Chinta Blues Review

A friend took us to this Malaysian style hawker restaurant, telling us that this makes her favourite fried rice. Chinta Blues is nestled in amongst chic restaurants on Acland Street St Kilda. We went on a friday night after work and it was busy, yet waiters and the kitchen were very fast, friendly and efficient. The blues in the restaurant name refers to the blues music they play in the background, not that I could actually hear any music over the hubbub of the restaurant and the clamour of the kitchen.

We chose a number of dishes from the menu to share. We of course ordered the fried rice, and also Gado Gado, Eggplant beef, Wonton soup, and a date pudding for dessert. I suspect we should have asked what were the restaurants most popular dishes. While we were waiting it was exciting to see the action of the cooking in the kitchen with woks and hot flames. I thought the fried rice was good, but to be honest recently Yoko has made better fried rice at home, and hers does not have any MSG like the one we had! My favourites of the night would have to have been the Eggplant beef and the Wonton soup. The restaurant was not was warm as I would have hoped and I got quite cold as the wait staff kept leaving the front door open! It is a popular restaurant and part of a chain of Chinta restaurants. The wine list is sparse but affordable. Most main dishes are around the $8-12 mark and portions are a good size. We generally enjoyed our time there, but personally I think I will try some where else next time.

Urbanspoon has some photographs of the resturant and some dishes if you are interested. T.N.