This list was compiled through personal experience and online research, plus through commentary from food critics and expert restaurant reviews. We only looked at restaurants with a rating of 4.0/5 on Google Reviews and took into account the major gripes and positives from the public. We also studied a series of reviews from prominent critics and online publications such as Australian Good Food Guide, allowing us to cull it down to the 15 best spots for Asian fusion.

Best for: Selection

Yoi Melbourne is one of the city’s best Asian fusion restaurants, hands down – especially if you love Indonesian fusion (me). Right in the middle of Melbourne CBD and open every day of the week, Yoi will satisfy your taste buds with a ginormous selection of dishes from the signature Salted Egg Chicken (must-try) to the more familiar Mie Goreng Sambal Matah.

Asian fusion complete with smoky finishes and plenty of wood-fire charring is an absolute winner at Firebird where the chefs serve up delicious Vietnamese-style grub that’ll make you feel like you’re smack bang in the streets of Vietnam. Part of the brilliant Commune Group (who is also behind Hanoi Hannah, Tokyo Tina and wine bar Neptune), you can expect tantalising meals from the fire like Duck L’Orange, pork chop, fire-tossed pipis and charred cabbage.

Best for: Atmosphere

If an immaculate vibe and atmosphere are your go-tos when dining out, you can’t go past the iconic Longrain Melbourne. From one of Australia’s leading chefs and restaurateurs Scott Pickett, this vibrant and contemporary Thai-style restaurant is a true Melbourne establishment.

On Richmond’s lively Bridge Rd sits Asian fusion foodie heaven and craft beer venue Kekou. With a warm and welcoming ambience that serves up a rotating craft beer offering and a menu designed for sharing, Kekou is the go-to for Asian food with flavour and depth. Expect tasty wok-fried delights like eggplant with umami mushroom, as well as plenty of tasty meat options like twice-cooked pork belly, wagyu flank and much, much more.

Best for: Drinks

A true Melbourne classic, Chin Chin is probably the establishment most of us think of when trying to find the best Asian fusion restaurant in Melbs CBD.

Best for: Fine dining

Supernormal is undoubtedly one of the city’s most popular fusion eateries, and for good reason. A stalwart in Melbourne’s Asian dining scene since it opened its doors in 2014, it has a distinctly Japanese feel and flavour to its meals, but it’s not defined by one single cuisine, with influences from Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong, too. 

Upmarket eating on Carlton’s busy Lygon street doesn’t get much better than Lagoon Dining. An Asian fusion restaurant and bar dishing meals that pay homage to  Chinese culinary traditions, Lagoon is the ultimate spot for something a little bit fancy. Moody, charismatic and intimate, we reckon you and your date will love the vibe, the food, the wine list which perfectly matches the dishes, the warm service … you’ll love it all.

Best for: Takeaway

Takeaway, dine in or drive through, wherever you prefer to eat your fave Asian delights, HoChi Mama’s got you covered. Both contemporary and traditional all in the one mouthful, there’s something for all taste buds (like seriously delicious DIY vegan duck wraps, traditional crispy pork bao, and Saigon pork hok curry). 

On Oliver Lane in Melbourne’s CBD sits Lucy Liu, a pan-Asian eatery in the heart of the city. As you enter, you’ll make your way through its iconic red neon-lit corridor and into the main dining room where you’ll be greeted with an electric atmosphere. Lucy Liu offers classic Asian favourites such as Peking duck dumplings, drunken chicken and pork hock with apple kimchi pancakes and hoisin. Stay for a good time, stay for a yum time.

Another fine dining gem, RuYi Modern Chinese is elegant and distinguished in taste. With communal tables and a stylish, minimalist vibe, expect to be treated like royalty by the very attentive staff. Following strict guidelines of Chinese cooking and authentic Chinese ingredients, you’ll love the rich and fresh flavours off the à la carte menu, or the five to seven-course chef’s menu.

In an unassuming Red Hill shopping village lies Many Little, an all-day bistro with a modern Sri Lankan-inspired elevated set menu, late-night bar, and cellar door all in one. From the team behind Polperro Winery, Many Little isn’t just one of the best Asian Fusion restaurants in the area, but one of the coolest places to eat on the Peninsula in general. Flavoursome, fresh and hearty meals galore, it’s impossible to leave hungry.

Sunda is modern-Asian at its finest with a delightful mix of Malaysian, Indonesian and Vietnamese fare all combined to create something entirely innovative and new. While you can only order a four-course menu, your tastebuds and wallet will forgive you as you dive mouth-first into dishes like chickpea cake, Berkshire pork and koshihikari congee.

If you like all things Japanese – and I’m talking three levels of Japanese goodness – you’re gonna love Future Future on Richmond’s Swan Street. Complete with a rooftop deck (who doesn’t love a rooftop deck?), Future Future takes its cues from Japanese culture in its menu, architecture and service – but it’s not textbook Japanese. It’s inventive, and unique but still approachable for the everyday diner.

A neo-Vietnamese establishment that’s run by the same folk behind Firebird, Tokyo Tina, and Hanoi Hannah, New Quarter is set in and stylish Richmond space with food inspired by the fresh and fragrant dishes of Vietnam. A play on words from Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter, Melbourne’s New Quarter is open 6 days a week, dishing out delish snacks like bahn mi fingers, plates of snapper crudo and rice and noodle dishes like duck floss egg noodles. If I could only describe New Quarter in three words, they’d be fun, funky and fresh.

Bringing Sri-Lankan and South Indian flavours to Melbourne’s Collins St, INDU is a celebration of village culture. INDU’s dishes are all coastal and village-inspired, using the freshest and most seasonal produce. With classic Mysore potato masala dosa on the menu, alongside crispy besan (chickpea) fritters, and Goan pork belly curry, INDU will transport you right back to its region of origin.

A fusion restaurant is basically a venue where distinct flavours and cultures are mixed together to create new and unique food genres. So with Asian fusion, you’ll find chefs mixing Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian and plenty more flavour profiles and quintessential dishes from these regions to create innovative and inspired new dishes.