I am just starting to write more reviews for places I've been. And was actually shocked to see this page is 1. Unclaimed(at the time of writing) and 2. Only have 36 reviews( again, at the time of writing this review) This place if you are in Melbourne on a trip, or trying to have a good time out is a really cool place to visit, the food was very very tasty and the ambience is nice. Highly recommend at least giving this place a shot if you visit! read more

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Hochi Mama was an absolute delight! The atmosphere was lively, the service was excellent, and the food was packed with flavor. We made a reservation (which I highly recommend) it was a bit chilly outside so we opted to eat indoors. Next time, I might brave the cold since they have outdoor heaters. We shared the cashew chicken as our main, along with spring rolls, rice, and green beans on the side--everything was super tasty! The flavors were well-balanced, and every bite was enjoyable. They offer a $49 per person menu, but you'd need a serious appetite for that...it's a lot of food! I can't wait to go back! With my shellfish allergy there's not much on the menu I can eat!! I would order the cashew chicken again! read more

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Great food and service! The ambiance is very loud in there with the music and certain bigger groups so be prepared for that. Don't expect a quiet candle light dinner. It's a great vibe if that's what you are looking for though. The Baos were terrific and the fish was to die for. I would highly recommend this place to any friends in the area! Our waitress was very nice and wrote down recommendations for us since we are coming from the US. read more

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Reservation for 2 honored on time. Lots of options on the menu all we ordered were good. Beer list is a little light but there is a decent cocktail list. Very loud in the restaurant, so much so that we could hardly hear each other across the table. Definitely need to book a table in advance. read more

11/10 the best food we have had so far on our trip the atmosphere and service lives up to the food. Highly recommend for anyone looking for some Vietnamese food in my personal opinion. This is the best Vietnamese in Melbourne. read more

Ho Chi Mama - Vietnamese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

The name of the restaurant is clever to me. We made a last minute reservation, and had an early dinner. The interior is dark and hip. I liked the cheeky neon sign- "I got it from my mama". We started with cocktails. I had the "Lycheezy" (lychee), and my bf had the "Up in Smoke" which came in a tiki mug and served with a flame. We went with the "Feed Me Now" option- 2 small dishes, 2 large dishes, and a side (rice) for $44.5 per person. The appetizers we chose were the trio of scallops and tuna tartare. I liked the lotus root on the scallops and the squid cracker for the tartare. For the entrées, we went with the Hanoi whole market fish (upcharge) and red duck curry. The fish was quite large, and is more than enough for the both of us. The spicy Thai slaw that sat on top was nice. Because we focused on finishing the fish, we didn't each much of the curry. It was good, but not memorable. We enjoyed our meal here overall. Afterwards though, we thought about it concluded that we shouldn't have done the "Feed Me Now" menu if we were going to get the fish. The other entree was not necessary as it was too much food. Oh well... read more

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Delicious Asian fusion food, fun ambience and a great spot to try Owhile visiting downtown Melbourne. read more

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Loved this spot! It was in an alleyway behind the hotel we staying at (Le Meridien) and my husband and I got a few small plates for lunch -- the chicken bao being the most delicious -- and were very full! It's a complete vibe. You can sit inside (for more neon and vibe) or out. The service is attentive and efficient. Prices are reasonable. It's near everything in the CBD. Recommend!! read more

Service was good, half of the food was good. This place is very busy and came highly recommended from a colleague however I was a little disappointed. The initial appetizers were very good. The lamb was a bit too tough and dry, fish was a bit dry too. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high given the ratings. But coincidentally I had tried to go there the day prior and it was too full so I went "the daughter's arms" next door and the lamb was amazing and so much more tender. read more

Today was my first day in Melbourne. Saw a lot of restaurants around me on yelp like good good looking restaurant. I love Vietnamese food and fusion? Wow why nottt !! During week day lunch hour around 2pm was perfect time to visit here not so many people and the service was awesome! Interior was so fancy especially the paint lady on the wall and looking at me was kind of nice hehe. I ordered Slowberry salad-I'm here for only few days in Melbourne but I will definitely come back to this place because of this fukkkkkkin good bomb asssss salad (excuse my language) . Really like wow. Looks just all right just looking good salad and most of salad looks good on outside not really wow but this one???? Really wow . I never tried like Vietnamese sauce with strawberry?? It match very well! Like I can eat this everyday for sure . Anyway so it's kind of taste like papaya salad dressing which is they called a fish sauce? With fresh crunchy vegetables and strawberry. And they gave me options I want chicken or tofu? I pick chicken was best choice was so good together! Good good salad!! Good portion for the price too. Fried chicken wings-I ordered 4 pieces was better deal than 2 pieces . The chicken wings was good crispy and juicy perfectly cook and was good with siracha mayo but I think will be better with Vietnamese style chicken will be better for me . The sauce wasn't really special. Maybe slowberry salad dressing coat chicken wow lol anyway crispy and good but so small portions for the price. I wouldn't order again. 4 small pieces chicken wing was $14 Dumplings-you can pick vegetable dumplings? Or shrimp? I pick shrimp (you can't mix match) comes 3 pieces was good size of sticky style very crispy outside dumplings. The chilly sauce was bit spicy but was pretty good spicy and perfectly match with crispy dumplings! Eating with fresh bean sprouts and cilantro and got one thin slice red dikon was so yum! Next time I wanna try the veggie one. Green tea bao tofu inside-was perfect match with Kimchee and crispy tofu with hoisin and creamy sauce . I have one bite and I put all the rest put in my mouth lol so I finish in like 2 seconds lol was sooooo yum!! Crispy tofu and kimchi bring some spicy and sour and crispy and the bao was sooo fluffy !!! But! The price was too pricey but I will order again . I went here only during lunch hour so don't know if it's good dinner time but I love this place because nice people and the food was bomb like wow. The reason why I leave only 4 star everything was perfect but the price is too pricey for most of dishes. But at the same time I will definitely go back! read more

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Unbelievable. Actually a beautiful blend of great service, great price, and great food. Amazing service. Atmosphere is fantastic. I had the set menu with a friend and feel so full yet I'm a big eater. After starters I was worried but after the mains I couldn't finish. Wierd thing... why is it full of girls? As customers I mean? What's that about? Anyhow fantastic value .. get it before prices rise and everyone discovers it. read more

Ho Chi Mama is an awesome little joint tucked away on a small side street. They have a wonderful atmosphere and an enthusiastic staff of servers that seem to be happier than the diners they are serving. The meal was excellent. Yes, there were a few misses, but the majority of the dishes were such spot on bullseyes that the misfires were quickly forgotten. Ho Chi Mama has a great price fix deal including a small plate, a large plate and a side for a very reasonable set price. We started the meal with the Hochi chicken banh bao, the green tea tofu bao , and the salmon ceviche. The chicken banh bao was the winner for me but all were excellent. The tofu dish was a gorgeous presentation, and while I didn't think it was as good as the chicken, Im sure any vegetarian would be smitten. Entree wise I was not too taken by the soft shell crabs but I am from the epicenter of soft shells-Baltimore, MD--so I am a hard customer. The two curries however was as good as any I have ever had. What might have been the beat item of all was the coconut rice. I could have eaten that alone and been quite happy. For dessert we had the pana cotta, the ice cream sandwich and the fried gaytime bao. The fried boa is an awesome concept and a stunning sight to be served, but it was the weakest of the desserts in my opinion. The fried bao seems almost stale in terms of texture. The other two dessert, however, were absolutely fantastic. read more

Ho Chi Mama - Absolutely stunning presentation of the green tea tofu bao. - Vietnamese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Yum ho chi mama. A great place and great food it's a bit hard to find being down a side alley in Melbourne but worth the look and taste experience. We had to line up and wait for a seat which seems to be the norm for good places to eat as you can't book unless groups of larger numbers. The food was good and we decided to go for the "Me hungry now" banquet so we got to choose a mix of mains and sides to share. I love Asian fusion and there was a good mix of foods and spice to boot. My favorite was the Pork Belly Bao and the Massaman Lamb Curry. The other dishes were all good and was more than enough for Us to share. I would like to go back one day and try more of the menu. read more

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Asian fusion restaurant in Melbourne. The bun is very good here - it's a steamed bun type bread with Asian fusiony meat filling e.g. pork belly, fried chicken, etc. Other items are standard good. Lots of creative cocktails as well / seems popular with the professional crowd. A bit pricey. read more

Ho Chi Mama - Vietnamese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Been twice now and both experiences equally as good as each other. Quirky spot, great service, clever decor, great prices and value. Well worth a visit!! read more

Here in this part of Melbourne the restaurants don't open until 12. So after trying 3 different spots at 11:45 we decided to wait the five minutes until noon. Our adventure paid off as the food here was excellent and worth trip down an alley. The chicken satay was not some old chicken jerky that you might find at other Thai restaurant. The chicken was juicy and the peanut sauce, oh the peanut sauce, was amazing. The spring rolls and dip also were excellent. The beef pad Thai made my son quip that we will be coming back and I agree. read more

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Definitely give this place a go. I went twice in a week. Once for lunch and then for dinner. The staff are professionals and can make good recommendations. Curry, noodles, dumplings it's all worth trying. I probably wouldn't over do the Pad Thai as the rest is far better and once you've had Pad Thai on the streets of Bangkok nothing compares. It's busy in peak times so book a table! read more

Amazing service. Cool laneway location close to public trans and theatre. Fresh and delicious ingredients. Great selection and yummy preparation of fused cuisine. Reasonable meal deals. On my short list and will bring mates read more

Ho Chi Mama - Prawn betel leaf - Vietnamese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

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Now I can finally say I've found my favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Melbourne. When I first walked in, I couldn't help but notice the huge contemporary artwork in the back wall, an incredible portrait intertwined with a hint of graffiti. Amazing atmosphere to suit the design layout of this place. I love that they have a dinner deal - $59 for 2 people and you get: - 2 entrees - 2 bigger plates of food (wouldn't say main meals, but bigger than entree) - 1 side plate The vegetarian spring rolls are to die for, and all the food is so filling!! The deal is such a great way to explore Vietnamese food thoroughly and try some new dishes. HIGHLY RECCOMEND read more

Ho Chi Mama - Soft shell crab Vegetarian spring rolls Vegetarian dumplings Tempura broccoli - Vietnamese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

Who did I go with? My 2 main chicks. I'll call them by their initials IH and JL. It was a catch up dinner When did I go? I went tonight 23/01/16 Where is it? Liverpool st in the Melbourne CBD which is down an alley off of bourke st. The location is pretty easy to find What did we order and how were they? Son in law eggs - perfectly crumbed egg but the yolk was abit over done. It would have been amazing if the yolk was runny. Would have been yolkporn. Yummm! Hanoi spring rolls - they aren't your average springrolls. The wrap for these is like a net and it's crumbly and very light. I love eating these as i'm vietnamese and this is quiet a traditional dish. Saigon pork belly - we call this 'thit kho' and it was very very similar to what my mum makes at home but it was abit sweet. The pork belly was cooked so well that the meat just breaks apart. North meets south steamed barramundi - the fillets were marinated 2 different ways. As a soy sauce/ginger flavour and one as a 'canh chua' which means sweet sour soup flavour. They executed this dish very well as it was on point. Couldn't fault it as if my own mum had cooked it. Hats off to the chefs. Nha trang catch - fried fish was abit dry but still edible. The side on top which was a mix of papaya and carrots was pickled. It gave the fish more flavour. Southside chicken curry - we call this dish 'ca re' in vietnamese. This was a very light curry with too much coconut milk in it as it tasted more like the thai curries than the traditional viet one. It didn't fit well with the whole authentic vietnamese food concept. Pink lotus cocktail - this drink contains gin, lime, basil and strawberries. There was no strawberry flavour what so ever but a whole lot of gin, lime and basil. It was super sour that i cringed everytime i sipped it How was the decor & service? They have a bright neon pink light inside the restaurant that says ho chi mama. It's right next to one of the dining tables so it's very bright if diners were to sit there. I wouldn't have been impressed if i were to be seated there. Other than that the place kind of feels like any other restaurant as they all have a painted girl on a wall as their feature wall. Vibe of the place was buzzing as it was packed. Rating out of 10: 6/10 I would recommend this place only if you are not vietnamese as vietnamese people would probably be disappointed with how the dishes turned out. read more

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Tried to get into the place next door but they were busy so stumbled upon this one instead. I'm glad we did! The poke belly was tender, the pho broth was sweet and salty and the fried chicken was crunchy and spicy.... Just the way I like it Had a "Justin Bieber" cocktail which knocked my socks off! Perfect for the rum drinkers who like or strong read more

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Perhaps my review is not justified as Hochi Mama is a Vietnamese fusion place that tries to cater for the vegans, the vegetarians and the gluten-intolerant but when it comes to people who can't handle spice, there are very limited options. As I couldn't have anything spicy, I had to order the fresh rice paper rolls. I got the pork rice paper roll which was smaller than the average size ($7 for one) but was refreshing and had a nice chunk of pork in it. However, the beef rice paper roll was inedible. Dried flavourless beef that was hard to bite into. My friend got the soft-shelled crab curry with coconut rice and raved about it. The venue was very very noisy and cramped. Twice, the lady next to me dropped her drink all over the seat, the table and my jacket. Did I mention twice? And while exiting she managed to push over the water jug. .Maybe it's just her or maybe it's having the tables too close to each other. Amex not accepted. Quick service. Make sure to book online. read more

My friends and I were trying to go another local place that had over a two hour wait so instead we came across this gem. FOOD IS AMAZING!!! The inside is kinda tight and loud, don't expect to carry on a long chat while inside, however you can enjoy some awesome food. A must try are beef ribs and the coconut rice. read more

Ho Chi Mama - Vietnamese Near Me - Melbourne, VIC

A group of us stumbled upon this place on a busy Friday night as Rice Paper Scissor was full, and I'm glad we did. The service was informative, with friendly and helpful staff. The cocktails strayed from the usual suspects and were creative, full of flavour and proved to be conversation starters. Food wise - we ordered from the $59 for two deal per couple, which turned out to be good value for money. Highlights were the lemongrass beef ribs and the satay scallops; cooked well and full of flavour. The rest of the menu was alright, but not standout. I personally enjoyed the old school R'nB music, great nostalgia! I'd like to come back here potentially on a quieter night to see if the quality of the experience improves, they seemed rushed and under pressure. read more

I've been here twice now and had great food both times. My second time it was so busy we had to sit outside in the cold however to be fair every where was busy and most places had queues. The service the second time around was a bit all over the place, we had our starters arrive before we'd even received our drinks. I loved the food, great sweet and spicy flavours. My favourite dish is the Barramudi, two pieces in two different sauces, both delicious. read more

I happened upon HoChi Mama, which is located on Liverpool Laneways (what we call a side street in America; off the main drag) and man am I glad I did!!! Me and my travel partner sat at the bar and Courtney, the greeter made some suggestions that we went with! They were running a 2-Person Hungry deal for $59 where the idea is to share your food! So we picked 2- small plates, 2-Large plates and 1-side! TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THE Hanoi Chicken Bao was/is to DIE FOR! Here for 10-Days and I WILL GO BACK!! We also had Scallops, Lamb Curry, and Pork Belly dish was very tasty! I don't routinely eat scallops but they were delicious! The lamb was very good! But then again, I really like lamb!! I enjoyed Jasmine tea while my partner was more prone to the Sapporo beer! Courtney also was responsible for the music playlist, 90's Hip Hop very tasteful and of course edited! A lot of eating establishments offer Live music but this playlist was really smoking too! Made my first night in Melbourne totally "like home"! read more

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This place was delicious. Everything I ate was super tasty. The service was extremely fast and super friendly. I came without a reservation and they were able to squeeze me despite the place being quite busy. Their desserts were also really good. read more

We booked in for a group date night and had a blast. The service was amazing and the food was delicious. You can't beat their $32.50 per person feed me menu which includes 2 smalls, 2 mains and 1 side to share per couple. Just beware that most everything is spicy, and not "Australia spicy." Our party can handle heat pretty well, and even we were crying by the end of the night! Haha. Thanks for showing us a great time. We'll be back. read more

We stopped by this place on a Friday night with no booking. Crowded and hot inside so we opted for outside seating. Waited maybe 15 minutes. Staff was friendly and energetic! We opted for the "hangry" option of starters and mains. Most excellent! Food is Thai/Asian fusion, so it is a bit different. My only critique on some of the dishes was that the "heat" was toned down a bit. When I think of Thai, I think spicy. But aside from that, we got some very flavorful dishes. The standouts were the green tea bao stuffed with tofu, and the chicken curry style dish. Daughter got an "umbrella" drink and loved it. read more

absolutely amazing! Great, fast service. The food was incredible- and the staff were extremely helpful in choosing meals. Would 100% recommend. read more

My friends and I end up eating here after being turned away from Rice, Paper, Scissors. This restaurant has the right recipe down to its core. I love the ambiance and the lighting of this establishment. It is a great place to drink with friends and share amazing food that will send your taste buds into excitement. We did the three person deal of $29 per person and it was more food than we expected. I recommend getting the Crispy Ribs, Fat Bao Chicken, and the seafood spring rolls. You will not be disappointed here. read more

Great place !! Good food and a great atmosphere. Terry the bartender is awesome and makes some really cool drinks . The curry and beef is to die for. read more

Like a few other reviewers, I was turned away from Rice, Paper, Scissors. Or rather, I wasn't going to wait an hour. Next door was Ho Chi Mama, the name made me chuckle and if I chuckle, I at least owe the place a look! The menu looked very interesting and there was room at the bar. The place turned into exactly what I was looking for on a solo business trip. The small plates were a bit small, but two of them were enough. I had the pork Bahn mi sliders and the pho'plings, both of which were really great, especially the sliders. Alex the bartender did a fantastic job with cocktails, I recommend the Duck Duck Goose. Great place and glad the name made me chuckle enough to check them out!! read more

Thanks for the almost crappiest experience I could have. So far I am not sick due to gluten and am sure that your staff get that but my food was oily and creamy after I said I didn't like oily. I asked for a gin a tonic and you didn't have tonic. I accepted soda or similar but it was awful. I could only eat a few bites and one sip of the crappy drink. The service seems sincere but I still expect something I can eat for my money. I'm a local and I won't be back. What annoys me the most is when you say you didn't have a good experience (look at what I didn't eat and drink!) and there's no discussion of an alternative or not charging you. I live in the city, there are alternatives. read more

This place is next to where we live and 2 other fantastic restaurants. We'd been meaning to try it out and finally did a few nights ago, my partner and I. We should have gone to one the 100 other places offering similar food at half the price. The reception was nice and we were seated and the decor was interesting and fresh. The drinks menu had a few lines crossed out which was good, i hate choosing a drink only to find they don't have it, well that happened, i selected a red and a white and they had neither so had to got for different options, only a few left to choose from which was a shame as i love matching wine with food. As for the food, the spring rolls had almost no flavor and i didn't finish my roll as it was a bit stale. We also shared the red curry grilled scallops, these were some of the worst i have had, the sauce was tasty but the scallops had a texture like they'd been frozen for a long time, The Pho was $14 and entree size which is expected of this style as it looks like a nice place, however the flavor was minimal and the after effects suggest MSG, surprised at the lack of flavor for how much MSG there was! for $11.50 you can get a massive absolutely delicious Pho at Mekong which we will do next time. Sorry guys, for what you are charging the food standard doesn't stack up. Visited February 2016 read more

Good flavours, fresh herbs, great curry and beef ribs were spot on. Great service too

This place gets really busy so book ahead! Really good selection of food, not too expensive and caters well for those with dietary requirements. I don't usually eat vegetarian food but took a date here who was and really enjoyed the food. The only thing that could have been better was the space, was put on a table which was quite crammed up next to other people, but otherwise was a good spot. Thanks mama read more