
Rice Paper Scissors
A buzzy Southeast Asian street-food restaurant on a Melbourne CBD laneway, rated 4.5 across more than 3,500 reviews.
Some links are affiliate links — if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our Spot Score or what we recommend.
Why it's worth checking out
Rice Paper Scissors sits on Hardware Lane in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, one of the city's celebrated dining laneways. Serving Southeast Asian street food in a lively, hawker-inspired style, it's built a big following — the kind of bold, share-friendly flavours and buzzy atmosphere that fit the city's renowned laneway dining scene perfectly.
The appeal is that combination of vibrant, flavour-packed street-food-style cooking and a fun, sociable setting right on Hardware Lane, ideal for a group dinner, drinks or a casual night out. In a precinct packed with dining options, building this kind of following speaks to a place that delivers on both the food and the experience.
With a 4.5 rating from more than 3,500 reviews, it's clearly resonating with the city crowd. Menus, opening hours and pricing change with the seasons, and a popular laneway restaurant fills up on weekends, so it's worth checking current details and booking directly before you go — particularly if you're dining with a group, after a table at a peak time, or planning a livelier night out in the CBD.
Reviewed by Iyan B.
Practical details
Opening hours
Open now- Monday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 21:30
- Tuesday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 21:30
- WednesdayToday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 21:30
- Thursday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 21:30
- Friday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 22:00
- Saturday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 22:00
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 21:30
Spot Score
- Reputation
- 80
- Popularity
- 100
- Information quality
- 30
- Category fit
- 70
- Freshness
- 30
Our independent editorial score — not a user rating.
Nearby venues

Manchester Press
$$Choice coffee, brekkie & bagels in a bright, airy space with eclectic decor & a vintage-chic vibe.

Brother Baba Budan
$Specialty coffee shop serving pastries in a compact space with chairs hanging from the ceiling.

Tomo’s Little Collins
Cafes in Melbourne CBD, Melbourne.

Two Conversations
$Cafes in Melbourne CBD, Melbourne.
More restaurants in Melbourne

30ML Bar & Restaurant Docklands
Live music bar and restaurant on Newquay Promenade in Docklands with a 4.9-star rating from over 1,200 reviews.

Lady Of St Kilda
$$Highly rated cafe on Barkly Street in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Flour Child St Kilda
$$Restaurants in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Hua Lu Peking Duck
Restaurants in North Melbourne, Melbourne.





