It’s been a big week for Chinese food in London, with two international chains opening their first outposts in Europe.
Imperial Treasure offers high-end Michelin-style dining for the wealthy, whereas Din Tai Fung is a no-reservations dumpling restaurant that is particularly popular with young Chinese. The wait for a table this week was around four hours at peak hours.
Here’s the lowdown on what’s happening in London dining right now, from the newest restaurants to who’s news.
Imperial Treasure (St. James’s, opened Dec. 4)
Spuntino (Heathrow Airport, Dec. 12)
- The airport branch will be open all day from breakfast and will include a takeaway counter for on-board dining, serving the terminal’s 18 million passengers each year.
- The new outlet is a partnership with TRG Consessions, an airport hospitality operator, whose other partners include Costa, Giraffe and EAT. Polpetto is part of the Polpo group.
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WHAT WE’RE EATING
- There are queues of up to four hours for Din Tai Fung, a no-reservations Taiwan dumpling chain that opened this week in Covent Garden. I went at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and waited only a few minutes. The main attraction is the xiao long bao steamed pork dumpling, which really is that special. The casing is feather-light while the broth inside has depth of flavor.
- I’ve finally made it to the Glasshouse, a Michelin-starred neighborhood restaurant in Kew that next year celebrates two decades in business. Chef Greg Wellman’s three-course Sunday lunch is particularly good value at £45.
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