Chaozhou Malaya Bistro Cafe

14.5/20Critics' PickUpdated October 12, 2026,first published November 27, 2024The Balwyn North eatery.Wayne TaylorChaozhou Malaya Bistro CafeMalaysian-Chinese$This venue is included in Good Food’s 100 Essential Restaurants list.There’s a tagine on display in the dining room. A Yankees cap on a shelf. A mishmash of tables on a tiled floor. But the most disorienting detail might be the front sign that bears a different name. Then the food arrives and clarity is restored by way of Aunty’s exemplary treatment of Teochew cuisine.Duck meat, fatty and spiced, is fried in a blanket of mashed taro, served with sweet chilli. Charred cabbage, pork and pickled radish create crunchy, umami crescendos against the smoky hum of flat noodles. The oyster omelette has a seared crust that gives way to the gooey, oceany inside.Service is brisk yet effective. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get to slow down and watch Aunty catching up with regulars in the kitchen. Proof you should never judge a restaurant by the derelict arcade it exists in.Good to know: Book ahead and ask about the special orders section.Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upLast visited: July 2026More:Balwyn NorthChaozhou Malaya Bistro CafeVictoriaMalaysian-ChineseBudget friendlyGood for groupsTakeawayVegetarian-friendlyGluten-free optionsOutdoor diningFamily-friendlyCommunity hubRestaurantReviewsGood Food Guide100 Essential RestaurantsCritics’ PickFrom our partners