Connecting with the Chinese community

Melbourne is a multicultural city, home to the oldest Chinatown in the southern hemisphere, with a long history of Chinese migration, and a vibrant Chinese community and student population.

Melbourne is renowned as a food capital, with restaurants lining the streets. Cuisines from around the world beckon the curious to explore among them. Chinese cuisines are widely embraced in Melbourne.

Sichuan cuisine attracts food enthusiasts from various ethnic backgrounds who come to experience, the spicy and delicious Sichuan cuisine. Not just the taste experience - the cuisine also acts as a cultural 'ambassador' across the ocean, blending Sichuan's passionate warmth with Australia's multicultural essence.

In 2016, Victoria and Sichuan established a Sister-State Relationship.

In 2017, Melbourne, capital city of Victoria, and Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, became economic partner cities.

In 2024, the two cities joined hands to continue their illustrious chapter, formally established a friendly and cooperative city relationship with cuisine as the “ambassador” and exchange as the “bridge”, supported and promoted by the governments of both cities.

Chengdu renowned Restaurant Chen Mapo Tofu Executive Chef Zhang Fa and his culinary team were invited to participate in the 2024 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, collaborating with Melbourne restaurant Chef David, to host a 'Taste of Chengdu' Sichuan cuisine dinner event.

Zhang Fa:
Melbourne and Chengdu are both food capitals, liveable cities, looking to the future for further cooperation to successfully develop together in many fields.

Sichuan cuisine reigns supreme among the eight culinary traditions of China. The requirements for this cuisine are:

• refined selection of ingredients
• meticulous craftsmanship
• each dish with its own style
• a hundred dishes with a hundred flavours.

For me, to bring this beautiful cuisine to Melbourne is a great joy. 

From the bustling restaurants in the CBD to the cozy little restaurants in the suburbs, every Sichuan restaurant tells its own story with unique flavours connecting people from diverse backgrounds.

In Melbourne, not only can you savour the most authentic Sichuan dishes, but also Sichuan restaurants in Melbourne continue to innovate and evolve, introducing many Sichuan dishes with local flavour. Many restaurants try to incorporate local seafood into traditional Sichuan dishes, creating new recipes that blend Sichuan characteristics with local tastes.

Speaking of the David Restaurant Group in Australia, we are here to promote the Sichuan cuisine.

We have hot pot, also barbecue, fusion Sichuan dishes and master pots. When it comes to the flavours of Sichuan cuisine we offer a variety of taste profiles. Not just spicy and numbing, but also many dishes with a fish-fragrant taste and even lychee flavours.

We achieve this through optimisation of specific cooking techniques ensuring that our dishes not only preserve traditional flavours at the same time, but also provide an even better experience, demonstrating mutual respect for culture.

Australia is a very inclusive country, where multiculturalism is embraced and celebrated.

Now, not only young people but also many international friends are embracing our culinary culture with hearts wide open.
We also hope to continue creating even better dishes so that more consumers can discover, understand and appreciate us.

This innovation not only enriches the variety of Sichuan cuisine but also gives more people the opportunity to experience the unique charm of Sichuan dishes.

The popularity of Sichuan cuisine in Melbourne is a vivid testament to cultural integration and fusion. It not only allows locals to taste the flavours of southwestern China, but also helps Chinese students and migrants find the taste of home in a foreign land. Cuisine is an artform derived from life and also a form of cultural expression.

For 10 consecutive years Melbourne has been crowned Australia's best city for international students.

In addition to quality institutions of higher learning, world-class research facilities, a liveable and safe environment, and inclusive multiculturalism, the rich variety of international cuisine is also a major factor attracting international students to choose Melbourne.

Around the university campuses in Melbourne, Chinese-themed dining options are everywhere. No matter which country or ethnicity you come from there is always an authentic Chinese dish to tantalise the taste buds of international students.

Hello I’m Mary, I’m from Melbourne.

Hello I’m Chris, I’m from France.

Hello I’m Nadra, I’m from Malaysia.

Hello I’m Danish, I’m from Malaysia.

Hello everyone I’m Brian from Nanjing China, also from the University of Melbourne

Mary: My favourite Chinese food is Jiaozi

Chris: My favourite Chinese food is Master Pots

Nadra: My favourite Chinese food in Melbourne is always hotpot

Danish: My favourite Chinese food in Melbourne is Xiao Long Bao

Brian: My favourite Chinese food in Melbourne is definitely Lanzhou beef noodles

As time passes the presence of Chinese flavours in Melbourne will become even more distinct.

It is not just a cuisine but also a bridge; a beam of light in this multicultural city, illuminating the endless possibilities of culinary and cultural exchange

We have reason to believe that from the aroma of Sichuan cuisine to the flavours of China, from sharing culinary delights, to cultural and business cooperation; the connection between cities will become even closer, the friendship between China and Australia will grow even deeper.