China Tang at The Dorchester Hotel

Basement dining rooms must work hard to get noticed, and China Tang works harder than most in that department: down in the lower regions of The Dorchester, no inch of the restaurant goes unembellished. The inspiration is interbellum Shanghai, and while the dark wood and elaborate carpets aren’t looking box-fresh, it’s certainly an atmospheric way to kit out a dining space. China Tang’s food is straight-down-the-middle Cantonese, handled with care and served with a level of ceremony that suits the luxe hotel surroundings. To start, try delicate tomato and egg-drop soup, followed by golden prawns with salted egg yolk, stir-fried minced seafood in lettuce wraps or, for a bit of fire and fragrance, fish braised with Szechuan peppercorns. Tang’s international clientele believe there’s no bad time for dim sum, so expect sui long bao, mango rolls, spring onion cakes and cha siu bao right through the day. In the bar, the same menus are offered, along with fashion-forward cocktails.

China Tang at The Dorchester Hotel is one of London's most recognisable Chinese restaurants, thanks to its iconic, opulent art deco dining room, and a huge menu of sumptuous Cantonese cooking. 

The huge basement dining room is inspired by pre-war Shanghai, and every inch of the room is embellished with elaborately-patterned carpets and floral upholstered seating. The walls are all dark wood, detailed with intricate carvings and illuminated by low-lit lamps, which cast moody shadows across the room.

China Tang’s menus feature a bevy of authentic Cantonese dishes - fear not if you're overwhelmed by the choice, because China Tang also offers set menus for groups. To start, try delicate tomato and egg-drop soup, barbecue honey spare ribs, or roast duck. There are platters of Cantonese roast meats, and then a host of classic dishes like lobster noodles and scallops with black bean, as well as more unusual dishes such as braised abalone with sea cucumber. As well as the a la carte, China Tang also offers vegetarian and halal menus too. The vegetarian menu is extensive, with dishes like golden crispy tofu, aubergine hotpot, and morning glory in garlic sauce making this a great restaurant choice for vegetarians. 

Dim sum is another big part of China Tang's success. The dim sum menu is split into specials, meat, seafood and vegetarian items, with a range of traditional and luxury treats in each section. Dim sum is available at lunch and dinner, and includes the likes of Dover sole crab rolls with caviar, Iberico pork siu long bao, scallop dumplings, sesame prawn toast, and spring onion cakes.

In the bar, the same menus are offered, along with fashion-forward cocktails like the Plum Cobbler (plum liqueur, peppermint and eucalyptus cordial, violet, Hennessy XO, pandan syrup, fresh pear, citrus) and the Sea Spritz (Seatrus Gin Acqua Di Mare, homemade cedro soda).