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    Ling Kitchen

    4.7 (44 reviews)
    Open 6:30 pm - 8:30 PM

    Ling Kitchen Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Ling Kitchen

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    Menu and Keepsake chopsticks
    Brian C.

    Finally had a chance to try this out to celebrate my wife's birthday. If you get tired of reading, the punchline is "this is a meal you should go enjoy!" When you arrive, you are gathered in a side room with the other guests and served prosecco or tea, and a tasty opening bite. Our hosts were Nick and Mateo, and they were solid throughout the meal. If you want any wine/sake, you get that selected at this time (bottles only). We chose a sauv blanc from Round Pond, a CA vineyard where we'd visited with family years ago. Many of the dishes are seafood so this was a nice pairing. Once the group has arrived, you're seated around a giant and well decorated table in the actual kitchen. It's a super cool vibe with nice music and intimate lighting. Each course is announced with a gong, and thoughtfully explained, including the connection to Chef Ling and how to best enjoy. I didn't come across anything I didn't love, but I'll highlight a few of my favorites. The fried taro with spicy crabmeat aioli ate like a delicious crab cake! The dry aged Peking duck was a stunner, coming in a smoke filled wooden box. One piece was meant to be eaten in fluffy bun, the other to be enjoyed more purely. There's also a smoked duck tongue which is tasty, just trust me! There's also filet mignon was rich and tender, laying in a delicious green sauce. Chef's kiss! Midway through the meal you are invited to introduce yourself briefly to the table. You also get to walk around enjoy some extra bites and visit with the chefs. It was a charming and diverse crowd. A real slice of Austin. See my pictures for a good sense of what you're in for. You will definitely not leave hungry or disappointed. Chef Ling is present and makes her way around the table during the meal. She is kind and humble, but clearly knows what she's doing!

    Dumpling course
    Priya B.

    Chinese fine dining with a memorable, unique hospitality experience that will truly blow anything else you've had out of the water. I saved Ling Kitchen for a recent visit to Austin, reuniting with my college roommate. She has been before; I hadn't, but we both enjoy memorable meals and she said this was sure to please; it did not disappoint. I eat at fine dining around the world and I appreciate that Ling Kitchen is truly trying to carve their own path, not trying to fit a specific mold. It was refreshing and so welcome. You enter through the back of the kitchen (where the private parking lot is) and are taken to a prep area where you'll select drinks and have opening bites. You get a selection of champagne or a non-alcoholic option to start and get your first taste of the food (charcuterie on a rice cracker, yum). They have a decent wine and sake menu, but everything is by the bottle, so beware if you're a light drinker. We opted for a bottle of sake that was just the right amount for two to share for a 3-hour meal. The actual meal takes place in the kitchen itself, alongside the prep of the chefs working it. It's such a unique ambiance and different to the "open kitchen" setup I have done for other fine dining; you are truly in between the cold storage, the duck aging for future diners, etc. The low light & ambiance is beautifully arranged for a nice meal and they put all the special touches - down to LED camera lights for each diner so you can use to take photos of your food better! You can only make reservations in 2's or 4's for this spot and the table arrangement is really for diners to share a meal together. The food itself is extremely beautiful and so filling! I think this was the first time at a fine dining restaurant I literally could not finish all the food and had to make a few smart choices towards the end to have room to try it all! I think some dishes stood out more than others (the XO lobster tail, every single dessert, an eggplant dish they made to sub for the aged duck for me, and the king salmon with curry lahksa), and a few were aesthetically pleasing but otherwise lacked strong flavor (the dumplings, the steamed egg, a pan seared halibut that was a sub for wagyu). I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and more so enjoyed the storytelling and thoughtfulness of each dish and the overall service & hospitality experience. Chef Ling Qi Wu is introduces several dishes and is available to chat with guests throughout the meal. She noted the taro dish as one of her first dim sum items she had ever made and the salmon curry lakhsa as a home comfort dish for her. The desserts were themed around the four seasons - just so much thought put into the whole experience! They had the entire table introduce themselves and share what brought them there halfway through the meal and gave us the opportunity to walk around the kitchen, talk to chefs, try some elements used in later dishes like the fresh honey used in our desserts. They gave us a polaroid, branded chopsticks and a clean menu to commemorate the experience. Ling Kitchen is truly more than a fancy restaurant; it's a whole memorable dining experience, and I hope to return for a future special visit one day!

    Megan L.

    There are times when I feel like I get tired of the Austin food scene and get envious of that of LA's or NY's, but then I visit restaurants like Ling Kitchen and feel incredibly blessed to live in this city. I already love Ling Kitchen's sister restaurants, so I did have an idea that I would love Ling Kitchen as well. However, as a true Chinese person, I was also skeptical about paying more than $150 for Chinese food, which is famously inexpensive. However, I would do it again and again and again. From start to finish, our experience was perfection. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted and cooked, and I love the group vibe and ambience. It is hard to hear other people in the room, but I love that they try to create a really friendly and easy-going experience for everyone to get to know each other. I won't say too much because it would take me forever, but I will say that Ling Kitchen is definitely in my top five restaurants in Austin, and everyone is so kind and attentive. I highly recommend going with friends because I had the best time. I also loved seeing very traditional dishes have a unique or fun spin to it without compromising the original taste and idea of the dish. I knew I tasted some Cantonese flavors, and the owner (?) told me they have a lot of Cantonese-speaking staff, so the chef loves incorporating Guangdong flavors and spices!

    Seafood dumpling soup
    R H.

    Been twice now. A very fun and unique experience. Staff is great. Food is very tasty and exceptionally well presented. I've enjoyed pretty much every course I've had here. Everything lean towards Americanized Chinese. I wish the drink options were a little broader. Specifically the Sake. Wine selection is Ok but mostly geared towards bottles. Excited for Chef Lings Cedar Park location!

    Carmen A.

    Ling Kitchen has been on my list of restaurants that I want to try out since they opened up. My husband and I finally decided to make a reservation for a Saturday evening. When you arrive, they offer you a choice of complimentary champagne or hot tea. They do not offer wine pairing but they have a fairly extensive wine/sake menu. We also got to meet Ling. She was nice and I could tell she was really passionate about food. Although $150 might seem expensive for the meal but I can tell they spent a lot of time on the preparation and the presentation/decoration of every dish. My favorite dishes were the cantonese style steamed fish, peking duck, fried taro with crab, and the dumpling trip. We also enjoyed the "different" proteins like pig ear and duck tongue they served - ive never had them before and i loved how it was prepared. I thought it was pretty cool they allowed us to walk around the kitchen to observe and take pictures halfway through the meal. We also really liked the ambiance and the music they played. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and dining experience and I will definitely be back.

    Coco Lobster Cream Puff
    Lauren E.

    I wanted to love this experience so badly. I've been eyeing this restaurant for months but I never had a reason to spend $150/person on a meal until my brother came to visit to celebrate my belated birthday. I made a reservation two weeks in advance. There is only one seating per night at 6:30 pm. All of the details of the restaurant are sent out in advance via text, including how to enter the private parking lot behind the restaurant which is gated for security. When we arrived, we were escorted through the kitchen into the front waiting room. The kitchen staff seemed genuinely happy to see us, which was really nice! The host in the front was super friendly and engaging. He served us welcome drink options of prosecco or hot jasmine tea. All 13 of the guests were asked to introduce themselves and we were given a question card from the game "We're Not Really Strangers" to ask the group. The host really emphasized that tonight we're not strangers and the dinner is about making new connections. We were seated in the dining room at a large group table, which was a bunch of steel prep tables pushed together. They added a "Happy Birthday" decoration to the table in front of me, which was a nice touch! The host introduced all of the chefs and gave some background on each of them. He then began the meal using a gong. There were 10 courses in total, with a few extra surprises from the chef. My favorites were: - Fried Taro with Spicy Crabmeat Aioli: The taro was crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle, and the crabmeat was creamy and just a tiny bit spicy. - Pork Belly with Yangmei Sauce: My favorite part of this dish was actually the pickled watermelon rinds that were served on the side! They were sweet, tangy and really cut through the richness of the pork belly. - Rainbow Pepper Steamed Seabass: This dish was not a crazy innovation, but it was perfectly tender and seasoned so well. I absolutely love the broth that it came with paired with the saffron on top. - Coco Lobster Puff: This was by far my favorite course! The puff looked like an adorable little mouse. The dough was made of mochi, so it was pleasantly chewy and a little bit crispy on the outside. The inside was a slightly sweet, creamy lobster filling. Coco should definitely create more courses! Many plates were creative reimaginations of classic Chinese or dim sum dishes. Despite having a menu listing each course, I never knew what to expect. The presentation was absolutely gorgeous, and I love that they explained every ingredient on the plate, including the flowers! All of the dyes used in the foods were derived from natural sources, such as beets and charcoal, which was really neat. However, as creative as the food was, overwhelmingly I found it to be under seasoned. Several of the dishes just seemed to be lacking salt. At this price point, I had very high expectations for the food, and I was quite disappointed. Almost every course left me with thoughts like "the pork belly should have been more tender" and "the skin on the peking duck should have been crispier." At the end of the meal, they gave us a gift of a pair of chopsticks and a printed out thank you note and copy of the menu. As far as tasting menus go, I liked the progression of the courses and the concept overall, but for $150 per person, I expect every dish to be on point. I would recommend this restaurant based on the experience alone, but I felt that the food was a little bit lacking.

    Menu
    Marsha C.

    This was our second time here and the experience and service was still amazing. The setting is their test kitchen area for their restaurants. They clean it up and seat around 18 people each night. The staff makes you feel right at home and they are super caring. The dishes were different and still delicious compared to the first time. Our favorites were the dumpling trio and the smoking duck.

    Leila L.

    Fiancée took me here for a belated Valentine's date. They have a meet and greet prior to dinner which we had to miss. After waiting in a small area, we're moved into the kitchen that is also the dining room. We were spaced well enough that you could chat with your group but also mingle with others. The table decor was stunning as was the entire 10 course meal. Every dish looked like art. The meal started light but definitely got heavier as it progressed. My partner couldn't eat meat that evening due to religious reasons, so sadly we did not have the same experience. The highlight for me was the peking duck which is delivered in a box. So juicy! They also give you duck tongue that was very seasoned. I also really enjoyed the lobster puff, although it arrived looking like a derpy mouse. The puff was super soft and bouncy. Overall a great date experience. Definitely on the pricier side though. I can't say I was super full but the pacing kept me satisfied. They also gifted us chopsticks with their name on it, which works out for me since I have the same surname!

    Angel C.

    There's a lot of thought put in at Ling Kitchen. However, personally, it did fall short in meeting the bar for an elevated, Chinese dining experience. I appreciated the crafted chef's table experience and warmness provided by the staff. They were welcoming from the get go, providing warm tea, hot napkins, and lovely introductions. The dishware and chopsticks selections were also fabulous. I was so excited to see the next set of chopsticks per course. There was also finesse with the dumpling trio course; they were stunning to look at and incredibly designed. The details in these little things are not going unseen. However, I will never let these aspects outweigh the tasting experience. There, it fell short for me. The pros: There were expectedly good dishes for the price point, like the refreshing meal opener: salmon and kanpachi crudo, the seared seabass with crispy skin, the pork wraps. There were absolute standouts, like the mushroom soup, which had immense flavor and unforgettable savory earthiness. The ox tail curry was also delicious, easily an item I would order again and again elsewhere. The dessert was also very tasty; it had a great citrusy and sweet balance. The cons: The rest of the food tasted quite forgettable. I'm not positive if it is due to growing up with Chinese food, but I wanted wows. While the dumpling trio was cute, none of them stood out in my mouth except for the ox, whose outer shell felt like it was fried too long and sat too thick; it was leaving sores in my mouth from trying to break it apart and chew it. The skin of the crispy shrimp was unpleasant to break apart for my friend and I; I've eaten shrimp shell in other instances that were more pleasant to chew while still remaining flavorful. Their take on Peking duck was something to look forward to. It was dressed up with fois gras and caviar, but the duck itself was just alright. The cute, poo looking lobster cream egg, also just okay. It was a couple bites I would've been fine not taking. Another thing I notice in some tasting menus is an ingredient theme that floats throughout the courses. Funnily enough, theirs was charcoal for our experience. It was infused in everything... lol. May not a bad thing, just interesting is all. Overall, the effort put into the dinner experience is to be fully acknowledged. I'm glad to hear that many others have thoroughly enjoyed the tastings, though personally I could not justify a better rating for the price point.

    Adrianna H.

    Amazing experience! All of the food was amazing, service was impeccable and we got to meet the chef behind it all! Just a great time and such an intimate night able to see all things behind the amazing food! Put this on your list!!

    Scott T.

    We see you, Chef Ling!! If there was any way to one-up your game in the mastery of culinary arts, this place is it! I'll say this might be the best dining/quality experience you will have in Austin. From the initial Tea Room in the front area while you wait for everyone else to arrive (approx. 16) people in total... to the explanations of each dish, you will be amazed at the attention to detail here. Not wanting to give too much info away, but one fun fact.. you will receive a different pair of chop-sticks to use for each dish, and you'll even get a spork at one point! I said that, a damn Spork!! It's glorious. She just changed the menu for the first time on our visit on 2/25. There is one dish with a truffle broth that is utterly out of this world. Order a couple bottles of wine and sit back, make some new friends, and enjoy. I would go watch the movie The Menu prior to going, because once you hear a gong you'll instantly start to reference the movie points. Ha! She treats you like family while dining in this establishment. Parking is located in back, they will open the gate. (Cavian or Gavian?) I'm sure I got your name wrong, blame it on the two bottles... but you made the entire night my friend, great hosting and exceptional descriptions, loved the interaction questions aspect. Gets my vote for best dining in ATX!!

    Kampachi and salmon salad
    Andrew C.

    This small format (up to 16 people at dinner) is located off 183 at the off-site kitchen for Chef Ling Wu's other restaurants (Lin's, Qi). Chef has a rockstar team with her husband Jimmy, Albert, Rocky , Micon and a few others (met them all but I'm terrible with names). Parking is to the right of the building as you pull in with a chain link fence opening to let you in. You'll be greeted and led through the kitchen to the front where you'll wait for seating (offered some tea as you wait or drinks if you order some). If you rideshare, you'll be dropped out front and walk in through the door to the waiting area). Once everyone and the kitchen is ready, you'll be led back to the dining area/kitchen. You dine just off the kitchen surrounded by refrigerated cabinets and equipment and atop prep tables on counter height chairs. Each dish replete with its own setting and utensils (really really loved the unique look and plating of each dish - adds visual appeal!) Menu for the kitchen will be seasonal and will feature elevated dishes that showcases a different side of Asian cuisine and uses ingredients that help push your palate. High quality ingredients used and all the coloring for the foods are derived naturally (i.e. beet juice for red, etc.). Experience is omakase so the menu is set (although they may be able to accommodate for allergies). Without further ado our meal: Kanpachi and Salmon Salad - Sashimi grade cuts of salmon and amberjack in Chef Albert's mom's fish sauce with a slice of kumquat and pomegranate seeds. That fish sauce!! Dumpling Trio (Lobster, sea cucumber, crawfish) - a lobster dumpling (if you've had this at Qi or Lin's - you've seen the cute rabbit) with a baby carrot, crispy sea cucumber in a charcoal wrapper garnished with edible gold, sachet of crawfish. All so good. Taro Cake with Spicy Aioli and Caviar - lightly crispy crust on this cake with soft center topped with caviar. Incredibly delicious Chinese Steam Egg with Foie Gras and Truffles - I love chawanmushi so this dish speaks to me. velvety, silky steamed egg with such a smooth texture the foie gras butter adds umami quality contrasting against the sweet of the egg and the earthiness of the truffle. Love this one. Stuff Shrimp with King Oyster Mushroom and Chicken with Morel Mushrooms - stuff a chicken stuff a mushroom. I wish this dish were on the dim sum menus. Two bites and they're gone. Crispy Quail with Oolong Quail Egg - Quail quarter marinated in 12 spices for a day and then crisped up - perfectly glazed skin that traps all of the flavors (I tasted hints of anise and peppercorn amongst other flavors). House made garlic salt to sprinkle over the top or to dip pieces of the fried taro "nest" or the oolong quail eggs (think tea egg). Smoked Duck with Szechuan Meat Sauce - served in a box that wafts up applewood smoke when you open it to delight your sight and olfactory senses. Super tender slices of duck with just the right hint of smokiness. Left me wanting more! Hainanese Chicken Rice - This dish was a lighter fare with chicken over a round of rice (cooked in broth?) served with cashews and some fried mini sardines. Cucumber vase held edible flowers (I do eat garnish sometimes). Coco's Chicken Turnover - This came in a little basket and looked like a gray house with a curly tail and two silver sugar bead eyes. As cute as it was it was delicious - a slightly stick rice wrapper containing savory chicken inside. Desserts - Coconut rabbit, Orange with edible butterfly, and a chocolate bun. Can't wait to go back.

    Kampachi and salmon salad
    Lee Roy C.

    This was definitely one of the most unique and enjoyable dining experiences I've had in Austin. As a heads-up, you'll need to make your reservation way in advance. We had a group of 8, so we booked over a month early but it was worth the wait. The parking is on the right side of the building, and you enter through the back of the kitchen and are walked into a sitting area with tea. After all the guests arrived, we were seated in the kitchen where we saw our food being made and were treated to a really fun and delicious meal. They seat no more than 16 people, and we all went around introducing ourselves to each other. If you're not into an interactive experience, this might not be your thing, but I personally enjoyed chatting and playing icebreakers with the other guests. We also got to meet the staff, who were all incredibly friendly, talented, and attentive. As expected, the main attraction is the food. Every dish felt unique, creative, and was beautifully presented and executed. My personal favorites included the kampachi and salmon salad, which was so refreshing and a perfect starter. I never thought I'd enjoy drinking fish sauce, but it was that good. I also loved the stuffed shrimp with mushrooms, which beautifully combined a lot of different flavors and textures. Surprisingly, my favorite bite of the night was the matcha dessert because I'm not the biggest matcha fan. But this dessert was silky and creamy, not too sweet or bitter, and it had a nice crunchy base. Overall, our group had a great time, and we were stuffed and totally satisfied with our meal. I hope we can come back soon and try out future menus.

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    5 months ago

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    Brian S.

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    1 month ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Jonathan.

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    15 days ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Andrew. Love the images and look forward to your return.

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    8 months ago

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    Brian S.

    Love the detailed review and images. Thank you Brian.

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    7 months ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review Priya. Love the images.

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Stephanie. We look forward to your return.

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    9 months ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the review R H.

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    5 months ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you, Annanee. We appreciate the visit and review.

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    2 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Carmen. We love the images.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the images and review Marsha.

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    2 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review Leila. Love the images.

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    8 months ago

    Delicious dim sum but u have to be patient to enter and get a table. Priced a bit high compared to other dim sum.

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the review Dung T.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review and images Angel.

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    2 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you, Adrianna. Love the images.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Scott.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the review and images Lee.

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    6 months ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Anisha.

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review and images Vida.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Zach. Love the images.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Mike. Love the images.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review Sadia.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review and images Liang.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the review and images Mel.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Bo.

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    4 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Carolyn. We look forward to your return.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Thank you for the review and images Lewis.

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    3 years ago

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    Thank you Ben. We look forward to your return.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the detailed review and images Jerry.

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    4 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you and Congratulations on being our first review on Yelp.

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    2 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Deanna. Love the images.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Dennis.

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    3 years ago

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Maroof.

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    2 years ago

    As usual, they do not disappoint. The dumplings are phenomenal here also. The service was on point the whole time.

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    Brian S.

    Thank you Dan. We appreciated your return visits.

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    3 years ago

    One of the best dining experiences in Austin. If you have tried all her restaurants, this is one to definitely try.

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    Thank you Ana.

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    3 years ago

    Awesome Omakase experience. Enjoyed everything about the dinner. Will be back in early April with friends. Highly recommend.

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    Brian S.

    Thank you for the review Mike.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ling Kitchen

    We like to have cocktails before dinner. Is there a bar or is it possible to have a cocktail prior to the start of the tasting menu? I emailed the restaurant but have not yet…

    They have tea, wine, champagne and other option before the dinner.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Qi Austin

    Qi Austin

    4.4
    (894 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Went to Qi for dim sum brunch and overall had a really enjoyable experience. Qi is know for…read morecombining western and traditional Chinese cuisine by using local organic farming. Did not have a reservation on this occasion, but they always make me feel welcome and manage to fit us in. Sat on the outdoor covered patio that was cool and shaded. The atmosphere is modern and lively, making it a great spot for a weekend brunch. Started the meal with cocktails including Lycheetini with Deep Eddy Vodka, Giffard Lichi-li. lemon, cranberry, I cut the cranberry. Also had a Fresa Paloma with Socorro Reposado Tequila, Contratto, strawberry, lime, grapefruit, five-spice that was very sweet and garnished with a flower. You are given a card where you can mark your dim sum selections. I ordered the Shrimp Pancake, Snow Crab Ball and Chinese Sausage Sticky Rice. The standout was the shrimp pancake that had a really great texture and flavor. The snow crab ball had a strange texture with shrimp surrounding the snow crab claw. The Chinese Sticky Rice is always a favorite. Also ordered the Truffle Egg Fried rice and Birds Nest with Seasonal Vegetable. The Truffle rice is so flavorful like a flavor explosion in your mouth. The Birds Nest is made with fried potato shreds which contain the a variety of vegetables including cauliflower, peppers, mushrooms and asparagus. The nest is also edible and has a crunchy texture. The presentation of the food is amazing and everything came out hot and fresh. The flavors were on point, and you can tell there's attention to detail in the preparation. Service was attentive outdoors and the pacing of dishes felt just right for a relaxed brunch. This restaurant is truly a gem whether you come for brunch or dinner service. Will definitely be back.

    I wasn't as blown away by the service and menu as I hoped- but continue to hear great things so…read moreI'll be back. Can't recommend the truffle fried rice or soup dumplings enough. The chicken basil pot stickers and pork belly were good.. but a bit dry for my taste. However, the sauces they offer were all good. Martini was a jump scare in color but taste was on pointtt! Service was fine but we were out front on the patio and though our waiter was attentive while we ordered, we ended up finishing and waiting 40 minutes for someone to come by so we could grab the check. I ended up just heading inside and the maître d' was able to close us out. Tables around us were open so I'm not sure what had them held up, and it could've been a one off, but definitely not ideal at this price point.

    Photos
    Qi Austin
    View from the Patio
    View from the Patio
    Qi Austin

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    Lin Asian Bar And Dim Sum

    Lin Asian Bar And Dim Sum

    4.2
    (1.3k reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    This is definitely one of my favorite places in Austin for Asian food and soup dumplings…read more Definitely need to make a reservation because this place is small and always packed. When you arrive, everybody is so nice you give them your name and they get you seated right away. I ordered a drink called a signature tingling Daisy and it was so good. I definitely could've had so many but I was driving so you gotta pace yourself. We started off with the soup dumplings, which are just phenomenal. It's a must when you go. Also, for appetizers, we got the spicy cucumbers which were divine and a hot and sour soup, which was perfectly balanced and not watery. We also got a beef fried rice and let me tell you that rice is so soft and delicious. You literally dream about it the next day. I also got the pecking duck which is delicious there the skin is nice and crispy and the meat on it taste so good. We also got the Kung pow shrimp with cashews, which was delicious and the pieces of shrimp were gigantic. We also got the green beans which is were delicious. I love ordering green beans when they're cooked just like the ones I posted in the photo. Then for dessert, we got the chocolate mousse which is that little dog cake. I know it's so cute and they made it a little hard to eat because you feel bad in a weird sense. It was delicious now I will say when cutting it and realizing the inside had a raspberry filling, made it a little more crazy cause it looked like blood, but it was still so good. This place is definitely an awesome staple and a must visit when you're in town or just always go and have food there whether it's date night or friends catching up or anything in general even on your own.

    I made a reservation for two on Resy and discovered when we got there that it was for the bar for…read moresome reason. This could have been my mistake but I don't remember any choice in the matter. The greeter wasn't very friendly and borderline surly when I asked for more details about how to not book the bar in the future. Didn't get any explanation but fortunately, we won't have to worry about that... The food was just awful. We ordered 3-4 types of dimsum (onion pancake, soup dumplings, chu shou, fried shu mae) and three entries (orange beef, eggplant and their take on ma pao tofu) for the best tasting experience. The curry sauce for the onion pancake was probably the most flavorful dish of the night sadly. The onion pancake was way way over fried-- hard as a rock. If that's their take on onion pancake... well, it's just wrong. The soup dumplings were passable but a bit doughie and the filling was full of a lot of noticeable coagulated fat -- not clear and broth-y, with light surface droplets of oil as all delicious broths. My wife enjoyed the chu shou -- I found the filling much too overcooked and tough -- difficult to eat with chop sticks. Like a tough, overcooked meatball. The fried shu Mae were just plain inedible. My wife and I each ate one and left the rest. The included sauce was basic and too heavy. And again, over fried. There was a huge delay between our apps and our mains, like 40 minutes or so. Various bar staff apologized. It wasn't a big deal, we were in a good conversation and they were super busy but our mains were not at all worth waiting for. Small portions. WAY over sauced. WAY too salty. WAY too sweet. No distinct flavors at all. The ma pao didn't seem to have any Szechuan pepper at all. How do you miss that ? The plating of the eggplant dish was really creative but I don't eat with my eyes and it came with no instruction -- my first bite was just flavorless steamed eggplant cube -- second was mixed with one note sauce. One of the better mains IMO but it was still gloopy and pretty gross. Wife did not enjoy it. The orange beef was essentially just six or seven cubes of tough, fatty beef covered in over-the-top bitter orange peel. We each had a cube and left the rest. Honestly, give me Panda Express any day over this abject failure of a restaurant. Austin needs more Chinese but if it's anything like this place, forget it. I'd rather spend a 4h round trip to Houston and go to even a mediocre Chinese restaurant than endure another meal at this place. What a waste of $165. Edit: I wish I was making this up but I literally had to pull over to throw up on the side of the road on the way home. The food did not sit well with me. I have no underlying health conditions, am not on any medicine that would have this as a side effect and only shared one beer with my wife. It was just a very, very, disappointing and gross meal.

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    Outdoor
    Outdoor
    Lin Asian Bar And Dim Sum
    Lanterns inside

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    Lanterns inside
    Shanghai Restaurant

    Shanghai Restaurant

    3.5
    (738 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    This might be the best dim sum in Austin now…read more I actually had never eaten at Shanghai having grown up in Austin. I didn't have their food until around COVID when we got dim sum to go a few times. I remember at that time thinking it was pretty unremarkable, and also quite expensive for dim sum. Fast forward to this year. I'm not sure if they have new ownership or new cooks, but the difference is night and day. I've been a couple of times now for dine-in in dim sum and each time was awesome. You can order off the menu or by QR code. They definitely focus on the classics but they're all executed really well. Standouts for me were the pan fried turnip cake, full of turnip and super sweet, the shrimp and leek pan fried dumplings, shrimp stuffed eggplant, and chili wonton. What makes them unique to me is that the food is all cooked to order and comes out hot and fresh. The fried items are crispy and hot and everything else you can tell just came straight from the kitchen. This avoids the one issue with carts which is that the food has been cooked who knows when and has just been sitting in a steam cart for an unknown amount of time. Also since you order off the menu, you can get exactly what you want instead of having to wait for a cart to come by. The service is always friendly and I've never had to wait to be seated, even on a weekend. If you haven't come here in awhile or written it off in the past, I'd encourage you to come and try it again. Right now it's a hidden gem but if more people realize how much better it is now, it might not be for long. Also bonus points for being a dim sum place that's not super far north like New Fortune 2 or Golden Palace.

    Was so excited to try dim sum that wasn't 20+ minutes to get to up north but my experience wasn't…read morethat great unfortunately. The bad: disorganized service. Ordering is through QR code and they did not know what order went to which table. They put food on our table and took it back to a different table TWICE. The good: the dim sum tasted legit. I'd recommend the shrimp rice roll. If service was better and their ordering system was more organized, this could be such a bomb place!

    Photos
    Shanghai Restaurant
    Shanghai Restaurant
    On the side of the restaurant. Enter on the left.

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    On the side of the restaurant. Enter on the left.
    Wu Chow

    Wu Chow

    3.9
    (1.2k reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    What's. It to love? Amazing food. Outstanding playlist (think 90s hip hop but not played at an…read moreinsane decibel level!), amazing service, and tasty cocktails. Wu Chow hits the spot on manny levels. The patio is inviting and the interior is decorated nicely as well. The food reminds me of home cooking meets a new hotspot in atx! The staff does a great job of checking in on tables and making great recommendations for coursing plates for a group (including portions bc in Texas you never know!). I really liked their dumpling and the rest of the meal was tasty as well.

    I sure didn't enjoy my last visit here. We arrived there at 5:30 with a reservation for a group of…read more11. We let them know we all had tickets to the opera at 7:30 so it was our goal to be wrapping up by 6:45. By 6:35, my plate was still bare. By the time my food arrived, I had to just shovel it in and go to the opera with indigestion. My friend sitting beside me fared even worse. His food didn't arrive until we were all paying our bills and getting ready to depart so he just had to get his to go. There were nice aspects of the meal too. My food was hot and tasty, my Welcome To The Jungle drink was epic, and our server was pretty attentive. However, the timing of food coming out just made the experience a catastrophe for my friend and me and I hope to not return.

    Photos
    Texas Tiki Week 2014 "Bull Mug"
    Texas Tiki Week 2014 "Bull Mug"
    Crispy Sesame Beef
    Crispy Sesame Beef
    Special Fried Rice - lots of meat, but lacking flavor

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    Special Fried Rice - lots of meat, but lacking flavor
    1618 Asian Fusion

    1618 Asian Fusion

    4.7
    (4.1k reviews)
    7.9 mi
    $$

    After landing in San Antonio yesterday to kick off my summer vacation, the very first thing I did…read moretoday was ask my friend to bring me back to this restaurant. The reason is simple: we ate here two years ago, and it left such a great impression on us that we had been looking forward to coming back ever since. Fortunately, not much has changed in terms of either the quality or the overall presentation of the food. Everything is still delicious, especially the Pho Combo. To be honest, it's far better than most of the pho we've had in Germany. That doesn't mean the pho in Germany is bad--it simply means this place matches my personal taste much better. As for the downsides, they're almost exactly the same as before. Parking is still a major challenge, and I understand that's probably not something the restaurant can easily fix. We also tried calling ahead to reserve a table, but they don't take reservations, whether you're coming with a group of 5-7 people or just 2-3 people. We arrived at 6:45 PM and still had to wait about 40 minutes before being seated, which was honestly quite inconvenient. Coincidentally, there was live music tonight, which was a nice surprise. Unfortunately, the sound system wasn't very good, so it was difficult to hear what the singers were performing. Then again, this isn't really the type of venue where people come specifically to enjoy live music, so most diners didn't seem to pay much attention to it. One thing I did notice was that either the kitchen has made a few changes over the past two years, or perhaps my own taste has changed a little. The food felt slightly saltier than I remembered, and the pho broth was richer and creamier. While that added some depth of flavor, it was a bit too rich for my liking, to the point where finishing the entire bowl of broth felt a little overwhelming. The braised short ribs were incredibly tender--so tender that a knife was almost unnecessary, and they could easily be pulled apart with just a fork. While many people would probably see that as a positive, I actually missed the slightly firmer, meatier texture I remembered from my last visit. That said, these are relatively minor issues. The quality may have dipped just a little compared to our previous visit, but this is still an excellent restaurant. If they can fine-tune those small details, it would easily return to being one of my favorite places. There's a good chance we'll stop by one more time before heading back to Germany.

    Is it that time of year for another 1618 update? Absolutely…read more After my umpteenth visit, I think it's safe to say I've worked my way through almost the entire menu (minus a few noodle, chicken & vegetarian dishes). My 2025 review still stands, but after so many visits, I've noticed a few items haven't been good as they used to, particularly the chicken wings (and yes, all three of them). The Garlic Wings haven't been hitting quite the same. They've started to taste a little dry, and the saucier wings taste better the next day since they don't have time to steep through once served. The Filet Mignon Pepper Steak is still my favorite dish on the menu, but I still can't justify ordering it family-style anymore. It's delicious, but the portion just doesn't match the price. One of the newest additions--the Truffle Fried Rice is spectacular. It's light, not overpowering with truffle, and the fish eggs really adds the perfect little pop of texture/flavor. I don't think I breathed the entire time I scarfed it down!! 1618 is still one of my favorite restaurants in Austin of all time, but I think it's time for the menu to elevate a bit and dive deeper into less mainstream Asian cuisine. If anyone can do it, 1618 can.

    Photos
    Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice
    Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice
    Cheesecake flambé
    Cheesecake flambé
    Pho Rib - Vietnamese beef broth with Filet Mignon, Grilled Ribs & a Vital Farm Egg.

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    Pho Rib - Vietnamese beef broth with Filet Mignon, Grilled Ribs & a Vital Farm Egg.
    Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at Lantana Place

    Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at Lantana Place

    4.1
    (340 reviews)
    11.6 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    We had such a wonderful experience celebrating my son's birthday at Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at…read moreLantana Place in Austin. I've heard so many great things about this restaurant, and we finally made it there over Memorial Day weekend. It absolutely lived up to the hype. This place is truly impressive. You can tell every detail was thoughtfully designed and intentional, from the stunning interior design and décor to the incredibly creative menu. What I loved most was how the dishes stayed rooted in authentic Chinese flavors while adding creative, and sometimes surprising, twists. Everything we ordered was excellent. The Lobster Cheese Puff was a huge hit: crispy on the outside and packed with flavor inside. The Salmon Sashimi Mango Salad was incredibly fresh, bright, and crunchy. The sautéed pea shoots were so tender and fresh. And the Lamb Chop with Spicy Miso Sauce was absolutely unforgettable. One of the biggest surprises for me was the Veggie Fried Rice. As a native Chinese, I've had countless fried rice dishes over the years, but I've honestly never had one prepared quite like this before. It was so flavorful and unique. For dessert, the Chocolate Soup Dumpling was both creative and delicious, and the bunny-shaped sorbet was almost too cute to eat. Our waiter, Jake, was also incredibly attentive and helpful throughout the evening. He made our first experience there even more special. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for high-quality Chinese cuisine paired with a beautiful ambiance and elevated dining experience. Perfect for celebrations or a special night out in Austin!

    It was a fantastic restaurant with amazing food. I highly recommend making reservations. You will…read moreneed them!

    Photos
    Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at Lantana Place
    Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at Lantana Place
    Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at Lantana Place

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    Ling Kitchen - diners - Updated July 2026

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