Le Tonkin — Restaurant in Melbourne

We had an unforgettable dinner at Le Tonkin in Armadale—easily one of the most impressive Vietnamese dining experiences we’ve had in Melbourne. This place brings the soul of Northern Vietnam to the heart of the southeast suburbs, and every dish tells a story.

We started with a round of entrees that absolutely set the tone:

🐟 Kingfish Sashimi – $22 Delicate, fresh, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The balance of citrus and spice was spot on—bright and clean, letting the quality of the fish shine.

🦐 Grilled King Prawns (4pcs) – $25 These were smoky, juicy, and charred to perfection. We loved the depth of flavour, and the marinade added just the right amount of heat and sweetness.

🐮 Tataki Wagyu Beef – $24 A standout! Lightly seared and beautifully plated, the beef was rich, buttery, and sliced thin for the perfect bite every time. Paired with a punchy dressing that cut through the richness.

🥢 Hanoi Spring Rolls (2pcs) – $15 These were next-level. Extra crispy on the outside, packed with herbs and pork, and served with a nuoc cham dipping sauce that was tangy and addictive. We could’ve eaten ten more.

Then came the mains, and wow—things got even better:

🍗 Confit Duck Leg in Turmeric Lemongrass Curry – $40 The duck was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the curry was so fragrant and comforting. It had this perfect balance of earthiness and citrus, and paired beautifully with the rice. Total comfort food with a Vietnamese twist.

🐟 “Lao Ngu” Cha Cha Cha – Sizzling Turmeric Rockling Fish w/ Vermicelli Noodles – $42 This was the showstopper. Served on a sizzling plate, the turmeric rockling was crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and surrounded by a generous mix of fresh herbs, pickles, and vermicelli. Every bite had texture, flavour, and brightness—it was unlike anything we’ve had in Melbourne. You have to try this dish.

To accompany everything:

🍷 VIC Pinot Gris – $14 Crisp, floral, and paired beautifully with the seafood.

🍷 TAS Pinot Noir – $14 Light and elegant with the duck and beef—balanced and smooth.

The service was lovely and attentive, the atmosphere was warm and relaxed, and the food… absolutely memorable. Le Tonkin is the kind of place you almost don’t want to share, just to keep it your little secret—but it deserves all the love. We’ll be back very soon—and next time, we’re coming...

Vietnamese fusion restaurant in Armadale. Le Tonkin is less than a year old, but has the confidence of a mature establishment.

On arrival we were pleasantly surprised to see our table with baby seat all set up. The fit out is very intimate and luxurious. A neon sign invites diner to “be here now”. Wise words indeed.

For entree, we tried the Grilled Tiger Prawns, with Wasabi Dressing, Green Apple & Herbs. The prawns were large, juice & fresh, and the wasabi sauce really had a nice kick in it. Apple side salad was a cooling complement to the heat. I would say that the fried onion the prawn was unnecessary, just got in the way of the flavours.

Next up, Wagyu steak in Wafu sauce. Served on a sizzling hotplate, this dish was a real stunner, the soft wagyu melts in your mouth. Come with generous side salad too. This is a great sharing dish for two or even three diners.

On the side we had Steamed Vegetables with Oyster Sauce. Though the photo doesn’t show it, this dish had a fantastic amount of oyster mushrooms too! This is a great side dish if you’re going heavy on the meat. Also had some steamed rice to soak up everything.

For dessert, they had some great dairy free options! We sampled the Matcha and Coconut Tiramisu. It was sweet, light and beautifully presented with sweet potato curls and flowers on top.

The service was fast and friendly on a busy Friday night. There were nice, clean bathrooms too. There is an affordable lunch menu available as well.

With great menu, service and baby & allergy friendly attitude, Le Tonkin is a fantastic addition to High Street, Armadale and definitely...

Extremely Disappointing 😒 Not worth going!! We came for the “kids eat free” offer with our family and left very frustrated.

It took them about an hour to get the kids’ food out – and by then, our mains had already arrived. The worst part? They didn’t even count the adult pho as a main, so we only got two free kids’ meals instead of four. The pho was never listed as a starter, and in all my years eating it, I’ve never seen it treated as one. If it wasn’t considered a main, why did the bowls of pho arrive 60–70 minutes after we ordered?!

We ordered four kids’ bowls of pho and at no point did the staff caution us about the limit with the “kids eat free” deal. When the food finally came, the pho lacked flavour and punch, the portions were small for the price, and overall, the value just wasn’t there.

Service was painfully slow, communication was poor, and the pricing didn’t match the quality or quantity. This was a disappointing night out for the whole family – we won’t...