Hutong Dumpling Bar

As a food blogger, I'm often asked where the best dumplings in Melbourne are.  Lucky for me, the answer is simple - Hutong Dumpling Bar.  Spanning across 3 levels, with its delicious home-made dumplings and byo wine policy, it's no surprise that the venue is always packed to the brim.

Whilst probably the least attractive dish on the menu, Hutong's spring onion pancakes are actually out of this world - crisp on the outside, and incredibly light and fluffy on the inside, they are the epitome of the saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

With their soft and tender wrappers, and fragrant soup filling, Hutong's Xiao-long Bao are also non-negotiable.

Of course, you can't go wrong with any of Hutong's dumplings - with their pan fried pork dumplings (which aren't too greasy!) and their chilli wontons (which have a delicious kick) also being excellent options.

Cheap, cheerful and offering Melbourne's best dumplings - if you haven't yet tried Hutong, be sure to head there soon.

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Value for money: 5/5
Total: 17/20
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon.

Taxi Kitchen

Whilst Taxi Kitchen at Federation Square is slightly shabby around some of its edges, there is no question that it serves up some exceptional food. With a view that just screams Melbourne, the menu is Asian inspired, offering both an a la carte menu or a very reasonably priced $85 six course tasting menu. 

Unable to go past the tasting menu, our starters consisted of sake washed tuna with soy bean pesto and yuzu jelly, flathead tails with seeded mayonnaise, and candied pork papaya with red nam jim.  All three of these fresh and fragrant starters impressed with their impeccably balanced flavours of sweetness, saltiness and spice, and certainly set a high bar for the rest of the meal. 

Luckily the Crispy skin salmon and the Szechuan duck with hot Vietnamese salad and 5 spice caramel were just as exceptional - both of the proteins were cooked to perfection and married well with their accompanying salads. 

For the finale, our desert of Zokoko white chocolate cream, goats' yogurt foam, honey oat crumble and berry sorbet came out looking like a garden party.  Delicate but still decadent, it was a sweet but refreshing way to finish the meal.  

So with such exceptional food, why have I coined it slightly shabby I hear you ask? Well for one, the venue itself needs a bit of a face lift - the couch I was sitting on was so bally I could feel it through my dress. And other than two wonderful gentleman we were lucky enough to have brief encounters with, the service was slow and impersonal  However, with such good food, it's still worth a try if you're in the Fed Square area. 

Food: 4.5/5

Service: 2.5/5

Venue: 2.5/5

Total: 9.5/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying at some point 

 

Red Spice Road

Red Spice Road is an oldie but a goldy - for years it has offered consistently delicious Asian fusion cuisine for an incredibly reasonable price.  From just $29.50 you can stuff yourself with Red Spice Road's banquet which promises an array of fresh, delicious and fragrant Asian inspired dishes that will leave you waddling out the door.

Red Spice Road's pork belly is famous for a reason - served up with fresh herbs, chilli caramel and black vinegar, the pork is cooked to perfection and pairs beautifully with the fresh herbs and sticky chilli sauce.  The stir fried rice noodles with chicken and the crispy tofu were also highlights of the meal.

However, to be fair, every dish was a winner, with the meatballs and Thai beef salad also excelling in the flavour department.

The venue itself consists largely of very large long shared tables, meaning it's not the ideal place if you're wanting to have any form of confidential discussions with your fellow diners.  However, if your conversation is free for all (or if you're lucky enough to hit a quiet day and don't have to share your table) Red Spice Road should definitely be a considered a top contender when choosing a mid week lunch spot.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: Love - get around to trying it soon

Gru Thai

They say that you should never judge a book by its cover, well when it comes to Gru Thai, you shouldn’t judge a restaurant by its shop front. Looking cheap, dark and dingy from the outside - you’d be forgiven for thinking this place doubled up as a brothel. However, on walking through Gru Thai’s doors I was surprised to find a light and bright restaurant brimming with patrons.

From fish cakes to Thai green curry, Gru Thai has all of usual culprits. The drunken noodles with minced pork and green beans however was by far the highlight of the night, and definitely a dish I would go back to Gru Thai to order again.




The pad chicken satay was also on our menu for the night.  The chicken was cooked well, and the vegetables remained crisp, however the sauce was verging on watery and lacked any depth of flavour.

 

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the service was petty dismal - not only was it slow, they forgot our entrees, served two of our mains without rice, then served the last main about 45 minutes later. But service aside, the drunken noodles were enough to make Gru Thai a contender for takeaway.


Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Venue: 3/5
Total: 8/10
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point - but perhaps stick to take out

Miss Chu - South Melbourne

Miss Chu epitomises everything I love about Melbourne's Asian food scene - fresh, cheap, quick and absolutely delicious.

Owning three stores in Melbourne (and a few scattered across NSW) the vibe of Miss Chu's venues is a bit like the Tiki Room in Disneyland (if anyone's ever been?) - bright, funky with a distinct Tiki Hut feel. The way they take your order is also a point of difference - providing each table with an order sheet to be filled in, you just tick the boxes of the food you're after with the pencil provided and away you go!

For me, when visiting Miss Chu, I can never go past the prawn and scallop dumplings and the steamed rice crepes with pork and wood ear mushroom (or, as termed by the Vietnamese, banh cuon). The prawn and scallop dumplings are always packed to the brim with delicious chunks of prawn and scallops, and the banh cuon balances textures and flavours like an absolute pro. Almost the Asian version of cannelloni, the banh cuon manages to the mix the sweet with the spice, the fragrant herbs with the meatiness of the pork mince and wood ear mushrooms, and the silky smoothness of the steamed rice crepes with the crunch of fried spring onions.

On this occasion we also tried the salt and pepper calamari - another win on their menu. Tender on the inside, crisp and flavoursome on the outside, these little morsels were absolutely delicious.

Also offering delivery, Miss Chu is an excellent option if you're in the mood for some Vietnamese.

Food: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Total:11/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

Pho Chu The

 

With the weather already starting to cool down, I seem to have had quite the run of pho. This time it was a deliciously huge bowl of fragrant steamy pho from Pho Chu The on Victoria Street in Richmond.

First of all, no i haven't got the name wrong - for some reason the 'The' is at the end of this Vietnamese eatery's name. Second of all, if you find yourself on Victoria Street craving some Vietnamese eats, then don't go past this joint - it was absolutely delicious .

 Pho Chu The offers a large range of phos - with phos such as the Long Ga with chicken heart, giblet and liver, there's a protein choice for even the most adventurous. Opting for the medium veggie pho, the bowl was filled to the brim with an assortment of carrots, wombok, broccoli, bok choy and tofu. The fragrant broth was only made better with the extensive array of condiments and trimmings on each table including fresh chilli and jars of Pickled onion.

 

Offering their bowls of pho in either small, medium or large portions, they definitely have a bowl of pho to suit anyone's appetite.

Food: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon

270 Victoria Street, Richmond

Pho Cycle

Pho was my dish of 2016 - whether it was for a hungover Sunday night take-out, a late night order at work, or a meal out along Victoria Street in Richmond, pho was often my dish of choice. So, whilst coining myself as an expert is probably going too far, I like to think I am qualified to spot a good pho. Pho Cycle is one such place which offers a good pho - indeed, it's probably one of the best phos I've had in awhile.

Situated on Clarendon Street, the venue is casual but quirky, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Their menu offers all of the Vietnamese suspects - banh mi's, vietnamese salads and a variety of rice paper rolls. For me I couldnt go past trying the spicy mince pho - and I'm glad I did. With its deliciously fragrant broth, perfectly cooked rice noodles and tender bits of spicy meat, it was one of the best phos I've ever had.

We also couldn't go past trying the peking duck rice papers. The duck was tender, and the flavours in the roll tasty, but the accompanying (overly garlicy) sauce was very underwhelming.

There is no doubt I'll be back to Pho Cycle soon for another serve of their spicy pork mince pho - and boy do I look forward to it.

Food: 4/5
Venue: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11.5/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon.

Lee Ho Fook

I'm torn with Lee Ho Fook - the venue was Melbourne hip but still elegantly classy, the staff friendly and incredibly attentive, and the Asian inspired menu looked mouth-wateringly delicious - however, the food was a mixed bag to review.

On one hand there was the crispy eggplant with spiced red vinegar - goldenly crunchy on the outside, soft and flavoursome on the inside - these little morsels are so utterly delicious it's easy to say why it's Lee Ho Fook's signature dish.



The soy glazed Wagyu short ribs were another highlight. Coming out deboned in a nest of onion and spices, they are designed to be eaten San choy bow style.  Not at all fatty and fragrantly seasoned, they were paired beautifully with the crunchy lettuce and mix of tangy and creamy sauce.






Unfortunately it all started to go a bit downhill from here. The wok fried cabbage with purple kale and cured pork was okay - but was definitely mono tone in its dreary flavours and could have done with a lift in flavour



Whilst usually a huge fan of tofu, the tofu with onion and garlic crumb was the biggest disappointment of the night. None of the flavours clung to the morsels of tofu and the deep fried chunks just tasted like oil.



So there were some high lights and there were low lights. Whilst not making the cut for my list of recommendations, for the eggplant alone I wouldn't protest if someone invited me to dine here.

 

Food: 2.5/5

Venue: 4.5/5

Service: 4.5/4

Total: 11.5/15

Verdict: like - get around to trying the fried eggplant at some point
 

11-15 Duckboard Place, CBD

Laksa Bar

With my favourite laksa place being miles away (Laksa King in Flemington), I was on the look out for something a bit closer to home. So I had high hopes going into Laksa Bar, hoping it would be the new go to. Unfortunately on this occasion Laksa Bar didn't earn itself the title of being the new fave. Was the food nice? Yes. But was it anything mind blowing? Unfortunately not.

With bar service and self serve cutlery, this venue had all the makings of a Melbourne cheap eats dining institution. The highlight of the night for me was definitely the free bibs which came the bowls of Laksa - such a simple but clever idea!

On this occasion I ordered the veggie and tofu Laksa. The flavour of soup was nice enough, and the crisps were a delicious touch, but there were giant chunks of raw onion through it and my 'veggies' consisted of one tiny piece of greenery, one little piece of baby corn and a couple of raw mushrooms sliced up.

It is definitely times like this I wish I was a fan of soft shell crab as that dish looked magnificently delicious - whilst I have no idea how it tasted, from looks alone of the bowls pouring out of the kitchen, I'd highly recommend soft shell crab fans give it a go.

Food: 2.5/5
Venue: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 8.5/15
Verdict: don't bother - unless you are a soft shell crab fan, then I would say this place is worth giving a try at some point

Cookie

Situated in the Curtin House (home to The Toff,  Rooftop Bar and Messe Verde), and serving up Thai cuisine, Cookie could definitely be classified as a Melbourne institution.

Offering formal-ish, bar or 'beer hall' seating, the venue has a colourful, fun, surely-it's-Friday vibe which is suitable for any occasion. The bubbly, attentive staff only add to Cookie's value, making you feel right at home the minute you walk through Cookie's doors.

The roti and the green curry with chicken and corn meatballs were the dishes of the night for me - the green curry was rich, creamy and punching with flavour, and the roti buttery and flaky.

On this occasion, however, unfortunately the chicken in the Pad Thai was quite fatty (which was such a shame as the rest of the dish was incredibly delicious and full of flavour) and the salt and pepper squid limp and verging on soggy.

Nonetheless, with its cheerful vibe and reasonably price tag, I'd definitely still be willing to give Cookie another try (especially if it's a Friday with the Toff just up the stairs!)

Food: 2.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 12/15
Verdict: like - get around to trying it at some point.

Maedaya

Maedaya had been on my To Do list for quite some time, and thank goodness I finally got around to trying it. Whether it was the menus served up on ipads, or the semi-private dining booths for 2-3 patrons, there was definitely something incredibly unique and charming about this venue.

Situated on Bridge Road in Richmond, Maedaya serves up a delicious array of fresh and affordable Japanese cuisine. On this occasion, we couldn't help but stuff our faces and tried the okonomiyaki with cheese, the crispy prawn bao, the double salmon roll, the agedashi tofu and the potato and cheese croquette.

Whilst everything was incredibly delicious, the agadashi tofu was my fellow diner's favourite dish of the night, where as I couldn't go past the freshness and flavour of the double salmon roll.

 

If looking for something on the richer side (and not watching the waistline), the okonomiyaki with cheese and/or the potato and cheese croquette are both excellent options. And for those who have a sweet tooth, the prawn bao with its oozing sweet chilli sauce is just the dish for you.

The service was just as impressive as the food - friendly, attentive and informative, they were an absolute pleasure from the minute we walked through the doors.

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Venue: 4.5/5
Total: 14/15
Verdict: The New Fave

398-400 Bridge Road, Richmond

Coda

After my previous flawless dining experience with Coda, this Asian inspired restaurant quickly became one of  my 'New Faves' in Melbourne. Unfortunately, on this occasion of dining, the same praise of 'flawlessness' could not be said.

Situated in the foodie precinct at 141 Flinders Lane, and sister to Tonka and Oter, Coda is a Melbourne institution. On this occasion we ordered the calamari, green papaya and cucumber salad with nahm jim, peanuts and crispy anchovies, the sizzling plate of Moreton Bay bugs, mussels and XO sauce, the roasted yellow duck curry and the buffalo mozzarella zucchini frittera with mint and pea salad.

The dish of the night was surprisingly the zucchini frittera. A dish epitomising spring, it was fresh, vibrant and full of flavour.

The calamari papaya salad was the biggest disappointment - the calamari was tough and incredibly fishy, contaminating the enjoyment of the rest of the meal.

The Moreton Bay bugs and the yellow duck curry however, were cooked to perfection, with the duck mouth-wateringly shredding off the bone.

Whilst always crowded and sometimes booked out weeks in advance, on my previous visit to Coda, you wouldn't have guessed that they were filled to the brim with the staff being incredibly attentive. However, on this occasion the service was slow and we found ourselves having to waive down someone to place our food order and to fill up our wine.

Nonetheless, with its incredible food, and in light of my precious dining experience, I would definitely be willing to give Coda another chance.

Service: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Venue: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Verdict: love - get around to trying it soon