Recent social media posts
02/10/2026
Weekend eating. Sichuan brasied WA octopus: all glistening rather energetically with a belacan sambal (think sour, aromatic, sweet, funky), cushioned on a bed of toum with cassava crackers at the ready to scoop the whole lot up. It’s sublime, in our humble reckoning. Doors open from 5pm, walk-ins welcome.
30/09/2026
O'Connor beef short ribs are the key player here. The ribs are braised overnight in Higashimaru soy sauce and Shaoxing before being grilled over charcoal. With a few generous spoonfuls of a Cantonese-inspired black pepper sauce. A salad or parsley and shallot with a cheek of lemon on the side to help seal the deal. Available for youreating pleasure even at this very moment.
24/09/2026
Leave the saucing to us (in this instance doubanjiang bisque), and we shall leave the sousing to you. Hump day is here, spring is here, we are at shop 263 Lygon St, and you should be, too. Dinner is a good place to start, reservations via link in bio. Normal trading hours all week including Friday September 25 lunch and dinner.
18/09/2026
Lightly cured hiramasa kingfish dressed in leek dashi, ponzu, fresh lime and shiso. If you think it looks good, it tastes perhaps ten times better. Come and see (or taste, rather) what we mean. Doors from 5pm.
10/09/2026
We’re quite the sucker for a decent pudding, and even a perfunctory nibble on our genmaicha and peanut pudding, gula malacca and orange will render you just as enthusiastic a fan as we are.Close the meal out just so with one of these.
04/09/2026
Plenty of activity in our little kitchen as we prepare for the weekend.
Friday: lunch and dinner
Saturday: dinner from
Sunday: Father’s Day lunch and dinner
25/08/2026
Lagoon Dining has again landed in the annual list of Top 100 Restaurants as curated by the good folk Gourmet Traveller. And, it must be said, we’re pretty thrilled! Thank you to Gourmet Traveller for the recognition and the kind words, and thank you to all of you who have supported us.
21/08/2026
If our poached spatchcock, cordycep mushroom, red date, shaoxing, ginger could be somehow distilled into a single word, what might it be? Glamour.
10/08/2026
Our latest parfait iteration is very likely to stop you firm in your tracks - sometimes it’s ok to be greedy, and this is one such instance: don’t share! Coconut parfait with kaya jam, passionfruit, banana cream, and oat munchies.
02/08/2026
Functions at the shop: up to 50 people in exclusive and semi-private settings, including outside of our ordinary operating hours, with a food and beverage offering tailored to your needs. Get in touch to chat through your next party and we’ll do the rest!
21/07/2026
Raw beef a la lagoon; sambal vinaigrette, laksa leaf, creme fraiche, and tsubu arare. Pretty pretty pretty good, if we may be so bold.
30/06/2026
One for the noodle aficionados out there. Our charred Hokkien noddles, hot and sour chicken gravy, shiitake mushrooms, lilybuds and crispy pork fat. Thick and chewy, our take on a Chinese classic. Get down to the shop for a bowl. Or two.
25/06/2026
Steamed Humpty Doo barramundi, doubanjiang bisque, sorrel. Hot, rich, and layered; it doesn’t get much better. Reservations via link in bio.
18/06/2026
The shared table, especially when it is laden thus, is pretty hard to top. Reservations via link in bio or else walk on in.
09/06/2026
A wokful of julienned potato, chilli, Sichuan, knorr seasoning, white pepper, chinkiang vinegar, minced garlic and other select bits and bobs results, in our humble estimation rather a good time. Dinner tonight from 5pm.
05/06/2026
With Friday now upon us, it’s time for tools down and glasses up. Join us for lunch and dinner today to usher the weekend in and the working week out, but for a small reprieve at least! Reservations via link in bio or else walk-ins welcome.
Address
263 Lygon Street, Carlton
Melbourne, VIC
3053
To reach a Chinese restaurant near Lygon Street in Melbourne, there are several options for public transport and driving/parking. For public transport, take the tram to Lygon Street or get off at Melbourne Central and walk towards the direction of Elizabeth Street through the laneway. Another option is to take a train to Melbourne Central Station and then walk along Swanston Street towards Lonsdale Street. If you plan on driving, there are multiple parking lots available nearby, including one on Drummond street just off of Queensberry street.
Opening Hours
| Tuesday |
5:30pm - 9:30pm |
| Wednesday |
5:30pm - 10pm |
| Thursday |
5:30pm - 10pm |
| Friday |
12pm - 2:30pm |
|
5:30pm - 10pm |
| Saturday |
5:30pm - 10pm |
Alerts
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lagoon Dining posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
What people say
Chinese restaurants are known for their delicious and diverse cuisine, and Lagoon Dining on Lygon Street in Melbourne is no exception. This contemporary Chinese restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines traditional Chinese flavors with modern twists.
One of the standout dishes at Lagoon Dining is the crispy beer-battered salt and pepper whitebait served with salted duck egg yolk mayonnaise. This dish perfectly balances salty, crunchy, funky, and peppery flavors, making it a must-try for seafood lovers.
In addition to their exceptional food, Lagoon Dining also offers semi-private and exclusive settings for larger groups of up to 42 people upstairs at the shop. They can even accommodate larger functions outside of their normal operating hours.
The restaurant's opening hours have been adjusted slightly for the cooler months, but they are still open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 5:30 pm, lunch on Thursday and Friday from midday, and on Sunday from 1 - 8 pm with the kitchen open all day.
Overall, Lagoon Dining is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enjoy delicious Chinese cuisine in a modern setting. With its unique dishes and accommodating atmosphere, it's no wonder why this restaurant has become a popular spot among locals and tourists alike.
