Gan sponsored two chefs in those early days, and they have gone on to train all the head chefs of her six stores today — an expansion fueled by demand. “I saw that new migrants and second-generation Chinese actually like our food,” she says. I think the owner is very clever that names their restaurant “nihao”, so the whole world knows what cuisine they do! The restaurant was recommended by couple of friends for a reason. Food was nice and hot, mild modified to what western world favors while very well keeps the authenticity of classic Cantonese food.
Order the famous son-in-law eggs – a fun mix of textural elements that has its roots in Malay and Thai street food – and red duck curry. We love Sichuan House and go out of our way to visit every time we travel to Melbourne. We always restaurants kew take away some dishes for our friends and family to enjoy aswell. But we enjoy lots of dishes and always try something new as the menu is so extensive. Highly recommend crispy duck, pork ears and the steamed chicken in spicy sauce.
This day-to-night spot, in a former 1900s wine shop, is the most modest of Guy Grossi’s city restaurants. Come by for the energetic breakfast rush, boisterous lunch hour, late afternoon espressos, or romantic dinner sittings at nightfall. Situated on Hardware Lane is this outstanding player in the city’s vegan dining scene. The owner-chef riffs on nostalgic Sicilian dishes using plant-based ingredients, served in a converted 19th-century warehouse full of old-world charm. Led by a former Vue de Monde chef, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s glamorous 80th-storey restaurant eschews a set menu for the flexibility of à la carte. Come for vegetables cooked with love, a focused wine list, sharp cocktails and, of course, the views.
With a focus on locally sourced meats and fresh seafood, Silks serves up high-quality dishes such as dim sum, barbecue, multi-regional noodle and rice dishes, as well as some seriously tasty desserts. The baked crab shell with parmesan cheese is a rich and indulgent way to begin your meal, as are the black truffle mushroom spring rolls. The roasted black cod with osmanthus honey is a smoky, ingenious take on char siu pork and the tender Valley Black Angus beef tenderloin with honey and black pepper sauce is a house specialty.
A worthy addition to the best CBD restaurants in Melbourne. The intimately spaced dining of Embla and waitstaff devoid of pretentiousness is the perfect environment for sampling share plates among friends or dividing a set menu amongst a significant other. This casual Italian diner is a go-to for the 9 to 5ers and the after-hours warriors alike. Here you’ll find classic bolognese and hefty slabs of lasagne at a very, very reasonable price point. HuTongpumps out dumplings faster than you can eat them, although you’re welcome to have a go.
To get the very best from this fine-dining institution, be sure to dine off one of the set menus. That way you get a taste of all the signature dishes without the added stress of having to decide between them. Centrally located , Cookie is one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Fusing together a Thai restaurant, a beer hall and a cocktail bar, Cookie is a one-stop-shop, guaranteed to delight everyone in your party. Always buzzy, you’ll find diners digging into the likes of drunken noodles, crispy pork belly curry and moreish beef ribs with lemongrass and star anise.
The dining room at Manzé is as charming as its service and its drinks list – a short, sharp collection with a penchant for vin naturel and Mauritian rum. Maybe the deep-fried taro fritter served with a thrillingly spiced rhubarb hot sauce will alert you, or the purple daikon and feijoa chutney snack. Perhaps it'll be the deep green and potent pepper and coriander-seed sauce accompanying dreamy, perfectly tender pork neck.
With a signature tonkotsu broth based on a secret recipe simmered for 12 hours and queues as long as three hours – you know you’re in for some very impressive eating. Cosy and casual yet effortlessly sophisticated, Osteria Ilaria instantly signals good taste and serious intentions. Far from a flash in the pan, iconic Asian eatery Chin Chin has become even more popular since it’s 2011 opening debut. A local institution turned tourist destination – there’s a reason you can expect to wait up to two hours for a table. From gooey, sticky pork to sizzling jungle curry – grab a seat at the bar and savour the wait.
Inside a former ice-cream store, this little slice of Venice is big on protein – woodfired in a Josper oven imported from Spain. But if you’re feeling pastas, varieties such as tagliolini and pappardelle are rolled in-house. It’s all served in a terrazzo-and-timber space that’s casual and contemporary at once. This all-day Italian cafe embraces la cucina povera (“poor man’s cooking”) – or making do with what you have.
The competition is running hot now, but this place is still dear to our collective hearts. 'Chinese food' is a broad catch-all term for a region that more resembles a continent than a country. China is blessed with countless regional variations of noodles, dumplings, bread and rice dishes that extend far further than Australian-Chinese iterations of honey soy chicken and Mongolian beef. The best part is that you can find many of these dishes in Melbourne.
The plate comes out and it’s piled high with chicken, chillies and a whole lot of peanuts. In true Sichuan style this dish builds in intensity as each mouthful is consumed. “That’s not that spicy” soon gives way to “pass me something to drink! ” as the chillies being to dance their way around your mouth. Hot, tender, crunchy and very fragrant – it’s the signature dish for a reason. A European-inspired delicatessen, wine bar and dining experience.