No matter how you choose to spell it, for me it means one thing – delicious, spicy Chinese food!
Sichuan Province in South West China has wild, rugged mountains to the west and a lush fertile basin of land to the east. It is home to more than 83 million people and far fewer precious Giant Pandas. It’s also the natural habitat of the endangered Red Panda and vulnerable Snow Leopard. Its capital, Chengdu, attracts students from all over the world to study at its prestigious Chinese Medicine Schools. And if you fancy a day trip – and a climb! – the Leshan Giant Buddha (the largest stone Buddha in the world) is worth the hike. I know. I’ve done it!
But for me, all of these wonders pale against the firey majesty of a bowl of Dan Dan Noodles, Mapo Tofu or Shui Zhu Yu (Sichuan Boiled Fish).
But where can you get your fix of Sichuan peppercorns, Chongqing chilli sauce and doubanjiang (red chilli paste) without travelling to China? Where is the best Sichuan food in Melbourne?
Dainty Sichuan Food isn’t one restaurant, but a whole stable of eateries dedicated to the wonders of Sichuan cuisine.
From its original restaurant in Collingwood, the Dainty Sichuan brand has opened a range of dining spaces across the city and beyond. Many ingredients are imported, to ensure their authenticity. The team of chefs also maintain strong links with professionals back in Sichuan and Chongqing.
Everyone has their favourite when it comes to selecting which Dainty Sichuan incarnation offers the best Sichuan food in Melbourne. However, we will highlight just a few of the better known establishments.
If you like your Boiling Fish in Golden Basin to look like a red sea of chillies, then this is the place for you. Other popular dishes include the Cumin Lamb Slices and – if you are feeling adventurous – the Braised Tripe Combo. There is also a dedicated Sichuan hot pot menu if share plates aren’t your thing.
With a spacious dining space fitted out in traditional Chinese decor, it as great place to try when you have few mouths to feed.
The South Yarra branch is the flagship restaurant of the group, but it also has sister joints around Melbourne:
Dainty Sichuan Hot Pot CBD– A great place for groups.
Dainty Sichuan Food Box Hill – Family friendly with a generous hot pot menu.
Dainty Sichuan – in The Glen Shopping Centre, Glen Waverley. More than one reviewers raves about their Cold Noodle Entree.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Dainty Sichuan also have a fast food presence. Over at the Chadstone Shopping Centre they have a busy counter in the food court, knocking out bowls of handmade noodles and wontons.
Here you can slurp your contented way through huge bowls of noodle-laidened soup. The broths come in 2 varieties – a milky, boned-based style – or the one that sings ‘Sichuan’ to me, rich with chilli oil. The quality of the food and the size of the portions makes this a cheap and filling meal.
Perhaps the heat of Sichuan cooking is too much for you? If you feel like something milder, take a look at our guide to Yum Cha Restaurants in Melbourne.
As the name suggests, this is Sichuan fire and heat tailored for the shopping mall food court where speed and convenience are the law. Not surprisingly, noodles are the draw here, though there are a few other offerings. Our choice is the signature Chilli Chicken soups which pack just enough punch to set you up for your next round of retail therapy.
Although fish isn’t the only thing on the menu, this restaurant has a big seafood focus. The other selling point is the use of charcoal in the cooking process, which really adds to the flavour of the grilled dishes.
The Crab in Hot and Spicy sauce is a real winner. Similarly, the Spicy Cumin Grilled Fish will have your taste buds singing happily.
Sadly, this temple to Chinese food doesn’t currently have a website. However, it is still worth a Google and trip to Glen Waverley as I definitely rate it for some of best Sichuan food in Melbourne.
I include it thanks to my friend Anna. Now admittedly Anna isn’t a Sichuan native, but she is Chinese born and has a passion for the spicy flavours of the region. When I asked her where she would go for Sichuan food, she immediately recommended this restaurant. And that’s good enough for me!
House of Delight offers 2 eating options. You can pick your favourites from the a la carte menu, or embrace the excess of Sichuan-style hot pot. I say ‘excess’ as the range of ingredients on offer is quite mind-blowing. The fresh prawns and crabs deserve a special mention.
Part of the beauty of enjoying the hot pot buffet at this restaurant is that each diner has their own hot pot. This means that individual tastes for soup bases, proteins and those all important spices can be perfectly accommodated. This is fabulous if you are a heat-addict, but your partner breaks out in a sweat at the mere thought of a chilli.
It’s also worth noting that House of Delight, apart from being one of the best Sichuan restaurants in Melbourne, also offers Cantonese and Shanghaiese dishes.
Of course, Sichuan isn’t the only option if you want to eat Chinese food. Take a look at our guide to the Best Chinese Restaurants in Melbourne for some more ideas.
Bang in the heart of Melbourne’s Chinatown, we hope that this icon of Sichuan fare has successfully re-opened (as promised) post-Lockdowns.
Climb the stairs through the arch and disappear into a world of Szechuan peppercorn-scented bliss. The Kung Pao Chicken is rightfully prized and the Spicy Mud Crab Tower delivers on both heat and theatre. They also do a mean Stir-Fried Green Beans – a deceptively simple belter of a dish – and get rave reviews for their Cumin Lamb Ribs.
This is a great choice for some of the best Sichuan food in Melbourne if you’re looking to fill up on a budget.
The interior design might be a bit dated, but the cooking is very authentic. If you can’t tolerate a decent hit of spice, this probably isn’t the best Chinese restaurant for you to try.
The Fish Fillets in Hot Chilli Oil are excellent and the Braised Sichuan Eggplant is a must order. Once again, customers can’t get enough of Charming Spice’s take on the well-known Sichuan classic – Kung Pao Chicken.
Yes, the name might be a tad off-putting for some of us, but the food is the real deal.
The soups are consistently well-received with the Spicy Fish Soup being a firm favourite with regulars. I’ve also heard good things about the Spicy Stir-Fried Pork with Green Chillies and the Mapo Tofu with Mince Pork.
Situated right next to trendy Hardware Lane, this is a good choice for a cheap feed if you feel like something spicy.
Feel like some spice, but want a change from Chinese? Maybe you should have a look at our Best Korean BBQ Restaurants in Melbourne.
And we can’t really finish our current rundown of some of the some Sichuan food in Melbourne without mentioning China Chilli.
This place is famous for its hot pot. The selection is huge and the produce fresh. There is also a large a la carte menu covering all the stars of Sichuan cuisine and a few lesser known delicacies. The Braised and Stir-Fried Chicken in Chilli Oil has that perfect balance of heat, flavour and zing.
Excitingly, the team at SHU curate thrilling multi-course menus around modern vegan Sichuan cuisine. Currently, there are a couple of ways to experience their innovative dishes.
First up there’s the 10 Course Vegan Degustation at $85pp (or $160 with wines & cocktails). This features fascinating combinations such as Plant Salmon, Homemade Chilli Jam & Finger Lime or their Handmade Charcoal Noodles, Vegan Mince & Dan Dan Sauce.
Alternatively, you can take a walk on the wild side with the 5 Course Vegan Experimental option – $55pp ($130 with wines). This runs from Tuesday to Thursday and is all about the kitchen trying new things. Again, the menu as I write this includes a ‘Raw Plate’ of Watermelon, Pickled Cabbage, Silken Tofu, Preserved Soy Beans & Tahini.
And finally, if you’ve nothing else to do over the weekend, why not try SHU’s Unlimited Sunday Yum Cha? For only $55pp you get 2 hours of endless food, which you can top up with bottomless drinks for a further $45pp.
With so many options – and a very cool dining space – SHU restaurant sits firmly on our rundown of the best Sichuan food in Melbourne.
If you prize authentic food over fancy presentation, then Haoziwie Sichuan Restaurant could be just what you’re looking for.
Sat in the strip of shops opposite Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, it might not be the most glamorous spot in town, but the locals are definitely across it. In fact, it pays to book ahead if you don’t want to be disappointed.
Buckle in for some real heat and give the Spicy Eggplant Stir-Fry a try. We’re also fans of the Mapo Tofu and the ever-popular Kung-Pao Chicken with Peanuts. For those wishing to indulge in the textural delights of Intestines, the Mao Blood Flourishing is a must-try. And if you want your tongue to prickle pleasantly from residual heat days later, order the Fried Chicken with Dry Chilli & Sichuan Pepper.
