Zi La BBQ 嗞啦烧烤 — Restaurant in Melbourne

I'm pretty picky as to what I review, mostly because Im lazy, but I just have to review Zi La. We headed down in the freezing weather tonight, because somehow even living two blocks away and going to the market every weekend we had never seen it (hey, we usually walk into the market via Aldi). But we spotted it last week, and tonight we gave it a shot.

And ooooh dammmnn was it worth it. I've lived in and traveled all through Asia, and honestly when I say down it was as if I'd actually jumped on a plane and headed back. The skewers were delicious, the spice was amazing, the meat was fatty ..the whole thing was just an absolute 5 stars. Swigged down with a Cass from 888 next door it was one of the best meals I've had in Preston, and albeit even here in Melbourne, for a while. It's a 5 for me - not to say it didn't have it's small issues, the squids texture I feel didn't hit the mark (was it a frozen squad and not fresh from the market?) and I really would have liked it to have been even hotter in spice (but I feel maybe I should have asked for that) but these things are just such minor quibbles that it doesn't matter - every great street food stall has its quirks.

So, I'll be back, probably quite often, and I'll bring all my friends - you should too. Maybe you'll be more game than I was and try the sheeps balls ..but hey, maybe even I will, some day! (Probably it with a liberal dose of Cass to wash it down)

Tdlr: A+ ... a hidden gem of authentic, delicious real northern Chinese street food in the heart of Preston that you just don't...

I love Zi La BBQ, it’s meat on sticks marinaded in alchemy…. The meat, notwithstanding the below point, is really delicious - it’s uber flavourful, smokey and appropriately fatty, and there’s a decent range of options (tho thus far I’ve been too chicken to order the lambs testicles, but I’m working up to it!) and it’s reasonably priced…. And clearly there’s alchemy or some other wizardry going on, because the reality is Zi La BBQ is literally a tent in a car park, next to the bins and piles of debris, in D’Preston, but I swear, eating at Zi LI BBQ makes you feel like you’re somewhere else entirely, like maybe Northern China. It makes me feel like I’ve been on an actual holiday (but waaaay cheaper, obviously)

Now, there is one more little thing - the last couple of times I’ve eaten here, I couldn’t help noticing the meat that’s on the sticks had kinda, well, shrunk. And in some instances it appears to have shrunk quite significantly…. The smaller size still tastes good at least…. Maybe it’s to help cover the costs of keeping that new dining tent so warm...

Amazing skewers cooked to perfection over medium charcoal heat and sprinkled with the right seasonings to bring out all the flavour. Cooked to order so can take a while to get your food. There seems to be an online ordering option so that might be a better way to pick up to avoid long waits, especially during busy periods.

Having just had dinner before we stumbled across this new place, we ordered the beef and pork belly for snacks. They already had sold out of lamb and I can see why. All the meat were so tender, moist and full of smoke and flavour. Wrapping enoki mushrooms with the pork belly is genius! Will be back again soon and earlier next time (so they aren't sold out) to try the other types of meats we couldn't fit into our belly on our fist visit.

This food truck set up is at the back in the carpark area, not on High St, follow the smell and you will find this street...