Pinterest

London Eats: Best Dim Sum

Tuesday 22 October 2013
pearlliang-cheungfan
pearlliang-duckroll
pearlliang-xiaolongbao
pearlliang-chickenfeet
pearlliang-tart
pearlliang-dumpling

Despite being brought up on a diet of southern Chinese cooking, I do not naturally gravitate towards the cuisine. Back in Auckland, both my Asian and especially, non Asian friends ALWAYS love to catch up over dim sum. Why???!!  The clattering of plates, trolleys whizzing up and down, noise levels so high that we often ended up shouting at each other. Seriously, how is this relaxing? Give me a cafe any day.

Lil L has been haranguing me for months to take her to dim sum and I finally capitulated to her pleas. Despite having never lived in Asia, this young foodie is addicted to all Asian food (yes, durian, tripe, dragon fruit, frog etc etc... all those yucky stuff I don't eat. EVER). I've heard about Pearl Liang for years now but never attempted to visit the place as it's out of my way. I had to book days beforehand as it's always chock-full. If you're taking the tube, make sure you get off at the Paddington national rail exit or else it's an unnecessary long walk especially if you're rushing to get there on time.

Now let's talk about the food. It. Was. DIVINE. Yes, this is a verdict from a girl who avoids dim sum like the plague. The Xiao Long Bao was succulent and we slurped the tasty soup that seeped out of the dumpling. The You Tiao (dough stick) inside the cheong fun (rice noodle roll) was crunchy and tasty without being overly oily. It didn't taste as if they'd re-used the oil. The egg tart was piping hot and crunchy but the pastry.... oh my word the pastry....it was buttery and melt in your mouth goodness. Every dumpling was beautifully made but the taste was just out of this world. Our bill came in just under £40 for 9 dishes, tea and service charge. Oh, and most importantly, I love their quirky toilets and they're unbelievably clean (if you've been to enough Chinese restaurants, you'll know that their toilets are....... a sight to behold. And I don't mean that in a positive way).


Pearl Liang
8 Sheldon Square
Paddington Central
London W2 6EZ
Tube: Paddington
Phone: 0207 289 7000

13 comments:

  1. Yummy! Very nice post!
    http://pourquoimoi.es/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks wonderful. Menu looks very different to others I have seen. Westwards I will go. Have you tried Silk Road in Camberwell?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't heard of Silk Road. Let me google the place.

      Delete
  3. Ah, I can't imagine not liking dim sum! It's one of my favourites and these photos are seriously making me drool. YUM.

    xo, alison*elle

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marlene, you are more like me than you know - I don't do the weird stuff either but I do love some nice dim sum. Grumps often says he's more Chinese than me as he tackles a chickens foot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whew. Another Chinese like me. I actually hurled in Guangzhou when I saw all the animals being skinned and chopped up. I nearly did the same when friends (yes, some were Caucasians) were gnawing on chicken feet. I actually quite like chicken feet now but it took a while to get over the phobia of eating them.

      Delete
  5. This all looks delicious and reasonably priced too. Those egg tarts look cute too!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  6. I miss London so much! Next time.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This was my favorite dim sum place in London as well! Good dim sum really is hard to find. I never realized the difference in quality until I had dim sum in Hong Kong and realized it was far better than many places in NY and Singapore.

    xoxo,
    Chic 'n Cheap Living

    ReplyDelete
  8. This place I have definitely put it down on my must stops when visiting London next time around. Yum yum!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Freida, we're overdue for a catch up. And yes, I'll take you to this dim sum restaurant :)

      Delete
  9. I'll check this place out. The last time I had some really good dim sum in central London was at Ping Pong, 29a James Street, London, W1U 1DZ but in all honesty I haven't been out this year, so I'm well overdue a fix somewhere for some tasty dim sum!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll find the dim sum even better at Pearl Liang. And cheaper too. I was pretty darned impressed considering that I've had plenty in Hong Kong.

      Delete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...