Chin Chin

Chin Chin is a Flinders Lane restaurant serving casual South East Asian food, with a menu that leans on Thai flavours. It describes itself as a quintessentially Australian take on Asian food and is closely tied to contemporary art and local culture, which shows in the artwork around the room and in the open call it runs for artists' submissions. The Melbourne restaurant at 125 Flinders Lane is the original, and the business, run by Lucas Collective, has since opened in Sydney, Geelong and Manly.

Dishes noted by critics over the years have included chicken and shiitake spring rolls, duck larb, egg noodles stir-fried with bug tail and prawn, pork chop with oyster mushrooms and holy basil, and green cabbage with peanut and coriander relish. The menu is published as a PDF on the official website, so check it before you go if you have dietary needs. A renovation in 2016 enlarged the kitchen, added a coal-fired grill and a new back bar, kept all 110 seats and reworked the former downstairs bar, GoGo, with booths for groups of eight to ten. The same refit introduced a feed me set menu, and the bar serves wines by the glass and tropical cocktails. The restaurant belongs to the hospitality group led by Chris Lucas.

Chin Chin is known for queues as much as for food. The downstairs dining room has been run as a no-bookings area, with booths available to book for larger groups, so if you are walking in on a Friday or Saturday evening, arrive early or be prepared to wait. Bookings for groups are made through the booking link on the website. The restaurant opens daily from 11am until late, which makes a mid-afternoon visit a good way to avoid the busiest periods.

It suits groups of friends, couples and solo diners looking for a casual meal in the city centre, and prices are in the moderate range. There is also a separate events space, Chin Chin Events, for private functions, and gift cards are sold online.

The nearest stations are Flinders Street and Parliament, and the restaurant is a short walk from Hosier Lane and Federation Square. For enquiries, call 03 8663 2000 or email [email protected].