Order Food in williamstown

Came down here on a Saturday evening for dinner and they were already half packed. The first thing you notice is the place is very rudimentary, floor tiles is slightly greasy sticky and I knew it straight away the food was going to be good and authentic. The service is efficient and on point, got the menu and water as we sat down. Ordered the XLB, Xiao long bao, Chinese sausage fried rice, spring onion pancake and pan fried pork dumplings. The food came out very quickly and it was definitely cooked to order as the buzz from kitchen rang out for each order. Spring onion pancakes were had a crunchy crust, the centre was chewy and packed plenty of savoury flavour, just like how I had it in China. The fried rice was cooked in a wok with nice amount of oil to keep the rice seperate and packed plenty of wok hei (breath of the wok). XLB was small in size but well portioned for a mouth explosion with the hot soup inside as you one biter. This is the real experience of XLB. The fried pork dumpling is definitely made in store during the day over at one of the dining tables and cooked to order. The flavours were spot on and the bottom of the dumpling is crispy. All in all we finished our food and most impressive is their chilli oil on the table is house made, the umami flavours and the mix of heat is perfect, not too spicy and enhances every dish ever so slightly.

I’ve dined at Nanyang Express in Chinatown Melbourne multiple times and can confidently say that the food is consistently excellent and well-prepared. The Hainanese Chicken is usually tender and flavorful, though it can occasionally be slightly undercooked during peak hours. My personal favorites include the Kolo Mee series, Chee Cheng Fun, Braised Pork Knuckle on Rice, Chicken Chop Rice or Noodles, all deserving of an 8-9/10. The Sarawak Laksa is decent (7/10), but as someone from Sarawak, I may have very high standards! The service is great, especially considering how busy it gets. The staff are welcoming and helpful, even under pressure. Cleanliness is a strong point—utensils, tables, and even the toilet are well-maintained (I’d rate the toilet hygiene 6.5/10). The atmosphere is lively and enjoyable, although it can get noisy at times due to some loud customers. Waiting times are reasonable, but finding a table can sometimes be a challenge, especially when other patrons behave unreasonably (e.g., arguing over tables). Overall, Nanyang Express offers a delightful experience with authentic flavors and solid service. Highly recommend trying their Fish Fillet Noodle Soup, Kaya Toast, Soft-Boiled Eggs, and Teh Tarik too!

★★★★★ Penang Road is an absolute gem! The laksa was to die for—rich, flavourful, and perfectly balanced. Every spoonful was a delight! The service was incredibly friendly and fast, making the whole experience even better. On top of that, the prices were very, very reasonable. Amazing food, great service, and fantastic value—what more could you ask for? I’ll definitely be coming back!

Very mediocre food not as good as ppl say….( idk why the pic looks like vomit…. Sry not sry 😅

the special fried rice and beans with minced pork were tasty, well sized and well priced. i also got the pork dumplings in chilli oil soup, and though it was a reasonable portion for the price, it was more like dumplings in water with a dash of chilli oil. However, the fried rice & beans were good, and i'm leaving a 4* as i'm likely to return to try other dishes.