This restaurant has been somewhat of a stronghold in Sydney, having operated for over 20 years now, at various locations. Now its home is Darling Square in Haymarket. The restaurant opens out onto the forum area where you can dine whilst seeing the vibrancy of the area and take in the amazing architectural wonder of Darling Square and the exchange building.
The food, decor and whole experience is inspired by love and happiness, reflected with their iconic large Happy Laughing Buddha statue that resided in their original Chinta Ria Temple of Love restaurant in Darling Harbour.
The restaurant is casual and the cuisine is hearty home-style Malaysian cuisine and food is served in really decent portions. Featuring dishes such as Laksa, curries, Chilli Crab, beef redang, mee goreng and more.
We opt to share a few dishes, including the crispy chicken, sambal eggplant and Xo fried rice. The sambal eggplant might look like it’s doused in chilli but it was not too spicy at all, just beautifully flavoured.
The XO Fried Rice with shrimp, crab meat, fish roe and Chinta XO sauce is a great version of fried rice and a huge serving. We also ordered the outstanding steamed barramundi. The super large whole fish is steamed and seasoned with ginger and soy. The fish was expertly prepared and cooked, easy to pull apart and the lovely sauce was so nice and perfect to pour over your rice.
Prices here are really reasonable considering the size and the food is suitable to share with a group, for you can try lots of different dishes.
Service is wonderfully efficient and so friendly with the host/owner making us feel very welcome.
Chinta Ria
Darling Square
14 Nicolle Walk,
Haymarket NSW 2000