Rice Queen Oriental Diner and Bar — Restaurant in Melbourne

Rice Queen is a culinary gem that promises an extraordinary dining experience. From the moment you step inside, the soft lighting and fusion of Asian and modern elements creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that sets the stage for an unforgettable meal.

Now let's talk about the star of the show—the food. Every dish that graced our table was a masterpiece, a celebration of flavours and textures that left us craving for more. The Nam Jim Kingfish, with its perfectly balanced blend of tangy and spicy, truly a delightful start to our culinary journey. The freshness of the fish combined with the zingy dressing created a harmonious explosion of taste.

The Crispy Szechuan Eggplant was a revelation. The dish showcased the chef's expertise in balancing heat and sweetness. The crispy exterior gave way to a melt-in-your-mouth interior, and the Szechuan sauce elevated the eggplant to new heights, making it a must-try for any food enthusiast. Next up, we indulged in the Black Truffle Xia Long Bao, a dish that exemplified culinary artistry. The delicate dumplings were filled with a luscious mixture of black truffle and pork, creating an exquisite symphony of flavours with each bite. The accompanying dipping sauce added a tangy kick, enhancing the overall experience.

The Thai Green Curry at Rice Queen was a revelation in itself. Bursting with aromatic herbs and spices, the curry was quite mild. The tender chicken and vibrant vegetables immersed in the creamy coconut-based curry made it a true highlight of our dining experience.

For noodle lovers, the Dan Dan Noodles were a revelation. We ordered this for our son, but the portion was so generous, I ended up finishing it off. And what a delight that was. The al dente noodles were smothered in a rich and savory sauce, showcasing the perfect balance of spiciness and umami flavours. Each bite was an explosion of textures and aromas, leaving me yearning for more. Last but not least, the RQ Signature Beef Curry stole the show. The tender beef, slow-cooked to perfection, was bathed in a velvety curry sauce that boasted layers of complex flavours. The marriage of aromatic spices and succulent meat created a dish that was truly heavenly.

To complement our meal, the restaurant offered an extensive selection of beverages, including a well-curated wine list and expertly crafted cocktails. I indulged myself in a few old fashioned, however my wife tried their new peach prosecco courtesy of the lovely owners. The knowledgeable staff was more than happy to provide recommendations and assist in finding the perfect pairing for our meal.

Summing up, Rice Queen is a culinary haven that excels in every aspect. From the exquisite ambiance to the heavenly food, every detail has been carefully considered to provide a truly remarkable dining experience. Whether you are a fan of Thai, Chinese, or Asian fusion cuisine, this restaurant will leave you mesmerized and craving for more. If you're searching for an unforgettable gastronomic journey, Rice Queen is the place to be. Kudos to the new owners!

Thanks for...

We were taken to RQ by some friends for a belated birthday dinner which was a great choice by them as I love the kitsch interior and find the venue so delightfully ‘Brunswick’. Our party had all dined before so knew what to expect food wise and weren’t disappointed.

They have a killer bar and we ordered some beers and an espresso martini and the not into yoga which is a coconut based cocktail which was very enjoyable.

We had the 24 hour braised lamb shank curry alongside some roti and peanut sauce. I loved the sweet peanut sauce because the coconut rendang curry had quite the kick and the meat was perfectly cooked and succulent. It’s really the ideal venue for a fun night out with a group of friends; good food, great atmosphere and plenty of fun cocktails

Updated review I was delighted to be invited to Rice Queen last night having been several times before over the years. The venue itself is still an absolute showstopper although the service last night left a little to be desired. The lovely venue manager did mention he was down two staff but our table wasn’t wiped and we requested another bowl which never materialised.

You get fabulous atmosphere because it’s always packed but this also means there’s not a lot of room. Given it’s a sharing style menu a table for two is quite uncomfortable because of how little space you have for multiple dishes. I found it extremely cramped.

We started with the wagyu beef tartare and the wok tossed squid salad. Both quite tasty, the wagyu had a very subtle wasabi mayo and I very much enjoyed the glass noodle salad with the squid. I would have liked even more squid in there though.

The rice noodle dish was our main which had quite a lot of flavour and the prawns and fishcake inside were cooked very well. This was a good amount of food for the two of us but do ensue you save room for dessert as this was just exceptional.

We had the salted peanut praline ice cream served in a cone and the coconut pannacotta which was a lovely light way to finish. I don’t generally order pannacotta a lot but I’ve been eating a lot of fabulous ones of late and this continued the trend. It had an excellent wobble and a lovely silky texture. I don’t often enjoy Asian desserts but these ones are a must try.

Original review Rice Queens is the epitome of Asian fusion food amongst quirky vibrant decor. Think bright blue wallpaper, hanging lanterns and twinkly fairy lights- a killer setting that almost teleports you to the Orient. The standout for me are the baos. 48 hour cooked spicy beef short rib encased in a bun. Pretty much the pinnacle of nourishment.

Wouldn't go past the Thai beef salad with Kenny's dressing either. I don't know who the hell Kenny is but he should win some sort of medal. Shout out also to the droolworthy dipping sauce that accompanies the prawn...

Such a disappointing experience!

I had been in contact with staff from Rice Queen since September & over email they were fantastic at helping me book in the perfect night for my staff Christmas party, organising the timing for dinner & kareoke. However once we arrived this was not the experience I had planned!

One of my staff is allergic to onions, so the waitress offered to swap the meal over from what was listed in the banquet. After the meal arrived & my employee started eating he felt a swelling in his mouth & only then realised that his meal came out WITH onion in it. The staff quickly replaced his meal but did not try & over compensate for this at all - in fact I had to ask for the meal with onion to the comped off the bill. We are lucky he had antihistamines in his bag, otherwise the night could have ended a lot worse. There was no apology for this at all!

As discussed prior to attending, we had karaoke booked in after dinner. It was getting to the end of our food when I mentioned “just let us know when it’s time to go into karaoke” - staff responded with “it’s fully booked.” I said “yes, but we are the booking!” It took the staff over 15 mins to communicate with one another to then return to say “well it’s too late now we don’t have time for your 1 hour karaoke booking.” I said “that would be okay, we are happy to go in for only half hour if it’s too late” - they said no. Even though, at the time initially asked we would have had 45 mins on our booking.

There was no communication to us that we had to finish eating by a certain time to utilise our kareoke booking, plus is was obvious that the staff had no idea that we were booked in for dinner & kareoke.

On top of this mishap the staff were overwhelming rude & took no responsibility at all for the mistakes made and continued to place the blame on us.

Would not recommended! My team and I were shocked & incredibly disappointed with the whole experience...