Nam Loong 1

Nam Loong 1 is an old, faithful Chinese restaurant that’s been dishing up cheap eats since the beginning of time - possibly earlier.

Smack in the middle of busy Russell Street, many a hungry Melburnian has trod the well-worn path through its doors. What lures them in is the homey Chinese fare, and the steamed fluffy white buns (baos).

Ogle the front cabinet full of baos, choose one from the massive bamboo steamers and crack it open to reveal its hot innards. The roast pork and vegetarian ones are fair, but the real crowd pleaser is the combination of chicken, Chinese sausage and egg. Forget muesli bars: these tasty morsels are the ultimate snack.

For a more comprehensive meal, take a seat in the restaurant and peruse the menu with over 150 items, or check out the specials on the wall. A cute little hot pot is full of tender chicken and mushroom; the spicy, full-flavoured mince pork and eggplant packs a chilli punch; while the slippery pork dumplings are a hit with the black vinegar sauce. Finish it all up with a sweet ‘drizzling sand’ bun, and wait for the memorable coconut-custard explosion.

You can eat here for under ten dollars, or if you’re feeling cashed up, you can eat like Paris Hilton for 20. Surroundings are modest, service is efficient and with prices like these, everyone’s a winner. Kelly Eng