Yes, but no. Yes: the food was super yum, with great staff. No: portions were really small! After hearing rave reviews about eating until you burst from the 'feed me' menu, we were decidedly disappointed with the quantity of food, and after surrendering $90 each ($69 + wine) both my friend and I felt like we could go out for dessert afterwards. Very disappointing after all the hype. As well, after telling them I couldn't eat fish, all I got was vegetarian food. Overall, a bit of a mixed experience, but I think that the final tip-off was having music soooo loud that you couldn't hear over it. Not to mention the killer ques just to get in there. I'm glad I went once to say I've been there, but quite honestly I think $90 could have been spent somewhere that was better value. read more

Amazing timing in that we were seated immediately. Traditionally has a big line and I could see why! It's big and busy. The service was good and the food was yum. You sit quite close to other people which is fine for us. Awesome wine list. Had a salad which was delicious as was the pad Thai. Look forward to trying their "feed me" when you say that and pay $69 pp to be brought out several dishes. The couple next to us were doing it and it looked amazing!! A lot of food. See you soon Chin Chin - Sept 2015 Update, went back, lined up as expected, sat around the kitchen mesmerised by the amazing system of fresh assembly, even better wine this time, amazing food, look forward to the next visit. Have just found out that they are MSG FREE completely, YAHHHHHHH read more

Great staff, fantastic food and a huge menu. Place is always buzzing and the feeling is great. A definite must try to anyone who loves Thai ( and please who does not ). read more

Top class food quality. Modern Thai at its best. Expect a long wait. But it's definitely worth it.

The poached coconut chicken salad was a star. Loved the rendang & crab fried rice match up. The service was fast & friendly. Good times.

Just. Exceptional. Food. Don't complain about the crowds- come early and have a relaxing lunch/dinner. Shitake and chicken spring rolls had so much flavour; salad with prawn 'dumplings' was full of fresh herbs and chilli, and delightfully blackened prawns. read more

This spot is absolutely great. Live everything about it. Done in or delivery

I got the butter chicken curry. The food and service was great. The wait wasn't too long when we arrived at 5:30 PM.

It is a little overhyped and pricey for what it was. I've been here a few times and its often a hit and miss. Service is good but sometimes pretentious. Be prepared to wait for a long time unless you know the hostess. They do not take reservations, Come early or wait for an hour +. The bar downstairs makes great drinks so if you're lucky, they'll let you wait there. I think I've tried pretty much everything and I would probably go for the banquet 60 pp. It's definitely worth it but I hope your server orders you good food. One time, it was a bit meh average food, and I felt sick the day after. I think it was the bad oysters in the omelette. Definitely worth going at least once though! read more

Big fan of the Melbourne based restaurant and they've done a great job with the Sydney establishment too.

Wow, I was told this place was amazing and it exceeded my expectations. My friend and I had the prefix menu for 2 where the cooks pick about 6 different dishes to highlight what they do. So many good flavors. By the time the last dish was set down, we were so full it was almost funny. If you pick this choice, pace yourself. Everything we had was top notch. The Kingfish sashimi might have been my favorite. read more

By far one of the best restaurants in town. Very vibrant atmosphere with the most consistently exquisite menu. Particularly love the contrasting dishes in the "feed me" all you can menu. Fantastic service as well. read more

Had high expectations. If your not early, your late. Expect an hr wait to get in. Decent food, worth the try. MENU - Good selection of food, however it's better to go in knowing the favorites rather than to go on a whim VIBE - The wait staff are very efficient and know their stuff. Not a place to converse. RECOMMENDATIONS - Pad See Ew, Stir Fried Greens. read more

First things first. The soft shell crab green with green curry fried rice is perfection. Stop reading and go get some right now. The cocktails are overly sweet and not awesome. A serious rocks margarita or classic mojito would be a nice addition to the menu. Stick to the very well curated wines and beers for now. Service is excellent. Attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and very helpful and accommodating with my husbands gluten free dietary restrictions. Wait times are as bad as you heard--I prefer to go at lunch opening on a weekday to avoid the queues. Not that I wouldn't wait. It's that good. It's worth knowing in advance that this place is LOUD AF. Probably best for old friends who can communicate without talking or that awkward blind date your Auntie set you up on. read more

For a start, this place isn't a Thai restaurant- it's "Asian". This is one of the reasons why it's two stars - Chin Chin doesn't know what it is, all it knows is that it is hungry for customers and their money to the point it reeks of desperation. The food is average Asian which many Asian options available that, because of the blanket Asian category, fails to miss the mark time and time again as opposed to focusing their strength on the one type of cuisine. Essentially this is a tourist trap that is trying to ride the hype wave. read more

One of the best Chinese Joints I have been to in a long time. Just turn up, eat and go. Good Food, quick service. Woo HOOO read more

Great food! I had the one sided seared tuna which was delicious. We came late so they were able to seat us right away with no wait. The craft cocktail menu was limited but they are able to make whatever you like. I would highly recommend if you love Thai and are like ok'ing for something different. read more

Wow!!! We spent a month traveling around Australia and this was absolutely the BEST meal we had, probably the best Thai food I've had outside of Thailand. It's loud, crowded, and expensive, but the food is AMAZING! read more

food= all hype. Great music, drinks and ambiance, food below average really, not out of this world.

Hands down amazing, always leave happy and full, food is awesome, staff amazeballs and all round kick ass

Where do I start... I'm not really sure what the hype is about and I think it's in everyone head that this place is amazing and even when the food isn't worth it they think it's amazing. I'm not sure where all the good reviews are coming from, it's either people don't know what good tai food taste like or they are brain washed. Food is decent but it was way over priced. #touristtrap read more

SAVE YOUR MONEY! TOURIST TRAP! While the food itself wasn't bad (not great either) everything was EXTREMELY overpriced and OVERHYPED. Being from the states with the conversion rate, we got a 35% discount and still feel like we overpaid. Typical Thai restaurant with average food. The Pad Seuw wasn't special and neither was buttered chicken or masaman curry. Got better Thai a few days later in Sydney for half the price. The drinks are $20 for about a 4oz glass so don't bother getting one of those either. Finally, when paying, they make it difficult for you to not leave a tip. Both options are for tip so you have to manually enter $0.00 and screwed that up and couldn't go back. Take my review for what it's worth but you can do much better! read more

I am in Melbourne a few times a year and have noticed that there is often a line out the door for Chin Chin and that the reviews were quite good. I finally went for a late lunch one day. We tried the DIY vegetable spring rolls, which were healthy. We also tried the crispy soft shell crab and red curry braised duck. The food was all tasty. Maybe it was the previous reviews or the long lines I would see that drove my expectations, but I was expecting to be really impressed and while the food was good, I was not sure it was worth the hype. I would recommend, but would not stand an hour in line as there is no shortage of fantastic restaurants in Melbourne. read more

WOW. Would write this review in all CAPS to express how happy I was at Chin Chin if it didn't come off all shouty. What an amazing night! The queue and waiting time is horrendous as everyone has said. 2 hours would normally turn me off but worth it at the end. Had the banquet and got to try everything. Definitely bring a party of 10 and get the banquet to get the full experience. Everything beautifully presented - the standout dishes for me where the mains - the beef ribs and caramelised pork. Meat falls off the bone and melts in your mouth and take you to your happy place. Dessert is also a winner - if you have room left to enjoy it. Do it - brave the queue and go see for yourself what all the fuss is about. read more

This place used to be the bomb - but it has totally lost its edge. Don't do the new #2 feed me menu - totally crap. Biggest waste of 500 clams for 4 people. read more

Was seated and waited for 30mins ... no service not even a glass of water ! Don't go it's a shocker read more

You would have to be living under a rock to have not heard about Melbourne hot spot Chin Chin; the pan-Asian street food inspired canteen that is still heaving years after opening. It is one of those indescribable phenomenons of any dining scene, where somewhere opens that creates a zeitgeist and captures the minds of the dining public and inspires people to line up for over an hour to taste the food. The space is laid-back but stylish with pop art influences splashed about and quirkiness in spades (learning to speak Thai when visiting the toilets for one). This is canteen-style dining so expect to be intimately close with the table next door; another choice is to sit at the bar or kitchen seats which afford a little more space and you can watch as the bar staff sling cocktails or the chefs fire up the wok. The pumping soundtrack bounces between modern top 40 and classics from the 70s and 80s, making sure there is a bit of something for everyone. The staff are friendly, personable and easy-going, but this is a well-oiled machine so they are professional and efficient as well. On the drinks side, the aproned 'Wine Guy' will help you navigate the all-Australian wine list, designed to support local winemakers; along with a snappy beer list, as nothing goes better with a spicy dish than an ice cold beer. As with any restaurant of this generation, cocktails are a big focus here with Asian versions of classic cocktails that are a great way to settle in when you arrive. The food starts with a Thai focus but is happy to hop and jump around, with soujourns over to India with a curry or two, but mostly it centres across South-East Asia. The menu is designed to share, with plenty smaller dishes, and really that is the best way to tackle the fairly long menu so you can try as much as you want. The best approach is just to throw caution to the wind and go for their 'feed me' option and be bombarded with dish after dish of amazing food. Chef Benjamin Cooper nails the bold flavours of Thailand with liberal use of fiery chilli and the acid tang of lime, this is in-your-face food and does not hold anything back. Which is not to say that there is not restraint and balance, one of my favourite dishes to start with is the kingfish sashimi, lightly drizzled with coconut cream and a kick of lime, chilli and thai basil, which is both subtle and delicious. The other 'little something' dishes that I tend to go for are the pork "roll ups", a pile of braised, pulled suckling pig to DIY wrap up in thin pancakes and topped with slaw and herbs. Fried corn fritters come with a sticky chilli jam, perfect wrapped up in a crispy lettuce leaf; and that old favourite salt and pepper squid is fresh and tender with a salty, sweet, spicy nuoc cham sauce on the side. Some of the best dishes on the menu come from the "Green stuff" section, the best being a salad of crispy-skinned barramundi and hunks of unctuous caramelised pork, brightened up with batons of green apple. The other pseudo-salad that I love is under 'Barbecue' and if it is hot enough to make a tiger cry then it will surely bring on a bout of chilli sweats. The Crying Tiger is strips of chargrilled wagyu dressed in fiery chilli and addictively sour tamarind dressing, with fried noodles and, one of my favourite Thai flavours, ground toasted rice which is nutty and a great element of texture. On my last visit Ben was testing out a new curry and gave us a try of it, a Southern Thai style yellow curry, with a lovely sourness and a great level of heat, with pepper cured mackerel and chunks of sweet pineapple. Two of the other main sized dishes to go for are the beef short ribs, slow cooked and caramelised, these are meltingly tender with the meat falling off the bone; and the Chinook salmon, smothered in red curry paste, wrapped in banana leaf and grilled until the flesh flakes apart. On the sweet side, an ice cream sundae will keep any sweet tooth happy, made with palm sugar ice cream, with its beautiful caramel notes, topped with chunks of sticky salted honeycomb and lashings of tart lime syrup. My favourite is the rich coconut infused sago with creamed corn ice cream (trust me it works) and the crunch of puffed wild rice; it is a damn good dessert and banishes the memory of awful sago dishes I had growing up. There is a reason Chin Chin is still so popular, because it is still knocking out great Asian food that does not hold back on flavour and chilli and does so in a fun and lively space. Do not be put off by the no bookings policy or waiting to get a table, they turn over fast so you will not be waiting long, and you can always settle in the bar downstairs for a drinks and nibbles while you wait. Otherwise get there early or late (it is open almost every day of the year and open until late at night), or grab a group of friends and book their one table which is open for bookings which seats 10-12 and settle in for a 'feed me' feast. read more

The food was good but not great - the vibe was excellent. We were told the wait was 45 minutes for the dining room so we sat in the bar/lounge area and was seated almost immediately. read more

A really popular restaurant with great food and wonderful serving staff. The wait was 80 minutes on a Thursday night, which I found excessive) but the vibe and energy of the place is amazing. The duck curry and the short ribs were highlights but everything we ordered was a real treat. The restaurant floor is tightly packed and loud, both my guests had their chairs regularly jostled by the passing staff serving other patrons. This caused a bit of irritation but did not detract from the super food and service. read more

An amazing experience. Well-executed hipster Thai food with Melburnian influences. I ordered the salt and pepper calamari which tasted amazingly delicious. It had just the right amount of spice however the calamari was a bit chewy for my taste. The red curry salmon was very aromatic and flavorful but not too spicy. The roti was perfectly buttery and yet it had the perfect texture. The Thai teas were very sweet and were the perfect way to cool down from a meal of spicy Thai food. Overall, Chin Chin is one of the best Thai restaurants I have ever eaten at and it is an essential Melbourne restaurant. read more

This is such a cool and hip place to hang, eat and drink! My first visit to Chin Chin, we walked in on a Tuesday for lunch and were seated immediately at the bar. We experienced fabulous service and loved the busy atmosphere. Two of us shared four tasting plates which were all devine; each an explosion of tastes that didn't kill my taste buds!! We had the Kingfish Sashimi, Salt and Pepper Calamari, Crab cakes that you wrapped in lettuce which also had a delicious sauce and finally a tasty scallop concoction served on betel leaf. I can't wait to return! read more

So this is the "I want to go out and it must be special!" go-to place. The wait for a table just makes you feel all the more elite when you do get to go inside. The waiter was very familiar with the menu helping with diary requirement suggestions. My suggestion would be to be adventurous when you go to Chin Chin. Try something you wouldn't normally! You won't be disappointed! read more

I love the space, the people, the culture and the food! I just indulge everytime I go past. Stop tempting me with those dishes...LOL My daughter and I cannot go into the city without stopping by, which is good for you, but not my waistline. Keep up the good work. Rach read more

One of the best asian restaurant in Melbourne. You cannot book in advance and it is so popular that you gonna wait 1 hour before getting a table. Leave your name and contacts and they will message you once a table is available. Dishes are really good. A special recommendation for dishes with Wagyu beef. Nice service too ! read more

A bright and boisterous atmosphere with friendly service and amazing food. A little pricey but worth it. I want to buy the cook book!

Like a soilder chants 'left, right, left, right' so do we did chant 'chin, chin, chin, chin' marching up flinders lane to our destination. 6.45pm on a Thursday. Unwise, yes, 1 hour 45 minute wait, gulp. No matter we were prepared and knew we could sneak down to the gogo bar and wait out the slowly ticking minutes. 'Bar food menu' says rather aloof waitress 'ah yes'. Peaked too early should have sat it out. None the less 9pm feed time doesn't sit with a stable blood sugar so bar food it was. I'm still reflecting on the tamirind dip with flat bread and rice. It was strangly wonderful, very strong in flavour a theme I was to learn continued throughout the meal. The dip was like a chunky jam, but not quite as sweet, there were still elements of sweetness and the flat bread had a kind of pastry element. Randomly it reminded me of lattice biscuits my gran used to spead with plum jam and cream (the rice was really creamy). It was delicious but hand it to me for dessert and I wouldn't have thought it was out of place. 1 hour 45 minutes and we're up. Squished between a poor couple on their first date and a pair of hipsters looking less than impressed to share the space, we realised our mistake in ordering the lattice/jam/rice dish. I allowed boy partner to wander the menu, letting him think he was playing a role in deciding the dishes (after analysing every yelp review I had long since decided barramundi and soft shell crab) but it's important he thinks he has a say. Love relationship psychology. So crispy barramundi with sticky pork salad and dry red curry soft shell crab it was. Both were exceptional. Boy partner had dibs on the crab where as I liked the salad. One bonus about being close enough to eat from your neighbours dish is you get to see what they're eating. There's a fair bit of 'I'll have what she's having' going on and I would prefer a bit of space but that's not what Chin Chin is about and I'm ok with that. It's just not a 5 star experience. I place Chin Chin in same classification as Longrain, Gingerboy and Cookie but it does so with considerably punchier food and a certain electric atmosphere that makes you think you're in the most happening place in Melbourne - perhaps you are..... read more

It's a nice place to come by self and hang out at the bar overlooking the kitchen if you are a solo tourist in this city like me. Great food. Friendly service. Pulled pork, fried calamari, massaman curry were all top notch. read more

Chin Chin - Massaman curry, pulled pork, fried squid - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

The food here is incredible and is second only to the pleasure of talking about going here. Eating at chin chin, travelling abroad and getting tattooed makes up the holy trinity of achievements for inner north millennials. I am pleased to have ticked this one off the list and discuss it at the next party (we call nightclubs parties now). read more

If you don't have about 4 hours of your day free then this place isn't for you. During your wait, you can go downstairs and have a little bite to eat and a drink. Then once you get your text message to let you know your table is ready, dig in. I recommend the Pad seuw. Also the palm sugar sundae. There is also some very good roti to enjoy with your meal. All in all a very good place to have your dinner. Best Thai in town. Make sure to stop here sometime. :) read more

It baffles me that in a city like Melbourne that people wait three hours for a meal. Having said that the food here is the kinnicky. The place is bangin with a great vibe which comes from the layout, the music and the staff. The menu is a bloody bible - in both length and goodness. You end up wanting to come back a few times to get through the 10-15 dishes that stand-out. Hopefully the next big thing opens soon and Chin Chin calms down so you can get in a little smoother. In the meantime act like your grandparents and have dinner at 5pm. read more