Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chameleon

    3.9 (61 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Chameleon Photos

    CHAMELEON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Chameleon

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Nice atmosphere and a free Bellini!
    Emily C.

    Big big fan of this restaurant. In fact it may well be one of my favourites in Dublin. My favourite aspect of this most favourite restaurant is the general atmosphere. You need to sit upstairs as it's a world apart from downstairs. You climb up some windy, narrow rickety stairs, up into a small room decorated with candles, sumptuous table coverings, drapes, fairy lights, and heavy carved and embellished wooden furniture. There are options to sit on floor cushions on the low tables, or sit on the normal height ones. Totally down to personal preference - some people find the low tables really uncomfortable, but I personally love the feeling of sitting cross legged squashed in with other people - it gives a real social aspect to the already social way of eating the shared style platters. The food as many people have mentioned is really, really good. It's all shared, and there is a LOT of it. My only mention would be (and this is the reason for docking a star), that the menus are quite padded out with the cheaper dishes (salads, noodles, etc), and the more outstanding ones (crab cakes, pork belly to name two) are a lot more far between. It's not cheap, so it would be nice to see the ratio shifted a bit. Regardless, this is my only (minor) complaint. Service is outstanding as well - really friendly, efficient and quick, and just a pleasure to be in the presence of the guys who work here. Oh - try the chocolate banana desert. DE-LISH. BONUS: Get a free Bellini with a Yelp check-in! BOOM!

    Maire B.

    Three of us chose this place to try on 'dine in Dublin' week and boy am I glad I did. The food here is indonesian, and for the week they were offering a full meal for 30 euro, which is about 20% of their usual prices. As well as the 3 course dine in Dublin option they also had a Rijst Tafel option, which is 7 small dishes plus rice and condiments (as well as dessert and tea/coffee). We all went for this option. Rijst Tafel is perfect if, like me, you are chronically indecisive in restaurants. Like tapas you get to try a number of different dishes without committing to one. It also helps you be more adventurous because if you don't like some new thing you have 6 other options to eat. The food was fantastic. I even liked the dishes I thought I wouldn't like. We had pork, chicken, beef, and crab all with varying degrees of spiciness. There's a fair bit of chili in most things, but I think it cured the cold I had been nursing! I would say the decor and atmosphere upstairs is nicer than downstairs as they have some low coaches with low tables which is really atmospheric. On saying that sitting at a normal table was quite nice too - they all had comfy leather seats. Chameleon even manages to avoid the main problem of most Asian restaurants - the absence of desserts - by having a few "Anglo-Saxon" staples like chocolate brownies and cheesecake, which were as good as the rest of the meal. I was already going to give it 5 stars when the waitress asked me what type of tea I'd like, as they had a selection. I'd give it 6 stars if I could! I will definitely return.

    fish rijst-tafel
    Alison M.

    Charming. Had a lovely dinner date with hubby here as it's right around the corner from the Project Arts Theatre. We ordered the rijst-tafel summatra which focused on fish dishes as well as a shrimp noodle dish to share. Honestly if I had ordered the noodles as my dinner I would have been disappointed as it was small and expensive. The rijst-tafel on the other hand was incredible. About seven separate dishes were included and each one that arrived at the table was more delicious than the last. I had the best calamari of my life, a gingered white fish, some incredible chili pepper prawns, and a surprisingly delicious warm kale salad. There was also fried and boiled rice, a noodle dish, sesame salad, and crab cakes. My advice is stick with their special rijst-tafels and you will be a happy customer. One is easily shared between two people if you plan on adding an appetizer or dessert to the meal. I loved all the sauces and toppings (peanut and coconut shavings!) for the dishes. It made for a lot of new flavor combinations and a fun dinner experience. I was also impressed with the friendly service and the explanations about the food like a homemade chili sauce that was perfectly spicy. With the dark wood and soft lighting you are almost guaranteed to have intimate conversation so add some very decent but inexpensive wines and you've got a perfect date spot.

    The upstairs dining room, small but great atmosphere.
    Marc M.

    Indonesian food is hard to find outside Holland and obviously Indonesia. It is my favourite and so I was happy to have found this place in Temple Bar in the heart of Dublin. The restaurant is small but they have created a great atmosphere. The wine list is impressive. The food is delicious and the service exemplary. You can choose from around 6 different Rijsttafel (rice table) menus, based on meat, fish and/or veggies. Don't expect to find the same foods as in a Dutch Toko or restaurant. The flavours are a bit subdued compared to the Dutch Toko's, probably because they have to cater to a public that is generally not familiar with Indonesian food. I would certainly go back here.

    Ting A. T.

    First time that I tried Indonesian food and it's Very tasty. Menus are a little bit expensive but they are interesting since you can try 7-9 different little dishes and it's even more interesting if you take different menus to share with others ! If I come to Dublin again I would definitely go back to that place!

    Kate B.

    I have no idea why it's taken me so long to try here... it has a fantastic reputation for great food and celebrated 20 years in business last year - no mean feat in Dublin's competitive food scene! On one of Temple Bar's side streets, it's just out of the way of the madness. We were seated downstairs where I think they seat all parties of 2... upstairs in a large dining area that was buzzing this particular Friday evening.... no January blues around here! The menu is amazing... basically it's done tapas style but instead of just choosing your individual dishes you choose a menu. Each menu has 5-7 dishes within and most menus have a couple of the basics in common, for example rice or greens so when you both order your menu these sides portions are to share. We decided we'd just order 2 different menus and share the lot - my favourite way to eat! We chose the Rijst Tafel 4 Java and the Vegetarian Rijst Tafel whcih gave a huge variety of dishes! The Rijst Tafel Java offered Chicken satay served with peanut sauce, Crab cake, with haddock, Asian herbs, chilli & mango dip, Irish beef Rendang in a spicy coconut milk sauce with cinnamon, confit of Fermanagh black pork belly, Salad with cucumber, mango, Chinese leaves with a peanut and black sesame dressing, Seasonal greens wok fried and Wok fried noodles with beansprouts, ginger, garlic &soy sauce. And the Vegetarian Rijst Tafel had a Balinese Yellow Curry with long beans, sweetcorn & mangetout, a Potato & chickpea cake of sorts with carrot, banana shallots, celery, Portobello & chestnut mushrooms in crispy tempura with peanut sauce, the same salad as the other menu and same greens and noodles too and some spiced rice... so a feast by anyone's standard! There was SO MUCH food here that we couldn't manage to get through everything. With the veggie menu at €28 and the other one at €32 it was an unbelievable amount of food for €60... in fact it barely fit on the table! The food was great, wine was reasonably priced and the staff were friendly and helpful to us choosing a suitable menu - I would recommend you all to try out Chameleon!

    Chicken Satay Ayam and Crispy Squid at the Chameleon
    Amy G.

    When Sam and I visited Dublin back in November, I was really keen to visit Chameleon having read a lot of positive things about it and loved the look of the menu. We decided instead of going for the set menus, to just order a few dishes of our own choice between us, which I'm glad we did, although I do wish we could have been sat upstairs where the décor is really lovely. Downstairs is very small and simple, a few tables set up with a bar. We were sat at a nice table near the window and were looked after by really friendly staff who explained the menu to us and how the service worked. We ordered around six dishes between us including Crispy Squid, Pork Wontons, Satay Ayam, Slow Cooked Pork Belly, Babi Spring Roll and Scallops. I enjoyed every dish including the squid - which is weird because I still don't really eat seafood...I'm getting there though! We followed all that yummy savoury food with a Chocolate and Baileys Panna Cotta which was smooth, rich and a perfect end to a really great meal. It's not exactly traditional Irish, but it's something a bit different and I would recommend it to anyone visiting Ireland. My favourite dish of the night were the amazing Babi Pork Spring rolls. They were crisp on the outside and packed to the brim with shredded pork and vegetables. The Chicken Satay Ayam was probably one of the best satays I've ever had - it wasn't too clawing and full of peanut butter as some can be, it was really dark and rich. The restaurant is located in the heart of Temple Bar, so it's an ideal location, but I would make sure if you do decide to go, you book in advance - they were turning people away the whole time we ate!

    Mango and cucumber salad
    Lotta M.

    I had : veggie rijsttaffle, Sauvignon blanc, passion fruit Bellini Yum! Very friendly staff, tasty, tasty food and very unusual seating. I'm a big fan of trying numerous different dishes so this place is perfect for me. Each meal consists of between 4 and 8 small dishes ranging from salads to curries to meat. I opted for the veggie one which had a yellow curry, mushroom tempura with satay, fried rice, noodles, veggies and a veggie cake made from chickpeas. I enjoyed all of them. The only problem was that I totally stuffed myself! I brought the mango and cucumber salad home because I couldn't bare to waste it. A delicious lunch awaits me tomorrow. If you're going for a special occasion it's worth booking ahead to get one of the booths. Very friendly staff who take the time to explain the different dishes

    Fish, prawn and crab cake
    Cindy R.

    I've never had Indonesian food before but the menu here was quite intriguing! We decided to get two of their set menus and share all of the delights! We were not disappointed and even ordered a few more items that looked interesting! My favorite items were the steamed buns with prawns and duck, the short rib and the steamed fish.

    Two tasting menus combined. We went for the options that didn't have too much fish and weren't vegetarian! Absolutely delicious!
    Ahmed A.

    There is a great ambiance about Chameleon. Great service. And fantastic food. It is like an Indonesian tapas restaurant with lots of choice and a wide menu. I would advise anyone trying this restaurant to get different tasting menus if you are going with others and share as it allows much more variety and adds to the experience. The food is reasonably priced and a tasting menu for two with a bottle of wine and two desserts will only cost around €100. The restaurant boast many awards and along with the amazing dishes the staff couldn't have been friendlier and as first time trying Indonesian food were very helpful!

    The low tables

    See all

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emily C.
    1739
    791
    2519

    12 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy K.
    32
    14
    8

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ciara K.
    11
    362
    366

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Natalie M.
    28
    328
    239

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Chameleon Reviews in Other Languages

    Taste at Rustic - Taste at Rustic located upstairs

    Taste at Rustic

    4.4(28 reviews)
    0.3 km
    €€€

    There are reasons I know I'm getting old, aside from the fact that the birthdays just keep crashing…read morein likes waves. One is my failing sight after years of relying on my eyes and my eyes alone to read. Another perhaps less common garden variety is the internal meltdown I face when confronted with a lot of menu choice in restaurants. If you identify with the latter, you may wish to save yourself a lot of hassle and simply choose the set menu here. If not, be warned, the a la carte alternative is complex, and for your own sake don't arrive tired or emotional. This is a prime mental condition eating experience. Famed Dublin restauranteur Dylan McGrath is an ideas man. His restaurants are as much about concept as they are about food, and though I'm sure there's a big heart in there, the head rules. If you want proof, study the menu. Across the top are taste categories (bitter, salty, sweet, etc.). Down the left are dish categories. So you scale down, then across, to see what combination of taste and texture your dish offers. And there are lots of choices. And a huge variety of prices. But what's less clear is quantity. And I was hungry and wanted to know I'd get an oul dinner into me before that difficult hungry phase that reduces my brain to mush and makes me want to howl like a baby. The very friendly waitress reassured us that though the menu seems complex first time round, after you've done it once, it's a breeze. (That's how I cottoned on to the fact that the wait staff here have post docs in maths.) Full marks for trying though. No less than two members of staff talked us through things, and they really did their best - did I sense concern that people are having difficulty getting it? Whichever - in the end, it was all too much for me - cue set menu. So, to my relief, for forty euros, you can certainly expect to leave full, with sushi starters - ok, it's not called sushi, it's the long one with the piece of fish on top of the rice (though more wasabi, please) -,delicious miso with clams and those delicate long-stemmed mushrooms that definitely have a name, beef skewers with rice (too much rice already) and potato main, and desert. The food presentation is beautiful, served on marble slabs and in delicate ceramics, with a Japanese-influenced simplicity. I thought the restaurant was Japanese from the menu but see from the website there are Spanish and South American influences too - not very obvious to me but then again I flunked the menu test. The sushi that isn't sushi was yummy, especially the turbot which was a smoky hit of flavour, and the sea bass, with a smooth texture that melts on the tongue. The beef is served on a mini-BBQ which, like the mushrooms, has a proper name. (The only problem with this method of on-table serving is being smoked out of it by the table next door who's got too much fuel on the fire.) If you want your steak more than medium rare, just cook on. My steak was a slightly mixed experience being a bit fatty, though my partner didn't have the same issue. Desert was ginger panna cotta, with melon granita, which was light yet intense in flavour and delicious. We had tried to book Rustic Stone, the restaurant downstairs, but it was full and they suggested we try Taste. We didn't know it was Japanese-influenced and I think they took this on board upon seeing our menu-bafflement and offered a glass of wine on the house. Fair enough. If I returned I'd be armed with a more rested brain (like I'd give it a full day off beforehand, take it to the pictures, buy it flowers, tell it it was looking great) and I would square right up to that a la carte menu, look it in the eye and plainly demand to know its tofu options, the brute, and I wouldn't take no for an answer. The Japanese are masters of simplicity, so ultimately I agree if for different reasons that Taste is not a Japanese restaurant. But the food largely made up for it, the service was good, it's a relaxing place to eat, and if the head wins over the heart, there's no denying it's a decent head. If you don't believe me, just look in the window where its image hangs pride of place, presumably so you know who best to talk to if you need anything explained.

    In expectation of my arrival in Dublin for a 17 day visit, my sister sent me Taste as a potential…read moredinner option while I was staying with her. Coincidentally, I had a hankering for sushi on the first night and so after snagging a reservation, off we went to Taste. The restaurant was located on the third floor of Rustic Stone. We were seated at the sushi bar for dinner. The bar itself was different from those that I've experienced in the US where the cooking area is lower so you have a view of what the chef is making; however, the bar seating at Taste was also way roomier than most in the US. My sister and I opted for the €60 omakase - I requested the umami miso and the duck broth, while my sister had the regular miso and the salmon broth - and added on some toro nigiri. We also ordered cocktails - the Eastern Promise and the Gin Garden - which were excellent. The meal was excellent! The nigiri combinations were sometimes surprising but they worked well. The quality of the fish was also very good. I loved the broth and cooking the duck breast myself - it was so rich and the flavours were deep and well-developed. For the "light dessert" they brought out three options: a cheesecake, a coconut ice cream, and a ginger flan. The cheesecake actually had this odd cheese (not cream cheese or ricotta) taste but my sister and I were obsessed. Minus one star for the service because although everyone was super super nice, it was slooooooow. Our meal took about 3 hours. Not that we minded but just be wary that you might be here awhile! However, the meal meal was excellent and my sister and I agreed that between us there was nothing on the menu that we wouldn't order.

    Photos
    Taste at Rustic - Chef at work

    Chef at work

    Taste at Rustic
    Taste at Rustic

    See all

    Ukiyo Bar

    Ukiyo Bar

    3.8(95 reviews)
    0.3 kmSouth Inner City
    €€

    Had a lovely evening here yesterday, where we got to take a step away from heavier meals and went…read morefor a lighter and a bit different approach of dining in Dublin. Overall the food was enjoyable! I absolutely loved the oysters. The mignonette was to die for and was a unique spin I hadn't had before. It felt like an oyster shooter, which made the value seem all the better. For our main course we split the sushi for two platter. It had sashimi, a few different roll options, and nigiri as well. The classics were great, and the rolls were interesting! The only thing I didn't love was the mayo on the tuna roll. Aside from the food, the service was a bit mixed. Everyone we interacted with was fantastic, but service was a bit slow and there had been items added on our bill that we didn't order. Easily fixed, but that took a bit more time. If you want a solid sushi dinner though, I definitely recommend eating here!

    As a lover of all things Asian cuisine, I've very rarely gone more than a week or so without…read moreenjoying a delicious Asian entree. So it should come at no surprise that after 2 days of eating nothing but traditional Irish cuisine, my Asian food cravings started to set in. Walking down the streets of Dublin on a Wednesday night, we saw like 15 people enter the Ukiyo Bar at the same time and wondered what al the fuss was about, so we went in. I am so so glad that we did! The menu was priced perfectly for the quality and quantity of food you're served. The food was also super fresh! We ordered the Gyoza, the ramen and the kimchi fried rice. Every dish was jam-packed with fresh veggies and the perfect amount of spice. I was in heaven! Ordered a table sake and a Sapporo that were also really enjoyable. I would recommend Ukiyo Bar to locals and tourists in the Dublin area. Loved it!

    Photos
    Ukiyo Bar
    Ukiyo Bar - Korean fried chicken, dragon roll, and a lychee martini

    Korean fried chicken, dragon roll, and a lychee martini

    Ukiyo Bar

    See all

    Platform 61

    Platform 61

    4.5(36 reviews)
    0.5 kmSouth Inner City
    €€

    On our last day in Dublin, we had an early dinner at Platform 61, which we discovered through Yelp…read more-- so not quite a best-kept secret, but certainly a terrific hangout on South William Street. Usually, the dining room comprises an underground hideaway that is quite sleek and intimate. However, due to the lockdown measures, we had to do outdoor seating directly on William Street while we were there. The experience was still beautiful, thanks to the surrounding scenery. The cocktails were grand between the P61 Signature Cocktail and the Hugo -- both prosecco-based cocktails. The former was delicious between the peach puree and prosecco, while the latter was a little more tart with the elderflower cordial. For dinner, we kicked things off with gluten-free bread with a trio of dips that were quite tasty. The Tortellini I ordered was exquisite and scrumptious with how it was prepared between the goat cheese, asparagus, red onion, wilted spinach, cream sauce, and bacon. I applauded this lovely dish with the last bite. I devoured the warm almond flour brownie for dessert, served with chocolate sauce and gelato, which my wife could also enjoy since the dish was gluten-free. Overall, Platform 61 was a great way to conclude our second Irish journey. We will return, especially to enjoy the underground dining area.

    If you are visiting Dublin or new to the area, Platform 61 is a MUST! Our entire group absolutely…read moreloved everything we ordered (gnocchi, pesto pasta, risotto, cheese board, pork belly) and everyone agreed it was some of the best food we had on the entire trip! The ambiance is very nice as well, romantic but also good for a fun night out with friends. 10/10 recommend adding this to your itinerary for dinner!

    Photos
    Platform 61
    Platform 61
    Platform 61

    See all

    Chameleon - indonesian - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...