Xi Home is a dumpling haven recently opened on Shoreditch's Blossom Street by 27-year old restaurateur Wenjun Xiang, inspired by his home town - the bustling port of Dalian in Northern China.
The restaurant serves a range of over 20 authentic handmade dumplings, alongside tea pairings, cocktails and detox juices. All dishes are freshly prepared by Dalian chefs chosen by Wenjun, and guests can watch all the dumpling action through the glass panels of the open-plan kitchen.
They are open for breakfast from 8:30am but we headed over for lunch, when it’s all about the dumplings. Classic combos include Spicy Pork, Pork with Fennel, Beef with Spring Onion, and Open Mouth King Prawn dumplings to the signature Jade Lobster dumpling, a family recipe handed down from generation to generation. We love the newspaper-style menu - much needed as the menu is pretty extensive!
You can also choose harder-to-find flavours including Abalone, Black Cuttlefish and Sea Cucumber dumplings, each handmade by the skilled chefs and simmered, steamed or fried. Dumplings are served with a traditional mature vinegar and soy dipping sauce.
We tried the signature Jade lobster dumplings which were very good; plump with a generous bouncy lobster, prawn and water chestnut filling and a pretty green edge coloured with natural vegetable juice. We aso tried lamb dumplings with spring onion and cumin, hearty and well-spiced, which were a good contrast to the delicate seafood. The dumplings come in portions of ten, unless marked otherwise: at £21.80 for the lobster and £11.80 for the lamb, this is great value and would be an absolute steal for group dining.
Alongside the dumpling menu, sits an array of buns, rolls, pancakes and rich soups including, the Pork Soup Bun (an Instagrammable dish where pork broth is sipped from a straw inside the bun). Other must-try dishes include Sliced Beef & Ox Organs in Chilli Sauce, Stir Fried Liver with Chives & Bean Sprouts, Steamed Cold Noodles (perfect for Summer), Xi Home signature Wonton Soup and the Dalian street food snack Starch Potato Cubes with Mixed Seafood.
For dessert guests can feast on Dalian speciality Crispy Milk Curd and Steamed Sticky Pumpkin Cake, all handmade on site. Dishes range from £6.50 to £18 and the entire menu is available for takeaway and delivery, plus a Xi Home chilli oil can be purchased to take home.
Tea pairings are also available including a Four Season Oolong Tea and an Oriental Beauty Tea together with a concise cocktail list featuring a Lychee Gimlet and a Brandy & Osmanthus. XI home has created a series of tea specials from a Matcha Coconut Miky to a Lemon Black Ice Tea, plus detox juices, a house red and white and a range of beers including Cobra, Asahi and Sapporo.
The design (courtesy of creative agency Blacksheep) pays homage to the Dalian region of Northern China and its fishing heritage, with wave designs on the walls and a giant neon lobster on the ceiling, which is about to appear on everyone's Instagram.
Opening Times: Monday to Sunday 8:30am – 10pm
XI Home Dumplings: Blossom Street, London, E1 6PL
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David
Amanda David is a freelance food writer specialising in London’s restaurants, bars, exhibitions and events. She is the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo, a regular contributor to Palate Magazine and a Member of the Guild of Food Writers.
Follow Amanda at:
Instagram: @LondonGAT
コメント