Best Asian Restaurants in Melbourne

The critics say this is Australia's finest Chinese restaurant. If the three-month wait for a table is any indication, the punters think so too. Flower Drum Restaurant in Melbourne has had a fearsome reputation for over 35 years. The dining room is a huge series of red-carpeted areas with lacquered wood detailing in every corner. The menu emphasises a creative touch with high quality seafood and other protein so get out of your comfort zone and taste the magic.

Miyako Japanese Cuisine & Teppanyaki was previously known as Miyako. With picturesque Yarra River views and impeccable service, Miyako is a stalwart in the Melbourne dining scene. The elegant interior, combined with various dining spaces including sushi bar, an alfresco balcony, teppanyaki and private dining area, make Miyako a desired dining destination, whatever the occasion. Miyako features two VIP Tatami Rooms each seating 10 guests for a true Japanese style dining experience

BangPop recreates the energy and excitement of Bangkok’s hawker stands, presenting authentic and succulent Thai dishes all made with seasonal ingredients sourced locally or straight from Thailand. BangPop also has a great range of delicious drinks to suit all preferences; from quirky cocktails to Coopers Pale Ale on tap.

Open for lunch and dinner daily

A chemist of spices, is how Sam Wedande of Araliya considers himself. Ayurveda, the Hindu herbal science of life, inspires his cooking. No recipes are used, just an instinctive mixing of healthful herbs and seductive spices. Have fun with scallops in a hopper, or brave the brains - coconut crumbed with a savoury mint filling, served with chilli mayonnaise. Araliya has recently moved from Hawthorn to their new location in Kew

Lunch Sunday and dinner Tuesday-Sunday

Experience the fine art of authentic Chinese cuisine at renowned Melbourne restaurant Silks, located in the Crown Entertainment Complex. With a fit-out reminiscent of an opulent tea-house, this Southbank restaurant takes Chinese dining to a new, luxurious level and serves fine-regional cuisine, including Sichuanese, Northern Chinese, Shanghainese and Cantonese dishes.

Nobu, the world's most recognised Japanese restaurant, is known for its innovative new-style Japanese cuisine. With the original in New York, the Nobu brand is now an empire that spans the globe, offering signature dishes such as yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, tiraditio Nobu-style, and black cod with miso. Step into the contemporary and stylish surroundings of Nobu Melbourne and experience cuisine by Christopher Shane Chan Yai Ching and his talented team.

Please phone to make a booking. Nobu does not accept email bookings.

Photography: Courtesy of Nobu at Crown Melbourne

Inside the trendy Hamer Hall, Sake Restaurant and Bar is a fine Japanese restaurant of Sydney fame. Spread over two levels, Sake serves a signature mix of both modern and classical dishes, which can be viewed coming to life at the open sushi bar, or savoured al fresco in the outdoor area which overlooks the Yarra River. Inventive and ever-changing, diners can explore some of the best in modern Japanese cuisine in the form of bespoke sushi rolls, cripsy tempura delights and the chef selection omakase, comprising of 7 chef picked courses. Pre-theatre and express lunch dining specials are also available.

Photography: Courtesy of Sake Restaurant and Bar Melbourne

Top-notch Thai food that is made to share amid bustling, vibrant surroundings continues to be a winning formula for Melbourne's Longrain restaurant. The shine hasn't worn off since its eagerly anticipated arrival in 2005 – its buzzing atmosphere and relaxed informality still make it a great place to enjoy the freshness of of Longrain’s modern Thai flavours. Try one of their Thai inspired cocktails in Longsong, Longrains upstairs bar.  

Lunch Friday and dinner daily.

Longsong Bar (upstairs) open from 5pm Wednesday-Saturday

This perpetually packed restaurant on Flinders Lane serves fast paced, street-inspired Asian cuisine. The adventurous menu, under the guidance of executive chef Benjamin Cooper, has been designed with the hawker dining halls of Bangkok in mind, featuring shared plates great for communal dining. While the menu takes guidance from South East Asia, the wine list has an all-Australian focus. For indecisive diners, Chin Chin offers a "feed me" option – which includes a random selection of dishes. No bookings can be made under ten people.

Gingerboy is a venture of acclaimed Chef Teage Ezard and is an exploration of his love of Asian flavours. He manages to turn hawker food into elegant share plates. The Melbourne CBD restaurant is reminiscent of an Asian space-age disco; red chandeliers throwing mood lighting over black tables and bamboo slats covered in fairy lights adorn the walls.

Lunch Tuesday-Saturday and dinner Monday-Saturday