Joy King Lau

Good old fashioned Cantonese comfort food

Pei pa duck

Cantonese cuisine is the most popular Chinese cuisine in the UK. While others such as Taiwanese and Northern Chinese food are gaining popularity, it is still miles away from reaching the no 1 status. In China Town, there are many Cantonese restaurants, mostly in the traditional manner. However, due to shortage of skilled chefs, many classic dishes that require long hours of preparation and skills are hard to find even in those traditional venues. Joy King Lau is one of the very few that still commit to cook up some truly old fashioned gems. It has a Chinese only menu that has dishes like pork intestine and red bean curd duck.

Pei par tofu

Steamed prawn and pork patty with salted fish

I ordered off everything from the Chinese menu, with the red bean curd chicken to kick off the meal. The skin was very crispy and well seasoned, the meat was a little dry but the mixture of red bean curd paste was perfect to add in that great depth of umami taste and moisture. The pei pa duck was outstanding, the meat was tender and the smokiness of the skin, together with the mild sweetness of the sauce made it such a wonderful duck dish. The steamed pork patty with salted fish and prawns was another excellent dish. The savory aroma was to die for, the prawns were cooked finely, as was the pork. The salted fished acted like an intense seasoning which delivered a great depth of robust flavours to the whole dish, together with the soy sauce.

Morning glory

Crispy chicken with red bean curd

Joy King Lau was far from perfect or anything refined. However, what is so great about it is that it delivered some really rustic, comforting Cantonese cooking, dishes that you won't be able to find in your standard local Chinese restaurants. The service on the day was actually really friendly, which was somewhat of a surprise to me as I have encountered so many unfriendly services in China Town in the past. As of writing, Joy King Lau is one of the few Chinese restaurants closed down temporarily due to the ongoing virus. I for sure would go back when it is open again to show my support in this difficult time for so many restaurant businesses.



Food 3/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£25

3 Leicester St, West End, London WC2H 7BL

http://www.joykinglau.com/