Jilin Family Restaurant

13.5/20Critics' PickUpdated October 26, 2026,first published 7:00pmJilin Family RestaurantNorthern Chinese$$This venue is included in Good Food’s 100 Essential Restaurants list.The Dongbei connection is apparent at a glance at Jilin, where owner Michael Zhang serves the food of his home town, in China’s north-east. The walls tell the story of the region, and Zhang says with pride that the cuisine isn’t focused on presentation but warmth, comfort and home. It’s a philosophy that’s apparent come nightfall, when groups gather around vast iron pots set into the tables to scoop up cockerel and hazel-mushroom stews, and prise soft cornmeal buns from the surface (make a point to pre-order; the dish takes 45 minutes to prepare). Dumplings are filled with preserved cabbage, shredded tofu skin is dusky and full of satisfying chew, and the guo bao rou, thinly cut into sheets and gloriously sticky, is like sweet and sour pork on steroids. A raucous, uniquely delicious experience, offering hits and deep cuts from a cuisine slowly gaining ground in Sydney.Good to know: Like this? Also try Taste of Changbai Northeastern Cuisine in Chinatown.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: June 2026More:ChatswoodJilin Family RestaurantSydneyNorthern ChineseLicensedBYOGluten-free optionsTakeawayFamily-friendlyGood for groupsRestaurantReviewsGood Food Guide100 Essential RestaurantsCritics’ PickFrom our partners