Man Tong Kitchen — Restaurant in Melbourne

Dear Man Tong Express, I don’t even know where to begin, so let’s start with the monetary extortion masquerading as a meal. Twenty-seven Australian dollars. Yes, $27, for what can only be described as a standard-issue rice-with-honey-chicken ensemble that every other half-decent eatery within a five-kilometre radius manages to serve for seventeen dollars max and that usually comes with stainless steel dignity, not kindergarten-level disposable paraphernalia.

Let me articulate this clearly, for the benefit of those who still cling to logic and reason: when a human being pays close to thirty dollars for a single serve of rice and protein drenched in glucose, one expects basic culinary infrastructure. Not some post-apocalyptic picnic set made of plastic and biodegradable shame. The plate was plastic. The cutlery was a wooden spoon so flimsy it bent like moral integrity in a reality TV show. The bowl if I dare to call it that looked like it was salvaged from a dollar store clearance bin and designed for serving instant noodles to dorm-dwelling undergraduates, not a full-priced customer dining inside a shopping centre restaurant pretending to be upscale.

Let me enlighten you with a basic principle of thermodynamics and civility: plastic does not retain heat nor respect. My food cooled down faster than a superconductor at absolute zero, and the tactile sensation of scraping rice with a splinter-prone wooden spoon is an affront to civilization. For $27, I expect stainless steel. Not because I’m being pedantic (which, frankly, I am), but because I am not a raccoon eating out of a trash bin.

And don’t even get me started on the visual mismatch plastic bowl, wooden spoon, disposable sadness paired with a price tag that screams premium dining. It’s the culinary equivalent of driving a Ferrari with lawn chair seating. You can't charge fine-dining prices and serve food in the same gear you would find at a primary school camping trip.

In conclusion, two stars:

One for the food tasting... acceptable. Not spectacular. Not unforgettable. Just edible.

One for managing to anger me enough to write this dissertation...

DON'T BOTHER! One of the worst Chinese restaurants I've been, despite being in the prestige space of the Crown complex, charging the premium price. The one star is for the decoration.

We arrived at the restaurant after the opening hour with a closed sign on the stand, staff weren't willing to start and seemed to be surprised to see customers even we reserved a table for yum cha. One staff slowly came to the door to turn the signage around, attempted to push the door open and failed. At that stage, there was no acknowledgement of our existence.

Another staff sat us down, left us the menu and walked away without a word. We tried to order tea but the waitress had no idea what tea was available! By the time we figured out and started drinking, she then said "it is $5 per person for tea". You would expect this to be on the menu, or mentioned to us prior to the order.

The menu was not for yum cha at all. Nothing like what's on their official website with lots of options. I thought I made a mistake and checked again but nothing reconciled! I showed that to a waiter and he was like "oh, we changed the menu just last week and we don't have yum cha anymore, only a few dim sims options". Seriously! This is absolutely unbelievable how the official website was not updated and no reminder at the time of booking!

The spring onion pancake was a thin donut style with 1 straw of soggy shallot inside, sesame prawn toasts were burnt, xiao long bao wrappings were all torn and soupless, pork dim sims were dried and the prawn Spring rolls had hardly got any prawn flavour!

Asked for the bill and ten mins later the waitress came with a bill that didn't look right, while I tried telling her that may be incorrect, she snapped that off my hand and said "oh this isn't yours!"..... a couple seconds later then she realised that was very rude of her and repeated herself with a "sorry".....

The whole experience was shockingly disappointed and shamefully the training of staff, quality of food and the whole operation were not up to standard. I haven't been giving many bad reviews but Man Tong...

Man Tong Kitchen

Situated within the prestigious Melbourne Casino, Man Tong Kitchen is a Chinese restaurant that exudes elegance and an authentic Chinese atmosphere.

The décor and overall ambiance of the restaurant are exceptionally luxurious, transporting diners to a different world. Every detail has been meticulously designed to create a setting that is both grand and reminiscent of traditional Chinese culture.

The ingredients used at Man Tong Kitchen are of the highest quality—fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully sourced. Each dish is crafted with care, ensuring that the flavors are pure and natural, without the excessive use of MSG. This dedication to quality makes it a restaurant truly worth recommending.

In a market where many establishments rely heavily on additives to enhance flavor, Man Tong Kitchen stands out by serving dishes that taste inherently natural. The commitment to using fresh and real ingredients is evident in every bite.

The service at Man Tong Kitchen is another highlight. The staff are friendly and attentive, enhancing the dining experience with their warm hospitality. During our recent trip to Melbourne, we visited the restaurant on a particularly cold day and decided to try the fish maw soup.

The experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The soup was exquisite, bringing back fond memories of Asia. As a Taiwanese, I felt an immediate connection to the flavors and presentation.

Although we had indulged quite a bit at lunch and thus did not order much for dinner, our experience at Man Tong Kitchen left a lasting impression. The fish maw soup, in particular, was a standout dish that I look forward to enjoying again.

I am already planning my next visit to Melbourne, and a return to Man Tong Kitchen is at the top of my list. Next time, I hope to save more room to fully appreciate the wide array of luxurious and delicious offerings this restaurant has to offer.

Man Tong Kitchen is not just a restaurant; it's an experience that captures the essence of fine...