Truffle season in Melbourne is one of the great annual rituals for anyone who loves food — and this year Cha Ching on Flinders Lane has jumped headfirst into the celebration with a limited-time Winter Truffle Banquet that makes a strong case for being the city's most exciting truffle dining event right now. I've long been a fan of Cha Ching's bold modern Asian banquets — the venue consistently punches well above its price point — and this seven-course truffle feast at $99 per person confirms everything I love about eating here.
The menu showcases premium Western Australian black truffles across every course, weaving them through the kitchen's signature flair for big, confident flavours. It's indulgent without being overwrought, and it captures exactly what truffle season should feel like: luxurious, seasonal, and best shared with people you like.
About Cha Ching, Flinders Lane
Cha Ching occupies a comfortable, energetic space on Flinders Lane in Melbourne's CBD — close enough to the theatre district to be a natural pre-show dinner, central enough to work as a destination meal any night of the week. The restaurant has built a loyal following around its modern Asian banquets, which deliver serious food and generous pours in a format that never feels rigid or fussy.
The kitchen draws on Chinese, Japanese and broader Asian influences without trying to pin itself to any single tradition. The result is a menu that feels simultaneously familiar and inventive — and the banquet format, in particular, suits the cooking style perfectly. Everything is designed to be shared, picked at, argued over, and ordered again.
The Winter Truffle Banquet: Seven Courses, $99 Per Person
The Winter Truffle Banquet is a limited-time seasonal menu priced at $99 per person. For Melbourne dining in 2025, that sits in genuinely strong value territory when you consider that premium WA black truffle features across all seven courses — this isn't a menu where truffle shavings are scattered over one dish as a token gesture.
Amazing Salmon sashimi.
The truffles are Australian — sourced from Western Australia's growing truffle industry, which has been producing world-class product for over a decade. Fresh Australian truffles, harvested at peak season through the winter months of June to August, offer the same earthy, intensely aromatic qualities that make European truffles so coveted, and Cha Ching's kitchen knows exactly how to use them.
Delicious Winter Greens.
The seven-course structure takes you from lighter, more delicate bites through to deeply satisfying main dishes and a finish worthy of the occasion. It's the kind of menu where every course prompts a conversation around the table.
Standout Dishes from the Truffle Menu
Truffle Pork & Prawn Siu Mai with Truffle Miso Broth & Red Caviar
This is a dish that announces itself. The siu mai — Cha Ching's own version of the Cantonese dim sum classic — arrives in a truffle miso broth with red caviar, and the combination hits every note simultaneously: the sweetness of prawn, the savouriness of pork, the deep umami of the broth, the pop of caviar, and underneath it all, the truffle. It's restrained in the best sense — all those elements coexist without competing.
Black Opal Wagyu Flank MB8+
For me the dish of the night. Black Opal Wagyu Flank MB8+ cooked to perfection with brown butter bulgogi, spring onion salad. It highlighted the quality of the ingredients and technique to match. I realised that this restaurant also delivers on top notch sauces and broths on each dish. A showstopper.
Torched Wagyu Beef Tartare with Black Truffle Mayo
The wagyu beef tartare arrives torched tableside — a technique that edges the outer layer into something approaching a sear while keeping the centre raw and silky. The black truffle mayo ties everything together, adding richness and that unmistakeable truffle fragrance to a dish that's already working at a high level. This is the kind of course that earns its place at the table.
Truffle Fried Rice with Crab Meat, Prawns & Seasonal Vegetables
A great fried rice is one of those deceptively simple dishes that reveals everything about a kitchen's technique — and Cha Ching's truffle fried rice is a lesson in how to do it properly. Wok hei, perfectly separated grains, crab meat and prawns adding sweetness and texture, seasonal vegetables for freshness, and truffle running through the whole thing. It's comforting and luxurious at once, and the kind of dish that makes you glad banquets exist so you can share a big bowl of it.
All washed down with an outstanding 2024 See Saw Gamay from Orange NSW - the perfect accompaniment.
Value & Verdict
Cha Ching's banquets have always been among the better value propositions in Melbourne's CBD dining scene, and the Winter Truffle Banquet maintains that tradition. Seven courses at $99 per person is genuinely accessible for a premium truffle experience — comparable truffle menus at other Melbourne restaurants regularly land at $130–$180 or beyond.
The quality of the WA black truffles is evident throughout. These aren't weak-flavoured summer truffles used as a garnish — they're peak-season Australian product integrated thoughtfully into every course. The kitchen treats the truffle as a collaborator rather than a showpiece, which is exactly the right approach.
The atmosphere at Cha Ching suits the occasion too. It's convivial and energetic without being overwhelming — a good restaurant for groups celebrating something, for date nights, for colleagues who like good food. The Flinders Lane location makes it an easy fit into most CBD itineraries.
TWLM VERDICT
A standout seasonal menu from one of Melbourne's most consistently enjoyable CBD banquet restaurants. The Winter Truffle Banquet delivers premium WA black truffle across seven well-considered courses at a price point that makes truffle season genuinely accessible. Limited availability — book early.
Rating: ★★★★½ | Value: Excellent | Best for: Groups, celebrations, truffle enthusiasts
At a Glance
| Restaurant | Cha Ching |
| Cuisine | Modern Asian |
| Location | Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD |
| Menu | Winter Truffle Banquet |
| Price | $99 per person |
| Courses | Seven courses |
| Truffle | Premium WA black truffle (Australian) |
| Availability | Limited time — winter season only |
| Bookings | chachingmelbourne.com.au |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cha Ching Winter Truffle Banquet?
The Winter Truffle Banquet is a limited-edition seasonal menu at Cha Ching on Flinders Lane, Melbourne. It's a seven-course feast priced at $99 per person that features premium WA black truffles incorporated throughout every course. The menu brings together some of Cha Ching's most-loved modern Asian dishes with a luxurious truffle twist.
How much does the Winter Truffle Banquet cost?
The menu is priced at $99 per person. For a seven-course experience featuring premium Australian black truffle across every dish, this represents exceptional value by Melbourne CBD standards.
Where do the truffles come from?
The menu showcases premium black truffles from Western Australia. Australian-grown black truffles — harvested during winter (June to August) — are now considered world-class, producing the same earthy, aromatic intensity as traditional European truffles.
How long is the Winter Truffle Banquet available?
It's a limited-time seasonal offering available during Melbourne's truffle season. As with all seasonal truffle menus, availability is finite — booking ahead is strongly recommended to avoid missing out.
What are the standout dishes on the truffle menu?
Three dishes in particular stand out: the Truffle Pork & Prawn Siu Mai served with truffle miso broth and red caviar; the Torched Wagyu Beef Tartare with black truffle mayo; and the Truffle Fried Rice loaded with crab meat, prawns and seasonal vegetables. All seven courses feature WA black truffle in some form.
Where is Cha Ching located?
Cha Ching is located on Flinders Lane in Melbourne's CBD. It's a central and easily accessible location, close to public transport and within walking distance of most city-centre hotels and offices.
Is Cha Ching good for groups?
Yes — the banquet format is ideally suited to groups. The shared-plates structure encourages everyone to try everything, and the lively atmosphere at Cha Ching suits celebratory occasions, work dinners, and get-togethers equally well.
How do I book the Winter Truffle Banquet at Cha Ching?
Bookings can be made through the Cha Ching website. Given the limited-time nature of the menu and Melbourne's appetite for truffle season events, booking early is advisable.
The World Loves Melbourne attended as a media guest. All opinions are our own.