Chin Chin Melbourne The Place To Bring Corporate Colleagues
Chin Chin is the favoured dining destination to come with corporate colleagues, showcasing a truly iconic Melbourne dining experience. It's about the vibe, the food with its big flavours, the service and the location. Chin Chin in Flinders Lane continues to colourfully dominate in a competitive Melbourne culinary scene after about 4 years, with kudos to Chris Lucas and the team. The World Loves Melbourne visited Chin Chin with the partners of top accounting firm Griffin O'Dea Bowler (of which we are a consultant in Melbourne). We were attending a nearby Finance Conference at Grand Hyatt presented by Lonsdale Financial Group and keen to hit on this iconic restaurant.
Chin Chin is much about the vibe and ambience - both night and day. By day Chin Chin is light and airy with large windows to take in the city ambience. By night there's a glow and a sophisticated atmosphere. Chin Chin has a striking ambience with pop artwork, Asian images, the neon rabbit, and cool typeface of its logo. The lighting is slightly dim, the crowd energises at atmosphere of its own, there's activity and sometimes there's a sense of rush. In fact these are elements of Asia itself and you feel like you actually might be somewhere in Bangkok or Singapore or some other Asian city.
Chin Chin has succeeded with the whole pop art concept. The menu (pictured above) is a piece of art in itself...
Another area where Chin Chin shines is that Asian fusion is done outstandingly. Every dish has punch. The spice and heat factor are not dumbed down. Melbourne diners are discerning and want the authentic; bring on the bold big flavours. Credit to rock star chef Benjamin Cooper whose profile is growing nationally and internationally.
The Pad Thai (pictured above) is one of the best in Melbourne with its zesty flavours and generous amount of quality prawns.
Chin Chin excels when it comes to fresh ingredients, including the dish voted as the best pork dish in Asia! The World Loves Melbourne rates the Caramelised Sticky Pork with Sour Herb Salad & Chilli Vinegarette as one of the best pork dishes in the world (let alone Asia). The fresh zingy Asian salad ingredients with this dish complement perfectly and cut through the richness of the pork. The sauce in the bowl was also a highlight which we absorbed with a side of rice.
The Dry red curry of soft shell crab again delivered with big flavours and a superb presentation of the dish. To be honest The World Loves Melbourne is not normally a huge fan of soft shell crab but this dish is top notch, with a curry kick. A taste and texture triumph.
The partners of Griffin O'Dea Bowler are serious chilli lovers, so with the dishes already having some kick, we decided to ramp up the heat even more...
Extraordinary was the Beef Rendang, with complex Malaysian flavours nailed by the kitchen team. We were told that the kitchen team boasted extensive experience from places like Thailand and Malaysia. Oft is the comment that this food is better than what you get in Asia.
The ability to secure a table with a no bookings policy is a challenge, but the strategy has proved highly successful. Corporates enjoy Chin Chin as a favoured lunch and dinner destination; just be careful not to spill those awesome sauces on your crisp business shirt!
We then took a snap of the team from Griffin O'Dea Bowler in nearby Hosier Lane (as you do)...
Chin Chin is big and bold and giving the punters what they want, day in and day out.