Spice Temple

The food is incredible—bold, rich flavours that hit the spot. The dumplings, eggplant entrée, and mushroom fried rice are absolute must-tries. Not kid-friendly, so best saved for an adults-only night out.

Amosphere? 10/10. Spice Temple is sexy, moody, and polished to perfection — a true Melbourne icon that knows exactly what it’s doing. From the moment you walk in, you're wrapped in an ambience that’s equal parts intimate and elevated. Definitely book ahead — this isn’t a place you stumble into; it’s a place you plan for. The staff were as refined as the space itself: sharp, well-presented, and genuinely attentive without being overbearing. The menu is clean, easy to navigate, and full of sophisticated, balanced flavours that never fight for attention — they complement, elevate, and linger. We kicked things off with the crispy eggplant, which might honestly be one of the best dishes we've ever eaten. Sticky, crunchy, and utterly addictive. The pan-fried wagyu bao followed — juicy and rich, a perfect little pocket of indulgence. For mains, the stir-fried Cape Grim eye fillet in salted black bean sauce with bullhorn peppers delivered bold, deep umami without losing its elegance. The numbing pork was full of fire and finesse, while the cabbage and radish acted as the ideal palate awakener — crisp, fresh, and clever. The house fried rice rounded everything out: classic, comforting, and executed with care. Desserts kept the high going. The lychee sorbet with raspberry swirl and meringue was refreshing and beautifully plated, while the caramel chocolate peanut parfait gave us richness, texture, and that final hit of sweet satisfaction. Final thoughts? Spice Temple nails it. From the lighting to the last spoonful, it’s a masterclass in modern Asian dining. Utmost quality throughout — and that eggplant will haunt our dreams (in the best way possible).

Most of the food was salty. Chicken Wings was soggy and salty. Dumpling was okay. Cha Sui was nice. Noodles Lobster was too salty. Cocktail was too strong knowing it's vodka with passionfruit and stuff. Not recommended. Price was unreasonable.

First time dining at Spice temple and was so happy with the food and service. We had Roberta as our waitress, she recommend us a great selection from the menu, and was able to easily communicate with to ensure our dining experience was amazing. Thank you spice temple and Roberta for an amazing birthday experience!

Food was mediocre. Fried rice was super salty and couldn't take a second bite. The beef was okay but nothing special for the price of $60+. The surcharge for the long weekend was ridiculousl high for a simple meal of 3 dishes. Paid over $120.

My husband says that responsible serving of food should be “a thing”, as we truly over-ate! The dishes were delicious - the Oysters an absolute stand-out and I can’t go past ordering Kung Pao Chicken and House Fried Rice whenever I dine here.

Disappointed Birthday Dinner. Dont want to go back there anymore I asked the waitress for the complimentary champagne for the birthday as crown offer for the birthday present and she didn’t tell us their restaurant is not the participating restaurant and I been charged $46 for the champagne without telling me is not complimentary. I got Mahogany room card and I can order from Mahogany room for free can order more than 2 bottle is free. Why would I pay $54 and I could go to Mahogany for free. The service very bad and the food not like before anymore. So disappointed not enjoy anymore. Do not recommend to people anymore. China town shark Finn restaurant much better. Won’t go back anymore. I been many time dine in and take away and you lose this customer forever. Why the waiter call the security to handle the complaint 🙁. I paid the bill already. What for call the security. How they handle the complaint so strange and unprofessional 😠not go back anymore. So disappointed.

Spice Temple is a culinary gem that elevates Chinese cuisine to new heights. With its serene ambiance, it’s the perfect setting for a special occasion. The menu showcases innovative and flavorful dishes that redefine traditional Chinese flavors. Gluten-free options abound, making it accessible to all diners. For a standout protein, I highly recommend the tender and succulent lamb backstrap. If you’re seeking a truly exceptional dining experience, Spice Temple is a must-visit.

The chicken wings are to die for! Not too spicy, just right. Don't let the chilies in the photo mislead you. Even if you don't have a reservation, sit in the bar area and enjoy a cool cocktail and the chicken wings! However if you like spice, try the numbing item on the menu! Very spicy! Water does not work! You need something dairy or yoghurty to save your taste buds! The other food items are delicious from the photos posted. Service is excellent and attention to detail!

Went here on a Wednesday evening after booking via dimmi. Overlooks the water so best if you get a view near the windows. There is a reception area where you can hand in your bag and coat. The interior reminds me of red spice road but darker and less fancier. The music is more upbeat (playing radio hits). There's some long tables with more couple tables. There is a long drinks list. We sat between two couples. One couple was having a large tofu dish (I'm guessing this was the silken tofu) which was served in a massive bowl with a ladle. The other couple seemed to be having the kung pao chicken. Though I do like Sichuan food, I was not in the mood for fried food or dried chillies. Everything on the menu that seemed appealing was either friend or had dried chillies. I decided to go rogue and we ordered the whole snapper fish and the tofu with greens and bacon with steamed rice. The whole snapper fish with squeamy eye was quite bland. It was atop a red scant soup and topped with those fried red goji berries. It's a mildly flavoured dish but nothing to rave about. The tofu dish was better. Thinly sliced fried tofu with greens, fried bacon (not crispy) and some chilli. Again, no exquisite or exotic flavours just a meh dish. Service was slow and non-attentive. Don't see the need to go back. Quite disappointing. And very very overpriced. I've had better at Sichuan House in Chinatown for 1/5th the price.

Twice the Spice and just as nice ;) We were excited to try out Neil Perry's addition to Crown a few weeks ago whilst looking for a place for lunch. Spice Temple happened to be it, so in we went and were seated by a lovely waitress who was very efficient and explanatory on the different menu sets. The decor is brilliant with enclosed areas defined by curtains, screens and waterfall-like beads. We were seated near the waterfront overlooking the Yarra with wall to wall electronic bay windows. We decided to grab a few different items to share, which were: Fried squid w/ whole five spice and dark chilli paste Fried salt and pepper silken tofu w/ spicy coriander salad Whole steamed snapper w/ chilli and Sichuan pepper & steamed rice The squid was exceptionally tasty with a good hit of chilli and the chilli paste was just perfect to spice them up further. The five spice seasoning was spot on and the squid was cooked just right. The silken tofu was a nice change of pace with a lovely crisp outside and a gooey almost bocconcini-like inside. The coriander salad was nice and spicy and went well with the tofu. The steamed snapper had subtle nice flavours but it was lacking a spicy punch which was what we were after. Spice Temple would be a great spot in summer for dinner and drinks as this place would be even more beautiful at night.

Oh Boy ! what a feeling... Got a chance to visit this place in September 2019 My leadership took me to this upscale restaurant for a client visit. well there is not a single thing to point out as they took care of almost all the things. Good: 1. Good wine selection ( Penfolds, Elderton etc.) 2. Food is good and specially the dessert. 3. Overall vibe of the place 4. Even the restroom one level down is amazing and there is an amazing bar as well in lower floor. Perfect place for an upscale datenight !! Cons: 1. Little delay in service time but not that big of and issue. 2. Booking ( Make sure it is booked in advance if you are going out with 6 or more members)

Tried the Yum Cha buffet lunch and it was delicious! Staff was very friendly - atmosphere was great - and the food was amazing! I also had a ginger beer (all their drinks are made in house) and it was delicious! Overall, 5 big stars!

One of the worst service in such a beautiful location at sydney. The waitress was uncooperative and didnt even wanted to give us an extra wine glass. The food was Ok but the service was SHIT. Prices are high but the service is not worth paying so much for that food. I wont ever come back and would recommend yall not to if you are a tourist visiting Melbourne. Suggestion for the business would be improve your customer service. A food truck has better service than yall.

I am not sure my expectations were too high but I was really disappointed in Spice Temple. We went on Saturday night. We ordered the spicy chicken wings with heaven facing chilli and the yellow noodles with braised beef, along with the Kung Pao Chicken, the sweet and sour pork and stir fried Asian greens with garlic. After the the wings and the noodles were nice enough but all dishes were incredibly salty-too the point we could not finish the pork or the Asian greens. The Kung Pao chicken looked impressive but for the price, all you got were a big bowl of dried chillis with a probably less than one chicken thigh buried in there. Unfortunately, I won't be rushing back

Wonderful restaurant with tasty food. Decor is dark and modern. The design of this place is modern and cozy at the same time. I always find a great menu with different dishes. The food - delicious! I like spicy food with different spices. The Spicy Chicken was really tasty: the sweet and sour chicken and stir-fried Asian greens with garlic.

Love the décor of this place. This is my second visit and I think we ordered too much food but always room for dessert. Starting with a cocktail Spicy Fried squid with cabbage salad (and its spicy) Olive wood smoked Mackerel (OMG so good) Lamb Dumplings Cumin Lamb with bread pockets Stir fried mushroom Black sesame cake with lime granita, lemon curd Tea The service was impeccable, the waitress we had seems to know when we need her. My dining guest loves his spicy food and he enjoyed the food thoroughly.

This used to be one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne. A highlight was getting down there and indulging at this place. Every time I would order the hot and numbing duck. This evening was my final visit. Neil Perry's ever decreasing standards have washed over Spice Temple in Melbourne - it now ranks amongst the most disappointing restaurant experiences along with Rockpool in Sydney. The service used to be impeccable - the table items (bowls, spoons, chopsticks) used to look brand new, and the food used to be sublime. Now I feel like I might as well head to a cheap and cheerful greasy spoon in Chinatown. The food is just as good, the service just as aloof, and the price is much more reasonable. The staff were ... There. That's as much as I can offer. They weren't particularly useful for anything and didn't spend a lot of time doing much. Here's your seat, here's your menu, ready to order?, can I get you the bill? That sort of thing. It used to feel like I was a guest in their house - now I felt like a nuisance. The plastic rice soon and chopsticks looked like they'd seen better days too. As for the food - there was plenty of it. In fairness the dumplings were delicious and the bang bang chicken salad lived up to expectation, but the hot and numbing duck - which used to be my favourite dish - ANYWHERE - was a bland duck dish sans any real flavour. When I mentioned it to the waitress, she offered up a "it could be that the batch of peppercorns just didn't have enough flavour" ... OK. Does the chef taste anything before it leaves the kitchen? If I order something called "hot and numbing" and it is neither of those things am I supposed to just shrug it off? The pork belly was plentiful - but the pork was dried out. The green beans in it were nice though. They picked up the saltiness of the pork belly and so I ate most of them. Didn't bother with a dessert. I don't think I will be going back.

One of my favourite dine in restaurants. I hear some complaints about price but honestly worth every penny. Definitely go for the hot and numbing pork with the eggplant as an entree. Service has always been first class and the setting is what you'd expect at a high end restaurant. Have been a few times now and never let down.

Very cool restaurant with a warm interior feel that makes it great for a night to impress. Food is fantastic but can be overly fancy on the description The chillies arent hot..they have definitely westernized the neaning of hot. Pork belly was slightly oily but hey its pork belly Service is very high end yet prices are not for what they offer..i dont mean cheap i mean just not as expensive as they could be for the full offering. Just do it!

I have only good things to say about the Spice Temple. I have dined here twice and absolutely salivated over every mouthful each time. You can order a cocktail based on your birth year of the chinese zodiac. Mine was a gorgeous and subtle lychee number. My top recommendations, in no particular order; *crispy pork belly *hot and numbing prawn salad *beef and black bean (mandatory!!) *hot and numbing duck *chilli snake beans Make sure you check out the super dark but super suave bar downstairs too!

I had heard good things about this place- I took a business associate out to dinner as a thank you for a job well done. This person was allergic to cilantro so we studied the menu and ordered a beef dish and told the Waitress about the allergy- We were told that the dish was only garnished with cilantro and asked if it could be made without . She assured us that it could / would be made without and she would inform the kitchen of the allergy issue to and there would be NO Cilantro on the order- When the food arrived it was piled with enough cilantro for a trip to the Hospital. Needless to say it was sent away- They brought a new order to the table without and it was very good and they were very nice about it. I ordered kung pao chicken but had to find the chicken buried in red peppers. In the end it was a very OK dinner and VERY expensive. I would have to be convinced to return .

One thing you could never say about the food at Spice Temple is that it is flavourless or bland - Spice Temple is DEFINITELY the right name for this asian restaurant. The other thing is, dont come looking for your standard chinese fare- the menu specifically avoids Cantonese cuisine, which is what you and I would know as regular ol' Chinese food. I love me some chilli. If you do too, do yourself a favour and try some of their spicier dishes -if you can handle the heat, you're in for a treat (yes I'm aware that was a lame rhyme). The decor is a modern and kind of sexy twist on Chinese design, whilst at the same time keeping the clean lines and level of sophistication that Neil Perry's restaurants are renowned for. The wine list has exactly 100 selections on offer- apparently, though I cant confirm this because I had better things to do with my time than count the wine list. The wine selection featured plenty of local wines, and Im sure offer something for everyone.

Part of the Rockpool empire, I did not think Spice Temple would live up to the hype, but was pleasantly proven wrong. It will hit your wallet a bit, but still well worth a visit. Dumplings might be $10+ for 3 small ones, but man are they tasty. All the sauces and spices are just exceptional (you'd hope so, considering the name) and escalate the tastes to a whole 'nother level. Not 'hot' spicy either, just delicious spicy that leaves your mouth with that nice tingling sensation long afterwards. Best go with a group where you can order a ton of dishes and get to taste a large variety of things. We did, and not a single dish disappointed. Will be back.

Second visit the first when just open - wonderful and beyond expectation - second visit some 6 months later someone has dropped the ball. Neil Perry's use of the best possible ingredients and excellent service have my highest recommendations - but the dishes were spoilt by being too salty and oily destroying the natural flavour of the excellent ingredients. It is hard keeping a high standard but attention to detail is essential if people have high expectations and prepared to pay a high price for their meal. Not with standing that the Port Phillip Bay Scollops were worth the visit and top marks to the chef that prepared that.

I always like walking through the Queensbridge entrance of Crown Casino. It is like living vicariously through the latest advertisement for the place there as the doorman tips his hat after you walk past a virtual showroom of motorcars after seeing Eddie McGuire (or any of the current popular AFL footy players) being whisked away in the lastest model Holden. If you aren't distracted by these themes, you will walk past Neil Perry's latest addition to the Rockpool Empire, Rosetta, and once you exchange pleasantries with the doorman for the Crown, you will be beckoned toward the entrance of Spice Temple. After visiting the Sydney Spice Temple multiple times and it being a personal favourite, it wasn't until recently I got into Spice Temple Melbourne for lunch. The yum cha special remains a differentiating factor between the Melbourne and Sydney menus (the full menu is available for both lunch and dinner in Sydney whereas a special menu is available in Melbourne for lunch) and not only is it much heralded in the usual press, I really wanted to know whether it was better than the offerings that you would find at the Shark Fin Inn on Little Bourke Street. To make it simple, it was. Unlike other yum cha offerings where you flag down a roving cart that is hell-bent on slamming into some unsuspecting patron's knee, you order directly off of a comprehensive yum cha menu from the attentive server. Whilst being refreshed by the Lord Nelson Three Sheets ($10) by the bottle, you have the opportunity to mull over the twenty items on the yum cha menu but that is just 25% of what is available. You do have limited access to the full menu, which I was very pleased to discover. From the Har Gow steamed prawn dumplings ($11) to the boiled chicken and pork dumpings to the ominously red coloured king prawn wontons with aged black vinegar dressing ($11) on the menu denoting it is especially hot, everything was great. The staple BBQ pork buns ($12) didn't taste very common and in fact had the unique Perry flair whereas the chichen and crab xiao long bao ($12) had good complementary flavours. One of the yum cha menu items has sichuan pepper - the crispy prawn wontons with hot and numbing sauce ($11) made my tongue go numb so I could slur as the result of the food instead of the alcoholic beverage for a welcome change. Spice fried chicken wings with heaven facing chillies ($15) and tingling prawns ($24) rounded out the numbing experience. Although you needed to work for your food with respect to the chicken wings, it certainly beat the chicken feet that you will find at various locations in Chinatown. Water views and a contemporary fit-out with sometimes quasi-traditional music and at other times more lively but strangely selected hip-hop provided the background score. After dining in the bowels of the Sydney location and becoming used to the darkness where the light guides you to the surface, it is really the polar opposite at the Melbourne location where you get to see the usual travellers of Southbank Promenade provide some tertiary amusement whilst you consume reasonably priced food full of flavour. Although I will still end up at Shark Fin Inn on occasion merely for the authenticity and sheer and utter commotion of the place, I reckon that Spice Temple yum cha provides a suitable alternative for lunch and of course with their full menu on reserve during the evening, it is indeed one of the jewels in the Crown.

Beautiful restaurant with amazing food! Came for a celebratory dinner and they did not disappoint! Hostess was polite and accommodating, we were seated in the down stairs dinning room which you can access easily by stairs or the elevator just out side making it easier for those with some mobility issues. Decor is dark and sexy, Cocktails to match your Chinese Zodiac I had the OX - Orange Scerbert, Falernum, Flying Dutchman Rum, Pinapple, Passion fruit and soda! Delicious! Highlight of my meal was the Hot & numbing dry Waygu beef, Yellowfin Tuna tartare and Lamb Dumplings with chilli dressing. Although prices are on the high side I will definitely be back again!

Spice temple has that cool feel about it when you enter. Very dim lighting and wooden slats across the window with a good table set up. They have a good range on the menu. With some dishes you won't recognize. But be brave and try something new. They make some great cocktails :) so try a few out Book before you go on busy weekends as it can be hard to get Into sometimes. It is a little pricey so I save it for special occasions. The food here was great. Every dish we ordered was delicious I can't remember the name of my dishes as I last ate here a year ago. But I will report back after my next visit

This place rocks. Food is fantastic. If you want to impress your better half or clients this is a great restaurant. It has great service and ambience.

Great service and the music was superb! A little annoyed that I had to ask twice to taste a bottled beer as was not familiar with most of them. Food was fantastic! Will definitely return

I had heard.read mixed reviews of this place...I think a lot of these stem from the fact that it is Asian food and we are blessed with an outstanding and neatly priced China town in Melbourne. Let me say that I thought the spices and mixes of dishes here were far superior to any I have tasted...order the chicken wings (yes, simple, boring, deep fried morsels of godly deliciousness...), order the calamari with five spice, order the brisket, order the duck pancakes, order it all! Loved it and will be going back...

Great service. Grossly over priced. $10.50 for water per head. Food is good quality and very tasty but to be brutally honest it's not much better than your local cheap and cheerful Chinese restaurant.

Absolutely terrible! Just spent $450 on a dinner for 2 after selecting their most premium banquet (and most expensive) with their finest produce and would have preferred an Asian meal from the crown food court than a meal from this unoriginal, over glorified, overpriced, under spiced, coriander farming and harbouring peasants! Would recommend Staying clear and sticking to chin chin or at least head to the food court. Great waitress who was the highlight of the experience but unfortunately was let down by her poor management who don't understand the concept of customer relations. Doubt this place will survive unless complete overhaul. Pay attention Neil plus they charged me $50 surcharge for dining on a normal Sunday which is BS as we dined at Gradi and the Atlantic earlier in the day and neither charged us any surcharge

I've been to Spice Temple four times since it opened. My recent visit is likely to be my last for a while. The first thing that jumps to mind whenever someone mentions Spice Temple is how freaking dark it is in there.It is located riverside at Southbank and completely wastes this prime location with window coverings resembling hanging two by fours, effectively covering any chance of a view. Or light. Trying to read the menu is frustrating. Vampires could live here happily in any season. I gave this feedback to the restaurant on my third visit. I reminded them that on my first visit, the waiter was so blinded by the dark that he ran into my chair and tipped an entire jug of ice and water down my back. Refreshing. Was not what I said at the time. I received a polite response advising that this feedback had been given before, however the restaurant was modern, atmospheric and edgy as is the lighting. Ok then. If you visit, make sure you have a light on your phone if you want to read the menu or leave your party to feel your way downstairs to the toilets. This place is not lighting the dark. There will be no taking back the night here. I'm not kidding. BYO light. Moving on (finally), reception staff haven't been great on any of the visits. Not particularly friendly or efficient. Table staff are friendly and helpful. The food for the most part is quite nice. The bao are delicious as is the bang bang chicken. Portion sizes are decent. I love the mango pudding with condensed milk Chantilly cream. This place has potential. It just doesn't live up to it for me.

Salty, Oily, Fatty food presented in a near dark atmosphere with average service. Way too expensive at about $125 per person. Try China Town or Box Hill if you want great food at nearly 1/10 the cost.

The food was excellent, some dishes more so than others but I thruoghly enjoyed eating each meal. The ambience however was a tad noisy for my liking and the service while not slow, could have been a bit more prompt, we had to wait quite a while to order or per diner drinks for example.

If you're a chilli or spice lover - this is definitely the place for you (hence the name). Even if you're not (like me), there are still some mild selections to cater for you. Food is very tasty and is very original - not your traditional chinese cuisine. The restaurant has a nice ambience: dim and seductive due to it's black and dark interior decor.

If it wasn't so cool and priced to match, I'd give this place an extra star. But honestly, pricing aside, what's not to like? The food is good, as is the ambience (once seated). The entrance process feels a little too stand offish for my liking, but the staff were friendly and welcoming, even if the whole reception-desk style of entry design isn't. The menu choices seem many and varied and made it tough to choose without feeling like i'm going to miss out. One thing is for sure, dining here feels like you've dined out.

Simply mind blowing! Great food presentation, decor and service second to none will visit again

I was really looking forward to going to this restaurant. The service was okay, but very poor value. Overall, pretty ordinary (and small serves) Yum Cha. The Chinese tea is outrageously expensive and to cap it off you get stung 1.65% for using a credit card! - normally high-end restaurants and shops do not charge for using your credit card, especially after you have spent several hundred dollars in their establishments. Ah well, a case of buyer beware. You can get better and much cheaper Yum Cha in the suburbs of Melbourne.

Lovely ambiance and professional staff. Only downside was the amount of food on the banquet was not enough for the 8 of us. And yes we ordered the banquet for 8. Food good but they seem to have an unhealthy obsession of foods that numb. Why? Because you can doesn't mean you should. A pleasant night for a work do. Got turfed right on 8:30 as they said we would, so true to their word. Enjoying the early night.