Lilong

Lilong is a lively Shanghai-style street food dining hall located in the refurbished heritage-listed Soda Factory in West End.

Taking its name from the centuries-old Shanghai neighbourhoods connected by laneways and located in the back streets of the city, Lilong brings an authentic taste of Shanghai to the building that was originally home to Tristrams soft drinks.

The open-sided Chinese courtyard style space is festooned with neon Shanghai street signs, hanging plants and seating strewn with colourful cushions and service is brisk and efficient.

Once seated, diners are presented with an extensive menu with pictures of all dishes, accompanied by an order form which you fill out and hand to the waiter. If you're having trouble knowing where to start, the menu is headlined by 'Best Four Sellers' - pan fried pork buns (must try), steamed soup dumplings, wonton in red chill sauce and steamed pork and chive dumplings.

Dumplings are a house specialty, with some 15 steamed or fried varieties available (including curry chicken and coriander; Shanghai style sticky rice dumplings; crispy pillow buns and Shanghai style croissants with shrimp and ham). Noodles are another staple, with dishes such as Shanghainese fried noodles with shredded pork and cabbage; fried noodles with assorted seafood and Old Shanghainese Style Vegetarian Noodle Soup.

Otherwise there are entrees such as Drunken Chicken marinated in Shao Hsing wine, Shanghai braised soy duck and bucket of crisp mushrooms with dipping sauce; and mains including Salt and Pepper pork ribs, Shanghung crispy chicken and flash fried beef strips with spring onion.

Another feature of the menu is a wide array of seafood including twice-cooked lobster with ginger & shallots served with noodles; flash fried mud crab with vermicelli or steamed whole barramundi with oyster mushrooms as well as vegetarian dishes such as twice-fried eggplant with garlic & coriander or crispy tofu coated with salted egg yolk sauce.

Drinks-wise, there are house made beverages including mint lychee juice, kiwi yoghurt smoothie, passionfruit or watermelon crush citron or lemon tea (the house signature) as well as a range of soft drinks or soy bean milk.

Good to know - There is plenty of secure underground parking available onsite, free for up to 2 hours.

Need to know - Bookings are highly recommended as Lilong gets busy at lunch and dinner times.

The menu may have changed since our visit.