With traditional Cantonese brunches serving Chinese tea and dim sum to modern Japanese izakayas for afterwork drinks and snacks, Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants cover cuisine from across the continent, along with must-try fusion options.
Asian cuisine has long been a cornerstone of Melbourne’s restaurant scene. And it continues to expand with crispy Korean barbecues and flavourful Cantonese dishes found throughout the city.
Some hotspots have been on the scene for decades, while other fresh new eateries are ready to make their mark. In true Melbourne fashion, you’ll find laneway restaurants and underground speakeasy-style joints, ideal for an intimate meal moments from the action. Sake, soju, and must-try creative cocktails pair perfectly with crispy tempura prawns, roast duck, or bao buns.
From the heart of Melbourne’s CBD and its Chinatown district to the inner-city suburbs and beyond, there are plenty of excellent Asian restaurants in Melbourne to choose from.
Secure your spot for sushi, soju or Sichuan today by making a booking on OpenTable.
Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants to try right now – read on for a guide
For one of the best Asian fusion restaurants in Melbourne – try Hochi Mama in the CBD and Richmond
Tucked away on Little Bourke Street, this laneway restaurant in the heart of the CBD uses neon lighting, plush booths, and bold art to build a buzzing atmosphere. One of the best Asian fusion restaurants in Melbourne, Hochi Mama’s innovative approach to the classics sees plates of fried chicken and kimchi bao served alongside Mama’s pad thai and Vietnamese slaw. The tofu and plant-based duck dish offer tasteful vegan-friendly options. Their Feed Me Now option is a fan favourite and includes two small and two large meals with sides. Finish off with a sweet treat from the rotating selection of desserts. The sister branch in Swan Street brings the same fiery flavours and unique atmosphere to Richmond.
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For creative cocktails in a speakeasy-style Asian restaurant – visit Kiss and Tell in Melbourne’s CBD
From the founders of Hochi Mama (which sits just two doors down) comes a unique speakeasy-style restaurant that serves Asian fusion meals alongside an extensive cocktail and wine list. Kiss and Tell is quite the hidden gem, housed on Level 1 of a nondescript building between Punch Lane and Daughter in Law. Their $45 Tasting Selection is a must, allowing diners to choose five different savoury dishes, such as the prawn fritters with shiitake mushrooms, vegan ‘chicken’ bao and steamed barramundi, with shiitake broth and Chinese celery. The cocktails are a major highlight here. Fans of the classics should try the house martini or negroni made with Bombay Sapphire gin. For something a little more creative, try their Tokyo Drift or Saigon Sour.
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For one of the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne – book at the not-so-hidden Secret Kitchen in Chinatown
Secret Kitchen is one of the best Cantonese restaurants in Melbourne, serving up classic yum cha dishes like dim sum platters, steamed beef balls and beancurd rolls. Founded in 2007 and still going strong, they combine traditional flavours with contemporary techniques to create their incredible yum cha and dinner menus. Visit on the weekend to try exclusive specials like suckling pig and Macau-style roasted pork. On the dinner menu, diners come for the roasted goose (and stay for the deep-fried ice cream). Awarded four stars by The Age Good Food Guide, Secret Kitchen is one of the most popular yum cha joints in Melbourne. This means it gets very busy, especially on weekends, so bookings are a must.
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Looking for the best Cantonese restaurant in Melbourne outside the CBD? Try Secret Kitchen in Doncaster
Secret Kitchen also has an outpost in Doncaster with many of the same offerings as their CBD joint, easily ranking among the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne. You can find it inside Westfield Doncaster, making it the perfect lunch stop for a weekend shopping trip. Some yum cha dishes unique to their Doncaster location include red bean paste sesame balls, pan-fried ginger cake and baked sweetened duck yolk buns. Their dinner menu is largely the same with occasional alterations to sides and some unique options such as caramelised sweet pepper in garlic sauce. Overall, it has a slightly more casual vibe than its Chinatown location with the same delicious flavours.
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For group gatherings one of North Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants – head to Yeonga Korean BBQ
Knock back some soju and enjoy the sizzling flavours of freshly cooked premium beef at Yeonga Korean BBQ, one of the best Korean BBQ restaurants in Melbourne. Along with classic meat cuts highlight dishes include hearty hot pots, deep-fried savoury pancakes and kimchi. Build your meal by pencilling an order in on their menu. Alternatively, let them take the reins with one of their set menus, with cuts of beef and pork paired with either a stew or hotpot. Classic drink pairings of soju, beer and different flavours of rice wine are available along with a wine list and some unique Korean non-alcoholic drinks.
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For Japanese cuisine in a communal dining room – enjoy a meal at Chocolate Buddha in the CBD
Opened in 2003, Chocolate Buddha is known for its communal-style Japanese dining. It is considered one of Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants in CBD for anyone after a memorable Japanese meal. Sit around the central table and try sample offerings from the sushi train or have meals sent right to your seat via the higher-speed ‘express train’. This restaurant has a wide range of gluten-free meals, including the ocean trout nigiri served with wasabi leaf and steamed noodle dumplings. Kids sizes of many meals are also available, making this an easy choice for the whole family. Compliment the dining experience by choosing from a wide range of sake. Or, order one of their sake flights, which includes 50 ml each of three varieties.
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For one of the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne for a special occasion – book a spot at Yugen Dining in South Yarra
With golden lighting and a shimmering chandelier as its centrepiece, subterranean restaurant Yugen Dining packs plenty of wow-factor into its aesthetics. For the most unique experience, book one of their Omakase dinners. Offered at the six-seat Omakase bar, this unique Chef-to-Guest experience leaves your dinner in the hands of the head chef. Carefully selecting the finest seasonal ingredients, he will take you through a multi-course menu tailored just for you. For a more standard dining experience, book a table in their lower dining area. Highlights on the à la carte menu include the fried barramundi served with Sichuan chilli, four different types of wagyu beef, and grilled sticky lamb ribs served with forbidden rice and spring blossoms.
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For the best restaurants in Melbourne for authentic Japanese cuisine – book at Ichi Ni Nana in Fitzroy and St Kilda
The choices at the Fitzroy outpost of this modern day Izakaya begin with where you sit. Would you prefer something light and airy, try the not-quite-outdoor seating surrounded by glass walls and a glass ceiling. If you’re after a more cosy and intimate experience, the sheltered booths have you covered. For something truly unique, book the private booth inside a cable car used in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Try one of the sharing platters featuring a chef’s selection of nigiri, sushi and sashimi, or order your favourite maki rolls and tempura. From Sunday to Thursday, you can pair your dinner with a 2-hour session in one of their private karaoke spaces. At their sister restaurant in St. Kilda, Ichi Ni, featuring a similar menu, grab a stool around the open kitchen and watch the chefs in action.
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For one of Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants for fusion dishes – visit Miss Pearl Bar + Dining in Southbank
Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese flavours come together in perfect harmony at one of Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants, Miss Pearl Bar + Dining, located in the Southbank Theatre. It is one of the top pre-show dinners for anyone attending an event in the Arts District. Choose between Wagyu tataki, crispy chicken, and miso roasted cauliflower, or enjoy a feast with one of their set banquet menus. A pre-theatre Miss Pearl Express Menu is the perfect option for guests attending a show at the theatre right after. Taste a range of the restaurant’s highlights with small plates of lemongrass duck, stracciatella, and crispy eggplant to share. Then head upstairs to enjoy dessert at the MTC’s Tonks Bar before being seated for the show.
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For a fusion of Asian flavours – try Cha Ching in Melbourne CBD
Head chef and owner Ken Leung cut his teeth at the Michelin-star St George Restaurant in Hong Kong, before getting into Melbourne’s restaurant scene with postings at Red Spice Road and Lucy Liu. With 15 years of experience and a family background in restaurants, Ken Leung’s hospitality roots run deep. He brings that breadth of experience to the fusion menu at Cha Ching. The richly flavoured roasted duck Thai coconut red curry is the most popular dish at this Flinders Lane establishment. Hokkaido scallops, five-spice crispy pork belly and Korean fried chicken are just a few of the options that round out the menu. Enjoy it with fun cocktails amidst a lively atmosphere, moments from Flinders Street Station, at one of Melbourne’s best Asian restaurants.
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From neon-lit establishments in the CBD to cosy izakaya-style dining in the inner suburbs, you can find the perfect restaurant for your next night out in Melbourne. Enjoy sharing platters and banquets among friends and family with glasses of sake or creative cocktails. Whether you’re after yum cha, sushi, Korean BBQ or a menu that offers a bit of everything, the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne have what you need.
