Chinatown, Melbourne

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Melbourne is a city with diverse population live and work here with different colors, nationalities, cultures, religions, languages, sexual orientations, and etc. Chinese migrates to Melbourne in 1851, and remains the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western World. Interestingly, Chinatown is no longer just a hangout place for the Chinese and tourists, but it is a place where the locals hangout for restaurants, bars, food courts, shopping, and etc.

I recommend here to backpackers to get cheap and good food. Check out their food courts...

Chinatown today now predominantly extends along Little Bourke Street between Swanston St and Spring St. Eating houses and top class restaurants with the streetscape and its low-rise brick buildings, retaining its historic character is what makes this part of Melbourne history and culture rich. We passed through Chinatown as we made our way to Red Peppers restaurant (I have written another trip on that). The heritage streetscape has been well preserved, with few buildings reaching over three storeys in height. The area is dominated by restaurants from fine dining to laneway and arcade noodle houses, and is home to a number of Asian grocery stores, Chinese medicine and herbalist centres, bookstores, fashion boutiques and other retail outlets in arcades such as the Village Centre, The Target Centre and Paramount Plaza. True to its name and predominantly of Chinese ethnicity, you will also find Melbourne's Chinatown is truly cosmopolitan with a myriad of cuisines like Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Contemporary European and Australian to tempt your taste buds.

Chinatown is one of Melbourne's iconic precincts, and was an integral part of the goldrush days in the 1850's. Now it's home to all sorts of restaurants, shops, accommodation and of course the Chinatown Museum.

Chinatown is one of Melbourne's most popular ethnic areas. This has traditionally been a Chinese area since gold was discovered in Australia in 1851. Chinatown has restaurants, stores, a Chinese Museum, and major events throughout the year.

Check the website for more info and events.

Since me being a chinese, I will try make it a point to visit the Chinatown of the countries I visit. I had lunch in the chinese restaurant there but do find the prices are on the steep side and the taste is pretty ok only.

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You can't really miss it - considering the ornate Chinese gates at the entrance of Little Bourke Street on both ends - SO typical - folks wanting to have even more of Chinese culture and food, considering some of you have just left it - you are in Dragonland Central...sort of.

Chinatown actually spills over a few more streets around it and borders the Greek Precinct on the Eastern end. And it's a little more Asiantown these days too....with Singaporean, Thai, Japanese and Indian eateries mixed in for diversity.

Experience the jostle of students around you going about their grocery shopping among the ethnic stores. OK, I won't joke about the stores since I actually find a few things I wanted in them.

Hiding amidst the shops selling dried medicinal herbs and statues of Chinese Goddesses and Gods, you will find the very small and compact Chinese Museum. About 4 storeys of displays illustrate the history of the Chinese in Australia and Melbourne. In my personal opinion, I had seen better displays but it wouldn't hurt to drop in and have a look, if you had never visited such a museum before.

And of course, you can't be in Chinatown without mentioning about food. Duh. This is the place to come for upmarket Chinese restaurants and Yum Cha spots such as Shark Fin House.

Chinatown is a good spot to take a stroll and sample some good Chinese food and items. There are also Thai and Japanese options so plenty to to choose from.

After walking past a few restaurants and being invited in for "the best food in Chinatown" you will notice the types of people sitting in the various restaurants. Some, like the Dragon Boat, seem to have mainly tourists and others seem to have locals in them. Try one of the local's choice though do have a look at the menu first as some items may not be to your liking at all (crispy fried pigs intestine etc etc).

This trip involved stopping at one of the 'local' restaurants and we were not disappointed. Apart from being lower cost, being served hot chinese tea (bottomless tumbler) and having lots of poultry in the window our restaurant was a cash only place!! Quite bizzare really.

We enjoyed chinatown since its the only area opened past 5pm. Everyone closes at 5pm and you have nowhere to go after except for Chinatown. We enjoyed dinner always at SUPPER INN, it is around LT.BOURKE ST. but it is still partly hidden on one alley way but everyone knows this place. It is always jampacked and the food was great! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

The entrance gate to Chinatown is not as grand as the one in London ( anyway even the one in London is not that great either ) . Perhaps I am demanding but I am sure they can do better than that.

There are many Chinese, Korean, Japansen and Vietnamese restaurant along the Chinatown Precinct ...remember to try the Snow Crab and a few restaurants like

a) Kum Den Bar and Restaurant ( 15 Hefferman Lane )

b) Post Deng Restaurant ( Chinatown Precinct )

c) Kimchi Grandma ( Bourke Street )

If your walking around the city of Melbourne looking for something a bit different, a great place to visit is Chinatown on Little Bourke Street.

Here you'll find authentic Chinese restaurants, grocers and great little nick-knack shops that sell items available nowhere else in the city. I discovered some toy and figurine shops very unique to Chinatown, and well worth the look if your into that sort of thing.