Restaurant
China Red
206 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Find China Red
206 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Book NowAbout China Red
Bourke Street regulars rely on China Red for fast dumpling fixes and searing heat in the CBD rush. Tap the mounted touchscreen at your booth—steaming plates land within minutes. The street-level entrance looks tight, but a subterranean dining floor unfolds below. Patrons come for the essentials: crisp pan-fried dumplings, pork wontons slicked in chili oil, and sizzling cumin beef carrying distinct wok hei.
- Touchscreen Ordering: Mounted screens at every table display photos and prices for direct, rapid meal orders.
- Handmade Dumplings: Kitchen churns out house-made pan-fried pork dumplings, xiao long bao, and fiery wontons in chilli oil.
- Basement Dining Floor: A deceptive shopfront opens into an expansive subterranean basement dining room built for groups.
What's On at China Red
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Diners Choose China Red
Melbourne’s Chinatown staple pairs ultra-fast touchscreen ordering with hearty communal Chinese dining—book your table ahead to skip the rush.
Minutes-Fast Service for Pre-Show and CBD Schedules
Freshly prepared dumplings and wok dishes hit the table within minutes of ordering, making it an ideal dining stop before evening curtain calls or busy work commitments.
After making selections via the electronic menu, we never waited more than a few minutes for our order to reach the table.
The Girl Who Flies Streamlined Kitchen Turnaround for Lunch Breaks
Digital ordering directly connects to high-capacity kitchen lines, guaranteeing quick, reliable turnarounds during short midday lunch breaks.
Service is prompt, you order online via a tablet next to the table and they bring it out. Great for a quick lunch break.
Sean Nairn Visual Dish Selection at Your Fingertips
Table-mounted digital tablets display clear dish photographs and prices, allowing diners to explore unfamiliar dishes with total clarity and confidence.
has a touch screen at each table to make your own order. With photos of the meal as well which helps as I don't know every dish.
Bec Wickham Effortless Independent Ordering Rhythm
On-demand tablet menus let guests direct the timing of each course without waiting to flag down waitstaff, creating an intuitive dining flow.
Ordering process so easy -Touch screen on every table with English menu and pictures of the food .
Ranjitha Ravindran Spacious Multi-Level Dining for Group Gatherings
An expansive subterranean dining floor beneath the street-level entrance accommodates large groups and walk-ins comfortably with fast, coordinated service.
With a better ratio of wait staff than a daycare centre they were fast and efficient at delivering out incredible delicious food of generous portions
Matt Jordan Communal Feasting Made for Sharing
Generous portions across dim sum, noodles, and wok mains allow parties of friends and coworkers to sample broadly at an economical price per head.
We ordered a selection of dumplings, meats, fried tofu and fried rice and shared and that was really nice and probably the best way to experience as many food options as possible as a group.
Tanya
Most popular items
Customer-favorite dumplings and mains ranked by review mentions
Spicy Wontons
The spicy pork wontons are the best I have ever had.
Mia Roberti Xiao Long Bao
Their Xiao Long Bao is tasty and delicious. Another must try!!!
Kaye Zamora Cumin Beef
We all agreed that the best of all dishes we ordered was the cumin beef.
Aiji Zhan Pan-Fried Dumplings
The pan fried dumplings, wontons and stir fried vegetables with bean curd (tofu) were a standout.
Geoxmel
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ordering work at your table?
Each table features an iPad-style touchscreen displaying photos, descriptions, and prices in English. Orders submit directly as you select them rather than waiting in a general cart, and food arrives at your table within minutes.
Is there additional seating if the ground floor looks full?
China Red operates across two levels, with an expansive subterranean seating area and private dining rooms beneath the compact ground floor entrance. Even if the upstairs appears full, staff can often seat walk-ins and groups downstairs.
How quickly does the food arrive?
Dishes arrive rapidly from the kitchen, often within minutes of submitting your choices on the screen. Because items are prepared and dispatched so quickly, appetizers and mains may reach the table close together.
Should you make a reservation before arriving?
The restaurant accepts advance reservations and can get busy quickly, especially during peak dinner and weekend periods. Booking ahead is recommended, though walk-ins can often be accommodated downstairs.
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