Cheapest dim sum in London: Pearl Liang
Price per person: £10
Location: 8 Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6EZ
Type of Food: Dim Sum, Chinese
Webisite: http://www.pearlliang.co.uk
Menu: http://www.pearlliang.co.uk/london/restaurant/menus.asp
If your dim sum experiences have been so far limited to chains like Ping Pong /Dim T, or if you absolutely love dim sum and would like to taste some of the finest in London, I highly reccomend Pearl Liang. And why? This restaurant makes no mistakes on two key points; quality and price. In comparison to its rivals the dim sum here is not only fantastically delicious and fresh but it’s refreshingly cheap too.
It’s the best prepared dim sum I’ve had in London and the prices show that quality doesn’t always have to cost the Earth. You can get a dim sum platter set of 9 items for £9.80, which is great value if you like everything in the set menu. If you don’t eat certain meats or seafood, then its best to go for individual dim sum baskets. The menu boasts a great selection of steamed, fried, soup based (Cheung Fun) and desert dim sum with prices ranging from £2.70-£3.20 a basket, which is pretty good value. You get 3 pieces in each basket and you’ll only need about 3-4 baskets per person or 7 between 2 people, which will cost you just over a tenner each!
I always order a few of my staple favourites from the steamed dim sum menu including steamed spinach vegetable dumpling (£2.70) and the prawn and chive dumpling (£2.70). From the fried dim sum I would recommend the crispy aromatic duck roll (£2.70) and the fried octopus cakes (£2.70), both come with their own yummy complimentary dips. There’s a range of seafood, chicken and meat variations to suit most diners. Don’t forget to ask for soy sauce which is perfect for dipping the dim sum into and adding some extra flavour.
You’ll enjoy dining here as the restaurant is well decorated in rosy lilac against black with oriental undertones. There is even a fish tank/pond (you be the judge!) as you walk in. In the evenings, the tables are usually full with families, couples and friends. Traditionally in Chinese culture, dim sum is a very social meal where families and friends will gather to talk, share and swap their little parcels of goodness – sounds fun doesn’t it?
