rice kitchen

arrived with a groupon - $85 to spend on food and drinks (purchased for $55).

i did not think to check the menu this time so expected dishes to be $20-25 and there would be alcoholic drinks, so it would easy to spend $85. we ordered waay too much food for two people. service was lovely, and food came out quickly. 

definitely come here with a group of friends to try out the different dishes.

drinks came first. 
vietnamese iced coffee - flavours were nice but disappointed that it was not freshly made.

house-made coconut lemonade - refreshing, unique flavour.

beef stew with pho - the meat melts in your mouth and carrot was soft. however, the broth was lacking in flavour.

hanoi crab and pork fried rice paper spring rolls - the filling was missing flavour but tasted alright when dipped in the fish sauce.

bun cha pork bao buns - favourite dish. the baos were soft and fluffy and the cha (pork patty) flavours were balanced with the salad. probably would have tasted better if i had eaten them when they were warm (my fault, there was so much food).

grilled lemongrass duck with banh hoi - the meat was dry but when you wrap it up and dip it in the fish sauce it tasted okay. didn't enjoy the salad. it had pickled ginger (japanese style) which isn't vietnamese-like. it would have been better if it was a vietnamese salad such as goi/nom

by this point i thought everything had arrived but there was still more...

rice flake prawn popcorn with salad - this was different. the popcorn had a slightly chewy texture. did not have a strong prawn flavour or many prawns. again, the salad dressing was too strong and reminded me of japanese flavours.

fresh pho rolls with tender beef with daikon, carrot & thai basil with fish sauce - by the time we got to this dish, we were sooo full. the meat was dry but when dipped in fish sauce, it helped. i don't like having to rely on fish sauce to give a dish its flavour, and this was the case; as the spring rolls.

the restaurant is trying to be creative with their dishes, which is awesome but some dishes are missing the traditional vietnamese flavours. 

also, they have reusable takeaway containers which i've never seen before in a restaurant. you pay a deposit and upon returning your container, it is refunded to you. this should be encouraged, especially if you go past the area or to the restaurant regularly. kudos for trying to reduce your waste!

small, intimate, cozy restaurant serving modern vietnamese dishes. the dishes are of excellent quality although one or two dishes can be improved. the soba is refreshing whereas the hash brown is very unique with glutinous rice in it. the sauce condiments that come with most dishes are top notch. pho can be improved though as it is quite plainn

a lovely small restaurant that served great vietnamese food at a perfect location too, right in front of the tram stop and next to the south melbourne market.
went here and had their $32 4-course winter brunch and the portion was generous (definitely could share this between the 2).
so we got the wagyu set menu:
- wagyu beef stew
- rice flake prawn popcorn
- onsen egg
- che desserts
also got the dragon fruit ginger fizz and soursop coco punch which were both nice and refreshing.
totally a good value for money and tasty. definitely recommend this place if you are nearby!

i don’t want to sound exaggerated, but all the foods at rice kitchen are very tasty!! i love the grilled chicken with any dish. i love the vegan pho as well, i think i have vegan pho most if the time.
a very recommended place if you like asian and vietnamese especially. :)

we loved tasting our way through the bun cha hanoi and vegan set menus.

nothing encapsulates hanoi street food better than bun cha. char-grilled pork in fish sauce broth, pickles, vermicelli and plenty of fresh herbs. rice kitchen’s amazing hanoi crab and pork spring rolls were the perfect accompaniment as was their must-try hai phong style pork floss and liver pate baguette stick.

the vegan set menu was similarly delicious. crispy on the outside, moist and tasty on the inside, with a refreshing taste of the sea, there is so much to love when it comes to rice kitchen’s plant-based fish cakes. served with woven banh hoi noodle, fresh herbs, salad, pickles and ginger soy sauce this was one flavoursome dish. we loved that this set menu included stunning pulled jackfruit and apple salad with black sesame cracker and the vegetarian fried rice paper spring roll.

each set menu also features one of che desserts’ newest creations. the flanatastic was a rich and creamy french influenced dessert. the silky smooth flan, baked from premium eggs and fresh milk, simply melted in our mouths. we loved the generous toppings of refreshing jellies, crunchy water chestnut gems, and pearls.

i have to say, this has to be my most favourite vietnamese food restaurant in melbourne! i’ve been to vietnam, and this was definitely the perfect melbourne version. the eggplant bao buns were delicious, the rice paper rolls were a favourite and i could devour all of these! the bun choi hanoi was delicious, with the noodles, yassss!!!! got to drink a really good vietnamese coffee and refreshing side drinks! i’d go back and get the chicken soba salad! would highly recommend coming!

what a gem of a place! this restaurant was recommended to us by a vietnamese lady in hoi an on our recent trip so we decided to give it a try. the flavors and smells transported us back to vietnam and the bun cha especially was very authentic and special. the winter brunch set was very filling and is definitely a must try. they serve vegan options as well. the staff were very polite and uplifted the overall culinary experience by talking about the origins of each dish. it was a morning well-spent 😊

good vietnamese food - love the beef pho, pandan green tea and sticky hash brown/mushroom salad. sago plus tropical fruit was delicious. will be back again.

simply amazing - the decor, the staffs and the food. we unknowingly went in 15 minutes prior to their closing during the day. they could have turned us away but the staff was accomodating enough to open up an extra 15 minutes. we are fast eaters so it was no issue. really loved the pork belly pho and the pork bao buns. very fresh and flavoursome. loved the chilli paste as well. tried the vietnamese coffee - nothing against the restaurant - but they are sweet as hell. one sip and am done. no more vietnamese coffee for the foreseeable future.
will definitely be back to try their other dishes.

brilliant surprise for people like me who think of vietnami cuisine comprises of only pho and rice paper rolls. we went on a busy thursday night and had so much food 🥰
we had pulled jackfruit on rice cracker( my fav.dish here), hash browns reimagined, spicy edamame, rice paper rolls (not your regular stuff), and sago pudding with tropical fruits. everything was a revelation and i loved the food. will be back soon!

what a great find this was! fresh, vibrant food with a perfect blend of traditional flavours with a modern twist. the duck salad was the bomb - we almost fought over the salad - and the barramundi was also great. the portion sizes aren't huge which suited us as we could try more things. will definitely be back!!

small cosy little restaurant. had the sticky hash brown with chicken and also the rice bowl with bun cha patties. we missed out on the pho rolls as they were sold out. the sticky hash browns were the highlight for me. crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. really enjoyable meal. lots of healthy options. not authentic vietnamese flavours but a modern sort of take on it.

a buzzing place with a great vibe, good service and quality food. my only criticism would be that their portion sizes were not particularly generous!

no better way to end the week than a vietnamese feast at rice kitchen🤤! i’ve always been a critique for vietnamese food and the words i can think of to describe rice kitchen is; explosive flavors🔥, fresh ingredients and a whole lot of love❤️! the 2 must have dishes has to be the fried chicken and popcorn prawns 🍤😍!

really amazing fresh food. the lamb ribs a standout out dish wit soft tender melt in mouth tasty ribs. the pho rolls really soft & fresh as well. had the beef. no msg bad feel after as well