Yangs Hot Works

Location: 735 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater, VIC

Signature Dish: Dumplings

Pro-Tip: Make sure you put vinegar and chilli on your dumplings
Cost: < $10 per dish
Score: 6.5/10

As of a few years ago, these sorts of restaurants have turned up a lot.  Mainly situated around Box Hill and Glen Waverley (and likely Springvale although I am yet to spend much time there).  I think the correct term for a restaurant such as this is Chinese Cafe - although I could be horribly, horribly wrong.  This place, Yangs Hot Works, is situated in sunny Bayswater, which for anyone not familiar with the area, is neither near a bay or water.  

Shanghai Fried Noodles

A phenomenon I have noticed throughout my travels has been that most Chinese Cafe's basically have identical menus.  By identical, I don't mean just similar, but so much the same that even individual menu items have the same number.  This is a good thing, because you always know what you are getting yourself into, and makes it quite easy to compare various restaurants.  Eg, I always go for a number 1 - Steamed Peking pork dumplings.  Excellent benchmark.

Fried and steamed pork dumplings

Granted there generally isn't too much room for innovation with a more or less set menu, various places tend to put their own twists on things.  This place (and yes I'm aware this is a very lame example) has real tea! In teapots!

Special Chilli Beef on rice

If you want a quick, cheap feed that doesn't really go out of its way to be anything that its not - this, and many like it, are the way to go.  It is especially good hangover food as I have found out on many an occasion.  The service is slightly more friendly than most, and the location is pretty handy, servicing some of the nearby offices for lunch.  Not worth travelling for, but if you ever happen to be in the area, this is definitely worth a go.  One thumbs up.

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