Twin Cities is an unassuming Chinese restaurant in Eastwood, offering well-executed dishes, friendly service, and strong value for money.

Flavoured Crispy Eggplant ($16.80)

The eggplant was evenly cut and lightly battered, retaining a clean, delicate crispness rather than a heavy crust. Served piping hot, it was coated in a sauce that balanced sweetness, savouriness, and vinegar-driven acidity, cutting effectively through the oil from frying and keeping the dish lively rather than cloying.

Stir Fried Eggplant Rice ($12.90)

This version leaned firmly savoury, with a bold garlic-forward profile. The eggplant was soft with some residual texture, but the dish lacked the contrast and immediacy of the fried preparation and felt comparatively muted.

Spicy Beef Noodles ($11.80)

The thick noodles were generously portioned but leaned slightly soft, lacking the spring and bite preferred. The broth delivered clear beef depth with moderate heat, adding interest without distraction. The beef was tender and moist, and the bok choy was well judged—cooked through while retaining a fresh crunch, cut to a practical size for ease of eating. Overall, it was a straightforward, competent beef noodle soup: not outstanding, but with little to fault beyond the softness of the noodles.

Meat Ball Noodles ($9.90)

The single meat ball was notably oversized at roughly 7 cm in diameter, yet remained surprisingly moist and tender, with a loose texture rather than density and solid seasoning throughout. The broth showed a distinct star anise note but was otherwise straightforward, while the mustard greens and bok choy added freshness and balance. This was good value for money, and a reorder would be likely with wider noodles for better textural contrast.

Kung Pao Chicken Rice ($12.90)

The mala profile was pronounced, delivering moderate heat and a clear numbing edge. The chicken pieces were tender and juicy, though somewhat sparse relative to the generous quantity of dried chillies and boiled peanuts. The dish was flavourful and competently executed, but lacked sufficient balance and substance to stand out against stronger options on the menu, making it a lower priority for a repeat order.

Yíbīn Burning Noodles (Dry Noodles, Spicy) ($12.90)

Burning noodles are a traditional snack from Yíbīn in Sichuan Province. This version included pickled mustard greens, crushed peanuts, chopped spring onions and a spoonful of stir-fried minced meat. Once mixed, the seasoning was strongly reminiscent of Chinese-style mi goreng, with a savoury chicken bouillon character underpinning the dish. The málà spice was assertive but manageable. The noodles themselves had good bite, supported by small amounts of bok choy and mustard greens for freshness. A slightly larger portion of minced meat would have improved the balance.

Su-style Marinated Duck ($18.80)

This preparation resembled soy sauce chicken in structure, though using duck and heavier spicing. The seasoning carried clear notes of five spice and star anise, yet was not spicy despite some menu descriptions suggesting otherwise. The duck itself was moist and tender, with the richer character of the meat working well with the marinade. Compared with soy-braised chicken, the duck felt more suited to this style of preparation, avoiding the dryness that can sometimes affect leaner poultry.

Overall, this was a satisfying and very well-priced meal. The crispy eggplant stood out as the clearest highlight, with enough competence across the rest of the menu to justify return visits.

Twin Cities is located at 223 Rowe St, Eastwood NSW 2122.