Colonel Tan's Thai Kitchen

Wow! My partner and I went there for our Valentine’s dinner date. Everything exceeded expectations. We already knew the atmosphere will be a 10/10 (In Revs we trust) But it was my first time trying the food and it was so good we barely got any photos before finishing the plates clean! We had the Rice Pancakes (highly recommended starter), the Lotus Root Salad, Massaman Curry & a side of sticky rice - SO flavourful! sweet, bit spicy, and savoury all at once:) Sticky rice had the perfect texture too, not mushy at all. The service was great, staff are really friendly and everything arrived within an appropriate time of ordering. The DJ brought the vibe in check, kudos to whoever was playing, it was hard to sit still and not move/nod to the music. If you’re after great vibes, good food & drinks, and good music this is the spot. You can also finish the night at revs if you don’t eat your way into a food coma;)

The place has a nice vibe, but it badly needs renovation. The leather couches are torn, and the cutlery and utensils are stained which is shocking for a restaurant of this size and reputation. The service was alright, but the food was terrible. I honestly doubt if the chef is even familiar with authentic Thai cooking, because there were zero Thai flavours in any of the dishes. Please don’t call yourself a Thai restaurant if you can’t serve basic Thai food. There was no Thai chili sauce or chili flakes. The Pad Thai was overly saucy, anyone could make a better one at home. The beef chili basil barely had any beef, just beans. The fried prawn wontons were stale and clearly refried, and the calamari dish had almost no calamari, only salad. The bartender didn’t even know how to make proper cocktails. And don’t even get me started on the toilets, absolutely filthy and disgusting. You’d lose your appetite just by walking in there. Even with a 40% discount with EatClub on the food, it still felt like a waste of money. I honestly pity anyone paying full price for such low quality food. This is not Thai food, and I would not recommend this place to anyone!!!!

Great service. The restaurant is on first floor. Staffs were amazing. We ordered mulled wine, South west along with five spice chicken and fat duck noodles. I was tasting the mulled wine for the first time and I didn’t like the taste of spicy wine. I don’t think it is the issue with restaurant, it was my first time. South west tasted amazing. Became fan of five spice chicken and super tender duck amazing. The fat duck noodle is on sweeter side.

Such a surprise to find out that there is a Thai restaurant adjunct to Revs, and what a great discovery too! There was a very strong range of classic Thai dishes, with dietary options covered amongst the noodles, wok dishes, curries and salads. Share plates also looked great however the mains were enough - definitely a good portion per person. Plenty of cocktail options with a Thai twist as well as the usuals. The spice level was very manageable and everything was complemented well with a side of rice. Staff were fun and helpful, and the bar tenders were happy to modify cocktails to our preference. Service was on the slower side despite not being a particularly busy night, so would recommend giving yourself time for dinner if you have plans before/after and are looking for a quick Thai meal (this is more of a sit down). Dim red lighting and a very funky layout with the choice to dine at tables or couches. DJ and a photo booth are within the restaurant, and volume inside was decent. Might not be everyone’s choice of ambiance and requires stair access next to Revs, however we thought it was a very fun, quirky and unique setup, targeting adult groups. Ordered: green chicken curry, fat duck noodles, flight of cocktails

You may probably have to come here personally on Chapel Street in Prahran (very close to the train station too) & enjoy their Thai dishes as well as the vibes & ambience here. And you won’t regret it. Go through all my uploaded video clips & photos here, then you’d have a much better idea as to why I’ve commented so.

Super delicious. We had Pad Thai and chu chee snapper red curry. Can’t recommend this curry enough. Enormous portion size for the Padthai

I mean, what are you doing guys? Food was horrible. Five spice chicken, didn't even introduce to any spice, tasteless no salt, just fried chicken with no seasoning. The veggie stew...... i am speechless. The satay chicken, they forgot to cook it for us. Asked for it they wanted to cook it in one mintue, it was rawwwww. Raa chickn which qouted by satay sauce. Only roti was good

Amazing food. If you haven’t tried it, you MUST! Love the Thursday locals night. Always a great time - head there for dinner and stay on for drinks and dancing.

Had an awesome dinner here. You'd never imagine this place turns into what it does on the weekend. But as a restaurant it stands alone and is great. It's basically just like a cheaper, slightly more grungy Cookie (run by same folk). But it's covered in awesome art, Banksy pieces, local exhibits, and actual DJ's playing cool music overhead. The food was excellent. We got fried chicken bucket, roti with dip, papaya salad, betel leaf rolls, just a variety of stuff and it was all great. We also went through a couple bottles of wine. I'd definitely return, but it's not a romantic table for two type place. It's a fun place to have casual dinner that's good quality food, loves great art, but is also relaxed.

I have a hard time understanding just how it took me so long to discover Colonel Tan's. Whilst it probably isn't the most authentic thai in town, what it lacks in that department it more than makes up for in atmosphere and tastiness. My vote goes to the fried rice, which is unlike any others in town, and basically any of the curries. Yummo. Bonus points awarded if you can get yourself a table on a Thursday night, where they make friendly with locals by offering 50% off.

How can a restaurant attached to a venue often referred to as "Revolting Revolver" be so damn delicious?! Undeniably one of my favourite places to eat on the southside, Colonel Tan's is comparable to the likes of Chin Chin or Cookie - only without the hefty pricetag and fancy-pants service. I highly recommend heading in with an empty stomach and a good mate and ordering a bottle of wine and pretty much everything the menu has to offer. HOWEVER, personal favourites include the Betel Leaf Salad, Rendang Chicken Curry Dip and Roti Bread, Deep Fried Chilli Squid and the Popcorn Chicken. There are a number of items on the menu that would be considered a 'main meal' for one if sharing isn't your thing, but I really thing ordering a bit of everything is the way to go. Much like the 24-hour nightclub next door, Colonel Tan's has a dingy and grungy look about it, so it may not be the perfect destination for your romantic ten-year anniversary dinner... but it's perfect for a yummy dinner with a group of mates on a Friday night.

Colonel Tan's belongs to the same group as Boney, Cookie, Magic Mountain Saloon and The Toff in Town. Located up in a very long flight of stairs in the famous Chapel St. Serving a variant of affordable Thai traditional and fusion cuisine, very popular among the young and hip crowd. love their food to the max

Very good thai food, slightly fusion, in a spectacular hidden building. Great not just for dinner but for a great end to end night! Only downside: too loud to entertain any proper conversation

I was a little hesitant to eat dinner in the nightclub revolver for reasons you can probably presume. I was pleasantly surprised to experience one of the best meals I've had in Melbourne with a vibrant atmosphere matched with moderate prices. The Thai food was authentic and inspired with a wide variety of curries and snacks. While enjoying my post-meal sangria, I glanced across the wall the see a COCKROACH the size of my springroll crawling up the brick wall at eye level. Needless to say, this infestation has spoilt this restaurant for me! If i wanted to hang out with pests, I'd just wait until revolver after-hours. It's a shame because boy, oh boy, was that coconut rice de-LISH!

If you have ever been to Revolver on a naughty night out, forget everything you ever saw there and keep an open mind. Colonel Tan's could not be more different, even though located in the exact same venue Colonel Tan's completely transforms Revolver by day into an amazing Thai inspired tapas restaurant. The food here really does need to be seen to be believed it is incredible! Not surprising the head chef also works in the sister venue Cookie an highly regarded Thai restaurant on Swanston Street. Meal items at Colonel Tan's include Beetle Leaf Salad with Snapper, Peanuts, Ginger, Chilli and Lime, Stir Fried Morning Glory with Fermented Tofu and Steamed Mussels with Curry, Basil and Beer. Everything on the menu is a safe bet, the flavours are rich and fresh and always leaves you wanting more. I would recommend Colonel Tan's to anyone who has a taste for Thai food, they also do a fun trivia night every Tuesday, but watch out if your there for a quiet meal as the trivia bunch get quite loud and competitive!

Oh my, I have found a new favourite! Was super please with our experience at Colonel Tan's. The food was really tasty and atmosphere was really chill with vibing beats playing from the DJ booth. We enjoyed Corn & Coriander fritters, the flavory Grilled Thai Sausage and the Colonels Five Spiced chicken with a few pots of Kirin Lager on tap. I must admit it was certainly a different experience eating instead of dancing at Revolver but I just loved it. Will most certainly be back to try the rest of the menu.

Colonel Tan's is such a great surprise. Thai flavours are delicious, made for sharing and the price is great. There's even a local's night.. Thursday I think.. that gets you 25% off.

Created by the owners of Cookie this is a cheaper, trashier retro version, and it's awesome. Throughly recommend this one, and if you hate Revolver, just pretend it's not there... that's what I did!

This is a single dish review for Colonel Tan's. I know plenty of people RAVE about how amazing the Thai food is here. I was dragged her to participate in a trivia night (where I ended up wanting to slap the Trivia host across the face with a metal pole), and so concurred to just eat when i got here. Although I was thrilled to see MGD on the beer list, I just wasnt in the mood for thai. I spied a steak sandwich on the menu, and asked the bar guy "its stupid to get the sandwich in a place that specialises in Thai, right?" HIs response: "nah, i mean, its on the menu, right?!" So I ordered it. It arrived and I was left dumbfounded. It was a Thai take on a steak sanga ( not suggested on the menu). A TRIPLE decker of those small cheap white supermarket loaf slices, completely covered in butter. With some kind of cabbage and fresh cucumber layer, and a super thin, tough bit of steak. Fries were super crisp, but the saltiest I have ever had. Weird, greasy, tiny, unappetising. Yeah, I might have failed by ordering this dish, but it shouldnt be on the menu. Unless it's a practical joke.

Was looking for somewhere lighthearted and yum to go for dinner with the hubby i found this in zomato because of the rating so high so decided to give It a go. Was seated right by the kitchen when we were the only ones there I didn't like this. The table was sticky and there was gum on the side of my seat YUCK. We ordered sweet potato dumplings. These were deep fried battered balls of tasteless potatoe not good. The popcorn chicken very average. Mains the lamb curry and the 5 spice chicken. Curry was ok served luke warm and tasted like it had just been heated up from last nights dinner it was served in cheap plastic bowls. The chicken had no flavour what so ever of the 5 spice. It was like a cheap version of Saigon Sally. The food was quick which makes me think everything is just reheated. We won't be coming back. So disappointed because all the reviews looked great. The service was great and all the staff were lovely which was the only plus side

Great food and atmosphere! Highly recommend it! But not for a quiet dinner, as there is always music and lost of noise but that is the atmosphere.

Spicy & grungy. It's Chapel St meets Brunswick st. Good food and good service. Can't believe we have been in the area for 5 years and haven't been before. We will be going back. P.S. there is a Street Fighter 2 arcade machine in the back - super awesome!

People had built this place up for me which is always a worry. Luckily Colonel Tan lives up to the hype. It is cool, seriously cool. Love the layout and funky beats. The menu is also well stocked. I had the pork curry which I mopped up with some rotti. Some seriously good comfort food. I popped in just before heading out with friends so perched myself at the bar. The staff were friendly and seeing that I was on my lonesome were happy to have a chat. I'll be heading back there next time I cross the river!

One of my secret favourite restaurants for fantastic Thai food. This Is not the kind of place for a romantic date or business meeting. Nor a joint for the pretentious toorak set bc this place is seriously grungy. Even grungy for my Berkeley background, or maybe I've gotten too old! If you can look past the garage thrift grunginees and hike up the long flight of stairs, you can enjoy a modern Thai menu with some serious authentic flavours. Affordable too!