The 5 Best Chinese Restaurants in Melbourne for Those Craving Authenticity
According to the 2021 Australian Census, Mandarin is Australia’s second most spoken language after English. Melbourne, in turn, has one of the country’s largest Chinese-speaking communities and some of its best, most authentic Chinese food.
Here, watered-down flavours don’t last. When restaurants tone down the heat or simplify the broth, they lose serious diners.
To find the top spots, we ate our way through Chinatown, the CBD, and beyond to uncover the best Chinese restaurants in Melbourne right now. Below are the ones that stood out!
How much does it cost to eat at a Chinese restaurant in Melbourne?
It costs at least $20 to eat at a Chinese restaurant in Melbourne. This cost is just an estimate. The actual cost will depend on the kind of Chinese food you decide to order and which restaurant you go to.
1. Red Cliff
Address: Ground Floor/256 Queen St, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61 3 9696 6666
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11:30 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 11:30 PM
Sichuan cuisine from southwest China is known for its numbing and spicy flavours, thanks to the signature Sichuan peppercorns/ Red Cliff embraces this tradition, cooking for people who want Sichuan food to taste the way it’s meant to.
We started with Tai Er’s Chinese Sauerkraut Fish. Its tangy aroma hit before the first sip. The deep golden broth, studded with fermented vegetables, wrapped around tender slices of fish.
The flavour opened bright and sour, then settled into a rich finish that kept our spoons moving.
The Beef Brisket in Golden Sour Soup arrived in a bowl, steam carrying a sharp, citrusy scent. The brisket fell apart under the chopsticks, melting into the broth’s clean, mouthwatering sourness.
But if you’re going to us for a favourite, it’s definitely the chilli chicken with Sichuan pepper. Each bite snapped between our teeth as heat and citrusy spice surged together. Our lips and tongues always end up buzzed with a persistent electric tingle.
Our biggest complaint is the wait. It took nearly 30 minutes just to be seated.
Food is really authentic and delicious
“Food is really authentic and delicious! Absolutely try anything, from the fried pig intestines to century egg salad. Really good! The deco is also super cute. Love that they also have a private room.”
– Karen Foote, Google Reviews
The food was as amazing as I remember
“I love coming to this restaurant! This time is rediscovering my favourite post work spot, Red Cliff, was a delight, especially with their new menu items! The food was as amazing as I remember, with generous portions that are consistently full of flavour and absolutely satisfying. The highlights for me were the incredibly aromatic Fragrant Spicy Prawns, perfect with rice; the classic, tender, and flavourful Black Pepper Chicken; my must order every time, the fresh and crispy Hand Shredded Cabbage; and the Butter Baked Sticky Rice Cakes, which were a true revelation crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and pure bliss. I left staggeringly full and very happy!”
– Jenny Anderson, Google Reviews
2. Cha Ching
Address: 348 Flinders Ln, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61388423777
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM
ChaChing is our go-to for all-you-can-eat yum cha in Melbourne. Yum cha, for those unfamiliar, is a Chinese tradition of shared small plates and dim sum, typically enjoyed over tea.
ChaChing runs its all-you-can-eat yum cha every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at $59 per person, and $35 for kids under 12.
From the yum cha menu, the dumplings are delicious, while the pastries are rich and flaky.
The à la carte menu is just as strong. We recommend the Five Spice Crispy Pork Belly if you’re not sure what to pick. It’s crisp and tender, balanced by a sharp green apple slaw and a hint of aged black vinegar to cut through the richness.
The cocktail list is a vibe as well. Bottomless drinks packages start from $55 per person, or $89 with food.
The Cha Ching Me On (our favourite drink here) pairs butterfly pea gin and lychee liqueur with lime. It shifts from deep indigo to bright pink at the table, with popping pearls adding texture.
The only downside is that bookings can be hard to secure. On one visit, it took us about two weeks to get a reservation.
We had an amazing yum cha experience at Chaching
“We had an amazing yum cha experience at Chaching. Every dish that came out was absolutely delicious—fresh, full of flavour, and beautifully prepared. You can really tell a lot of care goes into their food.
A special shoutout to Mayca, who made our visit even more memorable. She was very warm, welcoming, and took the time to clearly explain each dish as it was served, which we truly appreciated. Her service was attentive and genuine, making us feel comfortable and well taken care of.
Highly recommend Chaching for anyone looking for great yum cha and outstanding service. We’ll definitely be back! 🥢✨”
– Millette Nadela, Google Reviews
Cocktails were beautifully made and presented and there was no skimping
“Cha Ching exceeded all my expectations. The food and cocktails here were exceptionally good with generous serving sizes and affordable pricing. It is a little loud inside as it’s only a small venue with a fair bit of echo but staff are very efficient and firendly.
We opted for the feed me option along with some cocktails that were discounted for happy hour. The veggie spring rolls were probably some of the best I’ve ever had and the raspberry and choc mousse dessert was beyond sensational!
Cocktails were beautifully made and presented and there was no skimping on the alcohol either. Overall we loved it here and look forward to returning soon.”
– Chasing Pastry, Google Reviews
3. Lucy Liu Kitchen and Bar
Address: 23 Oliver Ln, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61396395777
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM
Lucy Liu’s menu helps prove that Chinese food in Melbourne’s CBD deserves global attention. The food is interesting enough to talk about, but not so experimental that it makes anyone uncomfortable.
Steam rises from bamboo baskets as dumplings arrive, the first thing everyone at our table reaches for.
The prawn and spinach dumpling has a wrapper so sheer we can see each pink prawn and the tangle of dark green leaves beneath. The prawns have a clean, briny sweetness instead of the heavy saltiness we expected.
Their wontons are just as delicious. The first bite brings a soft prawn snap, silken barramundi, and a warm, bright dressing.
The Drunken Chicken, though, stayed with us. Chilled slices of poached chicken rest in a shallow pool of Shaoxing wine. It has a sweet, nutty aroma that rises before you even taste it. The chicken is tender to the bone, with hints of ginger and spice.
Practically speaking, it’s a popular, higher-priced spot. Treat it as a planned night out rather than a casual walk-in.
Amazing atmosphere
“Amazing atmosphere. Good was good. Our waiter was very patient and accommodating despite we were the only table with kids. Food options was tasty, although if you are bringing kids, there are not many options unless they can take spicy food. We asked the waiter to put the condiments on the sides so the kids ate the dish. They had the fried chicken bao and ordered second round so must be good!”
– Sally Pang, Google Reviews
The staff were fantastic. Very friendly
“We visited to celebrate my birthday and let Lucy choose 7 plates for us, and I am so glad we did. The portions were surprisingly generous compared to many other places offering banquet style menus.
The food was amazing. The turmeric fried cauliflower and sashimi were standout dishes, and the steamed barramundi in chilli sauce was absolutely delicious.
The staff were fantastic. Very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable about what they serve. I also loved their cocktails. Bold and Beautiful was definitely a great choice.
The restaurant has a really nice vibe inside, and it does get busy, so I recommend making a reservation. Overall, an excellent experience and highly recommended.”
– Maheshi Perera, Google Reviews
4. Magic Cuisine
Address: 333 La Trobe St, Melbourne
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 9 PM
Many Melbourne CBD diners walk past Magic Cuisine in search of something more photogenic and miss out. The room may be plain, but the home-style Chinese cooking stands out.
The Stewed Pork Knuckles with Rice demands attention. It’s a whole knuckle braised until the collagen melts, the skin turns sticky, and the meat falls apart without a knife. It’s served over steamed white rice that soaks up the dark, savoury braising liquid.
A regular we spoke with recommended the ox beef tripe pot, and we’re glad we listened. The tripe is simmered in broth with dried bean curd, celery, mushrooms, and onion. The flavours are earthy and warming without feeling heavy.
The stir-fried chilli and pork with rice is an everyday favourite. It’s punchy and satisfying. The garlicky heat, chilli seeds clinging to glossy shards of pork, and the sauce soaking into the rice make it exactly what people want.
That said, the venue is small, and service can be slow. Our water took about ten minutes to arrive. It’s a minor inconvenience that we can forgive for the taste of the food.
This place is a treasure in Melbourne
“This place is a treasure in Melbourne, always I have the opportunity I lunch here because the food is delicious, the amount is more than fair and the environment is very much like being at a cozy house. I have tried the pork belly, noodles, etc., and it never disappoints me 🌸”
– Estefanía Silva, Google Reviews
Super quick too, so fast
“$10 massive delicious meal! Can’t go wrong especially in this economy. Super quick too, so fast it puts fast food like maccas and hungry jacks to shame. Check out this hidden gem.”
– Paige Preston, Google Reviews
5. ShanDong MaMa Mini
Address: 5 Centre Pl, Melbourne
Contact Details: +61416662992
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 9 PM
ShanDong MaMa Mini is built entirely around one thing: handmade dumplings, made in-house in the tradition of Shandong Province in northeastern China, where dumplings are the meal.
When ShanDong MaMa Mini gets it right (and they consistently do), the base crunches cleanly before giving way to a filling that’s juicy and properly seasoned.
Pork, prawn, beef, or chicken: all four versions are worth ordering. We had platter after platter, our only real dilemma being which version to reach for next and how much more our pants could take.
The pork belly bun and beef shank bun are worth adding to any order. These steamed buns are soft and slightly sweet, folded around slow-cooked meat. We finished them in two bites and immediately wished there were more.
The honest limitation: the menu is compact, and so is the space. For two to four people who know what they want, this place is hard to beat. For a large group wanting a sprawling shared dinner, it is not built for that.
Everything was delicious!
“Family-style dishes from a small eatery in a bustling city. The fluffy bao buns were soft and filled with rich, tender beef shin. The pan-fried zucchini dumplings were sweet and tender, yet had a delightful Moorish chew. We also ordered the cauliflower skewers, garlic broccoli, and a bowl of steamed rice. Everything was delicious! You’ll be foolish not to try this place.
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– Richard Little, Google Reviews
dumplings- very tender, melting in your mouth
“Omg still dreaming of these dumplings weeks after visiting Shanding mamma. It’s actually very popular with people who know how to find them! It’s a bit hidden away and I only ended up here because my daughter recommended it. I now visited 3 times as I crave these dumplings. 🥟 juicy, fresh, real authentic taste. The place looks old but has that special market charm. Reminds me of times I spent in China little markets. We ordered 2 sets of dumplings. Both boiled and pan fried , and a potato salad. Highly recommend mackerel dumplings- very tender, melting in your mouth.”
– Tanya Tchirkova, Google Reviews