Ling Kitchen

“Every now and again you find a place that leaves you shocked in the best way. Ling Kitchen is one of those places. It’s off the beaten path, up on Research Boulevard, and its exterior does not suggest just how good it is. The experience starts with a nondescript gate into a private lot, then being led in through the kitchen. After some tea and sparkling wine, the show starts. And it doesn’t let up for ten outstanding courses. Chef Ling is there to guide you through her work. And it’s all amazing. The opening gold/black dumpling fish soup with a tofu blossom is so fun. The duck three ways (especially the duck with caviar and the duck skin with rice) perfect. A wooden box that opens up in a cloud of oolong smoke to reveal beautiful squab. Wagyu. Delicately fried lobster tail. An outstanding bitter melon seafood rice that felt something like a delicate Chinese paella. One of the best meals I’ve had in some time. How Ling Kitchen is not the talk of the town perplexes me. Venture away from downtown and the east side; you won’t be disappointed.”

“Ling Kitchen in Austin truly feels like home. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the warm, family-like atmosphere. The service is thoughtful and attentive without being overbearing, and you can tell that the owner puts genuine care into every detail. The ingredients are incredibly fresh, clearly hand-selected with great care and respect for the food. What impressed me most was how the owner treats every guest like family — there’s a sincerity and kindness that’s rare to find. As a Chinese, I initially worried the dishes might be overly fusion-style and lose their authenticity. But as strongly recommended by my friends, my wife and I came and tried it. To my pleasant surprise, the food was actually very authentic and absolutely delicious. It strikes a perfect balance between refinement and true Chinese flavors. Highly recommended for anyone who hasn’t been here yet — definitely worth a visit. (Photos credits to my friend Lingzi)”

“Really nice food, there wasn't a single thing I didn't enjoy! Each plate had a small portion but I was pretty full by the end (midway I started giving my partner half my food so I'd be able to have room for the remaining dishes haha). Service was wonderful, the team was all attentive and gracious. Parking was easy, there was someone to direct us to the gated parking lot in the back. Also at the table there are little lights to make picture taking easier (very appreciated since the lighting is dimmed and intimate).”

“How did I not know this existed until now? What a unique experience—literally dining in the prep kitchen that supplies all the Ling restaurants in Austin. Not only was the chef there along with her husband, but we also got to hear directly from her about how the menu is inspired by her grandmother’s recipes and the food the owner grew up eating. The presentation of each dish was incredibly thoughtful, and the flavors were just as impressive. The Wagyu was outstanding, and how often do you get to try jellyfish, duck tongue, and sea cucumber all in one evening? The service was exceptional, making the entire night feel even more special. An unforgettable dining experience!”

“I’ll start off by saying that the atmosphere and service were absolutely outstanding. It was also the best presented food I’ve ever seen, truly artistic and perfect. But unfortunately the food fell very short of expectations. The first three dishes of dumpling soup, egg, and taro with crab meat were excellent as well as the dessert was great. The jasmine tea was also excellent and reminded me of my time in Taiwan. I was very excited to try the lobster tail but was disappointed that it was fried. It was also chewy and had a strong taste, that of lobster that isn’t fresh. The dish I was most looking forward to and one of my favorite foods in the world is Peking duck. The duck was not crispy or buttery. The meat was tender but the skin makes the duck. The wagyu was of good quality, I just didn’t care for the pairing of flavors. That’s on me, not them. Overall, my wife and I both were disappointed I regret coming here to celebrate her birthday as it has not left a good memory for us. I was so excited to try the food so it was a big let down. I know there was a lot of effort put into this dinner. But I feel for the price of close to $400 (including tip) for two people, the food should have been far better.”