Chopsticks at the ready! Chefs across the capital are cooking up a culinary storm this month to celebrate Chinese New Year (Thursday 19 February). With many restaurants and bars vying to throw the most extravagant celebration in London, Amelia Duggan rounds up of the 13 best places to usher in the Year of the Sheep. Kung Hei Fat Choy!
1HKK, Shoreditch
Michelin-starred HKK is offering a sublime 10-course taster menu that travels the breadth of the China, exclusively between 26-28 February. From tongue-numbing Szechuan scampi to the jasmine tea-smoked poussin to the butter-soft Wagyu beef in Merlot, head chef Tong Chee Hwee sets out to surprise the senses by drawing inspiration from different provinces. Following in the time-honoured tradition of gift-giving guests will take home one-off menus designed by illustrator Louise Morgan. Try the specially created Yang Walker cocktail containing Chinese spirit Baiju to give the evening an added kick. 88 Worship Street, Broadgate Quarter, London EC2A 2BE; hkklondon.com
Blackfriars’ Chinese Cricket Club has a lamb-based menu celebrating the year of the sheep
2Chinese Cricket Club, Blackfriars
The Chinese Cricket Club has prepared a feast ram-med full of lamb to celebrate the coming year of the Sheep (excuse the pun!). Putting his signature modern spin on rustic Sichuan dishes, head chef Ken Wang has crafted two four-course (£48/68) menus that include traditional touches such as fish to symbolise wealth and rice cakes to signify uplift. Diners will be invited to pluck a lucky red envelope off a mandarin tree, with the chance to win vouchers for their next visit. Festivities run until 19 February – 19 March. Crowne Plaza London – The City, 19 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6DB; chinesecricketclub.com
3Yauatcha, Soho
This Chinese New Year sees Michelin-starred Chinese dim sum tea house Yauatcha collaborate with the Campaign for Wool to give the Soho venue a fleecey makeover. Art connoisseurs can enjoy the restaurant’s sheep-themed pop art window display and in-house gallery, while the famed pastry team caters to those with a sweet-tooth with limited edition sheep-milk macaroons and Petits Gateaux. 15-17 Broadwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 0DL; yauatcha.com
Mr Chow’s noodle chefs will wow the crowds at Chinese New Year celebrations
4Mr Chow, Knightsbridge
Pasta chefs are on-hand to wow guests at glamorous Knightsbridge institution Mr Chow on 19 February. Dig into Shumai dumplings topped with gold leaf as the art of hand-pulled Beijing noodles is theatrically demonstrated. Noodles, a specialty at Mr Chow, symbolise wealth in Chinese culture so indulging in them this weekend is really just you being fiscally responsible… 151 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X7PA; mrchow.com
Make a wish for the year ahead and hang it on Hakkasan Mayfair’s wishing tree
5Hakkasan, Mayfair
Hakkasan knows how to serve up a festive feast. A nine-dish signature menu, perfect for friends and family, offers a contemporary twist on authentic Chinese New Year fare for the auspicious price of £88.88. We love the sound of its Kumquat Wishing Tree: a dessert with chocolate, caramelized macadamia and cocoa rocks, promising to sweeten your New Year. The restaurant is asking guests to write their wishes for the New Year on ribbons, which will be displayed around the venue – don’t be sheepish now… A la carte items start at £12.88, and the fun continues until 1 March. 17 Bruton Street, London,W1J 6QB; hakkasan.com
Mr Fogg’s is hosting a party fit for an emperor
6Mr Fogg’s, Mayfair
In honour of his Chinese chums, speakeasy patron Mr Fogg is marking the Lunar New Year on 19 Feb with a party fit for an emperor. Costumes, games and performers should make for a spirited evening at this Victorian-themed cocktail bar. Watch out for the fiery fleet of dragon dancers as you enjoy a complimentary whisky highball. 15 Bruton Lane, Mayfair, W1J 6JD; mr-foggs.com
Barts is turning itself into a den of iniquity for Chinese New Year
7Barts, Chelsea
Prohibition-themed watering hole Barts is transforming itself into an Oriental den of iniquity for ‘One Night in Chinatown’ – promising fun, frolics, good fortune and firewater on Thursday 19 February. There will be a drinks menu inspired by the Orient (think woody whisky notes and smoky scents), Peking-duck canapés (Made in China, of course) and fortune cookies full of wisdom for the worse-for-wear. Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DW; barts-london.com
Harvey Nichols will be serving a Chinese feast, as well as hosting a Yum Bun pop-up
8Harvey Nichols, 5th Floor Restaurant, Knightsbridge
Harvey Nichols’ seriously stylish London restaurant is offering a pocket-pleasing Yin Yang Menu, with traditional Kai Wei Cai appetizers priced from £5 to £7. Whether detoxing or retoxing, there is something for everyone. Virtuous eaters will love the Longevity Noodles flavoured with garlic, sesame oil and garlic flowering chives, and for devilishly decadent diners we suggest the golden scallop and prawn wontons. But since the philosophy of ‘yin yang’ teaches that harmony comes from balance, why not have both? The offer runs 16-26 February.
As well as that, month-long Chinese pop-up Yum Bun will be serving hungry shoppers steamed buns on the Fifth floor Foodmarket all month. The buns have far-out, far-East fillings that change every day. Try the sweet bun with Vietnamese coffee ice cream. Yum Bun indeed. 109 – 125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ; harveynichols.com
The ribbon is freshly cut on Harrods’ new Chinese restaurant Chai Wu
9Chai Wu, Harrods, Knightsbridge
Recently launched Chai Wu will be serving up a specially created ‘88’ set menu 19-22 February with seven courses and a glass of champagne for £88 per person. While the goldfish dumpling places a troubling question mark over the disappearance of childhood marine pets, the oyster tempura with peppercorn sauce and Wagyu steak are divine. In Chinese culture the number 8 symbolises fortune and good luck. Harrods 5th Floor, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL; chaiwu.co.uk
Chinese food with a side of great views at Min Jiang, Kensington
10Min Jiang, Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington
Min Jiang is offering a succulent celebratory nine-course menu on 18-19 February (£98 p/p) for Chinese New Year. Tuck into crispy lamb brisket while enjoying the view of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park from the tenth floor of the stylish Royal Garden Hotel. Min Jiang’s melt-in-the-mouth signature dish wood-fired Beijing duck can be ordered in advance as an additional course. 2-24 Kensington High Street, London, W8 4PT; minjiang.co.uk
11Bayee Village, Wimbledon
Nestled in the heart of Wimbledon Village, Bayee promises to ward off evil spirits the traditional way, with a colourful lion dance… and an Elvis Presley tribute act. For £40 p/p enjoy a special menu on Tuesday 24 February. 24 High Street, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5DX; bayee.co.uk
Royal China is known for its brilliant dim sum
12Royal China, Canary Wharf, Fulham and various others
Each group dining at Royal China on 19 February will, in-line with Chinese New Year tradition, receive a red lei see envelope. Inside are messages of good fortune and, for one lucky table, money off their next visit. Perennially popular and with six acclaimed venues across London, the Royal China is a great bet for delicious dim sum. Its Cantonese treats include ginger and water chestnut accented ground beef balls and spicy steamed seafood dumplings. royalchinagroup.co.uk
Hutong is London’s highest Chinese restaurant
13Hutong, 33rd Floor The Shard, Southwark
For those with a head for heights, Hutong is offering a host of celebratory treats on the 33rd floor of The Shard. On Wednesday 18 February, the restaurant is building up to the New Year with a special Reunion Dinner menu (£68 p/p), which includes an entire fish centrepiece, to mark the evening when Chinese families traditionally celebrate together. The following day the revelry starts in earnest. On 19 February, the Double Happiness menu features the Loi Hei salad (you have to mix the ingredients by tossing them in the air and chanting Loi Hei for luck). Signature dishes included for the £88 p/p price tag include red lantern soft shell crab. Dancers and musicians will be on-hand to entertain, and one table will receive their bill on the house! 31 Saint Thomas Street, London SE1; hutong.co.uk