Delicious modern Vietnamese cuisine and very vibrant ambiance. The wait staff is always helpful and friendly but it's not worth the reported 2+ hour wait. You can usually bypass the long queues by coming early as they open or at odd hours on a weekday. The few times I've been here, I've never had to wait and it's usually around 3 or 4pm on a weekday. Their menu is extensive and they have a tasting menu that lets you try a lot of their most popular dishes. The twice cooked ribs, pork roll ups and crab curry is among my favorites. They also offer great cocktails read more

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Is it possible for something to have too much flavour? I guess we'll find out later in this review. I stopped by Chin Chin with a friend for brunch. We walked in just before 11:30am and the place was already buzzing with people - clearly a popular spot, particularly with business types for working lunches. We were very quickly greeted by a host and brought to a table. Looking around, the first thing I noticed was the abundance of sriracha bottles, one on every table. I'm a fan of the sauce, so this was a win for me. The venue- picture large windows with plenty of natural light, warm light globes stung from the roof, and a casual vibe that feels both trendy and relaxed at the same time. All the chatter around the room does build up, and conversation can be a little difficult at times, especially if you're usually a quiet speaker like myself. But it's these times you'll just need to use your active listening skills and lean into conversation. Our waitress was attentive and very helpful. Neither me nor my friend had been before so we weren't sure what to get, so she marked our menus with some of the most popular dishes and ranked them in spiciness. We ordered the kingfish sashimi to start, followed by the caramelised crispy pork with sour herb salad and chilli vinegar, and the crispy barramundi with green apple salad and caramelised pork. Thinking over it now we probably shouldn't have ordered two dishes with the pork, but hey, no complaints here because everything was amazing. The kingfish salad was a strong starter however in my opinion, had a little too much flavour, giving it quite a punch. Our food came out promptly and without delay. They can do split billing here so worry not if you haven't had time to grab some cash out. If you've got any food allergies, be sure to let your waiter know so they can account for that when making recommendations. But if you forget to mention it, more likely than not, they'll ask. I'll definitely be coming back in the future to try some of their amazing menu items - each one sounding just as delightful and exciting as the last. If you're in the area, or you're just visiting Melbourne (like I am), I recommend you stop by Chin Chin! read more

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3.5 stars I'd like to thank some friends of mine for giving me some unrealistically high expectations for this place. "Best meal I've had in my life!" "I would move to Melbourne just to eat here." "Soooo good and sooo worth the wait." Well then...I guess I have to go. My gf and I were visiting Melbourne and decided to go to Chin Chin this past Saturday on White Night (Whoops! Didn't get the memo.) We rocked up at 8:30pm and were told it would be a 2.5 hour wait. Seeing as I was told this was the best meal ever, we decided to stay strong and wait it out at a nearby bar. We were eventually seated at 10:45pm at the bar and went and ordered based off Yelp reviewer recommendations and our own desires. -Kingfish -Pulled Pork pancakes -Dry Soft Shell Crab curry -Grain fed Wagyu -Black sticky rice mango I kind of wish we ordered the spare ribs because they looked amazing... The Kingfish was alright, the flavours mixed well together and it was fresh. The Pulled Pork pancakes were OK...the pork was dry and overcooked. The soft shell crab was the best dish of the night for me, plus it comes with a bowl of rice. Beware, the wagyu was really spicy but tasty nonetheless. The black sticky rice mango was great, really enjoyed this dessert. Two great dishes, one good dish and 2 OK ones. This place would be better if the queue wasn't so crazy long and my expectations weren't so crazy high...but all relative right? Service was great though. read more

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I savoured every bite of this meal. There was so much flavour in every dish. Items we particularly enjoyed were the barramundi, sticky pork, wagyu pad see euw, and the jellies dessert. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table at the bar on a Sunday evening, but it was so worth it. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. read more

Chin Chin - Jellies dessert - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

A first timer to Chin Chin and I will say I am very much impressed by such a 'hidden treasure' in a small Melbourne CBD street. Without the willingness to take reservations, get there early! We came to eat at 'nursing home hours' and were able to get straight in. Fifteen minutes later there was a queue out the door and shortly thereafter on the street and into the laneway next to the venue. I knew not what to expect, but was treated to an environment of busyness, yet very friendly wait staff, a simple table setup with paper placemat menu and a choice of chopsticks or cutlery to prepare me for what was next. The menu is as unique as the 60's, 70's and 80's playlist of music in the background. Curries, seafood, appetizers, and an equally impressive drinks menu was certainly a sign of things to come. The wait for the meal was not long, and whilst the saying 'quality over quantity' can be cliche, it is truly the case at Chin Chin. I was surprised by the relatively small portion of food brought from the kitchen to the table, however on first bite, the taste explosion it created was certainly worth the $ value presented on the menu. And certainly the idea of Chin Chin is not to leave you hungry, but rather certainly making you want more. The fact this restaurant is so popular is certainly testament to its quality of food and simple presentation. I would not hesitate to recommend Chin Chin, not necessarily for a quick bite to eat before a show, but to tantilise the tastebuds of someone new to Melbourne or any first timer to Chin Chin. read more

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Love the kingfish sashimi! But honestly all the dishes were amazing! We did the Chin Chin buffet special and they did not lie! The food keeps coming as long as you want it. And they are not stingy. They give you the expensive dishes from each category. It also forced me to try newer dishes that I would have never tried. In the end i felt like i wanted more veggies and requested for more string beans and they brought it over! I would highly recommend going back and take the tasting course menu again! It was just too good. The curry crab was a little too salty for me so that would be the only dish I would skip on. read more

As one of the most popular restaurants in Melbourne, Chin Chin's normal wait time is almost too long to make it worth it, but I knew it would be a good while before I returned to Melbourne, so I decided to go. I was late due to travels (oops!) and my friend ended up having to wait a while - but thankfully they have their "GOGO" Cocktail bar downstairs! Though they claim their food is Thai, the ambience of the restaurant and their dishes are all more of a Thai fusion flavor. We started with the Kingfish Sashimi (22), recommended by a friend and several diners. While the flavors of the lime, chili, coconut and basil were a delicious blend, the mouthfeel of the fish ended up being soggy and a bit disappointing. Next we ordered several dishes, including the classic Pad Thai (23) and Massaman Curry (26), as well as their Barbecue Pork Satay (23). I wasn't a big fan of their take on pad thai, as the dish was a little lacking in spices for a Thai food. The barbecue pork satay was even less impressive - as the meat was difficult to eat and the sauces being just mediocre. The Massaman Curry, however, wowed the taste buds of me and my friend! With a blend of kipfler potatoes, peanuts, fried shallots, and braised beef in curry, this was definitely the star of the night - and quite possibly one of the best curries I've had. We each had drinks that were delicious and suited our dinner, and I would just about recommend one over the next. The ambience is quite dark and modern, so if you're looking for a traditional Thai restaurant, this isn't it. I love how Chin Chin feels - dark, spacious interiors with a modern industrial twist and a basement bar - but not only that, their service is decent even on an extremely busy night. Though I feel like their food could be a hit or miss, I can fully understand the popularity of this place that is embedded in one of the hottest streets of Melbourne. read more

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Went here for lunch and it was bustling - great vibe and even better food! Excellent place to take your friends and family for that Melbourne vibe. read more

Chin Chin - Yummy Asian fusion - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

After living in Melbourne for over 3 years, I finally made it to Chin Chin. For all the hype around this place, everything was as delicious as we expected. My partner and I ordered the salmon tartare, brisket and one-side seared tuna salad. Would I return though? I'm not sure. I do not feel the need to wait in an enormous line for a table and furthermore, we found their prices extremely steep. One beer, two wines, one small and two mains came to over $120 for lunch, which does not include their 1.55% Visa credit card surcharge which I found absolutely insane for an establishment that does so much business. Pro tips: visit during lunchtime or when there's no queue and definitely order the brisket. read more

Not being a local in Melbourne, we were recommended to check out Chin Chins. The line was super long. We had to put our name down for 7 people and waited downstairs at GoGo Bar. The cocktails were alright. Nothing that blew my mind. We waited about an hour before we got our table. With all the hype about Chin Chins, I have to say the food was average. There's a lot of other restaurants with real quality dishes. For the price you pay, i didn't really feel as if it was value for money. We ordered: - King Fish Sashimi: really refreshng flavors. My favourite dish of the night. - Crispy Baramuni and Green Apple Salad: a little too much fish sauce in this dish - Randang Curry of Wagyu Beef: i enjoyed this - Red Curry of Braised Duck: was hoping for a stronger coconut flavor - BBQ Salmon: loved the incorporation of red curry with the salmon wrapped in banana leaf - Crying Tiger: wasn't very impressed by this dish. reminded me of a warm version of salad - Caramlised Sticky Pork: the pork flavour was very distinct. I suggest you eat this with rice - Banana Roti: not enough banana and too much roti to it - Coconut Sago: yum Service was good. They also served us the wrong gin with our gin & tonic intially but switched it when we told them. Try not to order the long island carafe, we made the mistake of ordering 2 of them. It tasted like I was drinking dish washing liquid hahaha! The other odd thing to note, its shared toilets for men and women and they don't play background music. Instead its Thai language lessons which I found pretty amusing! read more

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Get mushroom and chicken, you will be satisfied... Interesting asian fusion dishes and a great atmosphere is what you have to look forward to at Chin Chin. I finally popped my Chin Chin cherry on Wednesday night and absolutely loved any mushroom and/or chicken share plates. Other dishes were not as good :( read more

Chin Chin - Feed me policy - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Ordered: Wagyu beef pad see ew (30 AUD) + Wagyu beef with papaya salad (30 AUD) + Thai Tea (7.50 AUD) + Coke (6 AUD) Ambience: fine dining with dimmed light and a full bar service. Smaller tables with tighter space. Restaurant is packed and filled with all sorts of conversations. Great spot for a initial fun date nights or work dinners. There are dining tables, spots to sit at the bar and spots to sit at the kitchen bar (you overlook where all the magic happens). Very clean (including the kitchen). Food comes well decorated. Service is great - servers check in on you from time to time. FYI: if you're American, know that there is no re-fill services in Australia. Also, they bring food out as they get prepared. So if you have southern manners, it's tough cause your food might get cold while you wait for others to get their dishes. Review: AMAZING food. I often recommend Thai food for folks who don't experiment with their food. Cause Thai is safe and it more or less tastes the same everywhere. But, now my mind has changed. Chin Chin is indeed different. 1) Wagyu Beef Pad See Ew- Australian beef is very good quality, which adds to the flavor. The mixture of flavors were so well balanced that it enhances the taste of the dish. Sauce wasn't too sweet and it had the right amount of spice level. They added Chinese Broccoli - GREAT idea! It's the perfect type of veggie that goes well with this sauce. Also garnished with cilantro a little bit which added to the smell of the food. Then there's the big noodles. It's made in house. It's rolled up and steamed. Noodles is so soft that it felt like I was eating fat. It literally melts in your mouth, very soft and juicy. The best part was the noodles. 2) Wagyu Beef with Papaya Salad - beef was topped with the salad. Salad had all kinda of stuff in it including mint leaves. All the combination together gave it a moist and extremely well blended flavor. They do ask if you want it spicy and I had said yes (BIG mistake) cause it was too spicy. I enjoyed the flavor but after a minute I couldn't handle the spiciness. Wagyu beef was cooked medium rare and it's very good. Note that prawn fries were 2 pieces of chips. 3) Thai tea was disappointing though. Which is why the 4 . A Thai restaurant is usually judged by their Pad Thai and Thai Iced tea. Chin Chin's Thai tea came with coconut flavored condensed milk. The watery tea doesn't go well with condensed milk. It should have fresh sweet cream. Indian tea (thicker tea) goes well with condensed milk cause the tea can hold the weight and mix well with condensed milk. Thai tea is served in a skinny glass, so the condensed milk sits at the bottom and hard to stir it into the drink. Overall, service was great and food was great! Check out the pictures of the food. read more

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This year for the very first time, Anthony and I took a trip to Melbourne. We didn't go for very long, in fact, we were there for just 3 days. We wanted to make the most of our little getaway so our aim was to jam as much things to do as possible in the short amount of time. In the months leading up to Melbourne, we started compiling a little list of places we really wanted to go. As foodies 95% of the list, were places to eat and drink good coffee. At work one of my colleagues recommended a restaurant called Chin Chin. I hadn't heard of this place before but my work colleague said it was the best food he has had in his life. I thought, with that recommendation I should check it out. Later on that day, while Anthony and I were discussing the itinerary for the trip, I suggested Chin Chin. 'I have heard of Chin Chin, the chef was on last years Masterchef', the Chef Anthony was referring to was Melbourne's celebrity chef Ben Cooper who has just been appointed Group Executive Chef of Chin Chin, Baby Cafe & Pizzeria and Kong BBQ. We looked up Chin Chin on Urbanspoon to see what the food looked like and to see what the public thought of the restaurant. The food looked sooo good and the reviews were very positive, so Chin Chin was a big yes for us! We decided to have dinner at Chin Chin on the second night of our trip. Chin Chin doesn't take reservations, so we wanted to get in early before the dinner rush. A positive for us was that the restaurant was close enough for to us to walk there. That's one of the things I loved about Melbourne, there was so many great places to eat in the heart of the City. It felt like most of the things we wanted to see and do were right on our doorstep. Arriving at the restaurant, my eyes swept across the room and I was impressed with the overall aesthetics and the feel of the place. I loved the edgy graphic asian influenced artwork on the walls. I also loved the industrial elements throughout teamed with super high ceilings. There were also oversized windows that allows the natural light in on one side of the restaurant and on the opposite was the restaurant bar. Towards the back, was the kitchen where you could see Ben himself working the pass. We were greeted by the host and then advised that there will be a 20-30 minutes wait. We didn't mind and thought it would be a good chance to check out the bar downstairs. The Go-Go Bar had more of a cool relaxed feel. We found a good spot in the corner and didn't waste any time checking out the drinks menu. We just finished ordering our drinks with our waiter when I got a msg on my phone to say that our table was ready! We didn't end up waiting long at all for our table and the waiter organised for our drinks to be brought up stairs where we were seated. As we got to our table we greeted with a super energetic young waiter, he explained that the plates on the menu was designed to share. He was really happy when I asked what were the most popular dishes, he then pulled out a pen and marked them off on Anthony's menu. From the dishes that he marked off, Caramelised Crispy Pork, Sour Herb Salad & Chilli Vinegar $26.00 stood out for me and for Anthony - Grilled Indian Spiced Beef Madtarbak with Cucumber Relish$14.00 When our food arrived to our table, we both of got a little rush of excitement over how visually and aromatically appealing our dishes were. From the vibrant colours on my Crispy Pork dish to the beautifully golden roti on the Spiced Beef Madtarbak. We were in foodie heaven! The Caremelised Sticky Pork had both sweet and sour flavours. The outside of the Pork was beautifully crispy whilst still moist inside. The Chilli Vinegar added an amazing punch of flavour to the dish and the Sour Herb Salad was a great accompaniment as it balanced everything out. The outside of Spiced Beef Madtarbak was lightly crispy roti, the spiced curried beef was reminiscent of a tasty Samosa filling. The Cucumber relish was so good Anthony wished they bottled i, so he could buy some to take home. We loved Chin Chin and would definitely recommend it. The restaurants look and feel, the friendly customer service and the food were all outstanding. So if you like Modern Thai cuisine with a lot flavour then check out Chin Chin. read more

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I really really wanted to love it here! We actually got in rather quickly and everything was perfect until we got our first meal. We started with the DIY spring rolls. Once we got to the last pancake there was a use by date sticker stuck to it... Ok no worries I'll just take it off and eat it the roll. Next we got the pad Thai. Fantastic! Next came the pumpkin curry which I asked to be vegetarian. All was good until I ate something I thought was pumpkin. Turns out it had indeterminate fish pieces in the veg curry. I was well put off my meal and felt pretty disgusting. We also got a punch which was fabulous. Overall the flavours were great, I was just let down by their lack of attention to detail. read more

Chin Chin - Pumpkin curry with pickle - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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As a kid I was taught "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all". But sorry Mum, I need to get this off my chest... It took me 3 separate attempts to get into Chin Chin. They're doing the no booking thing that's so popular right now, but my pride means I won't go on a waiting list that's more than 2 hours long. I just don't think any restaurant is that awesome, and in Chin Chin's case I was proven right. It wasn't until I tried at 6pm on a Tuesday that the wait was at a mere 1.5 hours. Annoyingly, you can't get on the wait list until your entire party has fronted up at the restaurant, so my friend and I were told to wait at the bar until our third guest arrived. Only there was no space at the bar, so we were left standing in a thoroughfare with our drinks. Our friend showed up 10 minutes later and the clock started ticking. It was actually less than the 1.5 hours until we got a text advising the table was ready (heaven forbid they should attempt to tell us personally), but when we pushed our way to the front counter to present ourselves, we were faced with another 5 minute wait as they table wasn't actually ready. Once at the table, the service improved dramatically. The wait staff are very good. We ordered a ridiculous number of dishes (we were starving) and they all came out promptly, with our drinks pro-actively topped up each time. But the food was a huge disappointment. The crispy prawn was one of the most ordinary dishes I've had anywhere, ever. Where was the flavour?! The jungle curry was ordinary, but the dry tofu curry was not bad. It was then thumbs down to the fried barramundi & pork, but I liked the kingfish sashimi and the salt & pepper crusted soft shell crab. A mixed bag. But the worse part - that evening and the following day, all three of us had upset stomachs. Not food poisoning sick, but cramps and very, very unpleasant bathroom visits. With brilliant Asian-fusion restaurants like Longrain in Melbourne, I would never recommend Chin Chin. A real disappointment that proves you can't always believe the hype. Oh - and what is with that awful paint smell?! Ew. read more

Chin Chin - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

I can see why this place has such a wait! We arrived at about 8:30p on a Saturday and the wait for dinner was 2 1/2 hours. We asked for bar seating, and they told us 45 minutes--deal! Took a little stroll around and returned just as our seats were ready. Our bar seats happened to be right in front of the kitchen, which was actually great because we got to watch many of the dishes being prepared. Everyone in the kitchen had an interesting sense of humor, so it was fun to watch. Got the kingfish sashimi, crying tiger, and a yellow curry mackerel. The sashimi was delightful, perfect start to the meal... with a kick. The crying tiger was amazing! Such a perfect medley of flavors of spicy and lime and savory. And the yellow curry mackerel was really good too, but also really spicy! It comes with a bowl of rice, so having it together wasn't so bad, but my initial sip of the curry I almost thought I wasn't going to be able to handle it. :) I shared the meal with a date, and although we saw so many other beautiful dishes coming out of the kitchen we wanted to order, we were really stuffed from the plates we had. To be honest, I was expecting smaller, tasting menu sized plates. But I'm not complaining! read more

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We ate dinner at Chin Chin in early January 2023 after getting a recommendation from a friend in Australia. We booked a couple weeks in advance and had to take a 5:30 time because that was all that was left. The place was mobbed but we were seated quickly at a table that was about 6" between 2 other tables. Rap music was blaring so conversation was difficult. We gave our drink orders right away and someone came promptly for food orders. Our starters arrived about 2 minutes later - followed by the main course about 1 minute after that so plates were piling up on the tiny table. The drinks arrived after another 10 minutes . We were in and out in 35 minutes. The food was obviously pre- prepared and reminded me of PF Chang but not even as good , or creative as that. I can't figure out why in the world this place is so crazy popular! read more

Love the vibe but expect a long wait. My husband and I arrived at 8:15pm on a Friday night and were told that the wait would be 2 hours but we were called by 9:45pm. I have to admit that I would have never waited this long if I was starving but thankfully a late lunch tied me over just fine. We shared the Barramundi salad which was crispy and flavorful but not my favorite of the night. Both my husband and I normally prefer spicier dishes but we loved the Massaman curry. I have had Massaman curries around the world but none was nearly as tasty as the one we had at Chin Chin. I could have eaten a bucket of this and would have preferred more vegetables. The dry soft shell crab red curry was also good but next to the Massaman, its flavors were just lost. read more

We staggered in here on a cold blustery Tuesday for lunch. I say staggered because we had merely 3 hours previous arrived key lagged from the Hong Kong to Sydney and Melbourne leg of our annual holidays. And knowing where to find a good feed after a long flight is what makes me love Melbourne as my home town so much. Thankfully there was no queuing in to get in. This is a rule I only break for Thy Thy 2, queuing for food. Once inside the ambience was lively without being noisy, and the service prompt and professional. We were unable to acquire a table however, but I like watching food being prepared in open kitchens like this restaurant, os it was no big deal to be propped at the "bar" looking into the kitchen. The food quickly arrived and was quite tasty and surprisingly a littler quirkier than we had expected, we enjoyed it nonetheless. The satay sauce for example was not as creamy and pea nutty as we like but that just added to the charm. I will be back to try more, but only if I don't have to queue. read more

Chin Chin - salted barramundi and pork, packed full of flavours - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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I discovered Chin Chin/Go Go by chance when searching for popular places to wine and dine in Melbourne's laneways. I liked the description of the venue so booked a table for five. And knew it wouldn't be cheap, which it wasn't...some $500 later that included a decent tip. But we wanted to make an impression with our son who recently relocated to Richmond and his friend Jose who is a rabid foodie on the local Melbourne scene. So after a few welcoming drinks like the Strawberry Paloma ($21 each), Doctor's Orders ($23 each), two bottles of Brokenwood Pinot Gris ($90 each), we turned to the food. A Papaya Salad ($24.50), Pad Seuw ($33.50), Green Curry ($37.50), Large Jasmine Rice ($5.50), Roasted Cauliflower ($19.50), Pork Belly with Fennel ($37.50) and a random glass of house white ($13) set the shared dining tone. Overall, the food cost was $158 and the drinks $302. A generous tip was left and then we left, sated and happy. It's easy to rack-up costs like these dining out in Melbourne so be mindful. My only negative was my wife quite innocently spilled her Strawberry Paloma which was quickly cleaned up and replaced, only to be charged for another one. I would have thought, given the mishap, it would have been comped. But, "them's the breaks," as they say. read more

Based on the excellent reviews we made it a point to try it. Nice trendy restaurant, where you must show up early to get a table or risk lining up for a long wait. But tables were packed really close together. The tasting menu was so delicious. Everything that we tried was tasty, fresh ingredients and packed with flavors. The most amazing was the dessert, coconut flan. The whole family enjoyed the experience! read more

First time coming to chin chin, not a long wait at all, Perfect timing to try some really nice cocktails - definitely recommend from the summer menu getting a Thai bucket & the one with pomegranate - delish! We thought we would try the "feed me" from the food menu, which was a 7 course meal with dessert - a really good idea if you usually get the same thing from Thai takeaways every time you go, to expand your horizons food wise, it filled the both of us up, but there was crushed hard noodles on the top of some dishes, which really added a weird texture to the meal & left me and my mate comparing it to all things we didn't like - sago pudding though top shelf dessert! read more

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Enjoyed celebrating my friends birthday here this time. Party of 10+ guest.. our host catered to my dietary requirements. Food was tailored to all. It had been a couple of years since I have dined here. As last experience was not delightful. Last time we waited in a queue for 30mins just to put a name down on a list for a table of a party of 3 people. Then lead downstairs to order canapes further awaiting 75-90mins for a dining table. I did not enjoy the dining experience as I was super hangry by the time we were set at our table. I suggest only dine here if you are willing to wait 1-2hours before being sat down or attend with a party of 10+ read more

Love this place! (As does everyone else in Melbourne, given that it was overflowing on a Monday night.). They only take reservations for groups, so best to just show up and be prepared to wait - they have a large bar downstairs that even serves a few snacks if you are starving. There are plenty of vegetarian options and the whole menu sounded so good it was hard to choose. The pumpkin curry (veg version) was really flavourful and just the right amount of spice (though I am a spice wimp). My boy, on the other hand, got the BBQ chicken. They claimed it was the hottest thing on the menu and they didn't lie - it's probably the spiciest thing in the country! The green beans with coconut and chili were also excellent - crunchy and delicious. Coconut rice was a nice balance to the spice. Save room for banana nutella roti! The staff is very friendly and attentive. It's a loud venue, so not a good spot for a serious conversation as you'll wind up yelling private details at your companion. Prices were standard for the CBD - we spent about $110 for both of us. read more

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Wow amazing food and service!! The dry red curry of soft shell crab is to die for but the the Kingfish sashimi is tremendous!! If your in Melbourne you must come here!! read more

Chin Chin - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Positive - Service was friendly and efficient. The place was packed but both the hostess and our server were lovely. Both stars go to them. Also the Mountain Goat beers was delicious Negative - the food - gawd, it was flavorless. Our table was flabbergasted that though we sat at the bar and could smell all the lovely fresh ingredients, when the food arrived it didn't taste like anything. We couldn't believe it - how was it possible? SOUTHERN THAI CURRY OF BRAISED GOAT - shredded coconut & minted yogurt - doesn't that description sound delicious? Well, the execution was dry and only tasted of coconut, plus it needed salt. PRAWN & POACHED CHICKEN SALAD - w/banana blossom & toasted coconut - again, flavorless and needed salt - we had to ask for a side of prepped fish sauce just to get flavor. Plus the main reason we ordered this was for the banana blossom (something rather difficult to find these days at restaurants and if done well is delicious) but there was hardly any - the main component was just green cabbage. Such a let down. read more

I had read about the popular Chin Chin in an Australian brochure back in the states and saw that it can take a long time to get in, so I made reservations several weeks earlier and was pleased to promptly be given a table upon arrival. A fun, atmospheric eatery. Everyone is seated pretty tightly together and you kind of have to juggle your plate, beverage glass, etc., on the very small table surface. We ordered an appetizer and two mains, a shrimp and noodle dish and a beef dish. Loved the shrimp, but the beef one was just okay. The couple next to us had ordered the $110 per person choice and you'd have to be ready to gorge to finish all of the food brought to you. read more

ITS LIKE EVERY ANIMAL I TRIED ON THE MENU HAD AN ORGY AND EJACULATED IN MY MOUTH! So much flavor!!! #foodcoma Everything here is amazing! It's worth the wait and the play list was even good! The customer service is excellent!!! I'm not going to write much because most of the 5 star reviews are spot on! Can't wait to come back again!!! read more

Very hip Thai place with great food, yummy cocktails and awesome music. Went on a Sunday afternoon and this place was packed. We had: Corn fritters - MUST GET! BEST APP EVER! Crispy calamari -super tender and could drink the sauce Barbecue cauliflower - Americans don't think bbq. They are grilled with a coconut curry sauce. Sweet side but delish. Noodles with chili sauce and shrimp - could eat all day everyday Green beans - ok Sweet corn ice cream - I know that most people skip dessert, but you have to try this! It is SO GOOD! read more

Highly overrated. Heard so much over the years how great this restaurant is. It may have been, but not anymore. Service was horrible, food was underwhelming and small portions, while being overpriced. Cocktails were decent, yet overpriced. Clearly a restaurant that started strong and is now trying to ride its coat tails. Don't fall prey to the hype. Will never go back or recommend, don't believe it was a one off. They have lost their way. read more

So obviously everyone knows this place is amazing but I just want to confirm that after a revamp in September, it is still going strong! Great suggestion to avoid lines/the throng, is to go for an early lunch. You'll be walking out full and happy, maybe with your mouth slightly ablaze, as things start to really get busy. One of the new menu items we enjoyed the most was the soft shell green curry crab rice- absolutely delicious! I must admit it impressed me much more than the oft raved about pad see euw. The pork little pancakes were also pretty great. Awesome ambience: great spot even to just go and have a drink at the bar! read more

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Awesome experience! Heard that the wait to get in was really long... but went on a Monday afternoon around 1pm and only waited 10 min. We actually went downstairs and ordered a drink while waiting! ;) Pad Seuw with Wagyu was incredible! Barramundi and Crispy Pork Salad was also a table favorite. Lastly, we loved the Stir Fry of Gai Laan Crispy Pork Belly. Least favorite was BBQ salmon. It was good, but not the favorite. And then the handmade cocktails... "Perfect 36" made with Beefeater gin and passion fruit, loved it!!! read more

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Chin Chin has been a family favourite for many years but our last meal has left us dissatisfied and in no hurry to return. The white fish in green curry was so tough it might as well have been cardboard and the beef ribs were dry and unappealing. Even the staff were unusually unhelpful, although they were quick to take our orders and deliver our drinks not once through the meal were we asked if we wanted another beverage and we ended up leaving and heading to a neighboring restaurant for sweets and another round of cocktails. Very disappointed. read more

Let's rave and hype up a joint so much that when you get there, you are completely disappointed. I LOVE the interior of Chin Chin, it's marvellous. The ambience is joyous, service is prompt and food is tasty. A group of colleagues at work RAVED about Chin Chin. They had been a couple of times and were so impressed. We all decided to come here after work and it was well packed, waited twenty minutes or so for a table (which is apparently normal). The tofu dish i ordered was brought out quickly and was tasty (not the best i've had though). The thing with Melbourne is that with restaurants like Chin Chin, you're paying more for the combined eating experience. The food is good but i could find better in Chinatown for at least half the price. What you are paying for is the decadent interior and intimate ambiance, it felt like i was in a different world. All-in-all a great dining experience, just don't think that it will live up to all the combined hype of your mates! read more

Chin Chin - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Chin Chin was one of our top meals in Australia. It was nice to get some spice down under. Didn't have to wait too long for a table but it certainly gets packed. The food came out quickly and was all delicious. read more

Great place for lunch! Awesome food and awesome service. We started with the chicken wings which were pretty good. For mains, we ordered the pad see ewe and the massaman curry. We were both very impressed-- it was actually probably the best pad see ewe I've ever had! read more

A Melbourne institution I somehow hadn't been to before ... I know I'm almost as shocked as you are. It wasn't for lack of trying. Chin chin's notorious dinner lines have scared me away more than once so this time we opted for a mid week lunch. It was actually a last minute choice but it was a good one. :) Having contemplated the feed me option where the waiter and chef bring out a variety of dishes for you to sample we decided that we weren't hungry enough to warrant that so we ordered our own. We still had a feast considering it was a workday lunch whee I normally have a chicken salad but sometimes you just gotta let your hair down. :) The first dish that came out was the pork roll ups. Very tasty pulled pork with mint, coriander and bean sprouts to roll up in your pancake. School prawns were amazingly presented and the chilli sauce was exceptional. The other starter was the lamb on betel leaf topped with spicy peanuts ... Outstanding! I would go back just for this. For mains we shared the crispy barramundi with glazed pork which came on a bed of Asian greens and the beef short ribs. The pork and beef were exceptional. Great flavour combos. Unfortunately the barra was a little dry but this was not enough to dampen my experience. Simply put I loved it and will be going back for sure. So many other delicious things on the menu to try. read more

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Most hipster Thai and Asian fusion restaurant I've been to. Had a great trendy and hipster vibe to the restaurant, just like the city of Melbourne. The pad see ew beef noodles were my favorite. They used wagyu beef and it went perfectly with the noodles. Little bit of a sweetness to the dish, but it worked really well. Split 3 dishes among 5 friends and actually ended up pretty full. Plates are meant for sharing if you want to try a bit of everything. read more

Chin Chin - Pad see ew beef noodles (favorite) and some type of curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Came here on a late night looking food, what I didnt know was that I was falling in love with how good their food is. I ordered a refang wagyu beef curry and it was brilliant. I definitely recommend that everyone should try this place out read more

Chin Chin - The Redang wagyu beef curry with coriander and coconut. Its enough food to feed 2 people, if you want to share. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

As if I need to be the millionth person to say that this place is delicious with a cool decor and is busy as.....but well I am going to do it anyway. We had to wait about 30 minutes but we went to Hosier lane to pass the time so the wait was no problem and they have a bar downstairs too. They don't take bookings for anything under 10 people I think but part of my ten brunch commandments is that a place without a wait is not worth waiting for. We had the Massaman Curry as it is their thing but honestly, I wish I had tried something else as I thought it was good but not epic. The people next to us said the Rendang was their favourite but our waiter told us to get the Massaman instead. We also had the calamari which was epic with the perfect sauce and the Kingfish wings (deep fried fish) which was also pretty great although I was almost too full to enjoy it and I thought it could have used a sauce instead of just the salt and pepper rub but I would still recommend it. read more

Chin Chin - Massaman Curry and Kingfish Wings - Asian Fusion Near Me - Melbourne, VIC