Restaurant
Boonchoou
11 Heffernan Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Find Boonchoou
11 Heffernan Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout Boonchoou
Tucked down Heffernan Lane, Boonchoou is where Thai expats quietly send friends when craving regional dishes that never hold back on heat. Downstairs hums around an open kitchen. Upstairs, dim lights and low jazz set a slow, moody pace—a deliberate break from bright street-canteen chaos. Plates come built for sharing: charred pork jowl, pounded papaya salad, and stir-fried noodles carrying unmistakable wok hei. Cool the burn with an iced Thai coffee capped in coconut foam, right before the yellow curry with banana and fish hits the table.
- Regional Thai Specialties: The kitchen focuses on regional plates and family recipes seldom seen in standard diners, from charred pork jowl to yellow curry with banana and fish.
- Signature Coconut-Foam Drinks: Iced Thai teas and coffees topped with a thick layer of coconut foam cut through the menu's heat, alongside signature cocktails like the Hommalee.
- Moody Jazz Ambiance: Low lighting, warm decor, and background jazz cultivate an intimate, relaxed setting across two distinct levels.
- Attentive Hospitality: Attentive, smiling staff provide patient menu guidance and unhurried pacing for date nights and small groups.
What's On at Boonchoou
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Choose Boonchoou
Discover regional Thai dishes and craft drinks in a moody Heffernan Lane space—book your table early.
Curated Jazz & Moody Ambiance
Curated jazz and warm, low lighting replace high-turnover canteen noise with an immersive, relaxed atmosphere.
They play jazz music in the background, which creates such a cool, relaxed, and moody setting that fits perfectly with the excellent Thai food.
Alex Lim Hospitality Treated as Craft
From pacing and custom teaware to thoughtful plating and attentive service, every dining detail is intentionally orchestrated.
Truly, the wholistic effort towards hospitality as an art taken by Boonchoou is remarkable.
Bill z Uncommon Regional Recipes
The kitchen explores deep regional specialties rarely found on standard Melbourne menus, including banana fish curry and squid ink fried rice.
Beyond the familiar favourites, their menu dives into a more regional side of Thai cuisine that you don’t often see.
Jennilyn Yu Artisanal Coconut Foam Drinks
Bespoke iced Thai coffees and milk teas finished with thick coconut foam balance the kitchen's fiery chili heat.
The drinks were a stand out. We got a plain thai iced tea, as well as 2 specialty drinks - an iced thai coffee with coconut foam and an iced thai milk tea with coconut foam.
Alessia Maio Built for Intimate Date Nights
Dimly lit tables and sophisticated pacing make Boonchoou a natural choice for intimate dinners and special occasions.
Very cool setting that makes it perfect for date nights or just a fancy night out, though the lighting is a little dim.
Koi Shareable Plates for Small Groups
Shareable, modest plate sizes allow tables to sample broadly across diverse regions and family-style courses.
Portions are on the smaller side which is great for small groups who want to share a few dishes.
Tri Nguyen
Most popular items
Guest favorites highlighting Boonchoou's bold, regional Thai cooking.
Charred Pork Jowl
The charred pork jowl was a standout!
Alessia Maio Papaya Salad
The stars of the show were the Papaya Salad - highly recommend to make it as spicy as possible, it will be like visiting Penang!
Rhythm Gupta Squid Ink Fried Rice
the squid was so tender and the fried rice wasnt fishy at all with crazy good wok hey
clara lim Yellow Fish Curry with Banana
The dish you must try is the yellow curry with banana and fish (I forgot the exact name). It was so tasty and creative, perfect with steamed rice.
T. “Apop” Bunyakeat
Other favorites
Signature drinks and traditional desserts that complement the dining experience.
Iced Thai Coffee with Coconut Foam
The drinks were a stand out. We got a plain thai iced tea, as well as 2 specialty drinks - an iced thai coffee with coconut foam and an iced thai milk tea with coconut foam. They were such a wonderful end to our meal.
Alessia Maio Hommalee Cocktail
Don’t forget to try their signature cocktail ‘HOMMALEE,’ every sip will make you feel like a trip to Thailand 🥳🥳
Ray Suttipornchai Manee & Mana Drink
We started with a fun drink called “Manee & Mana”. It had a strong coconut smell that I really liked, and the mix with tea and coffee was so nice and refreshing. 🧋☕️
T. “Apop” Bunyakeat Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice was the most authentic I had in Melbourne so far outside of Thailand.
Whitney
Frequently Asked Questions
How large are the portions and how should you order?
Dishes are moderately sized and intended for sharing, so ordering a variety of plates across the table is recommended for groups.
Should you book a table in advance?
The space is intimate and fills up quickly, often resulting in wait times of 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours. Advance reservations are accepted and recommended.
How spicy is the food?
Traditional heat levels are authentic and pack a notable kick, though staff will offer spice guidance and warnings when asked.
What is the ambiance and lighting like?
The restaurant features moody, dim lighting alongside a jazz soundtrack, creating a cozy and atmospheric dining environment.
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