Lin's Asian Cafe at Five Forks: Sichuan and Cantonese Cooking in Columbia

What Lin's Asian Cafe serves and where to find it

Lin's Asian Cafe is a Sichuan and Cantonese restaurant in Columbia's Five Forks shopping area, known for hand-pulled noodles, mapo tofu, and dim sum items prepared fresh throughout the day. The kitchen balances heat and flavor—dishes arrive with real chili oil and numbing Sichuan peppercorns, not just salt and MSG. The space is casual and bright, with tables that fill quickly at lunch and dinner.

The restaurant sits in the Five Forks area near the intersection of Forest Drive and Devine Street, a neighborhood that has become Columbia's informal hub for Asian restaurants and groceries. Parking is straightforward, and the location is accessible from downtown and the midlands without navigating narrow streets. The Five Forks shopping center has a large lot with spaces directly in front of the restaurant, and the entrance is at street level with no steps.

Key Takeaways

• Lin's specializes in hand-pulled noodles and Sichuan dishes with real chili heat, alongside Cantonese dim sum and roasted meats.
• The restaurant serves dim sum from cart and menu during lunch and early dinner hours, with items changing based on what the kitchen has prepared that day.
• Lunch is busy but moves quickly; dinner is calmer and a better time to linger over noodle soups or family-style dishes.
• The menu includes both familiar dishes and regional specialties, so asking your server what is fresh or what they recommend often leads to better meals than ordering by name alone.

Hand-pulled noodles and Sichuan specialties

The hand-pulled noodles—called la mian—are made to order and arrive with enough chew and character to justify the wait. The kitchen stretches and folds the dough by hand, then drops the strands into broth or sauce. Beef noodle soup, chicken noodle soup, and vegetable versions are all solid, but the real draw is the Sichuan dan dan noodles, which come coated in sesame paste, chili oil, and ground pork, with a tingle from Sichuan peppercorns that builds as you eat.

Mapo tofu—silken tofu in a fiery sauce of chili oil, fermented bean paste, and ground pork—is a signature dish and tastes like it should: numbing, hot, and deeply savory. The kitchen does not hold back on the Sichuan peppercorns, so expect your mouth to feel slightly electric. Chongqing chicken (la zi ji) is another house specialty: chunks of chicken tossed with dried chilies, peanuts, and scallions, meant to be eaten with your hands and rice on the side. Both dishes reward eating slowly and pairing with rice or noodles to balance the heat.

Dim sum and roasted meats

During lunch hours and early evening, dim sum carts roll through the dining room, or you can order from a menu of steamed dumplings, buns, and small plates. Har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) are reliable; the kitchen also makes chicken feet in black bean sauce and sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, both of which signal that the dim sum program is serious. Roasted duck and roasted pork hang in the window and can be ordered by the pound or as part of a rice or noodle bowl.

Dim sum availability depends on what the kitchen has prepared that morning, so arriving earlier in the day gives you more choices. If you arrive late afternoon or evening, some items will be gone, but the kitchen usually keeps a core selection available through dinner service. The roasted meats are consistent throughout the day and pair well with steamed rice or noodle soups for a lighter meal.

When to go and what to expect

Lunch runs from around 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is the busiest time—tables fill quickly, and you may wait for a seat during peak hours. The dim sum carts are most active during this window. Dinner service begins around 5 p.m. and is calmer, especially on weeknights, making it a better time if you want to sit without rushing or have a longer conversation.

The restaurant is cash-friendly but also takes cards. Portions are generous, and family-style ordering (multiple small dishes shared among the table) is how the menu is designed to be eaten. A table of two or three can easily spend $20 to $35 per person with drinks and tip. Weeknight dinners tend to be quieter than weekends, so timing your visit around your preference for pace makes a real difference.

Menu navigation and ordering tips

The menu is extensive and organized by protein and cooking method rather than by heat level or region, which can make scanning overwhelming. Noodle soups, rice dishes, and stir-fries fill the middle pages; Sichuan specialties are often grouped together. If you are unsure what to order, asking your server what is fresh or what they recommend is worth doing—they can steer you toward dishes that are particularly good that day and tell you which ones carry real heat.

Vegetable dishes are available but are not the focus of the kitchen; the restaurant shines with meat-based dishes and noodles. If you have a strong preference for mild food, mention it when ordering, because the default assumption is that you want flavor and heat. Ordering three to five dishes for a table of two or three lets you sample across the menu without overcommitting to any single style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to call ahead for dim sum?

No, dim sum is served from the cart and menu during lunch and early dinner without a reservation. Arriving between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. gives you the most variety. If you arrive after 2 p.m., some items may be sold out, but the kitchen usually keeps popular dumplings available.

How spicy is the food?

Sichuan dishes come with real heat and numbing peppercorns—they are not mild. Cantonese dishes like dim sum and roasted meats are generally less spicy. Tell your server if you want mild food, and they can suggest dishes without chili oil or adjust the heat level.

Can I order family-style for a small group?

Yes, and it is the best way to eat. Two or three people can order three to five dishes and share, which lets you try more of the menu. Noodle soups work well alongside stir-fries and roasted meats.

What are the hours?

Lin's typically opens at 11 a.m. for lunch and serves through dinner. Exact closing times vary by day, so calling ahead if you plan to arrive after 8 p.m. is a good idea. The restaurant is closed on some holidays.