Linla

Tucked away in a converted Victorian terrace in the heart of Surry Hillls is Linla, a late-night Taiwanese social dining venture born from the philosophy of raising a glass with friends. Founder Charles Chang (also the man behind Moku—the Japanese-fusion restaurant next door) has curated every detail down to the soundtrack: a signature Linla theme song inspired by the atmosphere of intimate listening bars. 

Unlike the polished, disciplined approach to dining next door, Linla champion Taiwanese street food culture: cultivating a multifunctional social hub where locals can dine, drink and gather until 1am (thanks to their handy late night licence). The design itself is minimalist but relaxed—in collaboration with D Design Office, it's all about French white-washed walls, timber finishes and banquette seating, with the contempary stainless steel bar taking centre stage. 

The menu continues with the pan-asian theme, with a share-style menu pulling from an inventory of Thai comfort foods. We can't go past the Night-Market Crispy Chicken—complete with Szechuan seasoning, garlic chips and basil, designed to be jumbled up and served to the table in a paper bag. For dessert, their fairy bread bao is a fun take on the Aussie classic—coated in sprinkles and stuffed as a vanilla icecream sandwich. 

The cocktail menu is the cornerstone of the venue, best enjoyed with a table of mates on their alfresco sandstone balcony. You'll find a few cheeky takes riffing on classic Asian flavours. The Tomato Salad 2.0 comes with tequila, tomato, ume salt, and ginger soda; the Ebi-Tiniwith Sakura with ebi shochu and sencha—and for a sweeter pick, go for the MI-Bubble, an alcholic spin on a milk bubble tea.

If you are after more of an upscale meal post-happy hour, the adjacent private dining room will be transformed as an exclusive omakase experience with Moku chef, Ha Chuen Wai. The multi-course tasting menu seats six guests at a time, with only two sessions running per night—so you are guaranteed a meal that is intimate and highly personalised. 

Linla is currently open for evening service from Tuesday to Saturday, with a plan to introduce lunchtime sessions in the works. 

Image credit: Kera Wong | Supplied