Hills BBQ Noodle Shop

Saturday was the start of my week long gastronomic affair with eating out. As a student on a budget, I rarely get the chance to travel outside of the city, let alone have a meal out, so you should probably know I was helluva excited.

After a rousing game of lasertag on a caffiene and sleep deprived morning at Boxhill, I just followed the group into a Hong Kong style barbeque meat restaurant called Hills BBQ Noodle Shop. Nothing too fancy, but apparently we had come into a famous meat shop! Judging by the roast pork and char siew hanging by the hooks on display, I was anticipating the meal!

Took me long enough to decide I wanted the century egg and pork porridge which I would again share half of with Issie, who ordered the roast pork with rice. Prices were surprisingly reasonable for a student budget, although considered exhorbitant back home.

But hell, nobody expected such a huge mound of rice on the plate drizzled with gravy and such succulent roasted pork sitting prettily atop the rice. I think the magic of roast pork is in its roasting, and whether or not the chef is skillful enough to ensure the skin crackles beautifully and stays that way for hours afterwards. Usually when I get roast pork back home, the skin is either soft and rubbery, or hard and not even worth trying. So I was immensely surprised when I picked out the skin. It was crunchy. You should have seen my face. I rarely eat skin that is actually crunchy... so this was like heaven! I'm sure there are many places I've yet to uncover with crackly pig skin but let me just praise this roast pork to the heavens first.

Roast Pork with Rice ($8.50)

The pork itself was tender, flavourful with all that five spices and whatnot seasoning the pork. A little too salty for my taste, but it is normal by roast pork standards. I actually kind of miss it already. Just going to also put up a picture of the skin for your amusement.

Century Egg Porridge with Pork ($8)

The pork shreds in the porridge had a distinct swine-y taste to it, which was alright if eaten with the porridge but felt a bit stale to me. Maybe because it is supposed to be this way, but I would have liked seasoned minced pork better. Century egg slices were far and few between, and it didn't taste like the century egg was cooked into the bland porridge. The consistency of the porridge was good though, but it isn't for those who like strong flavours. Would have been lovely if it was raining and I had this bowl of hot porridge PLUS a couple of dough sticks (you tiao). Washing the meal down with a cup of Chinese tea was the perfect end to lunch!

Didn't have the chance to try it then but I heard that the egg noodles were very springy, so if you're passing by on a less crowded day, be sure to tackle the roast pork and egg noodles!

Hills BBQ Noodle Shop
03 9899 3382
586 Station St
Box Hill, VIC 3128