Melbourne

Former Crew From Lau’s Family Kitchen Have Opened Their Own Restaurant

With some of Lau's iconic dishes on the menu.

Instagram/ @benyuekitchen

Beloved hospitality venues being forced to close down, was one of the most devastating aspects of the COVID lockdowns in Melbourne during 2020 and 2021. And, while there were many moments of sadness, one of the biggest blows was the closing of Lau’s Family Kitchen, a Cantonese institution in St Kilda.

They shared the news through an Instagram post, in early March of last year, announcing their closing. It read:

“We regret to inform you that we have decided to close the restaurant at the end of March due to end of lease.

“Lau’s Family Kitchen could not have been as successful without your support,” it went on. “We thank you for 15 wonderful years.”

Opening back in 2006 by restaurateur Gilbert Lau, who also opened Flower Drum in 1975, the restaurant was St Kilda’s hot spot for incredible Cantonese food.

It was a destination. Not only for the unbelievable food (the best crab omelette I ever ate in my life), but for the always-buzzing atmosphere and family warmth. Lau’s sons, Michael and Jason, went on to run the St Kilda restaurant until it’s end, while Gilbert himself, would be sitting at the back of the restaurant, glass of red in hand, greeting you as you went past him to the loo, and checking in that everything was okay.

And while there will never be another Lau’s, we have a reason to celebrate, as the Wu family, who previously worked for the Lau’s, have opened their own Cantonese restaurant, featuring some of the iconic dishes that were once enjoyed at Lau’s Family Kitchen.

Located in Aberfeldie, Benyue Kitchen opened a few weeks ago, with a focus on traditional Cantonese food, and a core team of former Lau’s Family Kitchen Crew.

“We are a family run business and with the gap left by the sad closure of Laus Family Kitchen,” the Wu family tell Thrillist Australia. “Our chefs believed there was a unique and special opportunity to offer Melburnians high-quality and freshly made Asian cuisine.”

“After many years of working as a team under Gilbert Lau’s tutelage, we’ve stepped up to a new challenge, that allows us to respect and celebrate the Lau’s Family Kitchen legacy.”

And so they do. Not only is the service super friendly and warm, and in an authentic environment, but they’re event serving some of the same dishes, with the same recipes and methods that were used at Lau’s.

Things like the fresh crab meat fluffy omelette (yay!), salt and pepper quail, and quail sung choi bao are appearing on the menu once more, with the Lau touch, plus everything the Wu family learnt at Lau’s and their own knowledge of Cantonese food and culture… there’s literally zero chance of not being mind-blown.

Although it makes us feel like doing a happy jig, the decision to carry the torch through to a restaurant of their own wasn’t a quick or easy decision for the Wu family.

“After lengthy family deliberations and then a great deal of extensive research for the best location, as well as an equally important blessing from Gilbert, we opened Benyue Kitchen.”

“We have so much respect and acknowledgement for what Gilbert taught us, and we think he is happy to see members of his old team blossom and grow at Benyue.”

That being said, you should get down for a crab omelette, like now.

You can visit Benyue Kitchen’s website here, for bookings or takeaway.

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Melbourne

The Best Sandwiches To Chow Down On In Melbourne

More than just ham and cheese.

Some say sandwiches are really having their moment, but did they ever go out of style? 

A sandwich is one of the world’s most simple culinary pleasures. Whoever first decided that putting stuff between bread means a yum time is a gosh darn genius. Although sandwiches can seem simple to make, there are people out there that have been studying the art of the sandwich and it shows.

The difference between a good sandwich and a shit sandwich is huge. We don’t want you to suffer, so we’ve put a list together of our favourite sandwiches in Melbourne.

Here are the best sandwiches in Melbourne right now.

Hanoi Hannah’s Drip Drop Banh Mi 

Windsor

The Drip Drop Banh Mi is Hanoi Hannah’s new lunch sandwich that is messy in all the right ways. Think white bread roll with a crispy crust and soft centre, laced with pâté and lemongrass satay sauce and a nice juicy hunk of lemongrass chargrilled chicken.

Most importantly, a warm pho-inspired gravy is served on the side to dip, drizzle or drown the sandwich. This mouth-watering sandwich is available from today, July 8, at Hanoi Hannah’s Windsor and Elsternwick locations. It’s crunchy, it’s messy, it’s fragrant and an all round multisensory, hands-on journey. Roll your sleeves up and get to it.

Dine in or take it home.

Photo: @nicos.melbourne

Nico’s Sandwich Deli’s Cubano

Fitzroy

Get your hands around this combo: smoked pork belly, grandma ham, original salad creme, picks, American mustard and cheese. Recommended to be eaten with pickled chilli and hot sauce, this Cubano is downright juicy in the best way. Nico’s Sandwich Deli has a rotating menu that heroes classic flavour combinations with a little twist. You can’t really go wrong, especially if you pair your sandwich of choice with one of their Malted Caramel Shakes. It’s a whole lotta yes.

You can dine in or take away.

Photo: @stansdeli

Specials at Stan’s Deli

Malvern

Every weekend, Stan’s Sandwich Deli put up incredible sandwich specials and honestly, we can’t pick a favourite. One week you might be dazzled by a veal schnitzel bun with tomato and fennel slaw, and the next you’ll get a Jerusalem artichoke toastie with aged parmesan, horseradish mayo and Guindilla peppers. Located in the lush streets of Malvern, Stan’s has a real diner-on-an-American-highway feel to it, but slightly more aesthetically refined, refill filter coffee and all. 

Dine in or take away.

Photo: @kingwilliam_takeaway

King William’s Brigadier

Flinders Lane

This sando pulls rank on the Colonel. From a hole-in-the-wall sandwich deli in Melbourne CBD’s Flinders Lane, comes a soft white roll filled with roast free-range chicken, crispy chicken skin, traybake stuffing, zucchini slaw and their infamous secret gravy. It’s the chicken rolls of all chicken rolls. You’ve never had a chicken sandwich until you’ve had King William’s Brigadier. It’s the perfect combination of juicy chicken breast and crispy chicken skin. Should I keep going? I can.

Only available for pick-up.

Photo: @saulssandwiches

Saul’s Muffuletta

Carnegie

The Italian stallion of sandwiches. Saul’s Sandwiches do some bangin’ bites – pretty much every sandwich they do, they do right. But the Muffuletta is a fan favourite and it’s off the charts. Think stacks of mortadella, artichokes, provolone cheese, salami, pesto, spinach and chilli. It’s an antipasto board in a sandwich and it’s goddamn good. 

You can dine in or takeaway.

Photo: @palette_melbourne

Palette’s Candied Bacon & Cheese

North Melbourne

Palette in North Melbourne is inspired by Korean aesthetics and lifestyle, and they aim to bring different cultures together. Everything about this place is beautiful and delicious (especially the coffee), but we can’t get past their Candied Bacon & Cheese sando. Imagine: scrambled eggs with corn, candied bacon, sliced cheese and chilli jam in toasted brioche. Uhhh. Name a better breakfast sandwich, we’ll wait.

Available to dine in or takeaway.

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