China Tang

Classic dim sum feast

Lemon Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun

London is so chaotic right now, we just don't know when we can eat out properly again with the UK government kept changing Covid rule and restriction. For me, while I still got the chance, I was keen to end December with a few classic revisit to round off such an unusual and somewhat sad year to cheer me up. High on my list for Chinese cuisine is, of course, China Tang within The Dorchester Hotel. The classic Cantonese fine dining restaurant is all about old school Chinese food but done in a masterful manner, the dim sum menu at China Tang is not near as big as other traditional Chinese restaurants in London, with some monthly specials based on what prime ingredients are available for the season. 

Prawn with Snow Pea Shoot Dumpling

Truffle and Shiitake Mushroom Bao

Iberico Pork Siu Long Bao

Cha Siu Bao

Har Kau

From the dim sum menu, the one that stood out the most was the pea shoot prawn dumpling, with a whole prawn wrapped in some really tender leaves. It also has an extra layer of chewy texture from the dried scallop, which created harmony with the soft smooth dumpling pastry. The truffle bao was another strong dish, it had a rich earthy mushroom filling while the black truffle not too overpowering. The more classic dim sum like char siu bao and har kao on the other hand was pretty decent, but not too much of an upgrade vs other standard Chinese restaurants in China Town. Beef rice noodles had a great depth of wok aroma and not too oily at the same time, the soy level balance was just right for me and the rice noodles had a really soft smooth silky texture, this is rice noodles as good as it can be.

Lamb Dumpling

Prawn toast

Prawn Cheung Fun

Mushrooms and snow pea shoot

Wok fry beef rice noodles

Once again, China Tang produced a really high-level Chinese meal for me, this is my 11th time dining at China Tang and I would say this visit is one of the best. The dim sum quality was solid, and not many restaurants left in London now can turn out classic Chinese food in such a manner, with no msg use whatsoever which mean a high level of preparation is needed to prepare each dishes in order to get the signature umami taste which is what Cantonese cuisine is renown for. For sure I will return again in the near future.

Food 4/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£50

53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA

https://www.chinatanglondon.co.uk/