Yi Ban

Classic dim sum

steamed dim sum

It has been far too long since I last wrote a blog post about a good old fashioned Chinese restaurant in London. In fact, I don't think I have done one for dim sum which is a major crime considering I am of Oriental heritage. Dim sum is a traditional item contains a mixture of meat, seafood or vegetables that are usually eaten at breakfast and dinner. Yi Ban is located right opposite of London City Airport with a stunning view of the runway and riverside, it is very popular with the local Chinese community and it used to be my regular hangout joint on a sunny weekend.

egg congee

Chicken and mushroom steamed rice

steamed buns

The dim sum here are the types you would encounter in a standard classic Chinese restaurant, the prawn dumplings on the day was extremely disappointed, the filling was cold and the outer wheat based layer was thick and lacked any meaningful flavours. Chicken and mushroom steamed rice was one of the stand out dish, the chicken was really smooth and tender, while the earthiness of the mushroom added a nice hint of savoury taste to the rice. The deep fried items here are generally very solid and this time was no different, the prawn fried rolls had a great combination of sweetness and saltiness from the seaweed, and I was really impressed with the texture of the outer crispy pastry.

prawn fried rolls

deep fried squid

more steamed dim sum

Overall, I had a fairly decent typical Chinese dim sum lunch, the steamed items were below the usual standard but others dishes totally reached my expectation. Quality wise you wouldn't find it a great deal of different if you compare it directly with restaurants in Hong Kong, and the service is touch better over here, unlike many places in China Town, which you would expect to be rushed out as soon as you finish your meal. Yi Bun is a great choice for anyone who live nearby if you are a fan of good old fashioned dim sum.

Food 2.5/5

What I paid: 
£17 per head 

Average cost without drinks and services:
£15

London Regatta Centre, 1010 Dockside Rd, London E16 2QT

http://yi-ban.com/