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Restaurant

Chinatown Café

38-41 Moonta St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

Recommended by 55 people

Updated

Find Chinatown Café

38-41 Moonta St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 8 8231 2230
HoursMonday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Thursday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Friday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Saturday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Sunday: Closed

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Plan your visit

About Chinatown Café

Chinatown Café dishes out brisk, hearty Malaysian-Chinese staples on Moonta Street with rapid cafeteria-style turnaround. Lines move at breakneck speed. Tables fill fast with diners sharing plates of wok-tossed fried kway teow or Hainanese chicken rice—ordered alongside Asian greens and an optional bowl of spicy laksa broth. Before sitting, hit the self-serve condiment station to ladle out sharp ginger sauce and fiery chili oil.

  • Rapid-Fire Turnaround: Plates hit tables in minutes to keep seating turnover quick during busy lunch rushes.
  • Laksa Broth Option: Hainanese chicken rice orders can be paired with spicy laksa broth instead of plain soup.
  • Self-Serve Sauce Counter: House chili oil and punchy ginger sauce are available to ladle at the condiment counter.
RestaurantAsianRestaurant

What's On at Chinatown Café

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Chinatown Café

Why locals and market visitors rely on this Adelaide institution for swift, comforting Malaysian-Chinese meals.

  • Fast, Affordable Malaysian-Chinese Favorites

    The kitchen rapidly outputs generous plates of Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and fried kway teow at accessible price points.

    The price is very good, the service is fast, and the food is always fresh and high quality.

    Claudia Kotaki

  • Custom Pairing with Spicy Laksa Broth

    Diners have the unique option to pair their Hainanese chicken rice with a rich, spicy laksa soup alongside Asian greens.

    The Hainanese Chicken with Laksa broth and Asian Greens is a staple in our family.

    Alastair McLean

  • A Multi-Decade Nostalgic Anchor

    Generations of diners return across decades to revisit the exact comfort flavors and unvarying recipes of their childhoods.

    I always have to visit whenever I’m back in Adelaide for a jolt of nostalgia and bowl of delicious noodles.

    Ruby Duigan

  • Generational Family Ritual

    Decades of dependable service and signature dishes have cemented regular lunch visits as an enduring family tradition.

    ChinaTown Cafe is our family ritual we love it!

    Megz Perrin

  • High-Speed Fuel and Go Dining

    Optimized for swift table turnover, the bustling dining room enables customers to order, eat, and carry on without delays.

    this is a place where you fuel up and move on out pretty quickly. It is not a place to linger.

    mal dux

  • Self-Serve Chili and House Ginger Sauce

    A self-serve condiment station provides signature intense ginger sauce and house chili oil for diners to tailor every dish.

    You can serve yourself chilli oil and this amazing intense ginger sauce - make sure you try it!

    4chillies

Beloved multi-decade Malaysian-Chinese staples served fast and full of flavour

  • Hainanese Chicken Rice

    I love all the dishes, but my favourite is definitely the Hainanese chicken rice.

    Claudia Kotaki

  • Laksa

    35+ years of Lunches & dinners, hands down the BEST Laksa ever

    Megz Perrin

  • Fried Kway Teow

    I ordered Fried Kway Teow today. The appearance was slightly different from others, but the portion size and taste were both good.

    Pat Chung

  • Wonton Noodle Soup

    A weekly bowl of wonton noodle soup in this place is my secret vice.

    Blair Crawford

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum spend or fee for dining in and takeaway?

Yes, reviewers note a minimum spend of $16 per person whether dining in or ordering takeaway, alongside small surcharges for card payments (1.2%) and takeaway containers ($0.50). Calling ahead by 5 minutes allows quick pick-up.

How can you customize the Hainanese chicken rice?

Chinatown Café serves its Hainanese chicken rice in generous portions with chicken thigh or breast, and offers the option to add Asian greens and laksa broth or traditional soup for a small additional cost.

What is the seating and line situation during peak hours?

Lines move swiftly thanks to ultra-fast cafeteria-style service and rapid table turnover, though indoor seating is tight during peak lunch rushes. Outdoor seating is also available.

Are condiments and sauces available to customize your meal?

Yes, diners can help themselves to complimentary house chili oil and an intense ginger sauce from the self-serve condiment station to pair with noodles and rice dishes.

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