Contact Information
Cockle Bay Wharf Complex  Phone 02/9264 3211

Cuisine Type: Malaysian  Transportation: Ferry or monorail: Darling Harbour.  Prices: Main courses A$12-$25 (U.S.$8.40-$17.50)  Hours: Daily noon-2:30pm and 6-11pm  Credit Cards: AE, BC, DC, MC, V

Cockle Bay's star attraction for those who appreciate good food and a fun ambiance without paying a fortune, Chinta Ria is on the roof terrace of the three-story Cockle Bay development. In a round building dominated by a giant golden Buddha in the center, Chinta Ria serves up fairly good "hawker-style" (read: cheap and delicious) Malaysian food. While the food is indeed good, the atmosphere is even more memorable. The service is slow, but who cares in such an interesting space, with plenty of nooks and crannies and society folk to look at. There are seats outside (some get the noise of the highway), but the best views unfold inside. The hot-and-sour soup--a broth made with tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and preserved cabbage--makes an interesting starter, and I recommend the chili prawns and the Hokkeien Char (soft-cooked egg noodles with extras) as main dishes.

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