Linx BBQ & Noodles

This is the kind of westernised chinese takeaway that you usually find in country towns. Think rice and a couple of selections. I had sweet and sour pork and mongolian beef and left some of each on the plate. If you’re going to South Melbourne Markets there are other higher quality selections nearby.

Don’t bother with the dumplings — it’s not their strength. Head straight to the BBQ meats, in particular the roast duck, which is very nice. Portion sizes are generous and the duck noodle soup is the best option. Ambience is nothing special, but it’s not that kind of restaurant.

I really like this place. After a horrible dim sum experience in Chinatown, Linx BBQ was like a breath of fresh, char siu-​scented air. It’s a fairly basic, no-​frills joint so if you’re looking for an elegant, dine-​in experience, you might want to give this place a pass. There are only five or so tables inside so if it’s busy, you’ll probably have to takeaway. There’s no real «service» — you order at the counter and they give it to you there, but everyone was friendly.
We ordered the mixed dim sims, soup dumplings, egg custard buns, roast pork buns and roast pork on rice. Everything was delicious. The soup dumplings were especially flavorful, although a bit doughier than I tend to like (a small grievance). And the roast pork was wonderful, very tasty. The other great thing about this place is that it’s cheap! I’ll definitely be back.

I have mixed feelings about Linx BBQ & Noodles because the only thing that saves this place are the cheap prices and decent dishes.
Ambiance: This place lacks a lot of ambiance and is pretty much the epitome of a dingy takeaway. Linx BBQ & Noodles also serves yum cha, but with the ambiance I really cannot picture it. There’s only maybe about 3 tables and not even enough room for a proper trolley. Cheapest yum cha joint ever I suppose.
Customer Service: Although the service was kind, the wait times weren’t. The people were really nice, but it takes a while for your food to arrive even if you order something fairly simple.
Food: I had Xiao Long Bao and Cha Sew Bao. The Xiao Long Bao were prepackaged frozen ones, so they weren’t too awful but honestly I could probably just make it myself at home with some store-​bought dumplings from an Asian grocery store. Still alright though. The Cha Sew Bao was alright, but way too salty (but thankfully didn’t have the excess of fat that some bad Cha Sew Bao have).
I wouldn’t come here for any amazing Chinese food, but it’s alright and cheap. Probably wouldn’t rush here again but I wouldn’t deter you from it either.

This isn’t a place for food snobs, so perhaps this is why I like it. The fit out is basic. You help yourself to cutlery and napkins. You may have to fight the pigeons while eating outside or stop your food rolling off a table on a slant in the aisle. In WInter it’s not easy to stay warm here, but you can always takeaway. But the staff here work hard and the skill of the Roast meat chef and dumpling chef is remarkable.
I’ve been a regular at Linx since it opened. What is special are the traditional Chinese roasted meats and the freezer groaning with take home dim-​sum (Yum Cha dumplings, steamed dishes and buns). Sometimes you’ll see half of the crew crowded around the central bench, speedily hand pleating dumplings and recounting stories in Cantonese. I wish I could get my fingers around dumpling wrappers with such dexterity.
I’ve certainly heard disparaging comments about the food here. But those people have also talked up the same items in Chinese restaurants, not realising that the restaurant has actually purchased them from Linx. You see they’re an industry wholesaler for yum cha items, dumplings, as well as roast ducks and meats, and they cater.
Mostly I’ll buy a whole duck or some of the wonders hanging in the window like roasted Chinese sausage, soy sauce chicken, roasted pork belly, BBQ pork ribs and cha sui to take home to eat as part of a meal with other Asian goodies I’ve sourced in the market.
As a Chinese home cook, I’m not mad about some of the cooked to order dishes but they are generous and cooked to text book standard. And they clearly have their fans, as the place is bustling at lunch time. Also popular at lunch are the Yum Cha offerings.
If I drop by for a meal it’s usually to eat the roast meats, which you can have either with steamed rice, noodle soup or plain blanched noodles (gon lo mein) with a few blanched Asian greens. I always help myself to their homemade chilli on the side — it has a pleasant kick. Then afterwards I grab a selection of frozen dim sum to put in my freezer — I much prefer them to the pricey ones at Madame Tran over in the deli aisle.
So to me, Linx is a Godsend for speedy, easy, delicious and reasonably priced Cantonese culinary treats whenever I’m shopping at the South Melbourne Market. No food snobs allowed.

We were recommended Linx BBQ & Noodles by friends who used to buy from here frequently. Being a real connoisseur of Chinese food (I am part Chinese after all) I went with great expectation and was looking forward to eating in and bringing some home for relatives who were staying with us.
I had the char siew noodle soup (bbq pork noodle soup) which was okay but a little bit too oily for me. The actual bbq pork was quite lean and tasty so that was nice.
We also tried the Shanghai dumplings which we have heard so much about. To be honest, the meat was flavoursome and the broth in the dumplings was lovely but the dumpling skin was too thick and a little bit too doughy.
We also bought some bbq pork buns (char siew bao) to try and we all agreed that there was way too little filling (which was mostly fat with very little meat) and too much bun.
Naturally, we didn’t end up taking food away from here and have never been back since.