A taste of CHina
You can find Chinese restaurants almost everywhere in the world, but to truly taste authenticity, you’ll have to dig a little deeper. One Taiwanese-Chinese student gives pointers and recommendations for grabbing a bite of Chinese food in London.
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When you’re inevitably hit with the desire for some Chinese food, here are three restaurants in London that serve quality, authentic food— as ranked by actual Chinese international students. If you’re planning to visit these restaurants, I’ve got tips and teases on what to have, to leave you plenty of space for imagination, curiosity and surprise.
£ = inexpensive | ££ = average | £££ = expensive
Din Tai Fung (££-£££)
Images courtesy of Din Tai Fung & Qui Pei Sun
‘The world’s greatest dumplings.’—Forbes
‘The answers are in a single bite…’— Wall Street Journal
Din Tai Fung is a superstar restaurant brand in Asia, popular among not just Chinese people but Asians worldwide. Its flagship store is in Taiwan, and its Hong Kong branches were awarded a Michelin Star. So far Din Tai Fung has more than 150 stores across the globe with its 60 years of history. Mandarin-speaking Londoners would go to the restaurant when they are craving for their critically acclaimed 18 puckers ‘xiaolong bao’— pork soup dumplings, a well-known Southern Chinese dish.
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Recommended picks:
>Pork chop fried rice
>Hot & sour soup
>Tofu puff & glass noodle soup (pictured above, right)
>Red bean/ Sweet taro xiaolong bao (desserts) (pictured above, left)
>Bubble tea for drink
Address: 7 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8PS
Tel : +44 (0) 20 3405 4736
Duddell’s London (£££)
Images courtesy of Duddell's
The two Michelin star restaurant comes from Hong Kong. Their Peking duck distinguishes itself from other places in London with its sauces: the pomelo dipping sauce is a new menu item with an interesting taste that goes well with the duck.
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Dishes from Duddell’s are creative and visually stunning, successfully integrating the traditional spirit of Chinese and Cantonese food with modernity and style. If you’re an experienced Chinese foodie looking for something fresh and artistic, Duddell’s is our selection for you.
Recommended picks:
>Roselle flowers tea
>Dim Dum symphony (pictured above, centre)
>Crispy Hawthorn pork neck with cashew nut
>Pumpkin and shiitake mushroom vegetable fried rice
>Yuzu pot or Chilled mango cream for desserts
Address: 9A St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
Tel : +44 (0)20 3957 9932
Royal China (£-££)
Images courtesy of Ai Chi
Looking for authentic and traditional Cantonese afternoon tea? Look no further! Their steamed Dim Sum selection is mouth watering and full of variety, the menu ranging from rice noodle rolls (Cheung fun) to Siu Mai like minced pork dumplings with crab roe. [dim sum image] Their roasted duck is well-known among Chinese customers, as the taste is different from the Peking duck; the former is a Southern Chinese dish, while the latter is from Northern cooking. This is a satisfactory restaurant to go when you want high quality food with a fair price.
Recommended picks:
>Sesame prawn rolls (pictured below, right)
>Plain Cheung Fun with peanut sauce (pictured above, centre)
>Prawn Cheung fun (pictured below, left)
>Black sesame paste in peanut crumbs (pictured above, right) or Chilled tapioca with yam in coconut soup for desserts
Address & contact: six branches information
Words: Ai Chi | Subbing: Claire Chung | Featured Image: Din Tai Fung