Kotaraya Oakleigh South

Contrary to popular Unilocal belief, 5 star reviews should not be handed out like candy. They should be something that restaurants and bars strive towards and fight for.
Imagine my bewilderment when I found myself at this (to say the least) unassuming «Asian» restaurant in the outskirts of Melbourne (I say «Asian» because while it was originally billed to me as a Malaysian restaurant, it became clear from their menu that they had a little bit of everything — Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, etc.).
The interior reminds me of those hole in the wall places you might find in LA or Jersey or (insert any place in the U.S. with a decent ethnic population). Upon sitting, my first instinct told me «based on the décor, this food is probably going to be awesome».
Now, different strokes for different folks — some days, if I want «Chinese food», then the fast food stand at the mall that serves orange chicken and fried rice will do just fine. Other days, maybe I’ll want something more authentic. Having eaten anywhere from my local corner store Chinese place, to an authentic Chinese restaurant in Chinatown NYC, to a random person’s house in Beijing who cooked me and some friends up a storm, I’ve had it all. This restaurant is on par with anything I’ve eaten anywhere. There, I’ve said it.
The chef made us a ton of different dishes, ranging from veggie dishes w/​tofu, to pork dishes, to lamb, to duck, and back, and every.single.thing. was. amazing. Seriously, please don’t change a thing — not your barebones school cafeteria-​like setting, nor anything on your delicious menu. 5 out of 5, would fly back here and eat again.