Mei Ume

Classy Chinese banquet in style

Signature Peking duck

Located inside the luxury 5 stars Four Seasons Hotel, Mei Ume is an Asian restaurant that championing the best two Asian cuisines: Chinese and Japanese. The restaurant is headed up by chef Tony Truong, with over 30 years of Chinese cuisine experience, worked in some of the finest kitchens from China to the UK. For a special occasion, I have booked in Mei Ume's private dining room for a long and mouthwatering banquet, an extended 12 courses marathon. The menu was specially put together by Tony, offering classic Cantonese dishes that you would see in a traditional Chinese banquet, as well as some modern Japanese dishes. 

Cold chili bean chicken

Sushi platter

Double-boiled chicken and aged ham soup

Dried scallops with broccoli in oyster sauce

The meal was kicked off by some classic cold Chinese dishes, before launching into a range of sushi and sashimi. The highlight of the day was the double-boiled chicken soup, cooked with aged ham and Chinese white cabbages. It was packed with luxurious umami taste, very warming and comforting. The soup was traditional slow-cooked Chinese soup at its highest standard. Another wonderful dish was the chicken and abalone clay pot, it was another impactful dish with plenty of smoky, earthy and deep savoury flavours. The thinly sliced of abalone absorbed the wonderful taste of the chicken and shiitake mushrooms, it was sensational. The less traditional dish of the day was the grilled sliver cod in a sake sauce, the fish was so moist, and the charred smoky skin was crispy and loaded with the fresh and floral taste of the sake.

Grilled sake sliver cod

Stir fry pak choi in ginger

Shanghainese thick udon

Abalone, chicken and mushroom clay pot

Sea urchin, scallop and xo sauce stone pot rice

My long banquet at Mei Ume was simply excellent, I got the chance to try some traditional Chinese dishes that are not easy to find elsewhere in London. It was interesting to have some Japanese dishes in the mixed, which added another dimension of taste and texture. another plus about Mei Ume is its strong sake and cocktail list, full of Asian flair in both taste and presentation. The service on the evening was excellent, charming and friendly as you would hope for from a 5 stars hotel. Mei Ume is indeed a fantastic Chinese restaurant and easily the very best in East London.   


Food 4/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£50

10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ

https://www.meiume.com/