Chinese food ranges from delicious comfort food to spicy cleansing soups, to super-refined seafood dishes. It’s one of the most extensive cuisines and for that reason, it can sometimes be overwhelming to choose a place to dine.
Don’t worry, we’ve narrowed it down to eight of the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne. While some focus on yum cha and others on live seafood, there’s something for everyone in this line-up.
These are the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne.
Lee Ho Fook
Duckboard Place
Set in a graffiti-lined alley just off Flinders Lane, Lee Ho Fook is the brainchild of acclaimed chef Victor Liong, and it reimagines traditional Chinese flavours through a modern lens. Think ocean trout sashimi, with salted chilli and black beans, or a master stock poached spatchcock, with soy caramelised onions, green garlic and ginger, all served in a setting that celebrates traditional themes with a modern flourish. Even the lanterns are funky.
Book here.
Flower Drum Restaurant
Market Lane
In 1975, Gilbert Lau opened the Flower Drum in Chinatown, Melbourne, and what started as a humble desire to serve authentic Cantonese food to Australian people, turned into a critically acclaimed institution. Operating as an a la carte restaurant, their entire menu is a refined yum cha experience to remember. By far the most successful restaurant in Chinatown, Flower Drum is well worth its prices—which are a bit more expensive than your regular Sunday morning yum cha. Trust us when we say, every cent is worth it.
You can book here.
Panda Hot Pot
Carlton
If you haven’t been to Panda Hot Pot yet, you’ve most likely seen it; an elaborate temple-style building, decked out with a 1.5m suspended dragon and all, just opposite RMIT University on the border of Carlton and the CBD. Dubbed to be one of the best hot pot franchises out there, Panda Hot Pot has 80 fiery soups to choose from, as well as extravagant cocktails and decor that will simply blow you away. It’s worth it for the experience alone.
Book here.
David’s
Prahran
David’s is a contemporary Shanghainese restaurant inspired by Zhou’s hometown Zhouzhuang, a water village in which his family’s recipes originated. Loved by locals for over 20 years, it’s no secret that David’s authentic menu showcases some of the finest dumplings and yum cha in town while treating customers as an extension of Zhou’s own family. Different from your typical Cantonese yum cha, David’s harnesses the authentic flavours of Shanghainese cuisine in 11 varieties of delectable dishes. Think dumplings, spring rolls, signature loaded veggie fried rice, pork and prawn shumai and homemade pork buns… and there’s even a vegan menu if you’re eating plant-based. David also has a great a la carte menu with all of your classic faves, plus a few things you may not be familiar with but will certainly be ordering again.
Book here.
Chef David
Elizabeth Street
This 160-seater uber Instagrammable eatery used to be a hotpot spot but is now a grill-yourself Sichuan restaurant. Come for sizzling skewers, whole grilled fish and colourful side dishes, stay for the theatrical cocktails, dry ice cured fish and endless neon signs.
Book here.
Secret Kitchen
Little Bourke Street
Another Melbourne institution, it’s hard to walk past the live seafood tank—one of the biggest in the city—without being lured inside. Unsurprisingly, seafood is the speciality, with braised whole abalone, braised shark fin with fish maw and steamed crab with lotus leaves being some of their most popular dishes, but they do a bit of everything. Set amongst the bustle of Melbourne’s Chinatown, as well as Malvern East and Doncaster, Secret Kitchen is all white tablecloths, impeccable service and incredible traditionally-made Chinese food.
Book here.
Roast Duck Inn
Box Hill
It goes without saying—if a suckling roast duck is what you’re into, then Roast Duck Inn is the place to be. Although they do offer a bit of everything (all your favourite Chinese dishes are on the menu), you can’t go past their whole roast duck and white sauce duck, for that crispy skin and juicy centre perfection that they seem to nail every time.
No booking is necessary, but you can order take away or find out more here.
Supper Inn
Celestial Ave
Supper Inn is old-school Chinese eatery-style, open past midnight most nights, serving up live seafood, share plates and flowing BYO into the wee hours. They have everything from duck pancakes, to whole baked barramundi, to classic fried rice, tripe, dumplings, honey soy chicken, you name it, it’s in Supper Inn’s overwhelmingly heavy laminated menu. They don’t have any socials (always a sign of authentic food tbh), but turn down Celestial Ave, just off Little Bourke Street, and you can’t miss the big vertical neon sign.
No bookings.
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