Ling Lings

Mosey on down the stairs to Ling Ling's subterranean bar and the first thing you’ll notice is the neon pink cat beckoning you in from its place on the wall, followed by the flashing lights of the pinball machines tucked away in their own alcove behind the stairs. A sunken dining area is adorned with a street art mural exhorting you to ‘gan bei!’ (cheers), while a pool table in the corner is overlooked by a few smile-inducing puns in even more neon lights. 

As for the food, there’s enough on the menu to keep you here all night—for meat lovers and non-meat eaters alike. Pile the table with duck san choy bow wow (there’s a jackfruit option for vegos and vegans), steamed pork buns, crispy pork belly bao, sweet chilli lime karaage chicken and bang bang lamb ribs. Can’t decide? Before 9pm you can opt for a nine-course banquet for $45pp. 

Then there’s the drinks—which may or may not keep you from leaving until the early hours because you’ll be busy trying them all. As well as signature sips like the Wang Da Wong Number, with vanilla vodka, white rum, coconut puree, caramel syrup and cream, or the Asian Bubble with gin, peach liqueur, aloe vera and citrus, there’s teapot and soup bowl cocktails to share. 

Image credit: Sophie Spencer