Melbourne's Best Asian Restaurants

Have you been obsessing over that crab omelette at Jay Fai you saw on Netflix? This version, made at the mighty Jinda, might well be the closest you'll get in Melbourne this winter. It's not rolled, and not nearly so crabby, but it’s pretty damned great nonetheless. The best Thai restaurant in Melbourne? Quite probably. And a real leader in vegan Thai options.

The signature “stir-fried up” pho bo from famed Hanoi noodle shop Pho Thin. They’ve just arrived in Melbourne having rocked it back in Vietnam for 40 years with their idiosyncratic take on pho. The beef is tossed in a wok before it goes in the soup, the onion is green rather than white, and bean sprouts are verboten. Liked it. I think it’s different to anything else in town, and definitely worth a look. What I really like is that unlike most pho shops in Australia they offer what they call Vietnamese doughnuts (and what I’d call youtiao) on the side for the dippins.

A modern twist on traditional Asian flavours. Seemingly simple, but complex.Never had a meal here that I didn’t enjoy. Chef Thi has a way of putting a modern twist on traditional Asian flavours. Her dishes are seemingly simple, but complex.

Let’s talk about another Melbourne institution offering an efficient (and delicious) take-away menu during the crisis we know (and loathe) as COVID-19. Chin Chin is offering a small selection of their most loved dishes to soften the blow and accompany our mid week #Netflix binges. Their standout dish for me is their RENDANG - it’s bloody sensational. Avoid the roti - it doesn’t travel well. I’ve found most things to be easily reheated and the curries, of course, taste even better the following day. So, order up and support local!

Pick up a quick and easy kimbap, punch up your meal with house-made kimchis, annul and other side dishes. Hit the fridges for cooked, transitional, home style dishes to heat at home.

Really fun Japanese restaurant in MelbourneAmazing bao bunsGreat atmosphere Funky decorations Groups of friends vibes

The best example of Dao xiao mian in Melbourne, if not Australia, might well be Dao Noodle.The fastest noodle in the world? It’s gotta be dao xiao mian, the knife-cut nood that is the pride of China’s Shanxi (one A) province. And the best example of it in Melbourne, if not Australia? It might well be Dao Noodle. Certainly the version I ate here, drenched in chicken gravy and dressed with wood-ear fungus and ham, makes a very strong case.

Industrial chic, flavourful tucker. This place has such a sexy aesthetic. Gorgeous tall ceilings, great lighting, it's the perfect spot for a date...in fact, I definitely saw a few in play. Obvious highlight was their roti (covered in shaved truffle) with vegemite curry, as well as their bannockburn chicken with Thai sausage, gai lan and bush apple. Gosh it was nice. Sunda is the sister restaurant of ARU and can I just say, they're both worth your time x

Fire meets flavour meets Filipino - in a Melbourne laneway, naturally.The tag 'Modern Australian' gets so much more interesting when our chefs stop being generic and start getting personal. Ross Magnaye plays fast and loose with his own Filipino aesthetic, fiery coals, natural wines, loud music and high-energy pacing and table-turning. Abrolhos scallop in pandesal, crunch and tang. The cabbage is what all other cabbages aspire to be, the best version of themselves, crusted and caramelised and meltingly sweet. (Bad photo of cabbage, sorry, looks like road-kill).

I have to stop and remind myself occasionally that I live in the same city as the best la zi ji in Australia. I love you, Dainty; I love you, Chongqing chicken.