This Friday marks Chinese New Year and most Londoners will make their way to a tourist-filled Chinatown, in order to munch on spicy fried beef and sweet and sour chicken. We recommend a visit to the City instead, far away from hungry crowds, queues and a hidden gem for refined Asian cuisine.
As always, to make your life a little easier, we have rounded up our top four restaurants with plenty of culture, flavour and fantastic food on the menu.
1. Chinese Cricket Club – Founded in 2009, the restaurant has an AA rosette, and it’s no surprise. The options are a plenty with lunch, à la carte and set tasting menus. Influenced from different regions of China, head chef Ken Wang has blended exotic dishes with much-loved classics such as Wonton soup and aromatic duck spring rolls. Try his signature Dim Sum platter. followed by a main of Chengdu chicken alongside a side of sautéed Pak Cho or seafood fried rice. Finish your meal with a Lychee custard tart. Share if you’re feeling friendly, we wouldn’t…
For Chinese New Year, the venue has created a special menu and is hosting a Lion Dance performance at 7pm on Friday. There will also be a calligraphy stand and each guest will be given a red laisee packet, a traditional Asian gift during holidays and special occasions.
2. MBER – A short walk from Monument tube station, you’ll find MBER, a Pan-Asian restaurant. Head chef Jonathan is originally from the Philippines, and has worked in several of London’s finest restaurants for over 20 years. His inspiration comes from his childhood family dinners, and the menu is a treat, especially for those who like light and fresh Asian foods. There are eight categories: salads, raw & cured, crispy, grilled, steamed, curry, sides and dessert. Definitely a place for Instagram #foodporn fanatics, dishes are part art, part meal.
3. Yauatcha – Yes, it’s a chain with multiple venues in London, the United States, India and Saudi Arabia, but Yautcha isn’t your average dim sum tea house. Quality is key, with the brand having established itself as one of the best Asian food experiences in the capital. There’s too much on the menu for us to even begin to describe the goodness, but the dumplings are a must. We recommend the Lobster dumpling with Tabiko caviar, ginger and shallot, or the sticky rice wrapped in a Lotus leaf, with chicken and dried shrimp. Pair with tea from a range of light, floral, complex or robust tastes.
4. Ping Pong – Finally, there’s Ping Pong. Modern interior, an intimate setting, and delicious baos and buns. There are plenty to choose from: Char Sui (BBQ pork), chilli prawn, aubergine, soft shell crab, duck, and vegetable (cauliflower, fuzhu, mangetout, carrot and cashews). Yes, there are other dishes too but when faced with so many wonderfully fluffy, white, warm balls of happiness, there’s only one thing to do. Eat them ALL. For dessert, get yet another ball, the classic Mochi, which consists of soft rice pastry with an ice cream filling.
Back to Blog
