The Chinta Ria Mood for Love restaurant is the Love Child of the legendary Chinta Ria Temple of Love that once existed at Darling Harbour four years ago.
Located on the top restaurant level 5 of Sydney Westfield, the restaurant is a perfect destination for a delicious Malaysian meal - either at lunchtime or for a dinner time treat.
David, Alison and the welcoming staff never fail at making you welcome. I've been going to the Chinta Ria group of restaurants for over fifteen years and the service and food are never disappointing.
My favourite dishes to sample here are the Chicken Satay, Sassy Rolls, Springy’s Rolls, Curry Chicken, Beef Rendang, Ayam Ria and Char Kway Teow.
All these dishes are full of Malaysian You flavour and portions are generous in size.
My dessert favourite is the Pandan Sago Pudding!
The restaurant has a fully licensed bar with cocktails, wines and beer.
Highly recommended for the best Malaysian food in Central Sydney.
Whilst wandering around Westfield Sydney, I noticed Chinta Ria had a winter special that included soba noodles with crispy fish Maksa + glass of wine for $16.80. I loved every part of this dish, the soup was creamy sweet & sour, the fish was meaty & fresh with crispy skin and who doesn’t love noodles! Although they no longer have this special, I will sure go back to enjoy other delicious dishes. On a side note, the service was average both times I was there.
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With so many Malaysian restaurants available in the city, I believe the standout feature would be taste, pricing, ambiance and service. For me the restaurant scored well in terms of pricing, ambiance and service but was slightly lacking in terms of taste. We ordered chicken satay, curry chicken and nasi goerang and I must say we enjoyed having them all but in hindsight when you compare it with other outlets like Mamak and Malaya you will say there’s was a bit better .I felt chicken satay was a bit chewy and it could have been better. Curry chicken was tasty with tender chicken pieces and as per my wife Nasi Goerang was also okay. Although, the seafood smell was so strong in Nasi Goerang that it was overpowering the usual Nasi Goerang aroma.
One call out for our server, we showed her some dirt on the rim of water bottle and not only she replaced it but I saw her checking all the bottles to ensure its clean. Such dedication and accountability must be complimented. And only because of her I am happy to ignore it.
Super popular Malaysian favourite with a vast menu and great service. Lunchtime is pretty busy so try to make a booking if you want to dine here. Started with the Billie's Roll ($8.80 for 2 pieces) which is a delicious prawn roll stuffed w minced prawns! Mmmm, crunchy! Mee Goreng with assorted seafood was tasty and not too salty. Would highly recommend the Oh Dear Fish ($32) which is pan fried wild barramundi fillets w fresh tomato and green beans in a curry and coconut broth. The flavours are exceptional and go perfectly with the barranmundi! A great choice in a competitive environment!
Chinta Ria Mood for Love is at the top level of the Westfield shopping centre. It is a restaurant, rather than the food court style place. The menu offers Malaysian fare and we were here for the $20 deal, available Sun-Wedn when quoting aroundtheclockfoodie. Basically you get an entree and street food option or a street food option and dessert. We both went with the entree option, ordering beef and chicken satay sticks. They had a lovey sauce to accompany them. For the mains, we had the hokkien veggie noodles - a large serving with a dark soya sauce. We also had the Bee Hoon Goreng; noodles with prawns and squid. They kindly gave us a small dessert to share. Food servings were generous and an easy meal to take a rest from shopping.
DemiLuv Guadalquiver Diaz
+5
Great good. Quick service. Good ambience. Reasonably priced. Got the Springy's to start and they were just perfecty cooked. Chose the Sweet Soya Belly which tasted good similar to humba or adobo in Filipino. Also had the Fifi fish which was steamed to perfection and paired really well with the chilli side. Truly worth the bucks!
We had dinner here last week and its a pretty good place to go which is part of the shopping complex. We both had soup which was huge and couldn't get through it all. The entrees were tasty and the service was pretty good.
The setting was amazing. Mood lighting and a great place for a date! A nice surprise tucked away in Westfield. The food was good too. I enjoyed the duck. Would go again. Hello hello hello hello hello hello
On arriving in Sydney (more years ago than I’ll mention), I found it pretty wonderful to be introduced to Malaysian cuisine. I wasn’t familiar with it from growing up in Vancouver, nor knew it from my travels. The Cantonese-influenced dishes were recognisable, but the classic Char Kway Teow was not exactly the same as the version Mom made, or that we’d eat in a Cantonese noodle house. It had stronger spices, and I think that’s the difference in general: more sweet tones, stickier sauces, stronger flavours.
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To be honest, when stepping into the restaurant my expectations were not high. The cramped decor- replete with rather stereotypical and incongruous 'asian' motifs (including Tibetan writing on one wall, still and moving images of 1930s Chinese movie stars on others) and a colour scheme of black and red- gave the impression of a rather artificial orientalism. The presentation of the menu as a screenplay and the rather clunky name of the restaurant also rang alarm bells - would the dishes be similarly confusing and pretentious, not to mention expensive?
The food was indeed expensive (~$20 for each main dish, and an additional $3 for steamed rice or $3.50 for coconut/chicken flavored rice), but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dishes we ordered.
We started with 'cissy scallops', which turned out to be steamed scallops drowned in a sweet-sour sauce (described as 'chili sauce' by the menu, but not actually spicy). The scallops were quite small in size for the price of$4.50 each, but were surprisingly fresh. I thought there was too much sauce for the size of the scallop, but enjoyed the dish overall.
For mains, we shared the king toh beef, mee goreng and beef rendang. Again I was pleasantly surprised by all three- the king toh beef (described mysteriously as 'thin strips of beef lightly floured, wok seared and tossed in the chefs special blend sauce') turned out to have a taste profile very similar to the sweet and sour pork/chicken dishes ubiquitously available in every Chinese food court stall and Chinese restaurant. I've never had this dish in Malaysia or Singapore, but nevertheless found it very agreeable taste wise. As for the mee goreng (fried noodles), it was well balanced with a good amount of char from the wok. The beef rendang was also very enjoyable- beautifully balanced spices and very tender beef. I had this with coconut rice, which was a fragrant and delicious accompaniment.
Service was very good as well, and I was quite happy that the experience at Chinta Ria exceeded expectations. I would give them 4 points for taste, but the high price of the food means that it will not be at the top of my list of go-tos for Malaysian food in Sydney.
Food was delicious. Had the Ayam Ria and beef rendang with coconut rice and it was absolutely delicious. Friends had lamb curry, mee goreng, and sweet pork belly and everyone was happy.
Felt a little pushed out by the end but it's understandable because it was busy! People waiting for tables.
Would go back for sure
You walk in and are struck by the oppulence of the grand buddha statue centrepiece standing 10-15feet high maybe. Its magnificent and that first impression sets the tone of the food that comes out of the kitchen. The stand outs for me were the freshly made fishcakes, the pad see you or however you spell it. Great destination dining venue for lunch or dinner.
Situated on top of Westfield Pitt Street opposite Chat Thai. It was after lunch time rush when we arrived, they kept serving us even if was after hours which was very generous of them. The waitress was very knowledgable and patient.
The menu lacked photos as it was a bit difficult to navigate with a flourish of fancy dish descriptions for non-Malay experts. We heavily relied on the waitress recommendations.
We were happy with majority of the dishes we ordered except for the chicken curry which was very bland, disappointing. Ironically everything else was heavily seasoned. The prawns were fantastic so were the stir fry veggie. Steamed fish was yummy. Out of the deserts my favourite was the cassava cake!
The price was on the high side and portion is quite modest. For Malaysian cuisine it's a splurge but great ambience for a lovely catchup with friends.
Absolutely delicious! We found this place by chance and loved every bit of it! Pork belly is to die for, barramundi so tender and delicious, beef satay stick delicious! Service 100% and came out quick. Paid $100 inc tip for 5-6 things. Will be back.
Had an amazing quick lunch here whilst shopping in city. Wait at Chat Thai was long and I'm glad it was so I got to try Chinta Ria. Had the Spring rolls and satay sticks for entree which although not super adventurous were fresh and tasty. We had Kennys beef for main, a delicious beef stir fry made beautifully. Really lovely and I'll be back to try other items on menu
I loooovee this place. Best Nasi Goreng in town! Hands down! The outlet is very convenient (top floor foodcourt in Westfield city) and food is top notch but service also efficient. I can honestly say that everything on their menu is worth trying!
We loved Chinta Ria at Darling Harbour and was disappointed the big Buddha was closed and gone! The westfield store was the next best thing we could reminisce many fun nights we had with the Buddha! The restaurant was a lot more flamboyant and posh than its predecessor but also a lot more cramped and of course didn't have the outdoor seating like the old one. The menu was different too, some of our old time favourites were not on the menu here. But most of all the price were significantly higher than Darling harbour. In fact it was one of the most expensive Malaysian restaurant I came across in Sydney. Thank god the beef randang still tasted juicy and rich, the chicken in chilli jam was pretty flavoursome as well. They didn't have the colour bowls and plates like the Darling Harbour branch, which was part of its original character. It was a shame the fat buddha moved out of Cockle Bary Wharf and the westfield shop is just not the same.
To celebrate the end of our first week of work, we braved the torrential rain and headed over to Westfield Sydney in search of some great food, eventually settling on Chinta Ria! Any good Malaysian feast must start with a great entree, which usually is comprised of a street food snack. We picked the Chicken and Beef Satay, which both came with a thick peanut dipping sauce that was so delicious, we even ate it on its own! The beef was cooked well and seasoned nicely, but the chicken was so tasty – perfectly marinaded and charred.
Minh & Jens Food Adventures
+3.5
Food: we ordered sharing dishes at this restaurant!
the food was of good portion size although the food quality wasn't so great!
some dishes were flavourless and did not have much flavour as we though it would have, after reading their ingredients list on the menu.
Their desserts were the most exciting part when we read their menu.
But, we did not expect the dessert to be as bland which did disappoint us.
*great atmosphere.
Service:"and hospitality was great, staff were amazing and very attentive!
Price: 4 People =$200
My favourite dish here are the pandan coconut crepes, I could eat endless plates of these. The only dish I disliked was one of the slow cooked beef dishes, it had not been cooked long enough so it was a bit chewy. It's a small place and when it's full you feel a bit claustrophobic.
Although the food may not be terribly authentic, it can be very good. The mayonnaise chicken (Ayam Blues) is extremely weird and very tasty. I will eat this every time we visit. The food is all fairly mild, nothing hot or surprising, and this is a great place to take someone who doesn't generally like Asian food. There are no surprises, everything is tasty and easy. The Asian food equivalent of comfort food. This is a good place to take out of town visitors, or Americans who are used to very bland and tasteless food, as an introduction to something a little more tasty and interesting.
Nice atmosphere, good service, this is one of those regular 'good ol' standby' restaurants in the city.
Chicken Curry. Perfectly cooked chicken in a rich and tasteful sauce, loved it!
By Miss K on Jun 29, 2013 I’ve been wanting to visit the famous Chinta Ria at Darling Harbour for a very long time because it’s also known as the ‘ Temple of Love’ and names like that just captivate me for some reason. Mr C and I joined the crowd of business people having lunch and used our Dimmi points to score us a free meal worth $50 (plenty), so it was definitely a great idea to come here for lunch. First up was the Beef Rendang (shown above) as Mr C was craving some kind of curry, he did some initial research and found that this was one of the most popular curry dishes. At first I thought the beef was going to tough and hard to chew but I was wrong! It was very easy to tear apart from your chopsticks and very soft, plus the beef pieces were huge! Accompanying the delicious creamy curry was a splendid combo of spices and finely chopped herbs. Damn how I wish I was in Malaysia again. Mee Goreng Our second and also our final dish was the Mee Goreng. It definitely had the flavours tha
I think it’s safe to say this is not Sydney’s best Malaysian restaurant, nor the cheapest, but it’s good enough for when you’re feeling like a non-dodgy restaurant experience. Service was good, and they have a gluten-free version of the menu.
The beef rendang is absolutely comforting. I must admit I am used to a little more curry soup but this one hit the spot with all the flavours. The beef was amazingly tender
It was as though we had stumbled into a portal transporting us to a sensual and exotic place... Chinta Ria...Mood for Love Interior The restaurant is inspired by the movie In the Mood for Lo
It's exactly the kind of think I like to eat... a million colours, textures, temperatures...and diving in with your hands, armed with a wadge of roti. Mixed satay (beef and chicken), $12 Nasi Lemak...
Does My Bomb Look Big In This
+4.5
Come in from the bright lights through the heavy wooden door guarded by lions and you enter into a completely different realm with authentic Asian décor & warm lighting. My dining companion remarked, ‘you wouldn’t even know we were in a mall.’ Definitely more restaurant than quick service; this is also reflected in the food.
Styled as a more of a formal restaurant, Chinta Ria... Mood for Love is the latest of Goh's Malaysian restaurant ventures in Sydney. As soon as I walk past the guarding lions and through the imposing wooden doors, I know Iâm in for an experience. The moody ambience is set by the varied seating arrangements that see couples hidden in corners and groups behind ornate carved screens, while the eclectic selection of music tinkling in the b
Amazing Food. Incredible staff. The chili fish is to die for. Will be stopping by on every visit through Sydney. I've told everyone I know about this place. The one female staff member in particular, thank you for a wonderful experience.
Fabulous tasty fresh food and service was exceptional. My only gripe (if I had to pick one) is the price for the chicken satay entree. $7 for 2 small chicken skewers was a little expensive but they were really tasty! All up a great place for dinner.
Very good service n staffs willing to do extra to ensure customers satisfaction.
The squid in soy was absolutely superb. Quirky atmosphere. Like!
Great place for lunch in the city. My friends and I are always on the look out for places to go for lunch that are not your average cafes (or food courts). This place is great, good food and quick service and even though it's in Westfield the decor makes you believe you are way away from a shopping centre.
Would definitely come back. How the menu is displayed is a little odd, the greeting card was a bit confusing but everything else was great.
Love it, love it, love it. Me and my husband have completely fallen in love with this restaurant, so do my friends! Everyone enjoyed the food, the spicy taste, the drink recommended and the service! The service were always good and we never had to wait! This place is quite sweet for couples!
It was a lovely place. Loved the fish curry and the ginger and fried chicken . It had a beautiful atmosphere and aroma xD
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MALAYSIAN DINERS WILL APPRECIATE THE AUTHENTICITY
Chinta Ria is a very decent Malaysian restaurant on the 6th level food court in Westfield Sydney. It has the usual range of Malaysian cuisine (rendang, kway teow, laksa, nasi lemak etc) with good vegetarian options.
Although its inside the Westfield complex it has some "outdoor" tables which are quite good if you want to watch the (shopping) world go by. If you are planning on ordering an alcoholic drink however, you'll have to sit inside (indoors) as the liquor licence is restricted to indoor diners only.
We went for lunch on a Saturday at about 1 pm. Service is quite fast and friendly, although the food took a relatively long time to come out. Food quality is good. We had vegetarian rolls a beef char kway teow and a vegetarian char kway teow - all very tasty and very "authentically Malaysian". Along with two bottles of sparkling water our bill came to $57.
Accepts cash and cards. As its in a quite modern building there will be no access problems for people with mobility issues.
i'm on holiday from Adelaide, and for my first night out... I'm so glad I came here for dinner with the girls! The service her is kind/polite and provide a great service. The food is well priced and came out surprisingly fast, tasting absolutely amazing... I'm not one who gets a full stomach, but I can definitely say that I have one when I come here! thanks
Really love the King Toh Beef dish here. They have a good selection of wines too. Friendly service. I recommend going in a group and getting a number of dishes to share. Three dishes for four average people and maybe a side is plenty of food. The setting in the shopping centre isn't as romantic as it used to be in Darling Harbour, but it's still a nice vibe.
My wife and I went there for lunch on Friday around 4:30pm and the staff are really helpful as they were going to close at 5pm. Put put our order in and it arrived promptly we ordered Beef Rendang. I must say it was delicious and I would definitely go back again and have the same dish. It is well priced restaurant and service was quick and easy.
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