile and speed of service is efficient to say the least. Even if food is pre-prepared, it is well worth the taste and the fact that the total of 8 courses come out every 5 minutes or so and the first one was out in less than 10 minutes of ordering.
This place can be overwhelmed when they are too busy, which means quite often.
Walked in at about 12:30pm (the place was almost full) and got a seat straight away. We were in a rush so we asked the waiter if he could recommend some dishes that were quick, he had a lot of knowledge about the menu and catered for our needs/wants, which bring me to us getting the food within 5-10 minutes of ordering! Service was incredible and the food was absolutely amazing. We were in and out within 45 minutes, but would have definitely stayed longer and tried more dishes if we had the time. we will definitely be coming back very soon!
Had a few hit and miss with the food here. But I had a great night tonight with a party of 5 we arrived at 5.30 sharp. The host was able to secure the nice corner seat where we enjoyed the Eat Me classic meal. All the food was enjoyable and they were able to easily meet dietry request also. However not a place you go to for ambience the loud John Farnham music actually did make me rush to eat my meal and run out of there real quick. But maybe they can allocate time limits for the table as many other large restraunts do as opposed to the bad music...
Managed to get a table for 5 straight away on a Sunday night. Excellent service and really creative food. Definitely ask which are the spicy dishes if you don’t like heat - we love spice but even we were a little surprised by a few of them! Delicious though. Overall really good value food and great for groups.
If its not about the price, i would eat here everyday
Very good choice from the menu, food tasted amazing, service good and even if packed so quite easy to find a spot downstairs at the bar to eat and drink. Really enjoyed!
Omg everything about this place is incredible, so much we went back twice on our 3 day stay. We had the feed me option which was amazing.. a selection of different items from entree, salads curries , bbq. And dessert .. food was tasty and fresh . The kingfish and tofu dish were the stand out.. cocktail also great ... peek a boo.. Customer service was also outstanding, friendly and helpful. Cannot wait to come back next year !! Thanks chin chin..
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Back again and still I can’t fault it. The menu is pretty stagnant but one thing that does change are the flavours of the coconut crushes which are delicious fruity coconut based concoctions that are delicious Virgin (but you can add alcohol). I definitely recommend trying one of these. As for the food I honestly believe you literally can’t go wrong but I tend to favour the pad Thai, fried squid and prawn spring rolls. Flavour explosions!
Further update
Chin chin how I love thee another perfectly delicious dinner my only critique however is that I simply don't understand why they wont take bookings. Yeah sure it's supposed to be a casual I just dropped in type of situation- what rubbish. No one just drops in to Chin Chin because they know how hard it is to get a table. They probably love that we are all crowded out the front vying to be allowed inside because it aids their reputation as somewhere people are willing to waste their precious time for.
Update
I have been to chin chin so many times and there is only one instance I recall where I was immediately seated. Coming during the day did have its downside however. There were some particularly irritating child diners placing the chopsticks up their nose next to my table- whyyy.
We had the yummy corn fritters in lettuce cups and the salmon in banana leaf. What I love about this place is not only does it do exceptional food but the price points are reasonable and you get killer atmosphere. It really has nailed that mid point between stuffy fine dining with fancy plating but microscopic portions and casual restaurants offering little in the way of ambiance.
Original review
Chinny chin chin what can I say years later we are still lining up for this. Many a new kid on the block has not resulted in a wait time reduction. If you are happy to linger you are in for a treat.
If you go straight after work literally just after 5 you probably won't have to wait long but 8pm on a Saturday forget it it's minimum 1.5 hours. Having said that its absolutely worth it. That lamb betel leaf is one of the best things I've ever eaten. In fact pretty much the only thing I don't like on the entire menu are the school prawns.
The son in law eggs, the wagyu rendang curry, roti, the massamum- its all fantastic. Anyway by the time I'm eating my sweet caramel roti or whatever dessert that appeals on the night the wait is long forgotten. Well by me anyway, my partner is usually yelling that he will 'never go to this pretentious place again' because he avoids queues like the plague
Everything we tasted was delicious, they definitely understand flavours and textures - right up my alley! We had a table of 10 on a very busy Saturday evening and they rocked the service. All waiters were so attentive and efficient, the ambience was electric that night and the mood lighting inside only added to the experience. Always a great time at chin chin and will be back for more of that ceviche and rice noodle stir fry - YUM! And the the curries....could not finish it all. Very generous with the feed me menu.
First thing we noticed was the enormous line that extended down to the street, which just indicated to us the demand this restaurant had on the locals. Once in we were lead downstairs as the upstairs portion of the restaurant was completely booked. It was dimmed which gave it a relaxing atmosphere. Very clean. Waitstaff were polite and very helpful. We ordered a variety of meals between the 7 of us and none disappointed! Powerful punching tastes, great quality ingredients, great portions, and decent prices. Would definitely see ourselves back at the Sydney chain.
I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this place before. It’s loud and they don’t take reservations so if you don’t get there early you might get sent down to the bar downstairs to wait for a table, but they also get people in and out quickly. The food is excellent. We sat at the bar and not only did the bar tender take our orders, he kept an eye on us but other waiters asked how we were going too. Only complaint about the food is the pork ribs you really don’t get much meat (not an uncommon issue with ribs) but overall it’s an excellent experience; tempted to buy the cookbook to recreate some of their dishes!
Great atmosphere with delicious non-traditional thai food. Portions are huge! Sat near the kitchen and the kingfish looked really good. Good place to catch up with friends.
I’ve been here many times and it never disappoints - favourites are the kingfish sashimi, corn fritters, pad see ew, caramelised pork and poached chicken lemongrass salad, though I’ve never had a bad dish here! We often take out of towners here to show them the best of what Melbourne Asian fusion has to offer and it’s nice and close to the lane way artworks too. Be sure to go pretty early if you don’t want to be waiting in line.
We got the “Feed me banquet” and both left completely satisfied and as full as we’ve ever been. The staff were so friendly and helpful as well!
My 5 stars all for Oliver. This is my first time coming here and I haven’t been to such nice restaurant in China. Oliver was very nice and service very well! I really enjoy this tonight. /2020.12.01
Went here with few friends, the massaman curry is really good! Recommended place to go, however the waiting list is a bit long but worth to wait!
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Arrived in Melbourne a couple of days ago, decided to check this out. Arrived st 7:05pm, seated by around 7:55pm on a Tuesday evening. The place was absolutely packed when we left at approx 9:30pm. Overheard someone with a 1.5hr wait time. Needless to say, we wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Food was definitely flavoursome, good well, service was excellent, atmosphere was amazing.
Duck could have been cooked for longer - quite hard to get off the bone and was a little chewy. Not the best duck I've had, but comes close to it. A little too heavy on the vinaigrette, which slightly drowned out the other, beautiful flavours and fragrant. Otherwise, delicious overall.
The fried rice was faultless.
The chicken pad Thai was very flavoursome, but again, the vinaigrette was a little overpowering blocking out the other fragrances.
Despite these minor little draw backs, this is nitpicking, as overall the experience and food was a solid 5/5.
Will definitely come back, can't wait to try other items on the menu.
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After living in Melbourne for 1.5 years, I finally made it to Chin Chin! We had an amazing dinner there last night. The line moved a lot quicker than expected and after putting our names down we grabbed a drink downstairs and our table was all ready. The food also came out a lot quicker than we anticipated.
We ordered the Sticky Tamarind Chilli Duck, Crispy Barramundi & Green Apple Salad, Butter Chicken Curry, Barbecued Cauliflower, Roti and Coconut Rice.
The standard of Asian Fusion restaurants in Melbourne is high, however when ordering this many dishes there's usually something that isn't that great. That wasn't the case at Chin Chin. If I was to rate each dish, it would be 5/5 for everything - perfection. It was the best butter chicken and cauliflower dish that I've ever had. The Barramundi dish was so refreshing and went well with everything else we ordered. The coconut rice was so moorish, I usually don't finish the rice but I did here. Although we were expecting more duck with the first dish, the focus was more on the eggs but it was still delicious.
Great work Chin Chin!
Had to wait for a while before we could get in. But as they say “it was really worth the wait”.
We tried Prawn and Lemongrass spring rolls, BBQ lamb with smoked Eggplant and Green Curry of white fisb and apple eggplant. The meat was well barbecued and the fish curry was full of flavors.
Their coconut rice is a must try! We ended our meal with dessert which was alright.
10/10 - chin chin has been on my to do list since before we moved to Melbourne and it did not disappoint. Food was absolutely delicious, cocktails were moreish, service was bang on and the vibe was exactly what I was expecting! Loved it all 👏👏👏
The feed me menu (A$69.95 pp), although a tad pricey, came with LARGE portions. Approx 3 courses with 2-3 dishes in each course, we were not disappointed. The salmon in the main, the calamari, and flat noodles were simply wonderful. All the meats were tender and juicy. The dessert was the best part of the menu — the sago and the panna cotta tasted amazing. There were also a variety of cocktail selections in Gogo Bar (downstairs) and the seating area was comfortable enough even for a larger group. A downside was that some of the food were a bit oilier for my liking. But overall had a great experience and came home with a full, happy tummy!
Heard a lot about this place and finally came here last week. Absolutely loved it! The food is on the pricier side but they are delicious! The food are made for sharing. The only downside is we waited for more than an hour for our table. Overall, it was still an enjoyable experience. Would still return next time I'm in Melbourne.
Smashing thai food !! I make it a point to have at least one meal when I’m in Melbourne and have never been disappointed
The pad Thai , Thai papaya salad and the wide variety of beer to pair the spicy food is just the perfect combination.
Went for a friend's birthday and had the "cheapest" banquet. So many amazing dishes, it's worth the cost. We were so full at the halfway point of the banquet and ended up taking home a number of dishes. definitely coming back for more!
A Melbourne classic that’s as popular today as it was 10 years ago. We have been coming here at regular intervals over the years, and the “Feed Me” may not be “bottomless” anymore , but the quality and flavour is as good as ever.
Amazing vibe as you step inside - the lighting, the atmosphere, the crowd … and the banging 80’s tunes.
Service was fun and relaxed (in a good way!)
The food was all delicious. The crispy barramundi salad was the standout dish - incredible mix of flavours & textures.
Great wine list too.
There is also high seating arranged around the bar - great for solo dining.
This place is so popular that booking way in advance is absolutely essential.
This restaurant is heavily influenced by Thai cuisine and although I wouldn't call it authentic the food is still pretty decent. The food has somewhat touched or used the same spices but geared towards more western palettes. Pork Belly and the dessert were highlights of the dinner. Highly recommend coming during happy hours for the cheap cocktails!
Food - 7
Service - 7
Vibe - 8
Price - $$$$
Fabulous fun and outstanding food. We wanted an early dinner and only ChinChin was open - how lucky we were! Asian fusion dishes bursting with flavours, cooked to perfection. Extensive bar menu with local breweries on tap. The barman/waiter was great- really friendly and really knew his stuff. By the time we left at 6pm it was really buzzing with great music playing at high volume.
Incredibly busy eatery in the heart of Melbourne. Asian inspired eatery with a wide range of authentic food and drinks available.
We were lucky to be seated at the bar with insight into the kitchen and how talented the cooks and chefs are.
Was busy everytime we went past including when we went to eat there so be prepared for a little wait. It'll be worth it!
Friendly staff that try their best to hide their stresses and pressure of keeping up with demand. Always helpful and offered recommendations for meal suggestions.
Quality of food, portion size and price were all spot on and well worth it. Truly a place I recommend trying!
Great food as always, delivered super quickly!
The cauliflower, ribs, chicken wings and crab omelette were all very flavourful. Quite pricey, but can't fault the taste. An institution as ever.
After many years of refusing to stand in the queue I’m glad Chin Chin now takes reservations. We finally got to experience what all the fuss was about…the food is delicious!
We had the $88 Feed Me which is consists of the Best of Best dishes. We loved most of it. It was a little puzzling that the cauliflower toast made the cut. But the Kingfish Sashimi really was amazing and so were the desserts.
Looking forward to dining here again and trying more dishes on the menu.
Oh, the downside to this place is the music is blast way too loud and it’s impossible to have a conversation at the table. Maybe it’s intentional as they expect diners to be out in 1.5 hours.
s phabmixai (Pandabear)
+5
To avoid the crowds its better to go during lunch. There weren't too many diners and we were able to enjoy the fantastic food without the crowds. They had the traditional flavours but with the modern twist. The venue is cute with the neon bunny sign and a fun dinner date location.
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