
Yen Lin
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Quick info
About Yen Lin
Yen Lin is a Chinese restaurant in Ilford, at 108 Goodmayes Rd, serving a fully halal menu with no pork. The kitchen pairs classic Chinese cooking with Indo-Chinese dishes, so chilli paneer and Manchurian chicken sit on the same menu as the Chinese standards. Vegetarian diners have their own choices, including vegetable Manchurian chow mein, and the vegetable dishes are made without eggs. The restaurant serves alcohol and is open every day of the week except Tuesdays, when it is closed.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chilli paneer, crispy chilli chicken, manchurian fried rice and chow mein.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention chilli paneer, crispy chilli chicken, manchurian fried rice and chow mein.
Customer Review Summary
Chilli paneer is the dish reviewers name most as a favourite, often alongside Manchurian fried rice, and the vegetable Manchurian chow mein and vegetable manchow soup also draw praise. One reviewer adds that the vegetable dishes contain no eggs. Close behind are the crispy dishes: crispy chilli chicken, spicy crispy chicken, crispy broccoli and aubergine, and a huge spring roll. One diner calls the dry, crispy dishes brilliant and another praises the Singapore noodles. Several stress that the food is fully halal with no pork. The complaints are specific: the sizzling beef had an odd flavour, the Manchurian chicken disappointed one regular, the prawn toast was quite oily, and one reviewer would avoid the saucy dishes. A few call the decor simple or outdated, though one finds old-school charm in it. Staff are described as friendly and quick, and one reviewer suggests calling ahead to reserve on a busy Saturday evening. One diner describes the waitstaff showing them, step by step, the authentic way to eat the duck with spring rolls.
Customer Review Summary
Chilli paneer is the dish reviewers name most as a favourite, often alongside Manchurian fried rice, and the vegetable Manchurian chow mein and vegetable manchow soup also draw praise. One reviewer adds that the vegetable dishes contain no eggs. Close behind are the crispy dishes: crispy chilli chicken, spicy crispy chicken, crispy broccoli and aubergine, and a huge spring roll. One diner calls the dry, crispy dishes brilliant and another praises the Singapore noodles. Several stress that the food is fully halal with no pork. The complaints are specific: the sizzling beef had an odd flavour, the Manchurian chicken disappointed one regular, the prawn toast was quite oily, and one reviewer would avoid the saucy dishes. A few call the decor simple or outdated, though one finds old-school charm in it. Staff are described as friendly and quick, and one reviewer suggests calling ahead to reserve on a busy Saturday evening. One diner describes the waitstaff showing them, step by step, the authentic way to eat the duck with spring rolls.
Featured reviews
- Daniela Drozd
“The vegetarian food here is honestly amazing – every dish we tried was bursting with flavour. I recommend the chilli paneer, vegetable Manchurian chow mein, and the vegetable manchow soup. Yes, the place does look a bit outdated and could use a refresh, but there’s a certain old-school charm to it that makes you feel relaxed and at home. Once the food arrives, any thoughts about the decor quickly disappear because you’re too busy enjoying what’s on your plate.”
- Diana
“This remains one of my favorite spots, and our latest experience reminded me why. We ordered the duck and spring rolls for the first time, paired with a phenomenal tea that I simply couldn't get enough of. The highlight of the evening was the exceptional hospitality; the waitstaff kindly demonstrated the authentic way to enjoy the dish, showing us the process step-by-step. Exceptional food, brilliant service, and a wonderful cultural learning experience.”
- Zamir Ikbal
“Really enjoyed eating here. All the food is halal, and they do not serve pork at all, which is a huge plus and gives great peace of mind. The menu has a good variety of classic Chinese dishes, and everything we tried was fresh, full of flavour, and well cooked. The staff were friendly and happy to answer questions about ingredients, which I appreciated. Portions were generous and prices were reasonable for the quality. They do serve alcohol, so just something to be aware of, but it didn’t affect the overall experience at all. Overall, a great spot for halal Chinese food — definitely somewhere I’d recommend and return to.”
- squarewavedj
“Nice colourful restaurant, staff friendly polite and quick service. Crispy broccoli and aubergine very nice..would like to try crispy chicken next time...huge spring roll. £45 for two people. Had 5 dishes.”
- Jenisha Pentayya
“Yen Lin never disappoints! The chilli paneer & Manchurian fried rice are my absolute faves - the owner is so lovely and looks after you and always recommends different dishes to try. Their veg dishes do not contain eggs which was a plus point for us! Added a picture of their menu with current £ - quite hard to find it on Google.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
Location
Chinese restaurants near Yen Lin
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yen Lin | 4.3662 | — | chilli paneer, crispy chilli chicken, manchurian fried rice |
| Fu Min | 4.2169 | 1.2 mi | house special fried rice, beef broccoli, chicken balls |
| HING WOK Halal Chinese Takeaway | 3.7314 | 2.4 mi | chow mein, tom yum soup, salt and pepper ribs |
| Gah Shing | 3.5178 | 3.2 mi | chilli salt chicken wings, chow mein, chicken satay |
The 3 nearest chinese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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