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New Chinese restaurant in Bond Street

We went to the new Shikumen Chinese restaurant in the Hotel Xanadu on Bond Street for an excellent dim sum lunch today. It was certainly as good as any we've had in London (we really like Dim Sum, so we've been to most of the good ones).We generally had the usual mainstream dim sum (char sui bau, fried dough chung fung), which were all very good. But our favourite was one we hadn't seen before, and that sounded slightly boring: fried turnip puff pastry. If you don't particularly like turnip (and we do), this didn't really taste of it, it was, however, incredibly light and very subtle (and we wished we'd ordered another plate of them).We'll certainly be back... probably soon, as there is a 25% discount voucher (food only) on its website for the rest of the month [http://www.shikumen.co.uk/restaurant-launch-offer-25-voucher/].A good sign was that there were a lot of Chinese people eating there (at least half the customers), and it is pleasant, airy room, with comfortable seats. The waitress didn't know what all the dishes were, but it has only just opened, and the service was otherwise very friendly and prompt.David

D Fox ● 4103d18 Comments

Gerry wrote: Was the meal expensive or reasonable please?Pretty reasonable. After the 25% discount it was about £26 for seven dishes (one of which, sesame prawn toast, was more expensive as it was from evening menu). Most of the dim sum dishes are in the £3-£4 bracket, so pretty similar to what I'd expect to pay if we go into town - but without the tube fares.... And, almost as good as places like Yauatcha and Ping Pong (which are a little more expensive, but do have more varied menus).David

D Fox ● 4082d

Thanks for telling us David - glad the dim sums were good and many Chinese customers - always a sure sign. Was the meal expensive or reasonable please? Thanks again.

Gerry Tan ● 4082d

We went in again today for Dim Sum (last day of the 25% discount), packed again, almost all Chinese families, so it's definitely proving popular with the experts.Tried a couple of things we hadn't had before (such as the chicken taro croquettes), and everything we had was very good.We also visited a week or so ago in the evening, again pretty good, although at least one thing we tried I wouldn't get again (mainly because a noodles with seafood dish was mainly either octopus or squid, which I don't like - although the remainder of the dish was good).Very helpful service - particularly from a manager who used to work at Maxim's and whose last day is today (he's heading back to Hong Kong as he was just here to help the restaurant onto its feet). He should certainly be proud that central Ealing now has a very good Chinese restaurant.David

D Fox ● 4083d

Very expensive in the evening (with Dim Sum in limited supply of course) and the wine list is dramatically overpriced.

Nicholas Cullum ● 4086d

Any more good reports about Hotel Xanadhu's dim sums? Btw, do they have good Asian beers there like Tsingtao, Tiger, Cobra and the like?  Still haven't been - must try it soon.

Gerry Tan ● 4086d

Have been there a couple of times for dim sum and it has been consistently good. We tried the Peking duck last week which was excellent and on par with China Tang at the Dorchester.

Nadia Shaw ● 4096d

Gerry -  the a la carte menu is more pricey, but dim sum is, as always, the cheaper option - it's priced much like chinatown restaurants (av £3.50 per steamer/plate), but the 25% discount during November makes a big difference. Also, sticking to jasmine tea keeps the bill down!

Ann Haddleton ● 4098d

Ann and Andy, that's very good value - they can't be making much(if any) profit with 'rock bottom' prices - must give the Shikumen at Hotel Xanadu in Bond Street W5 a visit before they 'up' their bargain prices.

Gerry Tan ● 4098d

Yes that was the total bill Gerry.

Andy Vaughan ● 4098d

That's total price, Gerry - lunch for 3 of us last week came to not much more than that (with the discount). Amazing value, and very good food. A few service quibbles, but I'm sure they'll be ironed out when it settles in.

Ann Haddleton ● 4098d

"...and 6 dishes with Jasmine tea was £22..."Would that be per head Andy or the total price for two customers?  Must try Shikumen soon.

Gerry Tan ● 4098d

I have just been to Shikumen for lunch and was really impressed.  A stylish venue and the Dim Sum was excellent.  All served quickly and 6 dishes with Jasmine tea was £22 with the 25% discount which was applied without us presenting our voucher.

Andy Vaughan ● 4099d

David, we also go to Poons in Leicester Place - they are usually good value and their dim sums are always fresh and tasty.  Is the new one at Hotel Xanadu in Bond Street W5 really anything like the ones we've been talking about in Soho?All this mention of dim sums has made me rather hungry!  I'm off to sleep - and so to bedtime!  Goodnight.

Gerry Tan ● 4103d

Gerry wrote: "we tend to go to Joy King Lau's ineicester Street"Been there a few times - very variable, some very good, some not so - same with the service, although much better during the week than on a weekend.Used to go to Poons, next door in Leicester Street (and before that the one in Lisle street - it was my sister's favourite when I was young, famous for its wind-dried meats - the Leicester Street version was a little less downmarket....). We also used to go to Poons in Whiteleys - haven't been there for ages, but it did a great fish and noodles dish that we loved. Must try it again (if it's still open - the other Poons seem to have closed).David

D Fox ● 4103d

David, haven't tried either of your favourite dim sum eateries - there are plentiful good cheap Chinese restaurants in town - we tend to go to Joy King Lau's ineicester Street - been going there for at least 30 years. Thanks for the info of the Bond Street W5 place. Happy eating!

Gerry Tan ● 4103d

Gerry,our favourite dim sum places in town are: Yauatcha, at the corner of Broadwick Street and Berwick Street (often pretty imaginative, although not quite as good as it used to be - seating can be a bit uncomfortable, as it is rather low) - part of the Hakkasan empire.Ping Pong (various locations - http://www.pingpongdimsum.com), although the menu changes quite a bit, so if you find something you really like, it might have disappeared next time you go in. We usually go to the one in Great Marlborough Street, although the Southbank one was the best meal we've had - but it was incredibly noisy....David

D Fox ● 4103d

The newly opened one in Shepherd's Bush is also getting rave reviews.

Nigel Brooks ● 4103d

This is good news David. We're very keen on dim sums and eat quite frequently in Soho and occasionally in Bayswater. Good to have a genuine dim sum selection in Ealing - have tried the dim sum in Ealing's New Leaf and Maxim's Northfield Ave its very ordinary, so this one at the Xanadu in Bond St sounds good. Thanks for the info.

Gerry Tan ● 4103d