# Overview Ling's Pavilion is Mumbai's oldest Chinese restaurant, representing over 70 years of culinary heritage dating back to the mid-1940s when the Ling family first opened the Nanking restaurant before renaming it to Ling's Pavilion in 1991. The restaurant specializes in authentic Cantonese cuisine—a rarity even in China today—and is run by third-generation owner Baba Ling (Benson Ling), who personally visits fish markets, supervises cooking, and provides expert recommendations to guests. Recognized with TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award (top 10% globally) and acclaimed as Mumbai's best traditional Chinese restaurant, Ling's Pavilion is both a culinary institution and a heritage landmark where authenticity is confirmed by visiting Chinese travelers. # Why Visit Ling's Pavilion offers an unparalleled authentic Cantonese dining experience with 70% of the kitchen's capabilities available only as off-menu specials—guests must ask their server or Baba Ling directly for daily offerings. The restaurant's commitment to authenticity extends from maintaining the same suppliers for seven decades to Baba Ling's regular travels to China for ingredients and culinary trends. What truly sets this establishment apart is its traditional, unchanging ambiance spanning 30+ years and the personal touch of having the owner recommend dishes based on fresh market finds and guest preferences. The restaurant pioneered several innovations in Mumbai dining, including introducing sweet corn soup, bamboo rice, and individually monogrammed napkins, while maintaining steadfast quality that makes it a destination for both loyal locals and international visitors seeking genuine Cantonese cuisine. # Menu Highlights - Salt and Pepper Prawns (minimalist preparation showcasing large prawns with just salt and pepper, ₹800/kg market price) - Salt and Pepper Crab (jumbo live Sri Lankan female crabs in Singapore sauce) - Juicy Pork Dumplings (similar to Chinese pani puri, filled with juice, eaten with soy wine or red chilli) - Special Sliced Roast Pork (sweet neck cut, weekends and holidays only, served with Chinese bao for pork pockets) - Stewed Pork Belly with Mushrooms and Bean Curd (with bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms) - Nanking Pork (crispy pork fat layer with airy, bewitching crunchiness) - Pan Grilled Noodles (crunchy noodles with Chinese greens and choice of prawns, tenderloin, or chicken marinated in egg) - Claypot Rice with Mushrooms (also available with prawns and bacon) - Steamed Prawn Wontons with Burnt Garlic (silky wontons tossed in burnt garlic bits) - Honey Glazed Spare Ribs (melt-in-your-mouth perfection) - Mixed Meat Fried Rice (popular with enough flavor that no side dish is needed) - Corn Curd (hefty chunks, popular starter) - Sliced Beef with Spring Onions and Chilli (extremely tender beef) - Chicken, Liver and Fungus Dry (recommended by regulars) - Chilli Garlic Fish (available in basa, snapper, or pomfret) - Two in One Prawns (red and white prawns separated by lettuce) - Seafood Firepot Soup - Red Cooked Chicken (marinated in egg for extreme tenderness) - Fried Banana Dumplings (often complimentary) - Honey Noodles with Ice Cream (signature dessert, often complimentary on special occasions) # Additional Information - **Address:** 19/21 Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, Behind Regal Cinema Hall, Off Colaba Causeway, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India - **Phone:** +91 22 2285 0023 - **Hours:** 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Daily, all 7 days) - **Cost for Two:** ₹1,200 approximately - **Reservation Policy:** Call ahead recommended; some off-menu dishes require 24 hours preparation. Over 70% of kitchen capabilities are not on the regular menu—guests should ask servers for daily off-menu specials. - **Alcohol Policy:** No alcohol served - **Parking:** No parking facility available - **Payment:** Digital payment options unclear—recommend bringing cash - **Pet Policy:** No Info Available # Reviews - **TripAdvisor:** Travelers' Choice Award - Top 10% of properties globally - **EazyDiner:** 4.85/5 - **The Infatuation:** Recognized as Mumbai's best traditional Chinese restaurant **Review Snippets:** - "Even after nearly four decades - Ling's Pavilion remains the Queen of Cantonese Cuisine - not just in Mumbai - but arguably India" - "For the best traditional Chinese food in Mumbai, cross the gaudily lit footbridge spanning a koi pond inside Ling's Pavilion" - "This Colaba institution has looked the same throughout its 30-odd years—and so has the food—and we're eternally thankful for its unchanging steadiness" - "The menu is 'just for the people who don't know what they want'" - Baba Ling - "No other Chinese Restaurant Serves Jumbo Live Crabs in Singapore sauce - as good as the Sri Lankan female crabs in Singapore itself" # Dining Tips - Ask Baba Ling for recommendations rather than just ordering from the menu - Call ahead for off-menu dishes—some require 24 hours preparation - Order generously—regulars always go big - Ask server about daily off-menu specials - Fried rice and noodles have enough flavor that side dishes are not needed - Perfect for big groups and family dining - Visit on weekends or public holidays for access to special dishes like roast pork - If Baba likes you, he sends complimentary desserts --- ## Remarks Ling's Pavilion stands as Mumbai's oldest and most authentic Cantonese restaurant, with over 70 years of family heritage and unwavering commitment to traditional preparation methods. What makes this establishment extraordinary is that 70% of its culinary capabilities exist only as off-menu specials, requiring guests to engage directly with owner Baba Ling or servers for recommendations based on daily market finds. The restaurant's traditional ambiance—featuring a gaudily lit footbridge over a koi pond, high-backed chairs, and institutional décor unchanged for three decades—creates a nostalgic dining experience where authenticity is validated by visiting Chinese travelers. For anyone seeking genuine Cantonese cuisine in India, this TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award winner (top 10% globally) offers an irreplaceable culinary journey through dishes that are increasingly rare even in China itself.