Oriental Impression Grill Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

This Northern Chinese BBQ restaurant is a popular grunge-y late night spot that stands out amongst other offerings on Victoria Street. It's definitely an experience, but one you have to be in the mood for.

🌟 Standout orders were the chili oil noodles and the lamb skewers. The wheat noodles were the perfect al dente texture mixed in a flavourful oil. The lamb skewers are a must-order. Dusted in cumin, chili, Sichuan peppercorn powder.

The salad was very refreshing and a perfect pairing with the BBQ skewers (which can start to taste same same after a while). Only downside is that it's too sweet. The grilled scallops with garlic was also fresh and tasty.

✍️ Top tips for first-timers:

Have some restraint when ordering the skewers. The menu is huge and you'll be tempted to try lots of stuff, but the price quickly adds up. Order small quantities to try and see if you like it first. You can always add more to your order later.

Don't expect doting service. It will be challenging to flag a servers attention, especially if it's busy and you're seated outside. You'll need to advocate for yourself (self service water/sauces station is inside, ask about your food if it hasn't arrived after a while instead of waiting there)

It's great drinking food, so grab a beer and enjoy. If you don't want alcohol, their homemade yoghurt drink...

If you’re looking for authentic Chinese shaokao, this place is the real deal. From the moment you step in, the aroma of grilled skewers greets you and instantly makes your mouth water. The atmosphere inside is exactly how a shaokao place should feel – bustling, lively, and filled with the sounds of sizzling skewers hitting the grill in the kitchen.

The flavours are bold, smoky, and pack that heavy punch of seasoning and spice that only real northern Chinese barbeque delivers. Every skewer, whether it’s meat, seafood, or veggies, comes out juicy, charred just right, and bursting with flavour!

The variety is incredible – you can keep ordering and each new plate feels like another little discovery. The cooked food like stir fried noodles are great too!

What I loved most is how unapologetically authentic it is – the smokiness in the air, the noise of happy diners, and that unmistakable street-food vibe that makes you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a night market in China.

Hands down, one of the best shaokao experiences I’ve ever had. If you’re craving bold, mouthwatering BBQ skewers, this...

Went here last week, never again. A racist place which puts its own people first among everyone else. All the food have the exact same seasoning, portions are small. We had waited over 30 mins for our food, which we clearly placed an order for on their paper. After losing patience, I asked the waiter where my food was, as he was handing out food to the people that came after us. He said that our order was finished, and brang out the paper. We inspected the paper and we clearly placed orders for more food. He said they didn’t realise we placed an order, and that it was all sold out. The waiters could’ve just said that our order was finished and if there was anything else we’d like to order, like a proper food place. But no, they just ignored us, thinking we had more food coming, and focused on serving others. They were also clearly providing a higher degree of attention and service to their own kind, which you will see if you visit this place. Definitely avoid and go down a few shops for greater food and...