Chiki Chiki — Restaurant in Melbourne

Why does this place have a 4.7 on Google Reviews? I’m being deadset with this question. They charged $24 — including the drink — for what, exactly? Katsu chicken, rice, and curry sauce. That’s it.

Where’s the pickled ginger? Where’s the seasoning? Where are the egg or carrots? Was I supposed to help myself or ask for them? As some previous reviews have already mentioned, the service is nearly non-existent. They ask what you want — you get it. That’s it. They don’t tell you where the cutlery is, and they don’t explain anything beyond taking your order and your payment.

From what I understand, you order your main (in this case, the katsu curry), and then you’re expected to get extras from the bain-marie. It's unclear whether those extras cost more — I assume they do.

This really should cost around $14–15, drink included, based on what’s actually provided.

Also, there's a sticker on the wall telling you to return your plates and bowls yourself. At this price point, that should be the staff’s responsibility. That also rubbed me the wrong way.

As for the food? It was just OK — and I don’t mean that in a good way. The chicken was passable, but lukewarm. The rice was plain, but at least it wasn’t clumpy. The curry sauce was probably the best part, actually. Smooth, and not overly spicy. I’d describe the dish more if there was more to say — but honestly, it was just boring.

I should probably mention again, this was $24, with a can of soft drink. It's city prices, but without the quality nor flair to back it up. Yes, it's pretty much a self-serve place, so I understand my critique may be a little baseless. But how was I supposed to know? I assumed there would be table service — or at least service that explained the process. I expected a proper chicken katsu curry, like other similar eateries.

The food came out fast — under 3 minutes. Wow! But unfortunately, it felt like fast food. Think McDonald's or Hungry Jack's — but a Japanese version.

And that’s what Chiki Chiki felt like. Yet somehow it has a 4.7 rating? Meanwhile, Pepper Lunch — a similar venue — only has 4.0 stars. Criminal.

Hanaichi (one of Chiki Chiki's competitors) still serves a katsu curry for around $12, despite recent price increases. Better chicken, pickled ginger included, and while the curry is also simple, at least the price matches what they offer.

So again, what makes Chiki Chiki worth a 4.7? What makes it better than those places? I’m not saying people are wrong to enjoy it — but seriously, why? Especially...

I recently visited Chiki Chiki, and I must say it was a delightful experience overall. The restaurant has a cozy and inviting atmosphere, with tasteful decor that blends modern elements with traditional Asian touches. The staff were welcoming and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal.

Food: The menu offers a wide variety of dishes from different Asian cuisines, which was impressive. I tried the fried chicken and beef noodle soup. The fried chicken had a crispy exterior and tender, juicy meat, seasoned perfectly. The beef noodle soup had a rich broth, tender beef slices, and perfectly cooked noodles, making for a well-balanced and flavorful dish.

Service: The service was prompt and friendly. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and offered great recommendations. The food arrived in a timely manner, and our drinks were refilled regularly without us having to ask.

Ambiance: The ambiance of Chiki Chiki is pleasant and relaxing. The lighting is soft, creating a warm environment perfect for a casual dinner or a special occasion.

Overall, Chiki Chiki is a great place to enjoy a tasty meal with friends or family. Despite a minor issue with the appetizer, the main courses were excellent, and the service was top-notch. I will definitely be returning to try more dishes from their...

Did not realise that this place had changed hands over the years until I noticed that things looked similar but yet different and that Udon Yasan is now located in Bourke Street.

Ordered Plain Noodle Soup and opted for a Vegetable Pancake ($4.20). Choices in the fried section were quite limited today and some looked like they’ve dried out under the heating element.

Also got the Beef and Ontama Noodle Soup. The beef thinly sliced, precooked with basically sugar and soy. The Ontama is an egg cooked at low temperature to achieve the soft silky runny egg white and yolk. The egg we got still had some uncooked egg white present.

Apart from self serve water - ambient, cold or sparkling, one section has toppings such as fried tempura bits, wakame, spring onions, pickled radish and pickled ginger at no extra cost. At the tables, sesame seeds and Japanese chilli powder mix (Shichimi Togarashi) are on offer as well.

The serving bowls seem markedly smaller than when I had it years ago when it was Udon Yasan.

The tempura bits and the vegetable pancake have not been drained properly, unfortunately made my soup a little oily. The beef was a little fatty and ordinary.

Cannot really complain considering that this is a very cheap option for Japanese food. Service was friendly...