Gouqi

Up and coming

Supreme Royal Dim Sum Platter

What makes Chinese restaurants stand out compared to other types of restaurants is usually the menu, it tends to have a big menu with at least 100 dishes. The latest opening Gouqi by Chinese chef legend Tong Chee Hwee is no exception. From my first visit, I had the tasting menu but there are still so many other dishes on its ALC menu I would like to try as what makes this place stand out is the rare dishes that you won't find elsewhere in London, such as scorpion fish and stuffed egg yolk char siu pork, which all sounds really inviting. Below captured my 2nd and 3rd visits.

Peking duck

Chargrilled Paper Wrapped Scorpion Fish

Sautéed Crystal Jumbo Prawns with Yellow Chive in XO Sauce

Seafood Spring Roll with Green Mustard and Pistachio

Fresh Scallop with Rice Wine and Szechuan Yellow Pepper Sauce

Chargrilled Octopus with Sweet Soy

The house Peking duck was really hyped up from Goqui's marketing, but I got to say it wasn't anything special when I compare it to places like Imperial Treasure or Noble Palace. In fact, I found the cutting of the duck and the plating a little scrappy.  By contrast, the eight treasures chicken was top-notch. It was served inside a box so it added a bit of a fun element. The crispy chicken was cooked perfectly, and it was stuffed with lotus seeds, rice, shrimp and aged pork meat. It was packed with so many flavours and the best dish from Gouqi for me. The giant poached crystal prawn was another good dish. The prawn was juicy and tender and had a texture similar to lobster. I enjoyed the mild profile of the xo sauce which just had enough seafood umami taste so it didn't overpower the freshness of the prawn.

Baked Norwegian King Crab Claw

Tenderloin Beef with Black Pepper Sauce

Eight Treasure Crispy Chicken with Foie

Chargrilled Silver Cod with Yellow Bean Sauce

Honey-Glazed Iberico Char Siu with Salted Egg Yolk

Egg-layered steamed cake

Just like many other Chinese restaurants, there are some great offerings at Gouqi, as well as some average ones. Based on your own preference, if you pick the right choice, you can end up having a top-notch meal, but at the same time, you can end up having an average one as some dishes were really questionable (£78 for 2 crab claws were madness). Considering it is still early days since it opened, the venue would for sure need more time to refine its offering. 

Food 3.5/5

Average cost without drinks and services:
£100 (dinner)

25 Cockspur Ct, St. James's, London SW1A 2TS

https://gouqi-restaurants.co.uk/