Review Chinta Ria Soul - St Kilda

Needed something to top up lunch so popped into @ChintaRiaSoul for some Malaysian entrees: (4) Duck rolls - shredded duck with julienned carrots & silver thread noodles wrapped in  pastry then snap-fried. (2) Satay Chicken - Skewered marinated chicken accompanied by our own spicy peanut sauce. Happy they could squeeze me in for a late lunch and the wait wasn't long before the food was served. Lovely golden brown crunchy spring rolls encasing a delicious filling and enhanced with a dip into the hoison sauce. The chicken skewers are tender and have a lovely peanut satay sauce which is excellent. Lovely meal dining outside in the beautiful weather along bustling Ackland St. #Malaysianfood #AcklandSt #duck #springrolls #sataychicken #skewers #stkilda #foodie #melbournefood @zomatomelb

We've been eating here for around 30 years and are very rarely disappointed. This Mee Goreng only had 2 prawns in it which was a bit mean but it was tasty as always. Curry puffs with satay sauce are delicious too

Less than 40’ seafood Laksa at home! I love Laksa soup but not always I am in the mood to prepare my own one. Today I decided to try, for the first time (Uber eats) Chinta ria soul and couldn’t be happier. The food was at my place in less than 40’ (maybe because I am living around the corner…) there was soup for my whole neighbourhood (but I didn’t share, safety first!) tasty, spicy and flavoured. I can’t wait to go to dine in this place. Thanks for my lovely dinner.

Lemongrass beef, curry chicken, laksa noodle soup They were all good! Price i

Well, well well...Unfortunately I had to edit my last review about a shocking take away we had tonight. When we had a meal me and my wife in that place a month ago, our meals were top notch. I had the best Nasi Goreng in years but tonight, it was a disaster. It was flavourless, spiceless, rice was undercooked, simply dreadful with all the chicken fats and I even spared the chicken which after 3 bites went straight in the garbage. I don't know, it's clear that they lack of consistency or they changed the chef, however we won't set foot in there ever again. My wife had a soup with rice and again if she had a sandwich would have been better. The soup was just colored yellowish water (which was supposed to be curry) but it tasted like dish washing water. Oh well, it's simple for nearly 40 bucks for a take away, let's change restaurant or, even better, have a meal at our own place, at least we will know what the hell we will eat and save heaps of cash. Our rating for tonight? 1/10. C.A.🤢🤢🤢🤮

For almost 20yrs I’ve dined at Chinta Ria & truly enjoyed the mouthwatering flavours. However, after dining for lunch yesterday, the lunch special was nothing but bland and the food was COLD! I’ll never return after that horrific experience.

Pleasant dinner spot with tasty dishes and friendly staff.

Really delicious food, but dry beef noodle is what keeps me coming back. The food is consistently good, highly recommend.

Came here on a whim with my dear friends from the UK who are world travellers and great diners. They were keen for Malaysian food and we happened to walk past Chinta Ria. This cosy little restaurant is warm and inviting with lovely decor that invites you to settle in for some good food and exceptional service.<br/>For entree John had chicken satay (2 serves) with satay sauce and Bex and I each had the duck rolls which I could describe presenting like spring rolls. There were 4 nice pastries filled with shredded duck with julienned carrots and silver thread noodles that were then snap-fried. Nice although a little traditional for me.<br/>For main course, I had the lamb red curry that was tenderly cooked diced loin of lamb in curry sauce with potatoes and coconut milk. John had the crab which was a special and said it was the most delicious he'd ever had. On the Chef's Specials it was called Kam Meong Soft Shell Crabs - lightly battered soft shell crabs wok-tossed with butter, egg, floss, dried shrimps, curry paste and chilli. I don't eat seafood but had a taste and it was superb. Even I'd order it. I can remember what Bex ordered but she said it was very tasty and quite rich. <br/>The wine and beer list was good so we ordered a bottle of bubbles to celebrate. At $32, it was pretty reasonably priced and not a bad taste.<br/>Chinta Ria is centrally located at the northern end of Acland Street. Even on a Monday night there was good patronage with most tables full. After we were able to stroll down the street and find a bar for some cocktails. <br/>Staff were lovely and although made a few minor mistakes were quick to rectify and eager to please.<br/>Note: wheelchair friendly (although a little tight), kid friendly, parking is hard in the area and you'll pay around $5 an hour or a maximum of $14 for a day. Parking inspectors are quick so maek sure you watch the clock.

We ordered curry laksa, Nasi goreng, fried rice & roti with peanut sauce. All these dishes were delicious couldn’t fault any dish. The service was pretty average which is why I’ve given a 4 rating. We were also sitting outside as we had a pram & were the only customers sitting outside in cold weather so would have appreciated a bit more attentiveness with the service.

After a brief visit to the St.Kilda beach over weekend, struggling to choose from couple of streets full of restaurants, we chose to visit this place.<br/>Had never tried Malaysian cuisin but it was tasty and full of flavor. For starters we had chicken wings, satay chicken and ayam serai. They’re too good to order again but we saved our appetite for the makn course. For the mains, we ordered crispy duck which is battered deep fried duck with sweet chili sauce-full of flavor, chicken curry -indian style chicken curry with authenticity of asian cuisine. On sides there were rotis, peanut sauce, plain rice and jasmin rice.<br/>

Good Malaysian joint on famous Acland St. near St. Kilda beach. More than food, people also visit Acland street to get a feel of the vibe on this street and environment. Specially on a warm day or evening, you could just soak in the relaxed yet excited vibe that is always in the air on this street..<br/><br/>I visit Chinta Ria for "The Best" Mee Goreng noodles in Melbourne.. a unique mix of flavors burst in your mouth from the first bite till last and you can enjoy it best with a local beer...

Love this place, have been a fair few times over the years. Always yummy food and end up eating far too much!<br/>I don't think I've had a bad dish. Great place to go with friends or family, get an assortment of dishes so you can taste as many as you can fit in :)

For such an up market location as Acland Street, you wouldn’t think to find such cheap eats and premium flavours under the same roof. The atmosphere inside was nothing spectacular, windows upstairs could have been larger to accommodate a spectacular view however with the generous portions and delicious palate the dinning experience was forgiven. When ordering soup you can be sure to have plentiful amounts with authentic flavours and aromas. Noodle dishes are fresh, flavoursome and satisfying. Prompt service and water on arrival. I will definitely be going again and recommending to friends.

I haven’t been here in some years so I was excited to be going back as my last visit here is still watched in my memory. <br/><br/>For main I ordered Koay Teow or wok fried flat rice noodles w prawns, eggs, fish cakes, bean shoots and some mild chilli. The rice noodles were cooked perfectly!!!! The best I've ever eaten to be honest. Crispy, not greasy, ohh, the seafood was great.<br/><br/>OMGosh the first mouthful was as good as the first and that rarely happens! They were fresh and full of flavour. Yummmmm lol<br/><br/>With the roti bread I ordered some chicken curry sauce to try and it was drinkable. It was soo good you could bottle although it was soo good you could almost serve it in a glass hahaha <br/><br/>As did I mention those noodles? Just perfect! Enough said, except I'm often asked to nominate my fav restaurant in Melbourne, and at the moment this is my easily my favourite Malaysian restaurant. <br/><br/>I managed to get some t/a for my partner who I met after dinner. We were both equally impressed.<br/><br/>You have to visit this place. Enough said lol

This place has the BEST laksa, their food is so delicious. I have taken so many people here. The restaurant itself is a little dark inside but doesn’t matter once you try their food 🍜😊👌🏼 juz do it.

Really good food, in a cute little restaurant. I wouldn’t recommend bringing big groups here (you wouldn’t fit), but very nice for 2-4 people!

it was today 19th July 2018 when myself and 2 of my colleagues headed towards the restaurant and called them @ 845 pm, since the restaurant gives a tall claim to be open from 6pm till late, but as a courtesy and since it was raining in Melbourne, we thought it would be great to order them and be served hot food on arrival.<br/><br/>The smart grumpy person took the order, as he never wanted to lose on the revenue, and on arrival he refuses to accommodate us. and says he is shutting down and he just made it a take away and asked us to pay and leave . Google says its open till 10 P.M. however the rude Malasian, probably he may have achieved after him being a citizen, refused upfront to accommodate. <br/><br/>much expected out of asian restaurant so my mistake to head to such a restaurant. so we paid and left with a doggy bag, as we felt that was best suited rather than quarrel with the grumpy golden haired man.<br/><br/>not recommended at all , only recommended if you with to leave disappointed and hungry.

I was in the area and was craving laksa. I didn't want to drive all the way to the other side of town lso I opt for Chinta. It's a very quaint little restaurant. Ordered the curry puffs which was spot on! I'm usually picky with my curry puffs but these were perfect! Ayam serai - chicken marinated in fish sauce with a hint of lemon grass & lightly coated in a spicy batter. It was just deep fried chicken. There wasn't a huge fish sauce taste and there was definetly no spicy batter to it unfortunately. The curry laksa was yum! It wasn't super strong but had a nice a subtle flavour to it. I'll definetly come back for a laksa fix if I'm ever in the area again.

3.5 to be precise. <br/><br/>We have already been here twice and have liked most of the food we have ordered. Nothing exceptional but nothing flavorless. Nasi Lemak, Nasi Goreng, Fragrant Coconut Rice was good enough. <br/><br/>Chicken Satay were a bit sweet for us. Prawn and Chicken (don't remember the names) starter were good as well. <br/><br/>A bit on a costlier side, and it can also get a bit difficult to grab the attendants attention.

Please inject some love into Nasi Lemak. It was a sorry dish :( Weak coconut dish, peanuts aren’t roasted and smallest amount of sambal. Hopefully next time it will be a better dining experience!

Had an EG voucher which made a great value meal even better value. Just tasty food in a relaxed environment, one of the better options on acland st.

Yummm! A friend and I were reminiscing over our Asian vacays which Facebook so kindly reminded us we were on this time three years ago so off we went for some authentic roti and yummy hokkien noodles. Everything is super cheap and delicious and the staff are lovely. I couldn't go past some calorific deep fried bananas for dessert which I ate pretty much daily over there and they were a sweet delight. Chinta Ria has been located in prime real estate on Acland St for as long as I can remember and has stood the test of time with its tasty budget friendly traditional food. A big tick from me

Despite a restaurant in Sydney being of the same name, I'm pretty sure that they are not owned by the same owner. <br/><br/>Chinta Ria is my friend's local food haunt. She had been here 8 times before she took me there. <br/><br/>we arrived here on a Thursday evening to a three-quarters full restaurant and readily found a table for two. Mood lighting and a lazy vibe. We ordered the seafood laksa, curry laksa and some prawn rolls. <br/><br/>The prawn rolls arrived within 15 minutes - i wasn't expecting them to be batter-fried. They were warm, soft and crispy. On the inside, the soft-bodied prawn was combined with some filling which was delicious. <br/><br/>The laksa took forever to arrive and by this time I had finished my pot of chinese tea (teabag rather than leaf - quel horreur). <br/><br/>However, when it did arrive, it was so worth the wait. Coconuty creamy laksa with large pieces of soft fried tofu, calamari (2 pieces), prawns (2 pieces), green beans, thick and thin noodles in a deliciously flavoured slightly spicy broth. I devoured the entire dish and my friend almost did too. <br/><br/>We stayed until closing time with no rush to hurry us out and paid by card.

Quite possibly the best laksa I've had this winter. The broth is simply amazing, rich and packed with flavour. The roti curry was also flawlessly flaky, and the lamb curry delish albeit perhaps could be slightly more tender. I am not a fan of the ambiance, with the talking noise bouncing off the walls; but the food compensates for Chinta. The service feels curt, hectic and rushed, but thats I'd expect that from amateurs.

Great service and amazing food. Been here a number of times and have never seen a poor meal coming out of the kitchen. Just writing this is making me want to go as soon as possible!!

The chicken curry was very good and the half duck was tasty. The only disappointing part was the coconut rice which had zero coconut flavour. We asked and were told it was definitely their coconut rice, so I think they need to address the amount of coconut cream used

Visited to celebrate my mum's birthday and the service was excellent! We were seated upstairs on a very busy Sunday night and ordered an array of dishes which were all pretty tasty. Myself, my girlfriend and my mum and her partner shared the following.<br/><br/>Spring rolls<br/>Roti bread with satay sauce<br/>Prawns in curry leaves<br/>Chilli prawns<br/>Crispy seafood noodles<br/>Nasi goreng<br/>Sticky date pudding<br/><br/><br/>Everything was great. Nasi goreng possibly one of the best I've ever had. Spring rolls are a must as well as roti bread. Only every so slightly let down by the flavour of the seafood noodles. But it was still good. We did have to wait almost an hour for any kind of food to be brought out though which really just meant we ordered more wine. Overall pretty happy just a let down about waiting so long to eat.<br/>

A delicious food offering and excellent service. Perfectly situated on Ackland st, the restaurant offers rustic food that's real and authentic. Great atmosphere and service also.

Great price. Quick Service. The Curry Laksa is TDF!!!  Nasi Goreng is probably the best I've had to date and the curry puffs and starters are all terrific. So

Foods are average not so good and not so bad Plus the customer service is not friendly at all, showing a pumpkin face like that, don't feel like coming back anymore, there are many good asian food out there! Good luck!

This is my first time being at here. The menu are very extensive and sounds interesting. Had the ayam merah and scallop with coconut rice. Ayam merah boost a strong tamarind and lemongrass flavour which is great and this is a creative combination of the spices. Scallop been described in very fancy but it's only salt and pepper scallop and the scallop been a bit dry as well. The portion of each main is a bit small and meant for 1 person perhaps. The price is more on higher side. Well, the ambience is alright and the service is great. So don't mind to be back for more things which haven't try on the menu.

Pretty good Malaysian. Mee Goreng and Nasi Goreng are great, some dishes are only ok though. Just stick to the straight up Malaysian dishes.

Love me some Malaysian. Would pass on the starters next time. Had the chicken satay, tofu bites and ayam permata, nasi lemak and mie goreng. Tasty but far from the best Malaysian in town.

Made a booking earlier in the day and popped in for dinner. We were promptly seated upstairs. Looks like the staff tends to rearrange the tables throughout the night to suit what they required which made walking around somewhat interesting. <br/><br/>We had the lobak, Ling ling and Ayam permata as starters which were all nice.<br/><br/>Main course were the curry fish special , soft shell crab which was not too oily and the crispy noodles. It was an okay dinner however not outstanding for the price.<br/>

A pretty late dinner for me, for 9:15pm they still provided me with polite service and prompt waiting time which I was grateful for.<br/>I should've chosen my go-to/default dish - char keoy teow, but instead had crispy beef noodles. It was okay, though I felt it was moreso from msg rather than the hawker-style flavour.<br/>The mains sound yummy! But maybe next time.

The original Chinta Ria (in Commercial rd) used to be our go-to Malaysian restaurant in the 90's - back then there wasn't much competition or other other authentic options.<br/><br/>Forward wind to 2016 - and the Chinta Ria (now just in Ackland St/St Kilda + the CBD) is now just OK'ish, not terrible but nothing too exciting either. It's probably a good place if what you are after is non-challenging, non spicy Chinese-Malaysian dishes that sort of taste similar to what they should.<br/><br/>The entree's are pretty decent - quite a large selection of stuff you probably wouldn't find elsewhere + mostly nicely cooked. Mains on the other hand were a bit ordinary - Rendang probably passable (as long as you weren't expecting a spicy version with great quality meat), the fish dish + duck dish we had were predictable and boring - to the point were we didn't even finish eating them.<br/><br/>Other bits about the restaurant are also on the Ok'ish but not great level. It's reasonably nice + cosy inside, but have always felt the St Kilda branch is just too massively cramped + pokey, tables to small - very much that sitting on top of everyone with no privacy feeling. Service is also just average - food very quick to come out (good), however waiters were attentative yet totally unenthusiastic / looked like they'd rather be anywhere else.<br/><br/>Anyhow, will probably give them a shot in another 20yrs if they are still around - till then I think there's probably many better Malaysian options around (unfortunately not in St Kilda/Elwood) - such as Ahloys in Brighton or plenty of places in the city. What we do miss is the Ackland St branch of Kotoraya (which was 2 doors up) and sadly closed down a couple of years ago - hopefully someone else can open something comparable in that area soon.

Customer service always outdoes taste. My friend and I dined here and once after arriving in the restaurant, we were told to pick a table and drinks were quickly ordered. After the drinks came, we ordered food and the waiter seemed unwilling to give suggestions. We noticed that there was a duck special on the blackboard that was battered and fried and coated with that tastes like yam. Really nice, however, the calamari dish that the waiter suggested tasted like a typical salt and pepper calamari from a Chinese restaurant, just marked at dearer price. <br/><br/>The two entrées - Ella's wrap and Adam Serai were nice, really nice favours with sweet chilli sauce.<br/><br/>Throughout the service we were also only prompted for another glass of wine and dessert, but no-one asked if the food was OK or if we needed more rice. Instead, the waiters were loitering around the cashier.<br/><br/>I think the food was good, but it didn't meet my expectations and slightly overpriced.

My partner and I have been coming here for years. Best dish by far is the Seafood Curry Laksa - amazing! Food always quick and service great. This place is a must visit for great Malaysian food.

A.MAAAZING!!! Last night was my third visit and this place just keeps getting better. Each times have tried something new and every time I'm blown away!! Love love love!

Usually one of our favourite places to eat, have been coming regularly for 10 years, however something has changed and not for the better. Rice was a gluggy, main was only luke warm and didn't have the same beautiful flavours it normally has. It's either changed owners in the last few months or the cooks off crook. Sad to say we won't be back.

Food was not too bad and so was the service. We ordered the Asam fish, mee goreng and gado gado. We loved the mee goreng, as it tasted quite similar to home (we are from Singapore) and gado gado was decent although I would prefer if they had more tofu and less bean sprout. Peanut sauce was quite generous though. We were disappointed with the Asam fish as it wasn't spicy enough and was too tomato-ish

Wow! Just as well we booked a table. Taste and flavour. And cooked beautifully. Quite busy on a Friday night but served great food. The waitress brought us 2 serves of calamari by mistake. Should have taken the second plate off her. The best calamari I've ever had. Curry puffs were just average, but everything else was perfect. The beef was tender, the fried rice was excellent. The fragrance of the meals took me back overseas. Next time will BYO wine. Coming again for sure.

Happy to find another place that serves up good and authentic Malaysian cuisine! Service was incredibly fast and portions were generous. Recommended !

The service is friendly and prompt.The Nasi Goreng is super tasty and a big serving. One of our go to's when in St Kilda and craving Asian food. Always busy and if you sit outside you have to contend with the passers by and traffic. Great vibe though and always consistent.

I love Chinta Ria but every time I come I'm disappointed. The service is good, the food is fine but it's just not excellent. The Wine was above average. You won't have a terrible meal but it won't be amazing either.

Food is good but service is bad. <br/><br/>Arrived at 5.30 to an empty restaurant but got insisted by the waitress to clutter together with two other tables and be seated by the window beside the entrance on a hot sunny day. <br/><br/>Requested to move but was declined. Had to eat with the hot sun on you back throughout the whole meal. Meanwhile my friend had to eat against the glare of the sun. The best food won't taste good in this case. <br/><br/>Fail to see how a normal dinner at 5.30 and out by 6.30 giving them another service round would hurt to seat at another table in an otherwise empty restaurant. I suppose business is too good in these times for the restaurant to let a few recurring customers decide to stop coming.

Always consistent. Took my very unadventurous overseas relos here - they catered for a table of 11 confidently, tolerated all the photo taking, etc. this is our "go to" place in St Kilda, consistent & reliable. We are regulars here.

The food was quick and service was good. Not the best Malaysian food but it definitely was good. The curry could use a bit more spice, but that's coming from a hot food lover so I could be bias. Great value for money regardless.

Fantastic meal lovely flavours & the taste is amazing. Polite friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area but can get quite noisy inside when busy.

We love this hangout with our teenage kids & family friends. We visit here at least once a month for a fabulous Seafood Curry laksa & the Best Spicy Calamari in town. Casual dining, great food, good location, good service clean & fast!

Had the most amazing customer service from the gentleman working this evening. Bright, bubbly and very informative about what makes a great meal. The food was amazing and the service made it exceptional. Definitely recommend 10 times over!

Dined there a couple of times and the food is amazing.. The duck San Choy Bow is delicious and like an explosion of flavor in your mouth. The chicken curry whilst could have been hotter with more kick had a delicious creamy texture ..<br/>Reasonably priced and highly recommended

The food is pretty good.... The waitress tries very hard to please the customer which is pretty good... The night was a pretty good one... So if you want to have a good Malaysian dinner and not to expensive, it's the place to go. I would go back for sure.

This was once a place we would go on a regular basis with friends, however the inconsistency in their food has changed our minds and it's no longer our regular haunt.

Where do I start I had high expectations for this small but very busy Malaysian restaurant in St Kilda’s Acland street and from the first mouthful these were not only met but surpassed. The service is exemplary we were made to feel welcome and the staff were helpful, polite and attentive without being pushy. Some places struggle when full but not here.<br/>The menu comprises all the favourites such as Satays, Rendang, Laksa and of course Nasi Goreng. These are accompanied by less well known dishes such as Gado Gado a dish that sounds as if it was the product of a late night raid on the fridge after returning from the pub. A mix of cucumber, cabbage, and bean shoots tofu then steamed and topped with their own spicy peanut sauce, egg slices and pappadams which tasted as amazing as it sounds.<br/>The meal started with Satay Chicken and Ling Ling, Snap fried bite size pieces of rockling fillets marinated in a curry paste. Both dishes were of the highest standard.<br/>We could not decide what to have for the main course and finally narrowed it down to three dishes.<br/>A daily special of Soft Shell Crab in a light batter with fried onions, snow peas and chilli. To say this was amazing would be an understatement. The flavours just zing across your pallet. This was accompanied by Ayam Chicken. Wok tossed chicken in a blend of spices, fresh ginger roots, dried red chilli, finished with crisp carrot slices and snow peas. The sauce was rich thick and sweet with a nice chilli back bite at the end. The final dish was that superb Gado Gado.<br/>My advice to you is try this restaurant out, but be sure to book.<br/>Chinta Ria Soul delivers on every level for me the food is 1st class and reasonably priced I have eaten at some of the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne but this is the my new number 1.<br/><br/>https://www.facebook.com/EasyWeekendEats<br/><br/>

Delicious food and great, quick service even though a busy Sat night. Will definitely be back for the Mee Goreng

Beautiful. Such a cosy little space that serves great food and has attentive staff! Will definitely be back :

Best laska so far. Fast. tasty. cheap. what else you need.

A good Laksa can be hard to find, unless of course you happen to be at Chinta Ria. Satisfied patrons return here all year round for a helping of this signature dish. One serving is so decent it almost serves two! Choose from the Curry Laksa with chicken and seafood cakes in coconut milk, $12.50 or the Seafood Laksa with king prawns, seafood cakes and calamari, $14. Consistent, wholesome, and soul warming.   Trading hrs: Monday – Friday open for lunch and dinner, Saturday 4pm-11pm and Sunday 1pm-10pm Menu link: Chinta Ria Soul  Bookings: Available Address: 94 Acland St, St Kilda Ph: 9525 4664 Website: http://www.chintariasoul.com.au Facebook: Chinta Ria Soul  Take away: Yes. Notes: This dish is filling and it’s not light on ingredients either, so arrive with an empty tummy. This is a busy, bubbly establishment – great for small groups or couples wanting a quick meal.         Please note that prices, menu items, management or trading hours may have varied since time

Great laksa. Haven't tried anything else but laksa is really really good

Great. I made a group booking at Chinta Ria and we had a great night. We ordered one of the banquets and there was more than enough food, all the timings were good, and the food was delicious. The staff are always courteous, friendly, and helpful but not obtrusive. We were seated in the smaller upstairs area and it got quite noisy when full, but after the other groups left it was much better. It was also quite hot upstairs when it was full, there was a fan but perhaps another was needed. Would absolutely go back - recommend!

Reliable and delicious - good for seafood. Been going to Chinta Ria for several years. It is always great - never had a bad meal. Their entrees are very tasty and a little inventive. The chicken, duck and beef dishes are terrific and while I usually eat these sorts of dishes in Asian restaurants, I've found myself getting into their fish and seafood more and more. The soy fish is one of the all-time great dishes: simply, high quality ingredients, perfectly cooked. More than that: I don't have my favourites that I always order. It's so good that I'm happy to randomly 'experiment' and try something different every time. In an era of restaurants that do good and bad dishes, this is rare and as mentioned, it's always great. <br/><br/>It has a little bit of a price tag, but a group of four can eat for a very reasonable price and leave full/satisfied. <br/>Always busy, which says something, and the service is very attentive and enjoyable. Highly recommend. <br/><br/>Also, it's BYO (wine only I think) which is awesome!

Great food. We went down to this lovely restaurant on a Sunday evening. Fantastic food and great service.

Never had a bad meal, everything we have ordered has been fantastic!! Great service and Laksa is awesome!!<br/>And to top it all off the prices are very reasonable. A really lovely place and not to be missed. All thumbs up! :)

It was an accident. We were down in stkilda and was looking for some Asian food, thick noodle to be precise.<br/>and we happen to walk past this place which was packed compared to the other malay restaurant next door (which was empty)<br/>so naturally we went to this one thinking it must be good...<br/>the service was great, as both the waitress and the waiter actually spoke good English, <br/>the food was reasonably quick to arrive considering there were so many people dining.<br/><br/>anyway we ordered the chefs special crispy duck and some thick noodle, but neglected to read the small print which stated it is ginger flower sauce.... we hate that taste..<br/><br/>so besides that mistake, the food was just greasy enough to be tasty and duck was crispy.<br/>overall I would probly not go back, but it is definitely an option if your hungry and want some malay food in the area

Must admit I was hesitant after reading recent negative reviews. I booked a Friday dinner for 6:45 and had to be out by 7:30 for a concert at Palais. We ordered two entres and two mains. Food delicious, service faultless and out the door on time. End of.

Food is great service is abysmal. Just keep going back to this iconic St Kilda eatery as the food is good. But won't go back again. The service or rather lack of service is the standout takeaway from every visit to Chinta Ria Soul. They just don't have enough staff on tables at peak times and the staff who are working are stressed and showing it. Last night we had to ask for wine glasses three times and I ended up having to collect my own napkins, cutlery and plates from the kitchen as the entree had arrived and was going cold. No amount of good Malaysian food can make up for such a poor all round dining experience.

Tried a store called chinta ria soul in Melbourne emporium, not sure if it's related you thus place. Ridiculously slow service. Staff missed my order, they don't seem to get the docket system. Food was cold on arrival. Roti is the frozen type.

Delicious. We dined here on a busy Saturday night and had a fantastic meal. The banquet was delicious, friendly service and reasonably priced. Highly recommend.

Very tasty food and friendly service. Great value for money, we will be back!

Food is bland and tasteless, it is a big call to name it "fine Malaysian cuisine"

The best. The food here is amazing and quick service. Very authentic Malaysian

Quick and yum. Seriously amazing laksa, so much taste. I've tried 20+ different laksa's around Melbourne and this is the best I've had so far.<br/><br/>The service was quick, and the timing of food perfect.<br/><br/>gg.

Quality. Well priced quality food, decent portions, wholesome but clean Asian food. BYO is a bonus. Service can be a little cocky and abrupt - well the female owner can come across that way. No customer likes being corrected I guess.... I just laughed her arrogance off when she told me I was "ordering too much food". I mean, don't people ever go out and over order to get some variety and to sample different cuisine anymore? Anyhow... It was my third time there two nights ago and I highly recommend the food here.

The best nasi lemak I've ever had.. Great food and service

Waited way too long for our food and people who arrived 10-15 minutes AFTER we ordered got their food before us

Awesome laksa, great price and great service. Will be back!

I just come with my friends 1st time in Friday night.not really interest meal for as.and the pirce expensive than other restaurant

Avoid this restaurant if you are a Malaysian. Nothing delicious but food was well presented and staff was friendly.

Eat Elsewhere. Laksa, Nasi Gorgeng, Roti with Curry Sauce and Kway Teow was ordered and all meals were presented within 3 minutes. Obviously pre-prepared and flash heated. The Laksa had no depth of flavour and was bland, the single roti was flacid and greasy (probably shop bought) which was accompanied by a small curry dipping bowl that was sweet to the point of being sickly at $4.50 per serve - unjustifiable. The Nasi Goreng was devoid of chicken - basically reheated rice with shallots.<br/>Service was uninterested and clinical.<br/>I could go on, but suffice to say, with all of the Asian options available in St Kilda eat elsewhere!

Not Good. Curry puffs were good, but they are the standard puff that is bought in. Prawn dish was tasteless with a glue like sauce, beef rendang was tough and a cheap food court quality. Wont be returning.

Very disappointing

The Mee Goreng is amazing! A must have!

Love this place. Always good food great service and byo!!

Consistent Malaysian food. Seafood Laksa is a solid favourite and never disapoints. Service can sometime be a little off. Great with a group of friends.

What a great restaurant! I was glad it lived up to expectations. Service was fantastic and the food was delicious, highly recommend the king poh beef and the roti with peanut sauce. Everything I tried was very very tasty.

A pity, but no .... We've been using Simon Goh's Hot Food, Cool Jazz cookbook for years and years and had high expectations of the restaurant. Sadly we were disappointed. The service was excellent, the atmosphere great, but the food didn't deliver. It did not have the authenticity you get from the recipes in the book - too westernised and too reliant on bottled sauces.

Birthday dinner success. We went here for my boyfriend's birthday. Walked in off the street thinking we had booked however there was no record (we later realised we went to the wrong Chinta on Aland!). Nevertheless the seated us quickly and the service was prompt. The entree prawn and scallop entree was tasty and not too big to destroy our appetite for the main. I ordered soy fish - huge portion which I got 1/3 of the way through. Tasty but nothing special. They packaged it up for me to take home later. Boyfriend got the Beef Rendang which got a 10/10 for taste, appearance and "give me more" factor. We will be back!

The food was very nice and the portion size good also, a small bowl of steamed rice is over $5, a bit rich when you pay $23 for the duck and thats it. <br/><br/>However the factors that made me decide never to return is the wait staff are not only unfriendly they were rude and made me question who is the customer? At the end of the meal we asked if we could take our to dishes home as we had eaten earlier and heard the food here was good. They threw half our meals away, shoved the 2 meals into one, now my $30 duck is a train smash! <br/><br/>When we asked what happened the girls response was "what do you want me to do about it". Steaming after this response I gritted my teeth, payed and left.

The chicken satay was good but the "hot and spicy beef" tasted like it was a leftover from a cheap Chinese food court. Beef rendang should also be avoided, fairly bland. Service pretty average as well.

First time here and I just picked up some take away and it was really awesome! Exceptionally fresh and light. I will be eating in next time for sure. Can't wait to go back. The soy fish was amazing!

The Laksa is fabulous! Don't bother with the first entre on the menu.

Quality Malaysian experience. I wouldn't eat in here - far too cramped, however this review relates to my takeaway experience<br/><br/>Started with the Ayam Serai - which brilliantly mixes the flavours of fish and chicken to perfection as a starter.<br/>Paired with Ikan Bilis - I was on the way to KL.<br/><br/>My main was a perfectly executed Beef Rendang, tender to the touch - combined with Nasi Lemak coconut rice. This was perfect as well, the salted fish creating the zest.<br/><br/>Highly recommend this place for real Malaysian tastes and flavour, in a city full of pseudo-Malaysian cuisine.

My friend and I both had the Mee Goreng and found it to be absolutely delicious!! Loved every single bite! Will definitely be back for more!

What can't I say about this resturant. Food 10/10 king toh beef was amazing! So much flavour tender & perfect amount of spice, the roti melts in your mouth. Service 10/10 friendly & super fast service. What a hidden treasure on akland st.

Great night, great food, thank you!. I booked in for my birthday with 6 friends. The service was great even from making the booking on the phone; really friendly, it was obvious the staff wanted to ensure we had a good night. <br/>The food was delicious, no complaints from anyone other than the chilli prawns being perhaps a bit bland. I had the scallops which were fantatsic, $21, really would have liked some more relish with them. BYO which was great for the party. The place was packed with a buzzing atmosphere. Great little venue with fresh tasty food.

Michelle. Wow fantastic service and food amazing we will be back Loved it the best Malaysian A++++++

St Kilda local says 'yes'. There are many places that cater to the suburban tourist crowd but I find I always get a late booking at Chinta Ria Soul. I love the food and I think the price for quality is not too bad. Anyone who complains about the price probably isn't a St Kilda local!!<br/><br/>I recommend the Mee Goreng and the roti with curry if you want a cheaper meal. Nasi Goreng is pretty nom too. I don't eat the more expensive dishes when I eat Malaysian because the above three are my staples.<br/><br/>The service can wax and wane but since I go so often, I make sure it's a place I go when I have time and I am with friends where our conversation is much more important than whether or not we have to ask for a top up on the water.

Good solid Malaysian. A little pricy, but worth it.

I think the food at this place is really fresh and great quality so yes a tiny bit more expensive than other places..but I guess you get what u pay for. I find the staff to be courteous, but they don't go out of their way for you. If you go on a weekend it can get quite cramped and loud because it's only a small venue. Now as I said, the food is divine. I actually stick to a few favourites! They are: Indian mee goreng, crispy noodle beef, seafood laksa, roti with beef randang and pandan crepe for dessert. The crepes are yum!!! I wouldn't recommend the curry puffs (entree) as they are quite oily.

Lovely food. They were very flexible in making a booking for us on the last minute on a Saturday night. The only downside would be the music was too quiet when I was expecting some good soul music.

Good food But very over priced You can have the same food in other Malaysian restaurants for half the price Takes the fun away from s casual dinner

Fantastic service. Amazing food. Beef rendang and chicken curry highly recommended!

We had a party of 14, service was awful, unhelpful and almost rude. We also found a well cooked fly in our satay sauce which was greeted with nothing but a new sauce. Vile.

Cosy and delightful!. As soon as you step in, you feel the ambiance of a small classy diner. Do not be fooled by the size however, they span across two levels and most nights, both levels are jam-packed. Service was quick and friendly (although they did serve us the wrong type of tea, we'll let them go for it ;)) and we didn't have to wait long for the dishes. <br/><br/>Here's what we ordered for five<br/>Entree: Ling Ling & Loh Bak<br/>Main: Buttered pepper beef, Sambal Spinach, Claypot Tofu, Curry Chicken, Fried Rice<br/><br/>Nothing too special about the entrees. I found them a bit oily as both items were deep fried. Not quite to my liking, but still ok.<br/><br/>The buttered pepper beef was very interesting. I've never tried anything quite like it and I must say really enjoyed it! Although the buttery flavour did come off a bit oily, it's part of the dish and the flavours just blend so well together. <br/>Smabal spinach was delicious as well. Not overcooked. Perfect amount of chili.<br/>Claypot tofu was good and simple, though overpriced. <br/><br/>The only dishes I didn't quite agree with were the fried rice and curry chicken. <br/><br/>There was nothing special about the fried rice. Same greasy stuff with not much greens, though lots of beansprouts. And the curry chicken contained alot of coconut, which is fine if you dig that, but did not sit well for me. <br/><br/>Other than that everything else was perfect. I will definitely be back there again and recommend it to others :)