Tian 38
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Tian 38 impresses with traditional Cantonese cuisine with a progressive affinity towards contemporary dining. Simply a translation from “Shop38”, Tian38 was named using a simple naming convention for restaurants throughout Hong Kong. The menu is an interpretation of popular dishes from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore and made using Australian sourced produce.
To start the soy butter scallops carpaccio soy butter reduction, pickled cucumber and yiu teow coral was beautiful. We loved that the natural sweetness of the scallops were allowed to shine through. The Singapore cheesy chilli crab jaffles were another winner. A cheeky take on the traditional, these amazing jaffles were filled with crab, chilli, garlic, ginger and oozy mozzarella. Tian 38’s version of the yum cha favourite, the prawn toast is also not to be missed and topped with minced prawn, citrus mayo and black tobiko.
Whatever you do, do not leave without trying the Hainanese chicken rice. Already rumoured to be the best in Melbourne, this is one dish that you’ll want to keep coming back for. We loved the tender morsels of poached free range chicken, lime, garlic and chilli sauce and ginger shallot sauce paired perfectly with Hainan chicken stock and garlic infused rice. It’s a thing of beauty.
Dessert time showcases the kitchen’s versatility. Think Taromisu (taro, mascarpone sponge fingers) and Deep fried ice cream (vanilla ice cream, pandan chiffon, coconut crumbs, pandan custard). Just yum!
Location: 350 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000
Phone: (03) 9629 7175
